The Recent Odette Devastation (As Well As OTHER Devastating Typhoons) Should Tell You Why The Philippines Needs To Liberate The Utility Sectors

Some time ago, I remembered when I wrote about how the Yolanda relief operation could've been done better in a parliamentary system. The recent Odette tragedy affected so many families and so did Yolanda. Before that, there was Ruping in 1990 which left a huge impact. Ruping hit a month before Christmas and power was restored before Christmas. Odette hit in December leaving a good portion of the Philippines without a merry Christmas, right? Well, I wonder if arrogant Tagalistas partied hard over Odette not hitting them. The aftermath of these storms (and the Philippines being TYPHOON PRONE) should be a wake-up call for the Philippines. 

I was thinking about an interesting article from CoRRECT Philippines about the fall of the late Noynoy Aquino. I was thinking that under a parliamentary - either Noynoy would've straightened up or he would be kicked out if he were prime minister. Just imagine if Noynoy were the prime minister and he kept saying all his antics. Probably, Noynoy would've answered in the Parliament and said, "What? I'm already hit by a vote of no confidence as a prime minister? I didn't know that I don't know is not a valid answer." It would be a very embarrassing situation. Yolanda should've been a wake-up call for constitutional reform. Sadly, Mar Roxas, a brilliant man, failed to take the initiative to challenge his fellow party mates to change the system. Instead, Yolanda would be forever be another landmark of failure. The "hit comic book" Sa Gitna Ng Unos may forever be remembered as the comic book that really just was an epic failure. Fortunately, no movie was made out of it or it'd probably get a raspberry award, right?

The excessive limits against utilities are a REAL hindrance to rescue operations

Another absurd thing worth mentioning is COMMUNIST lawmaker Carlos "Heneral Lunatic" Zarate. It's ironic that his son isn't studying in North Korea, Vietnam, or China. Ironic that this guy loves communism but hates China. This guy would keep talking about nationalism and the whole provision of 60-40 for utility sector. Again, don't buy this guy's nationalism. It's getting more obvious this is all a power struggle which lives up to Adolf Hitler's Mein Kamf. Joseph Goebbels even said that if you tell a lie over and over - eventually people will BELIEVE it. The statement is again there to mislead. An irony that Bayad Muna would support the International Criminal Court while rejecting foreign investments. Doesn't that sound like what they do is for their own SELFISH INTERESTS?

It would be easily refuted that the statement of Zarate is a lie. Indeed, he's Heneral LUNATIC in many levels. For instance, one of the biggest lies is that first world countries improved through the "pambansang industriya". It's already proven to be a lie such as China under the rule of Mao Zedong vs. China under the rule of Deng Xiaoping. Deng ACCEPTED foreign investments into his new brand of communism. Deng even went as far as to study the late Lee Kuan Yew's economic policies. China became an envy for other communist countries like North Korea and Venezuela, Vietnam also followed the example of free markets in spite of still calling itself a communist country. Deng's communism with Chinese characteristics did away with Mao's poor economic policies. Instead, Deng went to the USA and told Americans, "China is open for business." Indeed, the ideology of Deng isn't respected by members of the CPP-NPA at all. That would explain why Jose Maria Sison didn't hide in China though he hypocritically is hiding in DEMOCRATIC Netherlands. 

The problem with the utilities' high cost and lesser quality is simple - SUPPLY AND DEMAND. It's the basic rule of economics that inflation is caused by high demand and LOW supply. Why are electricity and other utilities expensive in the Philippines? Blame it on LOW SUPPLY and HIGH DEMAND. Can two or three telecommunication companies supply to 7,107 islands for a lesser price and better services? Can a few electric companies ever restore power as fast when they have that MANY to serve? Besides, by demanding that 60% of utilities should be owned by Filipinos - one must ask if you're willing to rent a space if your lessor will require you to give 60% of your net profits. Would you rather pay the necessary taxes (such as corporate and income tax) or would you rather give up 60% of your net profits to a local investor? It's a really idiotic arrangement. I mean, why not try to open a space for lease with such an arrangement. Let's see if anyone will rent that space. Definitely, I wouldn't and 60-40 is DISCOURAGING INVESTORS. It's protecting the oligarchs and it's no different from the Marcos Years cronyism. A strange thing to hate Ferdinand E. Marcos Sr. but to love economic protectionism!

However, just think if there were more utilities - both FILIPINO AND FOREIGN. This would be where Deng's black cat and white cat policy kicks in. For Deng, he didn't care if the investor was foreign or local, as long as it gave income and jobs to his communist state. Deng clearly was thinking well when he said that. Does it really matter if utilities were run by Filipinos or foreigners? Not at all as long as they provide quality services, employment, and taxes for the Philippines. If there were more utilities then think of how much faster the restoration will be. Local energy companies won't be that hurdled since foreign energy companies will fill in the gap. Does it also matter if foreign investors are the ones clearing up the roads after Odette or any devastation? It wouldn't matter because they will clear the roads which will allow the restoration to commence.

This would be a big eye-opener. Yet, there are people who want to profiteer out of disasters and make themselves look like heroes. I think some people arguing against foreign investments using their MacPROs and iPhones know that they're REALLY LYING. Some of them are most likely paid to lie so they can enjoy the fruits of capitalism for themselves. This recent devastation should be an eye opener that those guys don't care about nationalism but ONLY THEIR POCKETS. It would be time to turn the tables against them and let foreigners invest in utilities too without the ridiculous 60-40 policy.