In review and in prospect
Nowhere is the galloping-inflation-cum-depressed-productivity equation that double-whammies the average Filipino consumer more aptly simplified in the simple arithmetic of the Philippines’ public transport crisis. Congestion in the Philippine capital Manila — already the world’s most densely-populated metropolis — is expected to remain acute over the foreseeable future yet public transport services not only consistently fail to keep up, these continue to fall further short of standards a modern economy demands. This presents a hard ceiling to labour productivity growth as workers lose precious hours daily chasing their rides to and from work and, for those fortunate enough to grab hold of one, suffering countless hours stuck in Manila’s infuriating traffic jams.
Labour productivity growth is ultimately the key to sustainable wage rises and, with these, improved standards of living. As long as it takes more workers to screw on a lightbulb than it does in other countries, the Philippines has few options but to compete on price. Indeed, the average Manila worker who loses at least four hours a day commuting to and from work does need to work doubly hard for the same amount of output as, say, a worker in Bangkok who, perhaps, spends just an hour a day on its modern rail system. The cost of this inefficiency is not in person-hours lost alone but in other factors that impact productivity that are not as straightforward to measure — the toll on workers’ thinking faculties wrought by the stress, lack of access to quality family time leading to under-supervised children, and countless hours spent scrolling through social media while stuck in traffic among other things.
Time as a resource is not a strong concept in the Philippines and a lack of a regard for such a precious resource could be behind why a scheduled public transport system was never seen to be a priority. That the Philippines is more a service-dominated economy today makes this cultural curiosity even more disturbing considering productivity in service industries is measured primarily as a function of output per unit of time. If it takes more and more time to do the same job, the value of a service becomes less and less. The arithmetic is simple and the reason Filipinos’ standard of living continues to stagnate is made more evident.
Last week’s blog posts
@MWinnieMonsod Should Thank Duterte Et Al for Neutering the Philippine Press
August 21, 2023 by Oman
"...who needs hard-hitting investigative journalism that imperils the very existence of the company and the journalist writing the story, when you can have a front-page spread on the latest celebrity breakup that sells ads in the millions of gajillions of pesos?"
August 19, 2023 by Ramon Ortoll
"While Marcos is running the country like a CEO, he isn’t addressing the main problem which is the structure. A salesman needs a product to sell and, unfortunately, the Philippines isn’t a good product."
August 16, 2023 by Oman
"Recognizing that you are involved in a cult is the first step towards liberation. Cults often exhibit distinct characteristics, such as an all-encompassing devotion to the leader, strict control over members’ behavior and thoughts..."
Duterte Lackeys Baiting House Speaker into a Fight with ACT Rep. France Castro?
August 15, 2023 by Oman
"...it would still be inappropriate for House Speaker Romualdez to order the investigation of Castro unless the appropriate law enforcement agencies take action first. First to verify the accusations made by Ka Eric and second, to file the appropriate charges..."
President Marcos’s schmooze with EC president Ursula von der Leyen does not necessarily doom Duterte
August 15, 2023 by Ramon Ortoll
"The Opposition is hoping that 'justice' can be served to Duterte and his cohorts. But given the incestuous nature of Philippine politics, that won’t happen. Marcos is playing a game where he gives the EU a carrot. The EU is playing the same game."
August 14, 2023 by Ramon Ortoll
"Arguelles and Enriquez work through their assessment by treading the easy path of referencing President Bongbong Marcos’s election promises after which they proceed to shoot at these easy targets citing how testimonies of 'dispirited Marcos loyalists easily go viral nowadays' supposedly..."
What Will Happen If VP Sara Duterte Succeeds President Bongbong Marcos?
August 14, 2023 by Oman
"It would be an absolute dung-kicker move if our voters elect another Duterte hoping for a repeat of Rodrigo’s misguided all-balls/all-mouth no-brain leadership."
Why VP Inday Sara Hasn’t Said A Word Regarding The Chinese Coast Guard Water Cannon Incident
August 10, 2023 by Oman
"Vice President Inday, like any politician, undoubtedly has her own aspirations and political ambitions. Remaining silent on such a sensitive issue could be a strategic move to protect her own interests and maintain a delicate balance between the Philippines and China."