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CHAPTER 2 – ACTIVITY 1
1. Create an essay of not less than 300 words explaining the economic problems in the Philippines and what are your suggestions or recommendations on how to improve the economic conditions in the Philippines. (50 points)
According to 2015 International Monetary Fund Statistics, the economy of the
Philippines is the 39th largest in the world and also one of the emerging markets. But, despite of this achievement, we can’t deny that economic problems are still on its high peak in the Philippines. Through the recent years, Philippines had so much effort in addressing and battling this economic problems. Different ways had been implemented, but the problems are still causing some diseases in our economy. Some of the problems are as follows: Low income mobility or the situation wherein the income is suffering in downward mobility, there is a slow progress in the mobility for past generations until now, someone is having a hard time to change his/her income or wealth as time passes by. Second is Poverty and income inequality, the poverty due to unemployment, hunger and some corrupt officials and the inequality on income especially for the labour workers. Third, Poor Healthcare and Nutrition, healthcare establishments are not high- tech like the other countries where there are many kinds equipment’s where they can provide good services to their patients, also due to brain drain, Philippines are lacking the enough number of healthcare. Lastly is environmental degradation, due to the depletion of the natural resources it greatly affects our economy, our disturbance on the environment has adverse impacts on us. Economic problems would last longer as long as the solutions are weak. In general, economic problems in the Philippines are still very high, and one of the drivers that causes the decline in our economy is poverty, there is a low ratio of economic growth. My own suggestion in order to improve the economic conditions in the Philippines is through pursuant of the government goal in transitioning the Philippines into an industrial country, industrialization can help us to keep up with the other countries, exportation and production will expand.
2. What are the problems of agriculture? Give specific problems of a Filipino farmer. (15 points
As stated in the module, “Agriculture compared with other major economic
activities have many disadvantages”. Problems related to agriculture are as follows: The occurrence of Natural calamities that affects the production output and investment. Also, financing, production, processing, and marketing. In other words economic condition is another problem, if the economy of a country is not prosperous, it will greatly affect the agricultural sector because the farms can’t afford to procure machineries, tools, and equipment’s which are badly needed to sustain the production. Some specific problems of a Filipino farmers are the high cost of inputs, low price of the product, lack of capital, labor problem, lack of postharvest facilities, pest and diseases and irrigation system. These are applicable to Filipino rice farmers.
3. Position Paper. Choose only one topic that you want to discuss about your position. Do the Philippine needs to adopt Agricultural or Industrialization for economic development? Support your answer. (30 points) Philippines main source of economy and wealth is Agriculture, Philippines main agricultural crops are rice, corn, coconut, sugarcane, bananas, pineapple, coffee, mangoes, tobacco, and abaca. However, relying on Agriculture is not enough, there is a need for industrialization. Philippines should adopt industrialization for economic development. If the country would be industrialized, it will have a booming economy that will result into an enormous potential for further growth. Improving the country’s infrastructure in order to create jobs and business opportunities and boost economic growth. Philippines as an industrialized country will become globally competitive, upholding services and manufacturing to dominate the economy can lead to economic development. Taking the agricultural workers to work in the factories and offices in operating the manufacturing of electronics and other high-tech components to expand production so that exportation and the attraction of new investments in order to catalyze industry growth. Furthermore, as a basis or evidence that the Philippines have the capability to attain and achieve industrialization, here are the years that shows some of the achievements that our economy has developed relative to the industrialization of our country, “in the recent years when our country become the 3rd country to enter the 5% industrial growth club in 1913 and continue until 1928 – 1932 during the interwar years and the ISI years in 1950 – 1972”.
4. Why do we call the rural areas the roots of poverty? (15 points)
“The world’s poorest are found in the rural areas of the poor countries". Poverty in the rural area is characterized from the basic problems which are the unjust economic, social, and political structure according to Dr. Dioscoro Umali or in other words severe depravation of human needs. People in the rural areas are affected by their economic condition, they are relying on agriculture for their living, and their wealth came from agriculture. Overpopulation and shortage on income are also manifestation of poverty in rural places, hunger is inevitable to them. Also, access to different services are not present in their condition. According to Human Rights Careers, reasons for the existence of poverty in rural areas are the lack of good job, lack of good education, weather (since they are relying on agriculture), and social injustice, lack of infrastructure and lack of government support.
