MAS laganap ang oligarkiya ngayon kaysa noon.
Ito ang binigyang-diin ni Ateneo School of Gov’t Dean Ron Mendoza kasabay ng pagsalungat sa pahayag ni Presidente Rodrigo Duterte na nabuwag na ng pamahalaan ang political oligarchs sa bansa.
Sa panayam ng isang television News Channel kamakailan, sinabi ni Mendoza na ang political dynasties ang tunay na oligarchs sa Filipinas.
“They are the ones that keep on expanding, the number of family members engaged are increasing, and their wealth is growing faster than the economy,” aniya.
Sinabi ni Mendoza na higit na nakatuon si Duterte sa oligarkiya sa mga negosyo kaysa politika, kung saan ang konsentrasyon ng kapangyarihan ay lumalaki.
Iminungkahi ng dean ng Ateneo School of Gov’t na kung nais ni Duterte na maipatas ang playing field, ang pinakamainam na paraan ay “huwag targetin ang mga pamilya at kompanya, o pahinain ang public at private institutions, sa halip ay dagdagan ang kumpetisyon sa pamamagitan ng paghikayat ng pagpasok ng mas maraming players.”
Binigyang-diin ni Mendoza na hindi magbabago ang sistema kung ang isang oligarch ay papalitan lamang ng isang ‘baby oligarch’ na kalaunan ay magiging isang ‘full-grown oligarch’.
Nagpahayag din ng pangamba ang Ateneo dean na hinahadlangan ni Duterte ang bagong domestic at foreign investment sa pagtarget sa malalaking kompanya at indibidwal/pamilya na nagmamay-ari sa mga ito.
“It creates an uncertain business
environment wherein refusal to align yourself with those in authority risks your company becoming a target,” giit niya.
“The long-term impact of a personalistic approach to certain alleged oligarchs is a complete opposite of a level playing field nurtured by strong institutions. Investors are averse to uncertainty and high regulatory risk in dealing with the government. It will emphasize the ties between business and politics in worst ways. Businesses who are simply doing what has been agreed on the contract are prone to make corrupt practices to remain favorable to those in power, “ wika ni Mendoza.
Idinagdag ni Mendoza na, “oligarchy is not dismantled when an oligarch simply tries to take down another oligarch. “
“When political dynasties become fatter, oligarchic behavior increases. This behavior means that the concentrated power is being used to acquire even more power to influence the economy or nation,” paliwanag niya.
Binigyang-diin pa ni Mendoza na ang pagbasura sa ABS-CBN franchise renewal ay makaaapekto sa kumpetisyon sa loob ng broadcast industry, na duopoly na lamang ng ABS-CBN at GMA.
“The denial of ABS-CBN’s franchise did not only result in 11,000 job losses; it also affects information dissemination around the country, especially during election and typhoon seasons. There would also be changes in the consumption behavior of the people who lost their jobs and other businesses that relied on the network’s operations,” sabi pa ni Mendoza.
Iginiit din niya na mas marami ang oligarchs sa politika kaysa mga negosyo.
“In fact, the political dynasties are the real oligarchs in the country. They are the ones that keep on expanding, the number of family members engaged are increasing, and their wealth is growing faster than the economy.”
