Econ 22

Paez, Christian Paul V.                  Econ22 4:30-6:00pm TTH               August 2, 2016

It is the year 1900. A man ascends the steps to the company. He is looking for a job because he needs to provide for his growing family. He gets one. Approximately one month after, he receives his first pay. He is shocked by the huge cut his personal tax brings. He wonders if his salary can compensate for his family but he cannot do anything about it. He decides to close his eyes and just wait. It is the year 2005. The man’s family continues to grow. He wonders if his salary will ever be enough so he decides yet again to close his eyes. It is now the year 2020. The man has grown old. Upon receiving his salary for the first month of the year, he discovers something. He has more. He laughs in delight, goes home and buys something good for his family. The man’s happiness cannot be contained.

It is the year 2500. Business has peaked. Investors are happy, people are happy. The environment in which the people are in and the place where the businesses are situated are safe and secure. Businessmen are comforted by the fact that there is ease in doing business, there are no more bottleneck procedures and that there will be no shady deals happening soon. Everyone is content and living comfortably.

It is the year 3900. There are too many people in this world. People are starting to show their animalistic instincts just to survive. There is a huge gap now between the rich and the poor. And the only question the older generation could ask to themselves is, what if?

All of those examples are related to President Duterte’s economic agendas in his SONA last July 25, 2016. The first two I painted in a bright light and the last one in a dark light. As to the first one, I think that it is a great idea since companies and individuals would be able to save more but as to the government’s part, this would mean losses. As to the measures the current administration would take, we shall have to wait and see. The second one is mainly opening the competition, making sure that there will be no more under-the-table deals and securing the environment which would surely result to more investors thus to more income. The last one would be the most controversial one i.e. the strict implementation of the Responsible Parenthood and Reproductive Health Law. I certainly agree with this so that couples especially the poor ones would be able to make informed choices on financial and family planning.