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Arroyo Administration
EDUCATION:
Education Reform

Article: http://www.macapagal.com/gma/initiatives/edureform.php

The education reform that the succeeding president Gloria Macapagal Arroyo
implemented focuses on 7 different aspects namely:

1.)    Easing the Textbook Backlog which is the printing of 10 million copies of textbooks
for 19,000 public schools to ensure that every student specifically does in Grade I to
Grade IV would have textbooks for the priority subjects.

2.)    The constructing of more school buildings with an allotted budget of 40 million
pesos

3.)    Restoring English as medium of instruction

4.)    Implementing the Basic Education Curriculum (BEC). Upgrading the teaching of
five learning areas of English, Science, Math, Filipino and Makabayan in basic education
and Training teachers as well.

5.)    Improving Teacher Welfare by cleaning up its automatic payroll deduction systems
(APDS) for teachers with loans and by hiring an additional of 15,000 new teachers.

6.)    Mainstreaming Distance Learning: The project, aimed at extending the benefits of
education to remote barangays that do not have classrooms and teachers, has made
schooling available through television facilities put up in areas where quality of
education is very low. In areas where television cannot reach them, the students are
taught through “technovans”, which house a television set and instructional materials in
reading, writing and arithmetic.

7.)    Launching the Internet-based Education Program. In support of the national effort
to empower and prepare the youth for the Information Age, the ed. venture program has
already built 15 fully equipped, Internet-connected and fully air-conditioned computer
laboratories in public schools nationwide.

Proving that the succeeding president had gave her priority to the needs of our country
in terms of better education.
 

Saving the Philippine Education

Article: https://fvdb.wordpress.com/2007/07/25/saving-the-philippine-education-inc/

President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo seeks better quality of Philippine education. Her
government believes that education is a key venture that “can break the Filipino’s
seemingly endless cycle of poverty.” The education sector indubitably plays a very
important role in nation building. Based on the human capital theory, the primary
function of education is to ignite economic development. This is anchored on the belief
that the more and better educated people are, the bigger the chances of economic
growth. High literacy rate vs state of the country. However, it would be impossible to
attain this objective if the Filipino brand of education has been draining away. One
problem is that the education sector is becoming more and more dependent on the
national government. This situation is even worsened by the ballooning population
growth estimated at 2.3 annually. Population growth is seen to have aggravated the
situation. SUCs growing more dependent, during her time the Philippine
government is spending over P62,000 per student at UP. Government
subsidy is too high compared to the state university’s maximum tuition fee
level of only P8,000, considering that a substantial fraction of UP students
belong to high income bracket. Quality of education is poor, The
Congressional Planning and Budget Department, in an analysis of the 2007
national budget, blamed the poor quality of education on “the inadequate
budget for basic education.”

Now we ask, where did most of the budget go?

The article also states that there is Lack of political will. The absence of political
will and leadership comes out as one of the contributory factors why the
Philippines is now biting dust in the race towards excellence in Southeast
Asia. Also considering the big amount of public funds lost from corruption.

 -Mia Gigante-

 
 

HEALTH:
In Coma Healthcare under GMA

Article: http://philrights.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/right-to-health.pdf

The Philippines’ health situation suffered a seizure under the Arroyo

government. Within almost a decade-long tenure of office, GMA’s healthcare
program seemingly went into coma. Measures supposedly addressing
healthcare barely made a dent on the problems of accessibility, affordability
and quality of services, and at times even exacerbated the dismal health
situation. 

Statistics from the National Statistical Coordination Board (NCSB) reveal the
probabilities of achieving the said goals. Goal No. 4 which aims to reduce
child mortality through the decrease in under-five mortality rate and infant
mortality gained a high level of probability in being attained. Latest data from
the National Statistics Office (NSO) show that infant mortality rate went down,
from 28.7% in 2003 to 24.9% in 2008. Under-five mortality similarly decreased
from 39.9 % in 2003 to 33.5% in 2008. Improving maternal health as
stipulated in Goal No. 5 has a lower chance of being achieved.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has pegged the ideal percentage of
public health spending of developing countries at 5%. Health expenditure in
2005 increased by 9.4 percent, which amounts to P180.8 billion compared to
the previous year’s budget of P165.3 billion. However the share of health
expenditure to GDP was reduced. In 2005, it only reached 3.3 percent,
compared to 3.4 percent in 2004. This figure is still far from the 5% WHO
standard for public health spending. Apart from the low health spending,
budget appropriations are often subject to misuse and questionable utilization.

Indeed, the Arroyo administration is insensitive to the health needs of its

constituents. While the passage of laws such as the Cheaper Medicines Law
gained the applause of the public, its slow and anemic enforcement is
increasing the ire of those in dire need of affordable medicines.
Presyong Tama, Gamot Pampamilya

Article: http://www.macapagal.com/gma/initiatives/cheapmed.php

“Ang kalusugan ay karapatan ng bawat Pilipino”, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo

has directed the immediate implementation of a program that will improve public access
to quality healthcare. The Presyong Tama, Gamot Pampamilya program is
government’s concrete response to this need. Through her active support, President
Arroyo is the program’s staunchest advocate.

The program’s objective is to ensure consumers get value for money by providing them
better access to branded medicines of high quality at considerably lower prices. The
parallel drug importation program is among the various tools identified by the
government to push high medicine prices in the local market down to more reasonable
and affordable levels. Medicines sold through the program are from 23% to 84%
cheaper compared to those sold in local drug stores, yet those are not subsidized
prices.

Inadequate Budget Starving the Country’s Health

System

Article: http://bulatlat.com/main/2010/05/06/inadequate-budget-starving-the-countrys-
health-system

            Health organizations such as the Health Alliance for Democracy (HEAD) joined
other labor groups in the Labor Day rally on May 1, slamming the failure of President
Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s administration to address the “woes of the health sector.”
Worse, under Arroyo’s term, the military has illegally arrested and detained 43
community health workers, dubbed the “Morong 43,” when these practitioners serve the
people who do not have access to healthcare, HEAD said in a statement.

“The grossly inadequate budget allotted for health services has forced many health
professionals to work abroad, while those who opted to stay are stuck in unfair labor
practices and low wages,” said Sean Velchez, HEAD national staff.

Mostrales said the Arroyo administration depends on the exodus of health practitioners,
along with other overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), to keep the economy afloat.
Overseas Filipino workers, around 7 percent of whom are doctors and nurses, have sent
back US$17.9 billion worth of remittances in 2009, constituting 10.8 percent of the
country’s gross domestic product (GDP), according to a report from The Bangko Sentral
ng Pilipinas.

-JR Pastidio-

SECURITY:
China vs Philippines
Being more considerably receptive to Beijing’s commercial incentive and compromising
Philippines claims may have please China but not the Filipino people. Our security is at
risk if this issue is pushed through. Having too many bilateral agreements with other
countries also sound like letting them reign over Philippines with their products. It is
like we are selling Philippines to China. Filipinos should be the boss of this country, not
them foreigners. “Speaking of security, does enhanced security not also enhance our
national pride? There was a time when we couldn’t appropriately respond to threats in
our own backyard. Now, our message to the world is clear: What is ours is ours; setting
foot on Recto Bank is no different from setting foot on Recto Avenue.” The President
Aquino said. We should not let go pf what is rightfully ours or settle with what will be
left. Because if we do, it would be like agreeing to other people who would enter our own
yard to own it. Instead of fighting over a piece of land though, why not widen our
thinking and look for a solution that will benefit both countries and keeping  its people
safe, without compromising even the natural resources?

 -Jerico Bugarin-

ENVIRONMENT:
Environmentalists joint anti-GMA SONA
Article: http://bulatlat.com/main/2010/04/20/environmental-groups-list-arroyo
%E2%80%99s-crimes-against-the-environment-and-the-people/

Environmentalists are going to present their own agenda to rehabilitate the

environment in the coming State of the Nation Address (SONA). But they are not
going to present it to Gloria Macapagal Arroyo who they also want out of
Malacanang for deliberately ignoring and fouling up the environment.

Instead, environmentalists who belong to the recently formed Environment and

Natural Resources Advocates for GMA’s Expulsion (Enrage) will join the so-called
parliament of the streets that will assemble and march along Commonwealth avenue
and call for the ouster of President Arroyo either through resignation, impeachment
or people power.

“Not once in the four SONAs of GMA did she ever mention the environment. While it
exemplifies the lack of regard for the environment of a sitting, albeit bogus, head of
state, it also only proves her lack of interest for concerns other than herself. GMA
cannot be expected to serve the country and our people since her selfishness
subsumes all other interests, including the environment’s, under the expediency of
her ambition,” said actor-environmental advocates Roy Alvarez, a member of Enrage.

Misgovernance

Alvarez said members of Enrage are “raging” over the worse state of the
environment which he said is the result of GMA’s “misgovernance, especially of the
environment.”

To address the misgovernance of the environment, Alvarez said members of Enrage

came up with a list of immediate environmental demands as part of an agenda of
governance they plan to present to an alternative transitory council to replace the
Arroyo government. It is important for these demands to be immediately addressed,
Alvarez said as it “will start a process of environmental rehabilitation.”

The following are among Enrage demands: scrapping of the 1995 Mining Act;
cancellation of all forest agreements and review of the forestry code; cleanup and
rehabilitation of former US military base areas; justice and compensation to victims
of environmental disasters; scrapping of the 1992 Plant Variety Protection Act; a stop
to the commercialization of genetically-engineered crops; banning of the conversion
of agricultural lands and mangroves, lakes and forests; junking of the Visiting Forces
Agreement (VFA) and Mutual Logistics Support Agreement (MLSA); rehabilitation of
critical watershed areas and dead rivers; promotion of biodiversity preservation
programs and development of appropriate technologies; closure of all dumpsites and
rehabilitation of these areas; enforce ban on incinerator plants, serious
implementation of the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act; moratorium on
construction of coal-fired power plants and large dams; uphold the rights for self-
determination and the ancestral lands and resources of indigenous peoples;
harnessing and development of renewable energy sources; and the reorientation of
the Department of Environment and Natural Resources towards genuinely protecting
and wisely managing the environment.

Among the convening members of Enrage are: Mother Earth Foundation, Earth
Island Institute, Concerned Citizens Against Pollution, Kalikasan People’s Network for
the Environment, Saniblakas, Tanggol Kalikasan Movement, Dr. Helen Mendoza,
Brigadang Berde, Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas
(Pamalakaya), and the Center for Environmental Concerns.

 -Mia Gigante-

ECONOMY:
Dark Legacies: The Philippine Economy under
Arroyo by Carlos H. Conde

Article: https://asiancorrespondent.com/2010/06/dark-legacies-the-philippine-economy-
under-arroyo/

This disturbing divergence between the fortunes of a few and the welfare of the
many is the most troubling legacy that the Arroyo presidency leaves behind, and
among the greatest challenges that the incoming Aquino administration has to
confront to deliver any real change.

The Arroyo administration plays up the economic growth over its term- touted as the
best in over 30 years- as the gold standard of its performance.

Official reported growth in gross domestic product during the Arroyo administration
averaged 4.5% annually compared to 3.9% under Aquino, 3.8% under Ramos and
2.4% under Estrada.

The period 2001-2009 is the longest period of high unemployment in the country’s
history with the true unemployment rate averaging some 11.2%. The number of
jobless and underemployed Filipinos grew to 11.4 million in January 2010 which is
3.1 million more than in January 2001, when Pres.

In 2006, the net worth of just the 20 richest Filipinos- including close Arroyo allies
Lucio Tan, Enrique Razon, Jr., Eduardo Cojuangco, Enrique Aboitiz and others- was
P801 billion which was equivalent to the combined income for that year of the
poorest 10.4 million Filipino families.

The Arroyo administration is exiting upon the steepest increase in the national
government deficit in the country’s history- a P286 billion or 2,300% increase over
just two years from P12.4 billion in 2007 to P298.5 billion in 2009.

The economic legacy of the Arroyo administration will be the biggest obstacle on any
effort to improve the welfare of the people.

 
Faster Growth under Arroyo: Reality or Statistical
Illusion by Roel Landingin

Article: http://pcij.org/stories/faster-growth-under-arroyo-reality-or-statistical-illusion/

As indicated by the ad, financial development under Arroyo, “The charming market
analyst,” arrived at the midpoint of 5.6 percent so far contrasted with 4.1 percent under
“The on-screen character” Joseph Estrada, 3.9 percent under “The general” Fidel
Ramos, 4.1 percent under the “Housewife” Corazon Aquino and 3.2 percent under the
late “Legal advisor” Ferdinand Marcos.

Late development could be “Exaggerated,” by at the University of the Philippines School

of Economics, where Arroyo concentrated on for her PhD. In the June 2009 issue of the
Philippine Review of Economics, a companion surveyed diary distributed by the
Philippine Economic Society and the UP School of Economics, Felipe Medalla, educator
at the School of Economics, and Karl Robert Jandoc, a PhD hopeful, subject the nation’s
late financial executiono dependable retail deals discharges or different pointers of
shopper burning through, one needs to depend exclusively on GDP figures for gaging
family unit utilization, which makes up more than 75% of aggregate GDP. Preceding
today, information demonstrated flexible family spending had prompted the Philippine
economy to extend 1% quarter-on-quarter in the final quarter, presumably outpacing
development in China, India and Indonesia. Clearly, it turns out the Philippine
information (were) off track the imprint.” to all the more demanding examination.

“We inquire as to why is it that if monetary development is by and large accurately

measured, numerous markers and information sets are inconsistent with the as far as
anyone knows high financial development. Also, we find that Philippine development
designs – contracting development of household retention, fares and imports going with
rising yield development – don’t fit the example in other Asian nations.”

Medalla and Jandoc note that the Philippine development example is not at all like
other Asian nations where development rates of family unit utilization, government
spending, capital arrangement, fare, and imports rose or fell in pair with GDP
development. For our situation, lower imports development for the most part
represented speedier GDP development in the Philippines.

No Lost Decade under GMA by Paolo Romero

Article: http://www.philstar.com/headlines/2014/10/19/1381882/no-lost-decade-under-
gma

Former finance secretary Margarito Teves was remarking on President Aquino’s

rehashed attestations that Arroyo’s expression from 2001 to 2010 was “a lost decade” for
the nation’s economy.

Teves, who has been refered to as “Asia’s Best Finance Minister” amid his stretch in
government, said the Arroyo organization had established the framework which brought
about the Philippines’ FICO assessment redesigns which began amid her term and not
long after she ventured down from office.

At the point when requested that survey the Aquino organization, Teves said he is
complimenting the organization for supporting the financial development that was
started amid Arroyo’s term.

“The economy needs to develop more keeping in mind the end goal to grow the
monetary pie and guarantee that 100 million Filipinos share of it. Our economy needs to
grow eight percent reliably more than two decades to accomplish an expansion in per
capita wage that will convey us nearer to Thailand and Malaysia,” he said.

Prior, administrators from the business procedure outsourcing industry in the nation
credited Arroyo for being in charge of the enormous development of the area that has
utilized countless specialists.

Economics during GMA’s Administration by Javar

C. and Castillo A.

Article: https://prezi.com/-jpl7oem-bkh/economics-during-gmas-administration/

The full name of GMA is Maria Gloria Macareng Macapagal-Arroyo. She was born on
April 5, 1947 whose parents is Diosdado Macapagal and Evangelina Macareng-
Macapagal. Her siblings are Dr. Diosdady “Boboy” Macapagal Jr. and Cielo Macapagal-
Salgado. Her husband is Jose Miguel Arroyo. Their children are Juan Miguel Arroyo,
Evangelina Lourdes Arroyo and Diosdado Ignacio Jose Maria Arroyo.
For her higher education, she spent 2 years at Georgetown University’s Walsh School of
Foreign Service in Washington, D.C., consistent Dean’s List Status-Assumption college,
Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics, graduating magna cum laude in 1968. She
finished her Master’s degree in Economics at Ateneo de Manila University at 1978 and
Doctorate Degree in Economics at University of the Philippines Diliman at 1985.

She considered a run for the presidency in 1998 but was persuaded to seek the vice-
presidency instead. She is 1st duly elected female Vice President of the Philippines and
2nd female president.

With regards to ASEAN Summit, Arroyo’s foreign policy is anchored on building strong
ties with the United States, East Asian and Southeast Asian nations, and countries
where overseas Filipino workers work and live.

Holiday Economics is about Arroyo’s implementation of a controversial policy of holiday

economics, adjusting holidays to form longer weekends with the purpose of boosting
domestic tourism and allowing Filipinos more time with their families.

Japan-Philippine Economic Partnership Agreement and World Trade Organization are

trade deals to hamper meaningful progress by preventing nationalist economic policy-
making.

-Jake Arroyo-

ISSUES:
WHAT WENT BEFORE: ‘Hello Garci’ Scandal
Investigation

Article: http://m.inquirer.net/newsinfo/119639

During every election period, politicians always find their ways in winning Filipino
voters’ hearts. Campaigning in every part of the country just to make sure they will be
known in that region. BUT also in election period are we most deceived by the
politicians.

Hello Garci Scandal is one of the many issues this country has faced under the reign of
former President Arroyo. Although I was not yet a voter during that year, it bothers me
how a fine lady who I thought wished to serve this country, could do such thing and trick
the Filipino people? People’s human right was violated and all the former president
could say is that she is sorry. What will Philippines become with this kind of leaders?
This country will not attain what the great men had hoped for with this kind of acts from
our leaders. In my defense, although I was not yet a voter then, I hold a right on my
opinion and I think that Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo couldn’t have done it without the help
of the said man she was talking to who was later identified as Election Comissioner
Virgilio Gracilliano. What happened to this investigation by the way? From what I have
read from this article, the case was dismissed because aside from Arroyo who admitted
that it was her in the recording, nobody else’s agreed to authenticate the tape. Such a
shame.

If Maguindanao had a bloody election, does that mean that the president should be
accountable of negligence? Were there AFP during the massacre? Were there any people
under the Aquino administration during and/or after the massacre? Honestly though, I
wish I could react properly in this issue. It is as if the whole Philippines was attacked by
terrorist, but the worst part is, the terrorism was made not by foreigners but of
“kababayan” or “kapwa Pinoy”. What more could give you chills during the day of the
massacre aside from the number of people killed? I don’t know, I’m dumbfounded by
this issue because years after? Even when we changed from Arroyo to Aquino
administration, these 58 people still didn’t received the justice that they deserve. Well if
dying of Ampatuan Senior is not counted as justice, then all I could say is; Justice
delayed is Justice denied. That is how justice in the Philippines work…most of the time.

 -Jerico Bugarin-

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AuthorwakkadoodlePosted onMay 7, 2016

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AUTHORS
Jake Arroyo
Jerico Bugarin
Mikko Cabailo
Paul Capistrano
Mia Gigante
Stephanie Montojo
JR Pastidio
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