Creative Changes in the Offing

With a fresh 6-year mandate, the present administration is striving to be creative in raising revenues to bridge the budget deficit. An increase in the Value Added Tax (VAT) from ten to twelve percent is one of them. The proposed “loans” from the Internal revenues Allocation (IRA) of local government units (LGUs) to support national government projects is also a novel strategy.

The creation of an infrastructure corporation is also under serious study as well as the creation of a Department of Information and Communication Technology (ICT). Both agencies are designed to improve the use of government resources and in attracting investments.

The changes in Cabinet Secretaries may be headline news. However, the above fiscal and organizational innovations will be more important.

When the President has set her sights on targets, the Department Secretaries have the task of determining how their offices can help achieve those targets – like creating ten million new jobs or employment opportunities in six years.

The head of our executive branch of government knows what she is up against. The fiscal and poverty problems facing her are (I can't even find the appropriate term) enormous. Her Cabinet will have to supply the details and marshal their forces and resources to enable the President to reach these targets.

There will be more changes in store in the next few months that will spur the country so that the development targets of this administration can be reached.

Many such reforms will be creative. They represent new ways and strategies that will require the entire nation to participate.

Times like these demand a lot of creativity. Old ways won't work anymore.