Illusion of growth

President Bongbong Marcos declared the Philippines as the top performing economy in ASEAN based on his 6-percent GDP projection.

That is ridiculous. The President’s own economic team and the country’s economists must be squirming. The declaration is illusory at best. The numbers do not support the boast.

Vietnam continues to outpace the region with real manufacturing growth, real export growth, and real foreign direct investment. We have a projection. They have performance.

And what kind of performance can we claim when the government itself is hobbled? Rising national debt that has breached historic highs, loss of public trust due to massive, unresolved corruption scandals, and a daily gut-punch to the Filipino consumer — the cost of fuel.

This is where foreign policy hits the pump.

Iran now says it will reopen the Strait of Hormuz within seven days if the US lifts its blockade of Iranian ports. World oil prices tumbled three percent on the news. On paper, it was good news for import-dependent countries like ours.

But read the fine print.

Tehran has been consistent: the Strait is “open to most, but closed to our enemies.” Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said passage is barred for tankers belonging to the US, Israel, and their allies.

Where does that leave the Philippines?

We host nine EDCA bases for the US. We are treaty-allied with Washington in every exercise and statement. In the eyes of Tehran, we are not neutral. While Iran eases passage for friends like China, it remains restrictive for us because of our alliance with the US.

China, a friend of Iran, watches and benefits. The Philippines, ally of America, pays the risk premium at the pump. Our strategic subservience has a price, paid for by the jeepney driver in Davao and the commuter in Manila.

Had the Marcos government continued to adopt the foreign affairs dictum, “Friend to All and Enemy to None,” of former President Rodrigo Duterte then our neutrality would have been a ticket to free passage in the Strait of Hormuz.

And why can’t this administration focus on that — on fuel, debt, and real growth?

Because it is focused elsewhere.

The entire machinery of government is focused on derailing Vice President Sara Duterte’s presidential bid through an impeachment trial. And if that will not work for lack of evidence, Plan B is obvious: smear the image of Davao City itself.

To their consternation, that smear is failing.

Davao City has recently gained international cognizance from Oxford Economics, and achieved a national distinction with a ₱P601-billion GDP — a testament to continuity, discipline, and local governance that works. It is growing, connected, and prosperous despite Manila’s neglect.

You cannot claim to be the top performing economy in ASEAN when you are busy tearing down the one city that is actually performing.

Growth built on projection and persecution is not growth. It is illusion.