Some news reports are, in not a few instances, not factual. Like the report about some BPO (business process outsourcing) providers planning to leave the country and to do business elsewhere, for the reason that President Duterte cannot zip his foul mouth to keep it from barking up the United States, United Nations and the European Union. It’s shocking to many of our country’s traditional allies. We don’t have to wait for the bad consequences, do we? Though it’s a cause for worry, don’t panic.
In Clark Freeport alone and in the adjacent city of Angeles, thousands of Filipinos, mostly from the ranks of our young and fresh graduates, are currently employed in BPOs, and their earnings get to be shared by their families, enhancing the business climate. No wonder, Angeles City has more banks, fast-food chains and high-end restaurants than the other metropolitan cities of its size.
Of course, the prospect of BPO departures from the country could send shivers down the spines of thousands of BPO workers in all corners of the archipelago. And if, indeed, that happens, it would have a huge negative impact on our economy, including a double-digit unemployment rate.
Some may take this reported “investors’ threat,” if true, as a form of blackmail. Methinks it is a ploy to pressure Malacañang to be more circumspect in its action, and for President Duterte to stop his badmouthing, especially against the leaders of our traditional allies and international institutions.
Their interference may be unjustified, but the response of our President is oftentimes quite alarming such that even some of his ardent followers are praying that Malacañang advisers, or maybe the people closest to him, come forward to give the much-needed proper, albeit unsolicited, advice.
Malacañang should not ignore the fact that the trust rating of President Duterte in his first 100 days in office has started to fall—from a high 91 percent last July to net minus 83 percent, according to the latest (Sept. 25-Oct. 1, 2016) Pulse Asia survey. It is not a dramatic slip, but a downslide nevertheless.
MAX L. SANGIL, maxsangil13@yahoo.com