Today, we officially welcome the new administration of president-elect Rodrigo Duterte. After the taxing months of campaign and elections, the Filipino people have officially chosen the next leader of this country.

But before we usher in the next administration, let’s recognize first the outgoing Aquino administration which started the aggressive fight against corruption which then led to the boost in the economy. We are now considered to be one of the best performing economies in Asia and we continue to grow and develop. It had its fair share of successes and failures. But it has also left programs and developments that can be continued by the next government.

As president-elect Duterte takes his oath as president today, we can say there is a high expectation. As they say, “change is coming” under his leadership. More than 16 million voters from different sectors believed in his promise to change, the country. Yes, we all desire change but as I have said in my previous columns, the change must come within us as well. We must change for the better like entrepreneurs who develop their products and improve their services. And this next president is sure to implement change.

President-elect Duterte is known for his take on federalism. This will be a radical shift in the system, but is said to be the solution for poverty and development of the regions.

My grandfather, Salvador Araneta, once wrote an article on federalism entitled “For a Federal Republic of the Philippines.” In this article, he discussed how federalism would work for the Philippines. He said the Philippines has the geographical area and population to justify the establishment of a federal Republic of the Philippines. One of the key features of this type of government is the division of power. As this will divide the country into smaller states, there will also be a division of power: (1) constitutional powers, (2) active operating powers, and (3) moderating powers. It will be a collective leadership and a balance of powers between the Federal government and the state governments. His idea on collective leadership is that “it may be a very controversial provision, for by it, the leadership in the federal government and in the states shall not be vested in one person.”

Lastly, my grandfather added, “The best guarantee to prevent the death of democracy in any country is a federal system of government with a well-balanced collective leadership.”

Yes, federalism can be explored by the next administration. It might seem to be a new concept for majority of Filipinos, but once discussed and well-planned out, this can be an answer to the development of the poor regions with fair distribution of funds. Also, this will empower smaller communities to contribute and be part of the government. The government will be divided into state governments which will focus on the needs of their regions.

Aside from Duterte’s promise of federalism, we can also expect him to fulfill his commitment of reducing crime and drugs within three to six months. While others may have raised their eyebrows on how he will implement this within a short span of time, I can see that it is doable. He has not taken his seat of power, but we have seen reports of drug users and drug pushers who have surrendered themselves to the police, successful drug raids, and more. Let’s wait for his other plans on how he can further reduce criminality in this country.

But more than anything else, I and the whole entrepreneurship community look forward to his plans for economic development. His economic team, together with Ramon Lopez as his incoming DTI secretary, has created a 10-point socioeconomic agenda that will further boost the economy and address poverty in the country. One of the points raised is to ‘increase competitiveness and the ease of doing business.’ This will greatly help the micro, small and medium entrepreneurs who comprise 99.6 percent of the economy. With the Go Negosyo Law and the Negosyo Centers in different provinces, there will be stronger support from the government to guide and empower MSMEs. And with Mon Lopez at the helm of DTI, we can expect real change for MSMEs.

Yes, not all will become entrepreneurs, some may lead companies, or promote advocacies, but in whatever path we take we must have the drive to take on new challenges. We must also develop our enterprising attitude that will lead us to greener pastures.

It is a big challenge for the next administration to stir the country to greater heights, but we must all remember to contribute and be part of the development. As I always say, “Success is for those who want it the most”, so let us all strive to reach our own success!

Calata Corp. led by its president and CEO Joseph Calata renews partnership with Go Negosyo and promises to continue supporting MSME development.

Go Negosyo in partnership with the US Embassy led by Ambassador Philip Goldberg is bringing the Mentor Me Innovation Forum to Cebu on July 14 at the Cultural Center of University of San Carlos. This forum is a gathering of innovators and enablers whose expertise will cover major topics such as innovative products or services development, operation processes, and innovative business models. We invite aspiring, young, and micro, small and medium entrepreneurs to take this chance to be inspired to innovate their business ideas to a higher level. For more information, please visit www.gonegosyo.net or call 637-9229 or 6379347.