Skip to main content

Would You Support an Environmentally-Destructive Local Business in the Name of Filipino First?

A very huge misconception especially if you know Singapore's history

Some time ago, I decided to write about how foreign direct investments (FDIs) doesn't always mean environmental destruction. I would like to write this post about FDIs and multinational corporations (MNCs). I don't deny that some businesses just fail to uphold environmentally-friendly practices. That's why I also wrote about the importance of going green in doing businesses. Money is only worth it if there are forests to supply trees, there's delicious fish to eat because of clean streams, there's clean drinking water to buy, and the environment is well-taken care of. My money will have its value if I can go to a beach resort that uses its earnings to preserve the cleanliness of the place. Money becomes worthless when there's nothing of value to exchange it with. Poisoned rivers, massive deforestation, etc. will definitely make money worthless. That's why the late Lee Kuan Yew also discussed about greening up Singapore in his book From Third World to First. 

Now, let's imagine this new scenario. We have a local business that's environmentally destructive. It ignores even the simplest guidelines such as no littering and no dumping of waste into the waters. All it cares about is making a profit at the cost of the environment. That person only wants the money as soon as possible. The person may be a miser who hates to spend or a spendthrift who wants instant money. Either way, we know that both kinds will refuse to spend on proper waste disposal. However, the law of the land says, "We must support Filipino businesses as much as possible and support them first." What happens is that these local businesses end up getting protected because they can just bribe their way through the various offices. That local business may bribe the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) to get their permit even if they've violated it many times. So, people have no choice but to support that environmentally destructive business at all costs.

We will have our new entrant--an environmentally friendly foreign direct investor (FDI). This FDI is already known to operate with much environmental friendliness that it gets cleanliness awards without bribing officials. It would've probably gotten cleanliness awards from Taiwan, South Korea, Malaysia, and Singapore. We know how Singapore is a very fine city. You get fined for littering, picking flowers in the park, bird feeding in inappropriate places, vandalism, removal of body waste in the most inappropriate places, and even chewing gum is banned there for a reason. Now, this firm enters the Philippines with all its environmentally-friendly credentials. However, because of Filipino First, this business will either have to share ownership with an environmentally destructive local partner or be on the negative list. Even worse, the Filipino First Policy may require us to shun FDIs because they're foreign. Ironically, those who promote protectionism use foreign media like Facebook, Google, WordPress, etc. Teodoro Casino uses WordPress. Apparently, IBON Foundation is using WordPress or some other website-making platform that I'm not aware of. 

However, if one's to be truly environmentally friendly then give no room for ultranationalism. Instead, do what Deng Xiaoping did. Deng didn't care if the cat is black or white as long as it caught mice. In my case, I don't care if the investor is local or foreign--what matters is they serve the country well. One of the criteria of a good business is being environmentally friendly. I want to make sure that when there's profit--the money can buy something valuable. Who would want to swim in the ocean if the beach is dirty and the air is polluted? Who would want to eat fish with garbage all over it? We're to focus on Lee's green policy. We should pursue environmentally-friendly businesses even if it means rejecting local businesses that don't follow it. If an FDI is respectful of the Philippines' natural resources, pays taxes, etc. then it's welcome to invest for as long as it likes. 

References

Books 

"From Third World to First--The Singapore Story: 1965-2000) by Lee Kuan Yew
Harpers Collins Publishers
Labels:

Popular posts from this blog

Pinoy Pride Economics Helps in Drug Mule Recruitment

Al Jazeera Who can remember the execution of three drug mules in China on March 30, 2011 ? These were three separate cases where the three convicts were  Sally Villanueva , Ramon Credo (who was cremated before his remains were brought home, and Elizabeth Batain (whose face was never shown). Sally had an episode in the GMA-7 TV show Magpakailanman,  where her husband was personally interviewed by Mel Tiangco. We never got Sally on the big screen. The husband's side of the story said that his wife was guilty of a frame-up, while Mel herself said, "If the offer is too good to be true, don't take it, or you could end up in the same pickle." Take note that I'm just paraphrasing Mel's words, not saying the words she said.  Reviewing the three drug mules who got arrested, based only on what's available for public viewing on the Internet If we read through the circumstances , this is how they were arrested, proving they weren't a trio: China has brushed aside...
Read more

It's More Fun In The Philippines Thanks to the Filipino First Policy

I guess it can be called a day, right? This April 1, 2023 , I'm finally calling it quits with fighting for economic liberalization! Yes, that's right! All the advocacy for economic liberalization is just garbage. Why did I even spend so much time writing this blog only to find out that I've been duped? I hereby renounce everything I wrote here. I finally saw how brilliant the Filipino First Policy is. Man, what have I done? How much damage have I caused in advocating for economic liberalization?  The greatest president we ever had was... High School Philippine History Movement It's time to listen to the economic genius known as the late Carlos P. Garcia. Yes, he has to be one of the greatest presidents that ever existed.  I took this note from the Bohol Provincial Library and found this about CPG's Filipino First Policy ; CPG adopted the “Filipino First” Policy to promote greater Filipino participation in business, and to put the Filipinos in control of the economy...
Read more

New Study Confirms Oil Degulation Law is Bad, Oil Nationalization is Better

Yes, you found that right. Did you know that the Filipino First Policy caused the Philippines to succeed and Carlos P. Garcia was the best president ever? Today, because of the Iranian War crisis, we need to talk about a new important discovery. What I realized is that the oil deregulation policy is bad . Do you want the oil prices to fall under control? Then read this new blog to find out.  A new audit was revealed in the world's greatest economic forum. The Trust Me Bro School of Economics invited the trustworthy IBON Foundation to speak at Intrigador Financials . I was so wrong not to notice the genius behind the likes of Makabayan Bloc.  What have I done compared to the youths  of Kabataan Partylist ? I even discovered that  the IBON Foundation is the most credible economic think tank . As I realized that  Filipinos should only listen to Filipino economists ,  I have found that there are literally  tons of studies  from the famous Trust Me Br...
Read more

Yes, the Philippines Can Self-Industrialize Because Filipinos Are the Most Powerful Race in the World (NO JOKE)

Yes, you got that right! This meme is a fact that Filipinos are the most powerful race in the world. That has been proven by the Trust Me Bro Factcheckers of the Philippines. It's the case of Filipino Exceptionalism. One can read on Facebook something like, "How many times do I have to tell you that the Philippines isn't Vietnam/Singapore/China/Taiwan/Japan, etc.?" Ever read that? If you haven't then you must be exceptionally stupid. That's why the Philippines should never learn from other countries, especially from Singapore. Why are you always listening to foreigners? Why listen to the advice of a stinky Indian when you can have the advice of the best constitutionalist in the world, Atty. Hilario G. Davide Jr.? You say that nations of the world go to Kishore Mabhubani in Singapore instead. Forget them because the Philippines is so unique that it can do everything on its own. It was proven by the greatest president that the Philippines always had, namely Carl...
Read more

The Filipino First Policy Caused the Philippines to Succeed!

High School Philippine History Movement Yes, you read it right! I found a hidden gem that I should've read years ago! It's the book Nationalist Economics by the late Alejandro Lichauco, who is part of the magnificent IBON Foundation. It's a shame I refused to read it. I should've read Lichauco's book instead of the late Lee Kuan Yew's book From Third World to First . What a shame that I didn't look into the details that LKY was a dictator, that Flor Contemplacion was indeed innocent, and that Singapore is a state comparable to Nazi Germany. As I bought my copy of Nationalist Economics from the Trust Me Bro School of Economics--I'm now convinced that the Filipino First Policy caused us to succeed! LKY ruled Singapore for 31 years, meaning it's a frightening thing indeed! Six years is the magic number ot establish a benevolent rule!  Who should we all listen to? Should we listen to foreigners or should we listen to our fellow Filipino? We must think st...
Read more