Taguilaso, Arabella C.

BSA 2121-A

Philippines: Developed or Not Developed

The terms developed and not developed fall in the categories where a thing is either at
the top-most of the triangle, or exactly placed below. However, there is an in-between
between being developed or undeveloped at all; the terminology is referred to as: developing.

The Philippines has not achieved the greatest of its economic, political, and social
constructs for it to be considered developed, but it is not entirely undeveloped as well due to
its rich cultural heritage, natural beauty, and subtle efforts in making progress. Thus, said
country is neither developed or not developed, but rather—developing. Although the term
developing may be perceived as something positive, economically speaking, being a
developing country means that it has a relatively low standard of living, undeveloped
industrial base, and moderate to low Human Development Index (HDI) (Kulik, n.d.). These
indicators are the products of poor management in the economy due to the issues in politics
which directly affect the social construction of the Philippines—which also reflects in the
status of the economy. It is basically a cycle of a domino effect.

As stated, one of the primary indicators of a developing country is its economic status
brought by its social construct. The Philippines faces various economic challenges that place
it in the category of developing nations. Poverty and income inequality are significant issues,
with a substantial portion of 18.1% of the population living below the poverty line. One of
the contributing factors in poverty is the fact that 3.4% of the population are unemployed, and
although the majority are the opposite, 2.2% of them earn roughly around Php 110.00 a
day—which is too little to sustain even basic needs such as food for a whole family (Asian
Development Bank, n.d.). Upon observation, the country’s difficulty in getting through
poverty is due to its limited access to quality education. Public schools in all areas may be
free and accessible, but the quality that each student needs in order to hone themselves to
contribute to the economy is lacking. The system in public schools, as per my experience,
divides students based on their intellectual capacity through placing them in sections which
signify their academic ability. The cream of the crop are obviously placed in the first section
(Section 1), the not-so-good-but-well are in Section 2, and the following sections are those
with other skills that are not honoured. The worst part of the system in public schools is the
fact that those who are in the last sections are not being monitored and trained well. Teachers
do not give them the attention and education they deserve as students. As a result, students
find it hard to appreciate education so some of them become part of the 18.1% and/or 2.2%,
as mentioned.

Furthermore, there is also limited access to healthcare which further exacerbates the
discrepancy in the economy and society. In comparison with private hospitals which provide
the service that patients need, public hospitals exercise the opposite. The Philippine General
Hospital, for instance, is slow in providing medical care even if the patient is already close to
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reaching a flat line. Although the said hospital gives free medical treatment which is
accessible for the marginalised, the need to access swift and effective assistance is lacking.
This may be due to the number of patients they are trying to accommodate. However, quality
healthcare can be achieved through a good system wherein the objective of accommodating
the public is achieved—which cannot be recognized in public hospitals, unfortunately.

In terms of the Philippines’ agricultural sector, it is evident that the country is rich in
natural resources. Even so, it does not possess equipment and technologies that can utilise
and maximise its potential in agriculture, specifically, producing goods. Importing products
from foreign countries which raw materials are exported by the country due to its lack of
production equipment and technological expertise only affects the economy, as importing
goods is expensive, especially if it is a continuous practice of the state.

Political instability and governance problems are another characteristic of developing

countries. The Philippines has faced its share of political turmoil, corruption scandals, and
governance challenges, wherein electing politicians with no credible political background and
experience is apparent. Moreover, political dynasties are often the case in the Philippines.
Families pass their political affairs to their children as though it is an inheritance or a must to
do so. The intention of this emerging practice is corruption, which is why politicians tend to
not leave their line of work, and even if they leave, they pass the affairs to their children to
keep the “benefits” they steal from the nation. These issues evidently hinder economic
growth, as stated in the previous paragraphs. Furthermore, political turmoil also undermines
public trust in institutions—which is actually evident in the current times, especially. This is
because a number of Filipinos are politically-aware and empathetic to the marginalised. Their
intention of achieving economic growth and social prosperity can only be achieved if the
government’s actions are geared towards the same goal. However, evidently, it is not the
government's priority, rather their personal interests only. This is the reason why public trust
in institutions is not present, as well as achieving growth.

Nevertheless, in recent years, there have been efforts to address corruption and
improve governance. There are some politicians whose objective is for the good of both the
state and nation. But even so, they are not appreciated much in the line of politics for they are
considered as threats by their fellow politicians whose intentions are the opposite. As a result,
the impact of these reforms is taking time to fully materialise, and the Philippines continues
to grapple with issues related to the rule of law and accountability, due to the mentality of the
said government.

Infrastructure deficiencies and inadequate access to basic services are also common in
developing countries. The Philippines faces challenges related to transportation, energy, and
sanitation infrastructure. Rural areas often lack reliable roads and electricity, limiting
economic opportunities and access to education and healthcare as mentioned. Transportation
has become extremely difficult to the point where the term “rush hour” during Fridays and
Saturdays is normalised in which commuters find it hard to ride public transportation.
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Moreover, access to clean water and sanitation is a pressing issue in many parts of the
country, contributing to health problems and hindering overall development. Slums are a
primary example of this wherein people belonging in the lowest sector of the country face
their everyday life with no access to sanitation and safety.

Unquestionably, the Philippines is a country that faces a number of issues which

classify it as a developing country. Although it has potential due to its subtle or even gradual
effort, these issues still need to be addressed in order for the country to become fully
“developed.” The issues, specifically, the economic inequality, political unrest, and
inadequate infrastructure which affects society, must be resolved through collective effort,
and effective and sustainable solutions to achieve growth and prosperity, not just of the state,
but also of the nation.

REFERENCES

developing country | Definition, Economy, & Origin Definition | Britannica Money. (n.d.).
https://www.britannica.com/money/developing-country

Overview. (n.d.). World Bank. https://www.worldbank.org/en/country/philippines/overview

Van. (2023, May 17). Philippines: poverty. Asian Development Bank.

https://www.adb.org/countries/philippines/poverty#:~:text=In%20the%20Philippines
%2C%2018.1%25%20of,died%20before%20their%205th%20birthday.