Catanduanes Economic Forum

Our senators and congressmen continue to look and act busy on a lot of issues except those that need immediate attention. And what issue matters the most and need immediate action? It's the economy. That's what matters the most. It continues to baffle a lot of people why our bright boys in Congress do not seem to get it. Our nation is broke and becoming poorer. Foreign investors like Federal Express and Price Smart recently shut their operations and moved somewhere else because we do not do the things to keep investors there. And yet wonder of wonders, our bright boys are still bickering about stupid things as impeachment. Impeach the President then what?? She is about the only person in the administration who keeps talking about improving the economy! Our foreign debt is huge and its maintenance or interest payments are eating our finances alive. Do you hear any of these bright boys talking about how to fix these problems? No ! A lot of our government owned and controlled corporations are bankrupt or losing money and continue to drain our meager national funds. Do you see these bright boys attacking these issues? NO!!

Then there is the issue of corruption which by far is considered to be the biggest impedement to economic progress. Did any of you see or hear any of our bright boys present any solutions? No and hell NO!! We had to hire someone from Hong Kong to try to fix corruption in the country! Is it because if our bright boys tried to bust corruption in the Philippines they might end up busting themselves? Take a good guess!

Bill O' Reilly of FOX News commenting on why Mexico will not progress despite its huge oil deposits mentioned corruption as the single biggest reason why it will never attain economic independence. Everyone knows corruption kills economies.

I heard about some kind of federation of Philippine associations coming into view. This is good. I have got a major request to make to its leaders. Please include the eradication of corruption in our country in your list of priorities. This being one specific goal for the federation, once it is achieved , it would have solved most of our woes . WE need a strong economy to fix most of our headaches. We need a strong economy before we can offer any meaningful services to our countrymen. We need a lot of money to feed our hungry folks. We need a great economy to give our citizens proper health care. We need a powerful economy to fix all our major national problems. But we need corruption removed before our economy can move forward. That is a fact.

Joe Joson