PHILIPPINE INDUSTRIALIZATION

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP83-00423R000700800002-4
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: C
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: November 9, 2016
• Document Release Date: March 1, 1999
• Sequence Number: 2
• Publication Date: March 1, 1953
• Content Type: REPORT

ApPro ed 002-4
SOURCE :
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PLACE SQUIRED:
DATE ACQUIRED:
DATE OF INFORMATION:
Philippines
SUBJECT: Philippine Industrialization
COUNTRY:
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This unevaluated information for US Officials
Only is supplied for the possible interest of
March 1953
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"INDUSTRIALIZATION - - Many Filipino leaders have either been lulling
the public into a false sense of security or they do not know what
they are talking about when they claim that industrialization is
already with us, or that it can be achieved overnight.
"They totally disregard the fact that technical men are nowhere
available; that the country is basically agricultural, that emphasis
should be on developing its soil.
"Without attempting to belittle the so-called dollar saving industries
which have sprouted profusely, it must be realized that most of them
were established on a false economic premise, that is, they rely,- too
much on the import control law for protection against foreign competi-
tion rather than on their efficiency.
"Without such a protection, it is to be doubted greatly whether they
could face foreign competitors on an equal basis. That's why there
is a strong lobby in Congress against the abolition of import control.
"Of course, it may be rightly claimed by local industrialists that
they are providing employment to many . But the advantages that
accrue to the economy by such employment cannot readily offset the
disadvantage which the public has to shoulder in higher prices when
purchasing some essential commodities.
"While local industrialists should be given time to master industrial
techniques employed abroad, mastery of mass production methods will
not in.itself solve the basic problem as long as these industrial-low
continue to import the great bulk of their raw materials."
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"What will happen if the required imported raw materials are no
longer procurable?
"Will our industrialists close shop or will they attempt to use locally
available substitute materials?
"And even if they learn the industrial know-how of the United States
and Japan, is the Philippine market large enough to absorb all they
can produce? Mass production is a corollary of a mass market.
"our views must not be taken as against industrialization. Rather,
we are for rationalization of the term. We sincerely believe that
if the country is to be economically self sufficient, we should con-
centrate first on what we can do and not on what we cannot do.
"Industrialization will come in due time, but it would be sheer waste
of time and money to neglect the offer of our counteous resources
while searching for an elusive shadow. Many say that if the
Philippines could only raise enough rice and produce many other
essential commodities that find ready markets abroad, this country
would no longer have any need for import controls."
Approved For Release 1999/09/10 : CIA-RDP83-00423R000700800002-4