WHAT’S the common denominator of all these:

• The way forward for the Philippine economy is to amend the economic provisions of the Constitution that prevent foreigners from owning property in the country.
• All that the tourism industry needs for it to grow is to have good branding, that is, come up with a catchy slogan that would entice foreign tourists to come in droves.
• By the same token, the country can address the problem of natural calamities that wreak havoc on the economy and exact a heavy toll on lives and property by strengthening its quick-response capability.

What they share in common is that they are quick-fix solutions that will ultimately allow deep-seated problems to fester.

Both chambers of Congress have agreed they would now focus on amending the fundamental law they consider a fetter to sustained economic growth because it limits foreign ownership of corporations to 40 percent.

President Aquino has doused cold water on the legislative proposal to amend the economic provisions of the 1987 Constitution that foreign chambers of commerce have been badgering the government to do, saying that it is not necessary at this time and that investments would come in regardless of the prevailing political system, as in China.

Opening up the economy to foreign ownership may bring in more investments and create more jobs, but it is unlikely to be the silver bullet that would spur growth. Economists have been saying all along that we need to put in place policies that would level the playing field for investors, and reduce the cost of doing business here. This involves, among other things, minimizing graft and corruption, reducing the cost of electricity that is now the highest in Asia, and stabilizing the peace and order situation by fighting criminality, terrorism and armed rebellion.

The holistic approach applies as well to tourism. The problem with low tourist arrivals is not that we lack a catchy slogan for which the tourism department is willing to spend so many millions. The problems are many: the lack of suitable accommodations, bad roads to tourist attractions, and again, unstable peace and order conditions particularly in the countryside.

Neither do we have to be content with rapid response to disasters both natural and man-made. The weather bureau has correctly assessed that the recent back-to-back typhoons that hit the country are due to global warming and climate change, and that we could expect more of alternating El Niño and La Niña in the future.

The solution to frequent flooding has already been identified. It’s a whole raft of measures, including reforestation of watersheds and dredging of clogged rivers and waterways. Now is the time to implement a comprehensive climate-change mitigation and adaptation plan that would protect lives and property amid the reality of climate change.

The government needs to be proactive in responding to challenges, whether it is attracting foreign investments, promoting tourism or responding to disasters. First and foremost, there should be thorough and meticulous planning to ensure that the government does not simply react to existing and emerging problems. Quick fixes and Band-Aid solutions are ideal for emergency situations, but not for problems that will be with us for a long time.