Sociology has been longed known for its approach of understanding a society and the life,

groups, individuals and anything that goes within it. The application of scientific methodology in
grasping answers from tough problems emancipated through social dynamics has made this field of
studying known and defined. Hence, studying sociology would not ever become irrelevant, for the
occupancy of births for every minute in a day means a problem within a community. The
underlying matters that comes with our everyday lives becomes synonymous to sociology for the
problems within the society can be acknowledge and can be addressed as well with the help of the
said field of studying.
There are a lot of existing societal problems that are needed to be solved in the Philippines.
The urgency to fix the matters weighs the problem it brings to the people, hence a solution for it, is
needed. These matters do not only cost money to the affected groups or individuals within the
society, but also costs life, if not judged fairly. Into the bargain of these matter, 3 topics that gives
emphasis to currently existing societal problems are to be laid out as this paper covers more words
and implicate more terms to provide an existing problem, promulgate insights and opinions within
the said cases and hand recommendations while embodying sociological reasoning.
First, a chronic of killings has been evolving around the areas of Southern Tagalog which
mainly targets group of progressive youth and individuals that speaks and stand through activism.
They are the sole targets of Red Tagging which is a catch phrase for the action of ‘calling out’ a
group, individual or organization that has possible relations with terrorism or viable to act like a
terrorist. This is with accordance to statement of President Duterte to end terrorism and grant its
armies and policemen to combat with anyone who is accused of the crime. This contributes to over
3,200 cases being investigated by the Commission on Human Rights as it was stated on the article
from ABS-CBN news [ CITATION Del20 \l 1033 ]. Furthermore, a ‘Bloody Sunday’ was coined when 9
activist leaders death namely Emmanuel Asuncion, “Makmak”, Abner and Edwardo Esto, Puroy and
Randy Dela Cruz, Chai and Ariel Evangelista [ CITATION JBo21 \l 1033 ]. These injustices under
Duterte Administration together with the past cases that are thrown due to lack of enough evidence
has called International Criminal Court Prosecutor attention to curb these issues and give glimpse
of hope for the bereaved families and victims of EJK [ CITATION UTC21 \l 1033 ].

The killings associated with opposing to government’s campaign towards removing

terrorism or drugs has pushed the officials that must obey commands go berserk. The poor system
in the Philippines has killed not just lives but the dreams and aspirations of having prosperous
living. These hopes of Filipinos caused them to became an activist, a person of a change or maybe
become a drug pusher himself, or a victim. Through understanding the life within a society,
different perspectives are yet to unfold that brings reasoning over disputable matters unnegotiable.
Next is the undying problem that has been passed through generations and bloodline, it is
poverty. Ever since pandemic has begun, a surge in numbers of figures with regards to poverty has
been declared. In fact, according to National Economic Development Authority (NEDA), the
expected poverty rate for 2021 is between 15.5% and 17.5% of the Philippine population. The
temporary stoppage in the flow of service, in travelling, [ CITATION MCh20 \l 1033 ] even in closure
of schools in a national level was conducted[ CITATION Vin20 \l 1033 ] hence making most of the
people lose their jobs. This caused an increase in unemployment rate that also leads to poverty.
Through approaching the matter in a Sociological manner, the roots and causes of poverty
will be determined. This will enable the lawmakers and project initiators to see what they’re
dealing and how they would execute their plans in order to alleviate poverty on rural and urban
areas. Through this approach, the government can also assess the programs they’ll be making so
that the budget held for programs won’t go to waste.
The 3rd topic, and last, will be the suppression and dispute over China owning West
Philippine Sea. We can recall that during President Duterte’s campaign he affirmed that when he
became a President he will stop China on building within Philippine territories. But, he contradicted
this statement by saying that he never promised such thing and will never pressure China
[CITATION Yum21 \l 1033 ] which is perceived an incompetence in the part of the citizens most
specially the aggravated fishermen. On the other hand this is presumed as a confusion in the part of
the officials within the government. As it was stated in the article from Rappler, Biazon stated that
this might make China assume that the Philippines already give up with the idea of fighting for their
territory which will throw off the efforts during the trial on Permanent Court of Arbitration in
Hague, Netherlands (Cepeda, 2021).
Poor leadership is a societal problem that one must counter through exercising his or her
right to vote. This is because if the leaders are incompetent, the results of their actions affects the
individuals tremendously. Not only that the future of the society and how it’ll work is in their hands
but the future of the country and the people in it as well. If the President would continue confusing
people, suppressions felt by the fishermen mostly, won’t be solved. Unaccountability over matters
that might cause further damage in the near future will be possible and has yet dynamic and drastic
effects to unfold.

References
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Delizo, M. (2020, 12 10). Red-tagging, crackdown sa mga aktibista kinondena sa Human Rights Day
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tagging-crackdown-sa-mga-aktibista-kinondena-sa-human-rights-day-protests

J., B., & R., T. (2021, 3 28). Leaders lost: The 9 activists killed by Duterte gov't on ‘Bloody Sunday’.
Retrieved from Rappler: https://www.rappler.com/newsbreak/iq/names-activists-killed-by-
duterte-government-bloody-sunday-march-7-2021

M, C. (2021, May 20). Duterte admin's 'confusion' over West PH Sea 'dangerous' – ex-senator Biazon.
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NEDA. (2021, February 24).

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Yumol, D. (2021, May 4). Duterte: Retaking West Philippine Sea was never a campaign promise.
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