Landlord and Capitalist

LANDLORDS AND CAPITALISTS

Who is responsible for the impending Philippine development?

The Philippines failed to deepen and sustain its initial industrial growth in 1950 because of the absence of autonomous developmentalist state and institution to direct the transformation of land-based wealth into industrial capital.

Landed capitalists influenced the government and diverted the massive state resources to traditional elite economic activities.

The shift to Export- Oriented Industrialization (EOI) from Import-Substitution Industrialization (ISI) was not feasible because of the absence of strategic guidance and intervention of strong developmentalist state. It was cited that the factors that limit the country’s industrial growth was because we have a weak state that fails to construct or oversee a social coalition for sustainable industrial growth. The state programs favored emerging manufacturing elites over the traditional exporting agrarian elites and transnational actors opposed the exchange and import controls.

What are the ways to strengthen industrial growth of the Philippines?

I agree to the prognosis of Temario Rivera that to strengthen the state’s autonomy there is a need for a decisive reform in the government’s key agencies especially the police, military and revenue-generating units.

Progress cannot proceed without a competent and honest bureaucracy.


How are we going to start this process?

The process of reformation in the Philippine government agencies is futile if we exclude our individual needs to be autonomous from the influence of our own capitalist circles to effectuate Philippine development.

Are we determined as individuals to sacrifice the inherent personal advantages in implementing projects for the benefit of the majority?


Industrial growth for the Philippines entails both a commitment and dedication by the state and its citizens in redefining their individual competency and honesty to rule this country.

We cannot proceed to redesign political and constitutional framework for economic development and democratic consolidation unless we first settle the issue of establishing an honest and efficient citizenry. The issue of efficiency and honesty is crucial in achieving a holistic approach in order for us to generate a strong state that is led by principled, competent and honest Filipino leaders in implementing industrial development.

Individual competency and honesty will be the backbone to construct growth coalition of the state for a sustainable industrial growth and development that is supported by the best initiatives and resources from the civil society.