PAGBABAGO
Although 90 percent of Filipinos surveyed by the Social Weather Stations (SWS) indicated that they are more hopeful than fearful about 2025, this was lower by 15 percent in comparison with the previous year. But this is good enough considering that 2024 had been quite a challenging year at various fronts – political, economic, and geo-political.
Before I become too serious, let me note what our Feng Shui experts and informal forecasters say about 2025. It is the Year of the Wooden Snake. It is also a good year for those born in the year of the Dragon. People born under this zodiac sign should not make abrupt decisions. The lucky colors are derived from firewood. Mocha Mousse Pantone’s is the 2025 Color of the Year. The gemstone is emerald jade and is known to provide growth, renewal and harmony.
Philippine economy is expected to grow by around six to 6.5 percent in its gross domestic product (GDP). Several social, technological, political and geo-political developments are anticipated, among them, further advancement in AI and 5G adaptation; expansion in renewable energy such as solar and wind energy; growth in the use of e-vehicles; tourism; disaster preparedness; innovations in transportation systems; and start-ups in technology.
Our primary concern about the above focuses on what is described as “carrying capacity” of a majority of our countrymen who live in the less developed areas of the country.
These technologies may reach them but most may not have the absorptive capacity to utilize them effectively.
Furthermore, we may not be able to provide adequate upskilling in the use of these technologies. Early planning should have allocated time and resources for the needed training of personnel in these government agencies.
The history of change and innovation in areas like agriculture, health and even education in the country have shown that we have not been able to develop the knowledge and skills needed to achieve maximum productivity.
Thus, our experience in the introduction of innovations to improve farm productivity, increase savings through innovations in market and credit cooperatives, although not dismal, still had fallen short of what is needed to attain our objectives.
As we start the year, my reflections include the above and the search for ways that can help us impart the needed knowledge, attitudes, and skills.
This entails the design of a learning and delivery system based on values and practices such as sharing, learning and working together, regard for persistence, perseverance, tenacity, pursuit of excellence, honesty and trust – values which are essential in the attainment of productivity. But this is only the beginning.
We hope that the tasks needed to sustain these innovations in thinking and doing will be carried on by the trained personnel in the communities, with the cooperation of government and non-government agencies.