Statistics that attracts attention

No, I am not referring to so-called “vital” statistics like 34-24-34. That’s for judges in beauty pageants.

I am referring to the statistics on the economy that should attract our attention because of their implications on our daily lives. One thing more – they are about billions, that’s why they attract attention.

For example, the budget deficit of the national government this year is P198 billion.

If texting is taxed 10 to 20 centavos per message, it will generate from P7 billion to P14 billion a year in revenues for the national government.

If the national government assumes the debts of the National Power Corporation, that’s a cool P500 billion that has to be paid through the national budget.

If the Metro Rail Transit 8 (from V. Mapa in Sta Mesa, Manila to Angono, Rizal through Shaw Blvd and Ortigas Avenue) is implemented, the national government as to “advance” initial cash outlay of P6 billion for the first five to seven years of operation.

There are 7.6 million Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW) who send P480 billion annually to the country which is about 10 percent of the Gross National Product (value of total production in the Philippines).

The national government is expected to spend for infrastructure P100 billion in the next two years.

Such statistics are so vital they imply a million things particularly on the ability of the national government to construct new roads, schools and hospitals to serve increasing population.

As these Billion Peso statistics show, governing this country is a daunting task that will require consistent, sustainable and intense effort to overcome.

It can also be said that while these statistics attract attention, they also problems that could require drastic solutions.