IN ANY GAME-CHANGING development such as the creation of a unified Asean Economic Community (AEC), there will be winners and losers. As to what will emerge winners or losers, it all depends on how well each country has prepared for the dawning of the AEC.

The idea is to groom as many winners as possible and to prepare safety nets for the prospective losers.

While the big boys of corporate Philippines have long prepared for this development, it has been acknowledged that micro and small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) could be among the most vulnerable. There are also fears that the Philippine farm sector could not compete in the production of traditional crops that are common to Asian countries like rice and sugar.