Management in Politics

This topic is close to me as I was the one assigned to present the issues identified with the Local, National, and Global political factors that affected Marcos Jr.’s foreign investment policy. While conducting my research, the current policy of the Philippines on the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) encompasses many requirements and limitations regarding market access and national treatment, as outlined in research undertaken by Rivera and Tullao (2024). The policies prioritize the advancement of trade liberalization in both commodities and services, the enhancement of competition policy, the safeguarding of intellectual property rights, the promotion of investment, the cultivation of economic and technical cooperation, and the regulation of government procurement. The Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) functions as an impartial economic alliance that facilitates commerce among participating economies through the establishment of standardized trade regulations, thereby benefiting all member nations.

Meanwhile, when examining the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) concerning the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), a comparison can be made. The CPTPP surpasses RCEP in its comprehensive approach to tariff elimination and the implementation of trade liberalization measures. The CPTPP is renowned for generating substantial revenue advantages on a global scale, with a contribution of USD 186 billion to the worldwide economy and a 0.2 percent increase in the gross domestic product (GDP) of its member countries. As such, the CPTPP is expected to counterbalance 67% of the decrease in income caused by the trade dispute between China and the US (Rivera & Tullao, 2024).

Being assigned to this topic opened me to learning more about the basic facts of our current political climate. As an Applied Corporate Management student, knowing relevant and factual data regarding current events enables us to be updated with the policies being enacted by policymakers and politicians in the government. It becomes essential in the sense that we have a grasp of politics and machinations that turn the cogs and allow our businesses to exist in the first place. Governments have a hold on all businesses as they are the ones responsible for granting permits, imposing taxes, regulating competition, and the like.

Consequently, it is important to recognize that politics and businesses go hand-in-hand. Most political actors often get the support of business owners as they are the ones with the capability to manage on an organizational level. They may also transact with businesses to implement policies and plans of the government. Even though I am an Applied Corporate Management student, having a general and all-encompassing knowledge of dealing with politics also helps us steer our decision-making processes once we manage businesses already.

Moving forward, one of my most damning realizations of this topic is registering that most of the political actors involved in the current Philippine administration are the Marcos family members themselves. The audacity to have members across different government branches work towards questionable policy-making makes me wonder if these foreign investment policies are geared toward the Filipino population or something else. Most of the findings from the studies and research from the Philippine Institute for Development Studies point toward positive results with a lot of ifs. That does not spell anything good for the Filipinos in the foreseeable future. Learning this opened me to our country’s current realities, and made me delve into what could be the motivations behind their actions. From a business perspective, knowing these trade agreements is essential to formulating strategies that may help our businesses in the long run by finding out what is at stake for us.

#InquiryAnalysisReflection #COBIBMO

Sophia Isabel S. Cauilan

Topic: LoNG and Political Factors