Reaction Paper: A Roadmap to the Philippines' Future: Toward a Knowledge-Based Economy

The presentation discussed basic information about the Philippines' plan on building the Knowledge-Based Economy (KBE) as part of the Medium Term Development Plan by the Arroyo administration. In the discussion, the author identified the four pillars of KBE which shall serve as the foundation for knowledge-driven development process. It was emphasized in the process that the key for relevant economic development for the country is when the people are able to acquire, create, disseminate and apply knowledge to uplift the status of their lives. It is seen as possible answer to the long-running problem of the country on poverty issues, necessary to enable Philippines to face new global challenges and trends specifically on economic development.

In the presentation, the author also present the existing educational setup of the Philippines which gearing toward the attainment of the KBE. The Philippines created a trifocalized system of education system where the basic education, higher education and technical-vocational education are working together synchronously. Its objective is to develop educated and innovative workforce with relevant knowledge, skills and attitude which could be offered both in domestic and foreign job market. But this move and the present educational achievements (i.e. ladderization, student assistance program, ETEEAP) of the Philippine education system is not enough to cover the gaps and to fill up shortages among different statistical indicators. (i.e. high dropout rates, job mismatch)

Challenges for Higher Education that is expected to hinder the implementation of educational reforms in the building of KBE were also presented. Among these are the need to provide quality, excellent, relevant and responsive education with greater access and equity among learners through efficient and effective policy and program implementations. Necessary policies, strategies, programs and activities for the HEI's which are deemed vital to the KBE were also identified. It includes improve contributions to poverty reduction, knowledge mobilization, anti-corruption, peace process, bureaucratic reform and fiscal strengthening.

Education has really a significant role in the economic development of our country. The KBE is a move made by the government to invest in education as an engine for economic development. The plan was conceived in the Arroyo Administration and was continuously pursued by the Aquino Administration, which is about to end next year, yet I feel that we are only half way in the roadmap for that is set for us to reach. Through the implementation of new programs and policies in our educational system and taking also the government antipoverty programs , (K-12 curriculum, TESDA Training-For-Work programs, 4Ps), we are able to make a few significant achievements in our present educational system. But still the burden of unemployment rate is too difficult to surmount and poverty is still a significant problem to be addressed in our country. I believe there a lot o reasons why these goals are still unreached. The government has all the beautiful programs and plans for our country to reach economic prosperity. But I believe most of the problems lies in the implementation process. There are still people in the system whom are driven by negative value system that needs to be transformed for them to be effective and efficient implementer of this plan. In spite of the "Tuwid na Daan Policy" of the president, there are still loop holes in the government where corrupt officials continue to do their immoral desires. I think this is the reason why it is taking us so long in achieving our goals for the realization of KBE. There is no efficiency in the implementation of government programs and thrusts. I agree that government should invest in education. But investment on education must be utilized productively and efficiently to ensure ROI in terms of relevant, skilled and job-match workforce who in turn will be the asset of our country in our battle against poverty and struggle to reach the destination set in roadmap to the Philippines' future.