The Prospect for Social Progress in the Philippines

Abstract

AN IMPORTANT consequence of the coming to power of the Communists in China has been an increase in the international significance of present and prospective legislation in Southeast Asia. Social welfare-broadly inclusive of economic welfare and related to such matters as agrarian relations, labor conditions, cooperatives, education, housing, public health, etc.-is properly regarded as a component of political stability. The expectation of many Asians that the new regime in China will achieve important gains, set itself up as a model for Southeast Asia, and aggravate existing areas of tension has been construed as a political threat. Thus, in the Philippines, shortly after his election in November I949, President Elpidio Quirino declared that his program of social amelioration was designed to meet the threat of Communism.' The subsequent visit to Southeast Asia of United States Ambassador Philip C. Jessup and the dispatch of an American technical mission to the area have been interpreted as evidences of official American interest in the situation. Despite the President's announcement and the deep political significance of legislation today, present government planning evidently does not envisage an extensive social-reform program. Recent speeches by President Quirino suggest that government efforts will be directed chiefly toward economic development, and that reforms-particularly agrarian reforms-will play a very minor role. Presumably this attitude stems largely from the influence of those economic planners who have remained in office from the earlier Roxas administration and who apparently view economic development as a logical successor to the rehabilitation which until i949 received most attention. Prevailing official opinion appears to hold that, in this period of budgetary deficits, basic reforms are too expensive and would, moreover, retard