Patterns Of Social Well‑Being In The Philippines

Abstract

Introduction The disquieting developments of the past decade in the Philippines have not failed to catch the attention of silent but concerned observers. During the eight years of Martial Law, attempts at translating the objectives of the New Society *l into implement able policies and programmes were carried out. The Land Reform Program was launched; rural or countryside'* development strategies were drawn up; social infrastructure projects received much government support; foreign capital investment and export promotion were gready encouraged. More recendy, there have been concentrated efforts at gene rating alternative energy resources to counter the debilitating impact of the world energy crisis on an economy that is 90% dependent on crude oil. The tangible outcomes in terms of improvements in the quality of life, even after more than eight years of Martial Rule, are yet to be seen. Recent incidents which include the lingering hostilities in the Muslim areas of Min danao, the increasing threat posed by the National People's Army in several regions of the country, the series of bomb explosions culminating in an attempt on the life of President Marcos at the opening ceremony of the International Travel Association Conference, rnilitary abuses and confrontations with minority groups on the construction of the Chico River Dam, are all indicative of growing unrest and instability. Philippine economic realities corroborate these social scenarios. Despite laudable economic performance attri buted to the impressive increase in the gross national product (GNP), from PI5.5 billion in 1957 to P43.4 billion2 in 1975 (an increase of 280%), and a further increase of 100% from 1975 to 1979 (with an estimated rate of growth of 6 to 6.5% ), the extent of poverty has not shown any decline. A World Bank report concluded that poverty conditions have actually worsened, as illustrated by family income and expenditure surveys conducted from 1971 to 1975: the extent of the population characterized as poor rose from 38% in 1971 to 45% in 1975.3 The number of poor households increased from 2.5 million to 3.3 million during the same period (Far Eastern Economic Review [FEER]f 27 March 1981, p. 125). Other estimates based on a poverty line defined by food threshold levels, depict an even more grim situation: the Philippine poor comprise about 64% of the total population. The