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Fiscal Reform in the Philippines. A Case Study. The Philippines Today. Investment Grade. 6.2% GDP growth in 2018 6% average from 2010-present 20 years of uninterrupted economic expansion. Declining Debt Burden. Average fiscal deficit over 10 years at 2.2%. 5.3% unemployment in 2018.
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Fiscal Reform in the Philippines A Case Study
The Philippines Today Investment Grade 6.2% GDP growth in 2018 • 6% average from 2010-present • 20 years of uninterrupted economic expansion Declining Debt Burden Average fiscal deficit over 10 years at 2.2% 5.3% unemployment in 2018 Moderate inflation pressures in 2018 at 5.2%
Overview of Reforms after the 1986 Revolution refers to fiscal reforms
Overview of Ongoing Reforms under Rodrigo Duterte refers to fiscal reforms
Virtuous Cycle 1 Confidence as our first currency • Higher Investment • Good Governance • Ratings upgrades • GDP growth • Investor Confidence
2 There’s more to fiscal reform than revenues Increase in revenue + reduction in expense wastage + reduction in interest expense = expanded fiscal space for public investments
3 Trojan horses can house fiscal reforms Logic of Reform Packaging and Selling the Reform reflects the logic of reform Intended Outcome (e.g. expanded health coverage, better infrastructure) Fiscal Reform
4 Institutionalize reforms to make them last
5 Using technology and media to disrupt the status quo
6 Think Holistically: fiscal reform as part of larger whole
7 Fear not the multilaterals
8 Compromise is not only acceptable, but necessary example 1: earmarking tobacco taxation to the health budget example 2: negotiating with the Department of Trade and Industry on Tax Incentives Management and Transparency
9 Stakeholders strengthen the reform process • employing creative approaches to weaken or deal with entrenched interests (case: sin tax reform of 2012) • consulting each antagonistic stakeholder group and finding a way to bypass opposition (case: subsidies for public utility vehicle drivers in raising fuel excises taxes) • this inclusive approach ensures that reforms are less likely to be reversed as there are more groups with interests vested in the enacted reform
10 Reform is always a work in progress • Ongoing process in an infinite continuum • Not always a straight line, often incremental at best • What’s on the horizon?
END Cesar V. PurisimaAsia Fellow, Milken InstituteSecretary of Finance, Republic of the Philippines (2005, 2010-2016)