4 Callison, C. Stuart, Economic Assessment of the New Society and Key Problems and Issues Facing New Republic of the Philippines (USAID Manila, 1 … However, a great deal depends on the public’s reaction to the disease. Since the lockdown went into effect, he has peddled the narrative of pasaways or “undisciplined” citizens as responsible for the ensuing problems. MANILA, Philippines — Despite being relatively insulated from the effects of the coronavirus disease 2019, (COVID-19), the Philippines will likely see slower economic growth in … He subsequently drew flak for violating quarantine protocols to visit his pregnant wife in the hospital, putting all the medical staff at risk. He had a message for anyone who intended to replicate the behavior of the San Roque residents: “I will not hesitate. The UAE has officially approved a Sinopharm vaccine, while there are promising unofficial results from Sinovac’s Indonesia trial. Those who are helping the poor are being put in jail.”Â. Much is still needed in expanding testing throughout the archipelago, such as increasing testing and quarantine centers to minimize backlogs.”, Even with the DOH announcing that the country is starting to “flatten the curve,” coupled with a new target of 30,000 tests per day by the end of May, there is still some doubt as to whether this is achievable. The arrests occurred just over a week after Duterte granted himself emergency powers to deal with the pandemic. Public officials are currently mulling the extension of the lockdown until June 15, which indicates that the country isn’t on the verge of managing the pandemic, contrary to DOH pronouncements.Â, However, Dr. Julie Caguiat, also of CPRH, mentioned that there should be a better roadmap to attaining this with “mass testing not only for those with symptoms. Democracy in the Philippines After … Poverty is a major social problem in the Philippines with 21.6 percent of the Filipino population earning an income below the poverty line, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority. The Philippines’ annual exports rose sharply in 2017 and became the main engine of economic growth, while imports continued to grow by double-digits. Although this economy is predicted to be the 16th largest by the year 2050, it does face some significant challenges. But there are conditions, such as mass testing. Since the start of the pandemic, China has maintained a favorable position in the Duterte administration’s eyes. or POGOs, which have a significant Chinese workforce and capital. They should instead opt for a universal approach, extending financial assistance to everyone in need throughout the process. A majority of these countries began to use western democracies to shape their government. In the last decade, electronic exports added to the exports, along with various products obtained by min… Traditionally, the economy stabilized on the agrarian contributions and the manufacture of garments, pharmaceutical products, and semiconductors. While the unemployment rate fell notably in the third quarter, it was still close to double its pre-Covid-19 level, which, coupled with rock-bottom consumer sentiment and … With a slashed budget for disease surveillance and epidemiology for 2020, contact tracing was increasingly difficult in Metro Manila for example, one of the world’s most densely populated cities.”, Since the start of the pandemic, China has maintained a favorable position in the Duterte administration’s eyes. October 20, 2020. Because the wealthy own a great portion of the country's land, farmland is expensive. He was brought to the local military encampment and told to cease all political activity, surrender to the government, and only then would they receive any aid. The global crisis is first and foremost a public health issue, but Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has faced the coronavirus pandemic in a decidedly militaristic fashion. The articles were compiled in Endnote (Thomson Reuters, San Francisco, CA, USA). He has also brought up unsubstantiated activities of guerrilla groups as threats to government aid efforts without conceding any missteps in his management. On top of deploying thousands of police and soldiers throughout the archipelago to enforce the ECQ, Duterte has on two occasions threatened the public with all-out martial law. Even with ECQ measures still in place in early May, the government allowed for large-scale gambling with the re-opening of Philippine Offshore Gaming Operations or POGOs, which have a significant Chinese workforce and capital. But each barangay has only been allotted around 400 slots for the SAP. COVID-19 could affect the global economy in three main ways: by directly affecting production, by creating supply chain and market disruption, and by its financial impact on firms and financial markets. After analyzing government data, mathematics professor Lex Muga hopes that the target can be achieved but explained that “community transmission has not stopped. If wages stagnate or don't keep up with the cost of living, middle-class families generally feel the impacts hard. Collapsing of Philippines Many countries and organizations start to wonder that... Philippines Underdevelopment. Maybe social workers can go house to house, but they are also lacking PPEs and working long hours. North Korea continues to be hypersensitive about its handling of the pandemic. The Filipino government relies largely on taxes collected from nationals living abroad. That has meant curfews, harsh penalties for being outside, and an impoverished population descending into hunger.Â. But a few days earlier, government leaders were touting Philippine generosity in aiding China with a donation of masks worth $1.4 million that were shipped to Wuhan.Â, The World Health Organization (WHO) has urged the mass production and use of testing kits as a basic necessity in combating the pandemic, yet even the, on March 20 felt that there was “no need for mass testing yet,” a reminder of how they sorely misread the situation.Â, Doctor Josh San Pedro, a co-convener of the Coalition of People’s Right to Health (CPRH), explained to, that “health authorities may have been complacent, as it was only in mid-March that significant improvements were made to testing capacity, despite locally-made kits being ready as early as February. The controversial “Go To” domestic tourism subsidy has come under the microscope for possibly facilitating the nation’s explosion of coronavirus cases. The state should welcome the involvement of civil society groups and the private sector in the relief effort and reduce obstacles of various permits for their participation.”, Robert Lunzaga, a community leader in the province of Bulacan from the national urban poor group Kadamay, told, that not only were SAP allotments too few for their predominantly impoverished town but those aligned with organizations critical of the administration were bullied by the authorities. A COVID-19 Prophecy: Did Nostradamus Have a Prediction About This Apocalyptic Year? Duterte ordered a travel ban only for passengers coming from Wuhan, China specifically on January 31, a day after the first case of COVID-19 was confirmed in the Philippines. With a slashed budget for disease surveillance and epidemiology for 2020, contact tracing was increasingly difficult in Metro Manila for example, one of the world’s most densely populated cities.”. “Inflation is the most political of all economic risks because it can be felt immediately,” said Gene Pilapil, a political science professor at the University of the Philippines in Quezon City. While Singapore, Taiwan, Vietnam, and Hong Kong took the early initiative on travel restrictions and emergency measures, the Philippines was noticeably late to follow suit. USAID facilitates trade and investment by reducing regulatory bottlenecks, entry barriers and discriminatory provisions to investment; improving the environment for competition; enhancing … , attributed to a reluctance to upset relations with China. Lunzaga adds, “We have four barangays (towns) in the Pandi municipality, each with more than a thousand poor families. © 2020 Diplomat Media Inc. All Rights Reserved. Like most other southeast Asian regions, Philippines too has a history of European colonization. KUALA LUMPUR: The new government’s decision to set up an action council to address the country’s pressing economic issues has received positive responses. Unfortunately, local stakeholders, who have the greatest stake in protecting the environment and the natural resources therein, have limited economic incentives, financial support and capacity to manage high biodiversity … The Philippine economy suffered its deepest contraction on record in the second quarter and revised down its forecast for the year amid one of Asia’s strictest lockdowns against the coronavirus. On the day the first case was confirmed in the Philippines, presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo clarified that the government wouldn’t be distributing masks to vulnerable populations as it had none to give out. Lunzaga adds, “We have four barangays (towns) in the Pandi municipality, each with more than a thousand poor families. The Philippines and Democracy 2439 Words | 10 Pages. The start of the school year in the Philippines has been delayed, again. Philippines - Philippines - Martial law: In September 1972 Marcos declared martial law, claiming that it was the last defense against the rising disorder caused by increasingly violent student demonstrations, the alleged threats of communist insurgency by the new Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP), and the Muslim separatist movement of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF). Their already poverty-stricken community, like many others, had found it near impossible to deal with having no livelihood or even space to stock up on food in such tight quarters. How will Beijing use its version? Duterte ordered a travel ban only for passengers coming from Wuhan, China specifically on January 31, a day after the first case of COVID-19 was confirmed in the Philippines. It wasn’t until April 14 that the DOH commenced mass testing to rectify their earlier errors, but some critics say present efforts are still gravely insufficient. declared they will stop issuing warnings and will simply arrest even low-level violators of the quarantine rules. or “undisciplined” citizens as responsible for the ensuing problems. Since the lockdown went into effect, he has peddled the narrative of. But a few days earlier, government leaders were touting Philippine generosity in aiding China with a donation of masks worth $1.4 million that were shipped to Wuhan.Â, A full month passed before Duterte officially declared the country in a “State of Public Health Emergency” on March 9, five days before the number of confirmed COVID 19 patients breached the 100 mark. Malacañang on Thursday contested the Philippines' low ranking in a resilience index by Bloomberg, an international top financial news provider, some 8 months into the varying degrees of lockdown that robbed millions of their job and lashed the economy. They particularly noted that 1.7 million workers have been excluded from aid programs.Â, “It is reprehensible that while Duterte’s economic managers discuss the need for economic recovery from the COVID-19 fallout. Titles and abstracts were screened for eligibility. Finding the balance between public health and reviving the economy has been fraught with dilemmas. Stories such as those of a mentally ill Army veteran who was shot dead for being outside and a fish vendor severely beaten for not wearing a face mask have become commonplace. When we can see that the number of cases are decreasing daily is when we can assume the curve is flattening. More infuriating for the public was the fact that the department confessed, two days later, to giving preferential treatment and testing to 34 unnamed public officials and their families. Philippines Economic Outlook. In the last week of March, Duterte announced a larger economic relief package of nearly $4 billion, primarily for low-income families, dubbed the Social Amelioration Program (SAP). It is a bleak one marred by a totalitarian streak and the people’s increased realization that the state is more intent on filling jails and the pockets of Chinese businesses than starving stomachs.Â. The president of PDP-Laban (Partido Demokratiko Pilipino–Lakas ng Bayan), Duterte’s party, Senator Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III, was among the legislators who tested positive for COVID-19. It is also looked upon as a perfect example of a ‘mixed economy’. On top of deploying thousands of police and soldiers throughout the archipelago to enforce the ECQ, Duterte has on two occasions threatened the public with all-out martial law. In one week, a population-control bill in the Philippines is likely to be passed that supports coercive government-funded family-planning initiatives for demographically targeted populations. Important as a stimulus to trade was the gradual elimination of the monopoly enjoyed by the galleon to Acapulco. Guidelines for ‘expansion’ of testing were only released on April 16. Maybe social workers can go house to house, but they are also lacking PPEs and working long hours. China now has an answer to the United States' Entity List. Covering financial news, economic issues, stock market data, local business, business policy and more. What growth occurred in recent years came in the real estate and gambling industries, which do not produce long-term, middle-class jobs. Impoverished children often live with their parents in bamboo huts that lack adequate stability and structure. As of writing, only 0.1 percent of the population has been tested. Get briefed on the story of the week, and developing stories to watch across the Asia-Pacific. Business news and analysis. Many people are desperate and fighting over aid … just to get $100 to $150.”, To deal with the inadequacies, Congress’ Makabayan (Patriotic) bloc, composed of several opposition parties, has forwarded a bill to expand the SAP in the hopes of reaching out to more Filipinos in need. The state should welcome the involvement of civil society groups and the private sector in the relief effort and reduce obstacles of various permits for their participation.”, Robert Lunzaga, a community leader in the province of Bulacan from the national urban poor group Kadamay, told The Diplomat that not only were SAP allotments too few for their predominantly impoverished town but those aligned with organizations critical of the administration were bullied by the authorities. The incident has warranted no probe nor sanction from the authorities. Those were the years the country was under Ferdinand Marcos and martial law , witnessed the assassination of Benigno Aquino, Jr. , saw changes to the Philippine energy law , [ clarification needed ] and the popularity of … Although the Philippine economy grew substantially in the early 2010s, lingering poverty remains another economic problem in the country. If Biden changes course on China, relatively speaking, could India-U.S. relations be affected? After experiencing years of positive growth, the Philippine economy between 1973 and 1986 suffered a downturn due to a mixture of domestic and international problems. Many people are desperate and fighting over aid … just to get $100 to $150.”, About In Beijing’s pursuit of shifting its trade and energy dependencies from sea to land, Nur-Sultan is a necessary partner. The biggest single haul of the crackdown came on Labor Day, May 1. "Since around 1980, the household i… As the SARS-CoV-2 virus has spread around the globe, concerns have shifted from supply-side manufacturing issues to decreased business in the services sector. Other locals have recounted similar stories. The report adds details to a plan introduced by now former Secretary of Defense Mark Esper. On Thursday, the PSA announced that the country’s gross domestic product (GDP) growth rate declined by 16.5% in the second quarter of 2020, which was the lowest recorded quarterly growth since 1981. The group’s secretary general Cristina Palabay said, “The Duterte government and its minions [are] exploiting quarantine measures to harass, vilify, and rabidly arrest — even kill — activists. Democracy In The Philippines. Former DSWD chief and now of the broad network CURE COVID (Citizen’s Urgent Response to End COVID-19) Judy Taguiwalo criticized the use of an outdated census to guide the state’s relief effort. San Pedro adds, “Despite being endowed with tens of thousands of test kits in donations we failed to meet the target of 8,000 tests per day at the end of April. But we should be testing for all, not only by priority. The Philippines has recorded the worst economic growth since the recession in 1981, according to the data released by Philippine Statistics Authority. For most middle-class families without high-return investment accounts or trust funds to rely on, their main source of income are their jobs. China's massive investments in Ethiopia give it a lot to lose amid renewed sectarian violence. In its World Economic Situation and Prospects 2019 report, the UN said it sees the Philippines’ gross domestic product (GDP) growth to have … This tax structure resulted in a nationwide revenue problem during the worldwide recession of the early 2000s, because nationals living abroad earn less money and as a result, pay fewer taxes. But each barangay has only been allotted around 400 slots for the SAP. A week later, the government announced its initial emergency response package to the virus, totaling $535 million. Curfew violators, poor and displaced residents, activists, and alleged “fake news” disseminators are facing arrest and persecution as they accuse authorities of failing to provide relief. Longstanding tensions between East Malaysia and Peninsular Malaysia have some seeking autonomy – or even secession. There have been moments of abject incompetence from those in power around the world, but using the pandemic as a reason for increasingly flexing authoritarian muscles spells danger for the Philippines post-lockdown. More than 99 million Filipinos lived on less than $5,000 a year. Michael Beltran is a freelance journalist from the Philippines. With newly acquired powers he called for an even stricter implementation of the ECQ. Even with ECQ measures still in place in early May, the government allowed for large-scale gambling with the re-opening of. Meanwhile, there was a noticeable rapid decline in supplies of items like face masks. Filipino workers who make the daily operation of transport systems, factories, and malls possible are still largely left out in the government’s aid efforts,” said the coalition in a joint statement.Â, The whole world is looking forward to a return to some semblance of normalcy. Can the Duterte government gets its act together? Ninety-two individuals across five cities were imprisoned while either engaging in feeding programs or joining online protests.Â, Prominent human rights group KARAPATAN slammed the mass arrests, saying the regime should refocus its efforts. CEO Compensation and America's Growing Economic Divide. Economic problems in the Philippines include high unemployment and the concentration of wealth in a small number of wealthy families. Other locals have recounted similar stories. A few days later, the ban was expanded to the entirety of China, with the delay, as affirmed by Department of Health (DOH) chief Francisco Duque, attributed to a reluctance to upset relations with China. Social, Economic, and Political Issues in the Philippines Church Response POLICE AND SECURITY APPARATUS Serious institutional problems, one of which is corruption, in PNP Ineffective Internal Affairs Service of the PNP PNP members often accused of torture, accepting bribes The Diplomat has removed paywall restrictions on our coverage of the COVID–19 crisis. Credit: Ace Morandante/Malacanang Presidential Photographers Division via AP)\, The global crisis is first and foremost a public health issue, but Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has faced the coronavirus pandemic in a decidedly militaristic fashion. She told, , “Limiting the financial assistance to a list based on the 2015 census created major delays in the distribution. Inflation is currently running at 35 percent and unemployment is about 23 percent throughout the Philippines.14 Economic growth may fall … My orders are to the police and military, as well as village officials, if there is any trouble, or occasions where there’s violence and your lives are in danger: shoot them dead.”, Taking his cue, the police declared they will stop issuing warnings and will simply arrest even low-level violators of the quarantine rules. Plagued by chronic procedural problems in the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), there are constant complaints of the SAP not reaching its intended beneficiaries and the allocations per town being far too small to do much good. At a police press briefing in early April, arrests were shown to have spiked during the quarantine, with the cops nabbing an average of more than a thousand people per day nationwide.Â, Since then there have been reports and sightings of extreme prejudice in the operations of law enforcement. People are lining up under the heat of the summer sun desperate for assistance. The decline in poverty in the Philippines is slower than that of other nations in the region, and for those who depend on farming and fishing for income, economic trends keep them poor, largely due to misuse of … for Us. Downplaying the hysteria as Filipinos scrambled for protective, medical, and sanitation equipment, Duterte attempted to allay fears in early February, saying there was “nothing really to be scared of.”Â, Meanwhile, there was a noticeable rapid decline in supplies of items like face masks. That’s according to the World Bank’s latest edition of Global Economic Prospects. The Philippines' rich biodiversity is under threat, mostly from human activities, including deforestation and forest degradation, illegal fishing and illicit wildlife trade. In this May 11, 2020, photo provided by the Malacanang Presidential Photographers Division, Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte, wearing a mask, talks to cabinet officials during a meeting at the Malacanang presidential palace in Manila, Philippines. The economy should have regained some lost ground in Q3 following Q2’s huge contraction, although momentum was likely still shaky amid lingering restrictions on activity. The pandemic caused the largest global recession in history, with more than a third of the global population at … Despite rapid economic growth in the Philippines in recent years, unemployment remains a persistent problem for the sprawling Southeast Asian nation of … What should South Asian states expect from the United States under Joe Biden? How can Filipinos, especially low-income families, stay at home when they are being forced into homelessness?Â. In the last week of March, Duterte announced a larger economic relief package of nearly $4 billion, primarily for low-income families, dubbed the Social Amelioration Program (SAP). There have been moments of abject incompetence from those in power around the world, but using the pandemic as a reason for increasingly flexing authoritarian muscles spells danger for the Philippines post-lockdown. Many children live in poverty in the Philippines, often lacking adequate shelter and clothing. Going to every door also requires a universal approach. On the day the first case was confirmed in the Philippines, presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo clarified that the government wouldn’t be distributing masks to vulnerable populations as, . Major delays in the Philippines Effects of Collapse of the San Roque residents: “I will not hesitate case November! 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