VILORIA, Lemark Bernal

MA Ed Social Science Teaching SS 503 Development Economics Prof. Jerick Ferrer REACTION PAPER

THE RH BILL: WHY AN AGING POPULATION IS NOT GOOD FOR THE ECONOMY
Ma. Esther Salcedo Posadas, Philippine Daily Inquirer, Nov 19, 2011

Thesis Statement: An aging population is not good for the economy. Thesis Argument: The labor force and the working economy of each country depend on the fertility and population growth rate of its citizens. An aging population deters the work force and productivity of the nations, thus Reaction: The RH (Reproductive Health) Bill is a controversial bill proposed by the Congress and supported by many sectors, as well as many sectors and congressmen are against it. The bill itself is so encompassing that it has a direct effect on different issues and problems that the country is facing now. In this article, it discussed one of the factors regarding the issue an Aging Population. An aging population reflects a national population when (a) the median age of the population rises, (b) rising life expectancy, (c) declining birth rate, and/or (d) increasing mortality rates of young population. It is a shift of the population towards older ages thus creating a problem for the government in terms of labor or work force. When the population ages, the productivity of individual lessens (factors of aging, diseases, etc.), thus lesser workers are earning to make a living or support their families. In the Philippines, the current debate of population is either: (a) there are too many people living right now in the country (101,833,938 people1) and (b) the actual fertility rate (3.19 children born/women1) and population growth rate (1.903%1) in the country is declining. Both data translates to a median age of 22.91 for the whole nation. I believe that there is overpopulation in the country right now, and that each person depends on the productivity of the minority. There is a shrewd graph representing the minority that actually

contributes to the development and progress of the county compared to the majority of dependents that needed government intervention or involvement for their living.

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The minority that is the employed working age population shoulders the cost of education, health, pensions, tax subsidies and transfer payments and other government intervention that the majority of the unemployed population needs though taxes which may be direct or indirect. The minority employed population will soon retire and they will add to the burden of the new large minority population that will be employed and will thus, shoulder the cost for government interventions. In the Philippine setting, the larger a population is, the lesser employment opportunities we get because of the small production module we can produce. Although, I also believe that the declining population growth rate and fertility rate may pose danger to the next generation as the present population will soon die, and the less growth rate may reflect to have a negative working age population. While the majority of population may be included in the senior citizens who will now be dependent to a smaller and less productive working class, there will be a shift to the responsibility to maintain or increase the population. When the huge sector of the population grows old, there is only a small segment of young people available to occupy the vacant jobs in these countries. The shortage of manpower can diminish the quality and the quantity of the goods and services provided to the country and its population. And in order to retain the positive working age population the country may soon depend on immigration or population corrective measures. This danger may be sooner or later as we realize the possible effects of the RH Bill. Currently, the debate still is on the table regarding the fate of RH Bill, but we should all realize that these measure will have an effect both positive and negative but we should weigh both as to which is our priority.

Sources:

CIA World Fact Book: Estimated as of July 2011

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VILORIA, Lemark Bernal

MA Ed Social Science Teaching SS 503 Development Economics Prof. Jerick Ferrer REACTION PAPER

APEC IN HONOLULU: WHY AQUINO SHOULD SKIP THIS MEETING

Walden Bello, Philippine Daily Inquirer, November 10, 2011

Thesis Statement: APEC was one of the key battlegrounds against neoliberalism and free trade Thesis Argument: There are great problems in the region that cry for solutions from a truly partisan multilateral association of states, one that is not under the thumb of hegemonic powers, thats serves as a constructive forum for members states at par with one another and where a civil society is also given representation. Reaction: The article discusses two-fold argument one, is that APEC has been under the thumb of hegemonic powers that is the United States to force the member nations to sign to any US-led plan to empower APEC member countries; and two, is that APEC has failed to serve and irrelevant to the needs and demands of the people by engaging in the tactics and strategies of the richer countries, such as the United States. Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation or APEC was established in 1989 in response to the growing interdependence of Asia-Pacific economies and the advent of regional economic blocs (such as European Union) in the other parts of the world. 1 It is founded by original 12 member economies and expanded to 21 countries in 1998. All of these nations can be found in the Pacific Rim. Its main areas of works are: Trade Liberalization, Business Facilitation Efforts, and Economic and Technical Cooperation.

All of these works centers on creating an APEC Free Trade Area which was first rejected in the 1995 Osaka Summit, but was later convinced by a US-led APEC liberalized markets, thus opening up speculative capital sources to almost $100 billion. However, when the profit collapsed, it forced Thailand and other countries to float their currencies, thus triggering the 1997 Asian Financial Crisis. I never understood the reason behind that financial crisis, which shortened the expected Philippine Tiger Economy during the last days of Fidel Ramos presidency. In the Philippines, one of the numerous effects was a galloping inflation of product prices. It doubled the basic power prices which were just on the brink of a solution by the newly created Department of Energy. Many, not only in our country, suffered because of the economic speculation that triggered the crisis.
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APEC has been seen by many as a major non-player between the political, economic, cultural and military rivalry of the supremacy between United States and China. As in a blessed way, South East Asia is just on the middle of these two rival countries thus the political, economic, cultural and military focus on the area. This increased focus came much on the spotlight when United States proposed the new Trans-Pacific Partnership, a free trade area with the South East Asian economies. It was seen as a defensive move against the growing influence of China. However, China and United States depend much on one another, as United States has its companies invested in China for its cheap labor prices and loose practices, and China uses United States for its vast market to sell its exported goods and products. Beneath the meetings of APEC, here lies the irrelevance of it. Many believe the APEC has been the pseudo-bully of United States, as its policies reflects the wished of its biggest member state, whatever the need for peaceful resolutions to its domestic problems. APEC, as I believe, must serve the interest of its citizens of the majority countries, if it really wants to be relevant today. Free trade and economic liberalization may be a key to development; however, if more citizens suffer because of the overflow of economic speculations that might trigger another financial crisis, it needs to refocus on the values enshrined by APEC unity, cooperation and resolution. These values answers the needs for sustainable development, by which, countries should put emphasis on. It can also serve as a mechanism for disputes through peaceful resolutions, such as the ongoing Thailand-Cambodia conflict in Preah Vihear Temple, Korean Peninsula crisis, and the 6country disputes in the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea.) It may also address the very important environmental issues, conditions of its

migrant workers (ex. Overseas Filipino Workers), and recognition of indigenous people as equal citizens. These values must be the guiding principle of ASEAN as it convenes its leaders for a new round of talks and meetings to create a free trade agreement. As for its citizens, we must always be vigilant, because if our government hesitates to do the best for us, we must be aware and awake to take actions, for if others fail us, it would be unwise to relinquish the best of ourselves for them.

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Sources:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asia-Pacific_Economic_Cooperation

VILORIA, Lemark Bernal

MA Ed Social Science Teaching SS 503 Development Economics Prof. Jerick Ferrer REACTION PAPER

TRANSITION TO DEMOCRACY: THE PHILIPPINE EXPERIENCE

Jesus P. Estanislao, Philippine Daily Inquirer, November 21, 2011

Thesis Statement: The Philippines went through transition from a dictatorship to an open democracy society in 1986. Thesis Argument: Reaction: The road of transition has not been easy, it has not been short.

The article discusses the transition from a dictatorial form of government to a democratic form of government, the transition started from an individual to institutions and from political to civil society. The transition has not been easy, - the road of the past from colonization and revolutions to peace and independence to war and coup d etats. The people and society were in ruins during the front of dictatorial; however, as stated by Atty. Oliver Lozano a Marcos loyalist Marcos made improvements throughout the country. But people know better, the people want better they were united by the revulsions of a

dictatorship. They immediately united to form against the dictatorship different as it may seem, difficult as it may get they were united and unified in a common task ahead. The road is not easy, the path is not straight, however, their vision and commitment is unwavering. Unlike other countries, the road to our democracy is guided by a blessing of an icon Pres. Corazon Aquino, followed by the successions of presidency of Fidel Ramos, Joseph Estrada, Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and Benigno Aquino III. The fundamental challenge is of politics the corruption of the Constitution and branches of government has been a tough trial. As I am an EDSA baby I witnessed the rough transition to democracy. The road to change is a tough and challenging, as it is fulfilling and achieving to the people who became part of it. For the youth that came with it, it is living with the freedom and liberty that has become the product of that challenge. We also relieve the respect and observance of law, the media that has influence public opinion, the rehabilitation of economic and debt services and the civility of the ideal rights of the people. It has become an important idea that the rights and liberties shall be upheld rightfully.
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Although even with these changes, the distrust in government institutions and suspicion of wrongdoings of public officials are still widespread, that the people and the institutions are given free rein to continue the changes and priorities of the nation. We believe that the nation conceived in trust, results to progress and development; and that a nation conceived in deceit is doomed to last. But democracy is a numbers game, and the people in a new government, even though how principled they are will always be subjected to the majoritys decision1 (Obama, 2009). If the majority insists policies with vestige of corruption, bad governance and flawed civil culture2, (Estanislao, 2010) these challenges remains in our society. We must face these challenges and unite our goals, for a democracy that is united is a working democracy. Nevertheless, it is also befitting that a democracy that has conflicts is a true democracy that these issues are being discussed, and that issues are the center of our working democracy not on individuals, not centered on the people who mattered on the issue. And yet for all our disagreements, we would be hard pressed to find those who doesnt subscribe to the basic set of individual liberties.1 (Obama, 2009) After all, democracy is by the people, for the people and of the people.

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Sources: 2010

1 2

Obama, Barack, The Audacity of Hope, 2009 Estanislao, Jesus P., Transition to Democracy, Philippine Daily Inquirer,