Why Philippines was overtaken by the Koreans? you know why this why..

[sgrnim]

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Understandin Poverty

October 2001. The Population Commission (Popcom) said there are 30.6 million Filipinos or 6.12 million families who are suffering from poverty. When I learned about this, I took consolation with the notion that I am not alone, yet I felt dismayed over the complacency of our national government officials who seem undisturbed by the fact that 40 percent of their constituents live below the poverty line throughout the country's 78 provinces, 84 cities or 41,940 barangays. How can they sit back and relax?

There are about 77 million Filipinos today, and this number is growing by 2.05 percent annually. This means that some 1.5 million Filipinos are born every year, 600,000 of whom to poor parents. Some 32.5 million Filipinos, comprising 66.3 percent of the population, are considered matured enough to work. But 3.3 million of these people, or 10.1 percent of the workforce, cannot find jobs while 5.2 million others, or 17.7 percent, have no regular source of income.

By international standards, these are critical problems. The Taiwanese government is in the brink of panic, because the unemployment rate in that country just north of Luzon is threatening to hit 5 percent, year-on-year. Yet, our Filipino government officials are sitting relaxed inside posh restaurants and five-star hotels, as 8.5 million Filipinos or 28 percent of the workforce are trying to figure out where to source the next meal for their families.

According to the World Bank, the Philippines had a per capita GNP of US$1,050 in 1999, compared to China's US$780, Indonesia's US$600, Vietnam's US$370, Lao's US$290 or Cambodia's US$280. Yet, the Philippines' poverty incidence rate of 40 percent is higher than China's 3 percent, Indonesia's 23 percent, Vietnam's 37 percent, Lao's 38 percent or Cambodia's 36 percent. Why is that? Wealth in the Philippines is concentrated on the hands of the few, that's why. It is the World Bank, and not the NDF, which gave such explanation.

Now consider this, the prestigious Forbes magazine has included at least five Filipinos in the list of world billionaires (US dollars). Let us rejoice! Imagine, highly industrial and welfare states like France, Finland, the Netherlands, Norway and Sweden do not have a single representative to the billionaires' circle.

Among Southeast Asian countries, poverty incidence is most extreme in the Philippines where some 15.3 million Filipinos (half of the poor population) wake up every morning without food on the table. These people are called subsistence individuals or whose income cannot provide for basic food requirements. Popcom's data is even conservative because in its interpretation, a family of six earning a total of P72,000 a year is not considered poor. In contrast, a study conducted by the National Wages and Productivity Commission (NWPC) pegged the minimum income that a family of six must earn annually at P191,874 in order to live decently in Metro Manila.

The labor sector has been demanding for a P125 daily wage hike or 50 percent of the current level but the group of employers claimed that such wage adjustment would force many establishments out of business. Listening more to the rhetoric of the rich rather than to the howl of the poor, the Regional Tripartite Wage Board has approved only a P30 daily wage increase in the metropolis. The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) event want us to believe that the previous minimum daily wage of US$5 (P250) in Manila is much higher than China's US$1. Ironically, the Philippines reported a poverty incidence rate of 40 percent, much higher than China's 3 percent.

What makes things more difficult for us is the high prices of commodities. The country's inflation rate, estimated at 6 to 7 percent annually, is the highest in Asia. Japan, a super rich country, is ironically having a deflation.

Let us make some computation. A person who is covered by the minimum wage would not take home P250 a day. Most likely, the wage, after tax and pension deductions, on top of travel and meal expenses, would amount to something like P150. A person who passes by a fastfood center, which is not in anyway a luxurious restaurant, might spend at least P50, or 33 percent of his take-home income on a roll of rice and a fried chicken wing. That explains his purchasing power. Imagine spending all of your daily income in just three meals at an inexpensive restaurant. Food is supposed to account for less than 20 percent of a man's expenses.

While it might be true that a P125 daily wage adjustment will be bad for business (the Central Banks warned it would push inflation rate to 18 percent), this might be the only option that the poor has against poverty. Unless the government can do something like bringing the prices of food and other basic commodities, there is no other recourse but to increase the poor's purchasing power. The government needs to do its own computation, and put some system in managing the affairs of the nation.

Sadly, it seems that our government officials haven't learned anything from the past. Only last year, about 500 people were killed when a 50-meter pile of garbage collapsed on their makeshift houses in a dumpsite in Quezon City. This was the absolute face of poverty, whose image failed to instill understanding among our numb leaders. Now, who could blame the 20,000 protesters who stormed to Malacanang Palace last May 1. The people in the media, who were not even aware on what the attack was about, had the guts to brand these protesters a mob of poor and undisciplined warriors.

It also seems that the current crop of leaders have nothing to offer, and one opposition senator even admitted that in 30 years, the Philippines will not even reach the level of Thailand, which I understand, is still a poor country. This is anything but encouraging. Imagine spending the next 30 years of your life in poverty (if the tension in Central Asia does not lead into another world war, of course). We wait for a day that one leader will rise to change our mindset and status in life. Someone who will promise to turn the Philippines into a country of mostly rich people in his lifetime and can convince us that he really can.

[AmorsoloX]

the people are to blame for their inaction and lack of imagination.. its not the governments role to feed them..

a higher wage wouldnt solve any problem.. it would only make matters worse.. an increase in wages would mean an increase in the production cost of goods.. that would only make our products less competetive.. people lack foresight...

[istoryaaah]

the people are to blame for their inaction and lack of imagination.. its not the governments role to feed them..

a higher wage wouldnt solve any problem.. it would only make matters worse.. an increase in wages would mean an increase in the production cost of goods.. that would only make our products less competetive.. people lack foresight...

point taken, but it's not the role of the government to be business tycoons either. how can you not blame a government, when you are paying almost half of your earnings to them? how can you not ask for support if half of what they do should be meant for you? Corruption is only a factor, but its a factor to be reckoned with. there's the big "IF" in the world of living... If only the hard earned money would be spent wisely... if only good governance would prevail... If only I was born rich... but hey who are we to question right? we lack foresignt...

i lack inaction because i starve.... i lack imagination because i hunger for food... i'm cold... i'm thirsty... but i promise to pay the government whatever I can... pif! you are and your business endeavors... When can one say "I work for the purpose of my fellowman... and I'll die so that one can live longer..."

[AmorsoloX]

point taken, but it's not the role of the government to be business tycoons either. how can you not blame a government, when you are paying almost half of your earnings to them? how can you not ask for support if half of what they do should be meant for you? Corruption is only a factor, but its a factor to be reckoned with. there's the big "IF" in the world of living... If only the hard earned money would be spent wisely... if only good governance would prevail... If only I was born rich... but hey who are we to question right? we lack foresignt...

i lack inaction because i starve.... i lack imagination because i hunger for food... i'm cold... i'm thirsty... but i promise to pay the government whatever I can... pif! you are and your business endeavors... When can one say "I work for the purpose of my fellowman... and I'll die so that one can live longer..."

the government has been generous to businessmen like me.. their services are so far so good.. i enjoy the benefits of my taxes..

corruption exist whether you like it or not.. its up to you on how to live with it. or better, do something about it.. and by doing something, not by just talking about it here in forums..

walay mangingilad kung walay magpailad..

i starve because i didnt take action.. i hunger for food because i didnt use my imagination to look for one.. ang tao nga kamao mo trabaho di jud magutman..

kung wala trabaho, e di, maghimo trabaho.. saun..

example...
sa bukid lang daan di man jud ka magutman, pila ra pagtanom camote.. now walay kwarta.. daghanon nimo tanom kamote.. ipabaligya daun sa syudad.. saun.. except if you too lazy.. and you lack the imagination...

so basically, you want the government to take care of you? jeee, communist ra kaau.... think what you can do for your country, not what the country can do for you.. thats a seflish thought.

as a businessman, i provide jobs to my employees, and i pay them so they can have something to spend..now kinsa man mo mka ingon nga wat im doing is not for the sake of the country?

[gikapoy]

ilisi na ang mga tiguwang nga teachers
ilisi ug batan on
outdated teaching methods + outdated books + outdated teachers = good luck sa mga kabataan

[skooter]

hmmmm...it seems u guys can't really figured out wat happen 2 dis country, mao nai lisod hehehehe...

[skooter]

loyalty politics is really dragging this country to a rat-hole...come to think of it tanawa ra gud sa inyo surroundings mao lang dyapon mga pamilyaha nag hawd2x in the name of public service kuno...ako pa ninyo noh ato pamatyon ang mga bugo-on kana bitaw mga taw dli magamit sa society unproductive people actually. Besides they don't pay taxes and can easily be manipulated by stupids trapos.

Mga gypsies kana wala mga valid govt. IDs ipa gas chamber!

[Maikeru]

The biggest hindrance of this country is the attitude of its countrymen.
Unless we will acknowledge and try to change ourselves, we are going nowhere near prosperity.
All we will be able to do is point and blame.

[raski]

What's that sound I hear? Clack clack clack, wurag kinason lagi.. ITS CRABS and their MENTALITY. muhahaha..

I lament some of the comments here, because it seems to portend a future of even more poverty and destitution for the vast majority of our countrymen, in that it shows a mentality that seeks to find excuses rather than find solutions.

Take for instance the post about the government "catering to the rich" by refusing to increase minimum wage at the full amount the labor unions demanded. It shows such a lack of understanding of basic economics on the part of the poster, because in the same paragraph he cries about high inflation rate. Yet in the same paragraph he is demanding higher wages. Does he not see the relationship between higher wages and higher inflation rate? He almost got it when he noted how, ironically, China a country that hardly ever increases minimum wages for some reason has a lower inflation rate and a lower incidence of poverty. Could it perhaps be because, indeed, increasing minimum wages is counterproductive and does not actually help anyone?

Minimum wages are a communist and therefore outdated and stupid idea, it demands that people be paid more than they are actually worth. Do you want to know what the solution is to poverty? It's not minimum wages, but less laziness and more productivity. Sad fact of the matter is, we are not as efficient as our Asian neighbors, nor are we as well educated and yet we demand higher wages. The result? Hyperinflation. And you wonder why despite your large wage increase, you can barely scrape together a living.

Lastly the excuse that there are hardly any jobs and the government needs to do more is pure hogwash. I know so many people who just want to make tambay and sit around all day, while dependent on the wife/husband/brother/sister to make a living for them. I know this one guy who was offered help in getting a job as a waiter and he refused because he felt being a waiter was beneath him. And sitting around and doing nothing all day but play basketball isn't? Geez. And you wonder why Korea overtakes us, they are so far ahead of us in terms of culture and attitude. Ang problema gyud nato, daghan kaayog baga og nawong. Dili na uroy sila maulaw nga unemployed sila inya mamili pa gyud og trabaho. Nagdahum sila nga mahimo silang bank manager pero wala sila ka-graduate og high school. Sus. Pag-waiter nalang diha do! Maayo nalang na kaysa wa!

[SioDenz]

ilisi na ang mga tiguwang nga teachers
ilisi ug batan on
outdated teaching methods + outdated books + outdated teachers = good luck sa mga kabataan

I disagree, maybe we can change teaching methods or books or curriculum but tiguwang na teachers? no..

My mother is a teacher and shes already past 50 years old, pero i will tell you mas kabalo pa siya mutudlo ana mga bag o na mga teachers karon, bisag +1 pa, hehe