What Do You Want To See in the Philippines in 5 Years Time?

[video=youtube;hAD4C9EqK5U]https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=hAD4C9EqK5U#![/video]

For the people who live there, a better (cheaper) health system.

For me, shops that employ more cashiers at the check-outs so it doesn't take 30 mnutes to pay and go.

• Decent beer (San Mig kills me).
• Good choice of international food cooked properly all the time.
• Less official corruption and pompousness.
• ATM's banned from charging fees for withdrawals from an overseas account.

Aposhark - If you walk into a supermarket and see a big queue, you should walk out.

They all seemed to be the same to me, Dave.

Hate to say it, but you could try 'flashing' your loyalty card.
Usually works for me

Or is it my sparkly green eyes and disarming smile

On a serious note, I'd also like to see a much better Healthcare system. Much better accessibility too.

I'd also like to see changes on Dual Citizenship for foreigners.
Changes in foreign ownership rules
Changes in the Family Code to allow DIVORCE

Hmmm I'm still considering more....

OK, here we go... and these are all do-able...

A comprehensive overhaul of the legal system, putting a stop to the issue of TROs, requiring cases to be heard promptly, requiring more criminal cases to be heard before juries, putting an end to Spanish left-overs like "estafa" , etc, etc.

A repeal of the Constitutional restrictions on foreign ownership of land and other assets.

An amendment to the Constitution replacing the US-style House and Senate with a bicameral Parliamentary system, and restricting the powers of the Supreme Court.

An overhaul of the Customs legislation, in the general direction of Free Trade with very low tariffs and as far as possible none.

A law encouraging foreign direct investment, with a view to bringing most of the Filipinos working abroad back home.

A review of the education system, aimed at encouraging teachers to move away from rote learning and other methods which deprive pupils of initative and the ability to reason for themselves

A law permitting no fault divorce

Taxation of Church assets and revenues

A further overhaul of the healthcare system, broadly in the direction of the UK NHS, with treatment free at the point of need.

An overhaul of tax collection.

A law which progressively increased Government salaries but which increased penalties for corruption in office.

A decision that the new International Airport will be at Clark with a good rail link into Manila.

A decision to award contracts for the construction of railway networks in Luzon and in Mindanao, with the long term aim of linking in the Visayas via tunnels.

A Law which abolished "pork barrel" but which permitted local governments to raise local taxes.

Quake proof ones?

I wish they had one between IOM and UK!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seikan_Tunnel#Surveying.2C_construction_and_geology

WOW Yes. No doubt expensive.

Just found this:

"How Japan’s Rail Network Survived the Earthquake"
http://www.railway-technology.com/features/feature122751

There actually is a pressure group campaigning for a parliamentary government rather than the US model.

Change is very slow here..
Its hard for small time Filipino businessmen or foreigners alike to set up any business that is in direct competition with the Chinese monopolies..

Here in Bohol, the city of Tagbilaran is run from top to bottom by 2 families.
Not only do they run everything from malls/hardware,tourist resorts,hotels,food products like farmed fish,rice,pigs,chicken farms, etc,they also hold control in local politics and have prominent family members and/ Chinese and Chinoy allies run successful campaigns for City Mayor, congressman, Governor etc ..
They do this by a huge effort in buying votes.
They don't only issue hard cash to the massa,they deliver poor families free school uniforms,school bags and supplies etc to guarantee their votes..
Once in power they deny their competition building and business permits if the business conflicts with their own.. They do practically nothing for the community and everything stays pretty much the same except they become far far wealthier..
In my observation,its pretty much the same throughout the Philippines..
IMO it is these families that lobby against new foreign ownership laws that are protected by the constitution .. Why on earth would they want foreign competition? They will resist it at all costs.. They are extremely smart,well educated and greedy business oriented families with mighty political clout.
Government infrastructure projects seem to be going ahead though.. Ive not seen this much public construction since the days of Marcos`s first term so perhaps things are looking up.

Well, yeah. I notice that even though the Japanese tunnels are quake proof, they aren't 100% quake proof. And it does depend a bit on the magnitude of the quake. And the more proofing you have the more the cost goes up exponentially.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_Filipino

A good analogy. Seems like there are indeed many parallels with Britain in times gone by.

Good point, Jim.
I never thought about it like that!