confident, self-assured President Gloria Arroyo spoke to the Philippine nation on July 24th, 2006 and laid out a comprehensive plan that would put the country back in step with the rest of its Asian neighbors. In her State of the Nation Address (SONA), the president detailed her plan to divide the country into four "super regions:" the North Luzon Agribusiness Quadrangle, the Metro Luzon Urban Beltway, Central Philippines, and Mindanao. In addition to the four regions a fifth and overarching Cyber Corridor would encompass all the four regions to promote telecommunications, technology and education.

Flush with cash, thanks in large part to the recently implemented Value-added Tax program as well as record-breaking remittances of overseas Filipinos, the Arroyo administration now has the wherewithal to move forward with its Medium Term Public Investment Programs.

In her delivery, the President exuded the confidence and demeanor of a leader firmly in control. And why not; her poll number are up, the economy is on its 22nd consecutive quarter of growth, and nothing the opposition throws at her—including numerous impeachment complaints—seems to stick.

The president also correctly noted that in order to be world-class and attract foreign investment, the Philippines must invest in the following five comprehensive strategies for global competitiveness: "1. Make food plentiful and affordable to keep our labor cost globally competitive; 2. Reduce the cost of electricity to make our factories regionally competitive; 3. Modernize infrastructure at least cost to efficiently transport goods and people; 4. Mobilize, upgrade and disseminate knowledge and technologies for productivity; and 5. Reduce red tape in all agencies to cut business costs.

As anyone who has recently lived in the Philippines will attest to, it's no longer that cheap to live there. With air-conditioning (a must for most expatriates and balikbayans), your household electric bill can easily run you US$200 a month. Add to that the myriad of slow and inefficient processes that you have to contend with everyday, plus the sky-high cost of gasoline and before you know it, you're spending big bucks to live there.

To maintain the country's competitive edge, the cost of living in the Philippines must come down. So that even with future wage increases, the country will still remain attractive to foreign investors.

This President has chosen a tough and ambitious agenda. If she succeeds, Filipinos everywhere succeed along with her. It is now high time we all joined hands and forged ahead as one people united.