Today we face another period of both disgrace and
hope as the political rule clouds the democracy of the country with a new
administration. As we witness yet another year for the government to improve
things and meet the needs of the people they should be functioning for, the
current president Benigno Aquino affirms the positivity of his governance
during the annual State of the Nation Address last July 22, 2013 at the Congress
of the Philippines, Batasang Pambansa Complex, Quezon City.
A great population of Filipinos have considered
themselves under a regime of national agony in the past governments and it
can’t be denied that protests and rallies have innumerably swarmed throughout
the country. It was on May of 2010 when Senator Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III
became President and in his third year, “PNoy” is still running his regulation
to bring forth his motion of “tuwid na daan” for his boss – the Filipino
people. How is this seen and
felt so far? Are the statements in his address the hope that the citizens have
been waiting to achieve and surpass? Or are such improvements just sugar-coated
dismays? As Aquino veers away from the ways of the last administration, it
doesn’t shield him from criticisms.
The classic issue of
economy is one in of the many subjects that devise sudden meticulousness in
every citizen and it is with that such concern that a great population bases
the improvement in the country. Good thing to know, the gross domestic product
earned by the Philippine economy boosted to 7.8% which garnered praises as one
of the fastest growing economy in South East Asia, reflecting dynamic
productivity in manufacturing and construction. Such blooming outcome, however,
is not safe from criticisms. Analysts say that such growth is caused by the economic
activity covered by the previous quarter which was filled with springing
holidays. More importantly, the contradicting side claims that aside from the
flurry of holidays, the presence of the late elections elevated economic
activity. The point being, that the next quarters that cover the time span without elections might not be as
vibrant as today’s and that the boost of the economy is only because of those
wanting to win seats in politics.
Besides, how worthy is
the growth when economic health is not sensed by all of the Filipinos? A lot
are pulled to the charisma of the fact but the ones entirely happy about the
promotion are, in fact, the local and foreign businessmen. It runs a rather capitalistic point of view and
distorts the hope for a supposed-to-be progressive upshot for those below the
elite line.
Covered by this
generalized economic output is the foreign direct investment which, compared to
2012’s FDI of 2.8 billion, has reduced to 1.3 billion dollars – a staggering
1.5 billion dollar difference. Causing this reduction is most likely because of
business transactions that are awfully slow and exhaustive which is why it is
not impossible that the country is now behind its fellow South East Asian
neighbors in such field. The unemployment rate also surges to 7.5% from last
year’s 6.9%1 which means that a larger population has plunged down
to the line of clamouring for jobs. It is with such characteristics that, despite
the decline in poverty rate widens the fissure between the rich and the poor,
making the balance of poverty and inequality reek of inconsistency.
PNoy stressed out that the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) was implemented to alleviate poverty by
investing in education and health most especially those aged up to 18 years. In
partner with the Department of Social Welfare and Development, the program aims
to relieve and hopefully, put an end to intergenerational poverty cycle. However,
a lot of people argue that the system of beneficiary selection is flawed and
greatly influenced by the dark politics.
Aside from this, the
program calls for immense budget to sustain its objectives for the upcoming
years. Much of the funds constituting the conditional cash grants given to
beneficiaries are generated from loans abroad, particularly from the United
States which possesses 45.2% of the total fund. By the tail-end of August 2010,
the Asian Development Bank (ADB) approved a US$400 million loan precisely for
the 4Ps which will run from 2011 to 2014.2 This comprises a total of
65.2% or two-thirds of the whole fund loaned by the Philippine government to
run the program of five years. Being a program fuelled by debt, this does not
guarantee a return to the country’s economy unlike public projects such as roads,
bridges and other infrastructures.
This fiscal complexity
is something we cannot deny while the Aquino administration veers away from the
severed policies of the previous administration. A lot of people have been
protesting for the lack of positive results but is it really time to rally a
battalion when it is only the third year of the administration? What some
people fail to recognize is the weight of the responsibilities carried by such
position and it is the support from us “bosses” that the government is
invigorated to do more. Some people expect too much, while some are grateful
enough to live in contentment. The fact that there are always negative effects
and restraints of positive outcomes cannot also be rejected. Such binary
opposites stress both the hopes and protests of the Filipinos.
As such, it is up to
the Aquino administration to stride efficiently enough to instill the
improvement in all of the social classes of the Filipino population. -30-
Sources:
1
- http://www.philstar.com/business/2013/06/11/952797/philippine- unemployment-6.9-7.5
2 - http://polsc14.wordpress.com/papers/conditional-cash-transfer-program-in-the-philippines-pantawid-pamilyang-pilipino/
Editorial Cartoon - http://opinion.inquirer.net/files/2013/07/editorial-cartoon-july-21-2013.jpg
Editorial Cartoon - http://opinion.inquirer.net/files/2013/07/editorial-cartoon-july-21-2013.jpg
