Backtrack: Summary of the Arroyo Administration
An Opinion Solicitation Discussion Group on the Philippine Economy under the Arroyo Administration
June 25, 2010 4:00PM ETC Tambayan
Facilitator: Amado Eustaquio III
Objectives:
1. To summarize the economy of the Philippines under the Arroyo Administration
2. To point out issues of interest that greatly affected the Philippine Economy under Arroyo’s time
3. To raise possible solutions to the problems that the next administration would need to address
Summary
1. Gross Domestic Product (GDP)
- total market value of goods and services produced in a country for a period of time
-161 Billion US $ with 0.9% growth rate (2009)
2. Inflation Rate
- approximate 2.3%
3. Unemployment Rate
- from 11% down to 7.7% (2009)
4. Poverty Incidence
- 30% Below poverty as of 2007
5. Human Development Index (HDI)
- 0.758 (84th of 178 in world)
Achievements
1. Infrastructure
2. Average GDP Growth
- compared to the past presidents (ie. Aquino, Marcos, Ramos, and Estrada), the Average GDP Growth during Arroyo’s regime was higher than any of the past presidents, having an average of 5% GDP Growth.
3. 2001 – Arroyo took over presidency replacing former president Joseph Estrada
4. 2003 – Sent troops, humanitarian contingent to help the US war against Iraq but recalled by early 2004. She ordered to allocate P100 Million (DBM) for the Anti Money Laundering Law implementation.
4. 2004 – Arroyo won presidential elections. Department of Budget and Management hold off deficit to P197.6B (cost-cutting in yearend).
5. 2005 – Restructuring of the Value Added Tax (RVAT) was used to improve the fiscal condition.
Jobs were created in agriculture and in ICT-enabled business.
6. 2006 – Tax was increased by from 10-12% by the start of the year (EVAT) including electric bills and gasoline. LPG gas was used as an alternative gas for vehicles like taxi. Japan trade agreement
2007 – Government made housing affordable by lowering interest rates on Pag-ibig’s housing loans from 9 to 6%. Philippines hosted the 12th ASEAN Summit in Cebu
2010 – Automated Elections
Problems Faced by the Administration
1. Corruption Allegations and Scandals
a. Fertilizer Fund Scam – Php 700M worth of allegedly corrupted funds
b. Philippine National Broadband Network Controversy
c. Various Impeachment complaints from 2005-2008.
2. Hello Garci Scandal – President Arroyo admitted that she had talked with Garcillano; however, she denied the case that she tried to manipulate the 2004 presidential elections. She publicly said one of her famous quotes, “I’m sorry.”
3. Manila Peninsula Attack – 2007, Senator Antonio Trillanes IV led the Magdalo troops to march in Makati. (Oakwood Mutiny in 2003)
4. Rice crisis in the Philippines – NFA
5. Constant increase on petroleum prices in year 2008, Diesel reached to almost P60 per liter.
6. Maguindanao massacre – Ampatuan, strong political ties with Arroyo.
7. The Philippines has been hit by various disasters such as typhoons (Milenyo, Ondoy, etc.) in the past decade.
8. Charter Change – Filipinos fear that GMA might have an outright power to take over.
9. Yearly Budget Deficit
Some Analysis
1. Compared to other neighboring Asian countries (ie. Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, and China), the Philippines’ Real GDP per capita is relatively lower
2. GDP Growth of the Philippines is largely driven by consumption and government spending while investment is very stagnant
3. Global Economic Crises didn’t have a major impact to the country’s economy
Guide Questions
1. Cite some possible solutions you could propose to address the problems left by the Arroyo Administration.
2. How would you rate the status of the Philippine Economy under the Arroyo Administration with 1 being the lowest and 10 being the highest?
References
1.) Websites:
} http://www.nationmaster.com/country/rp-philippines
} http://www.indexmundi.com/philippines/unemployment_rate.html
} http://unpan1.un.org/intradoc/groups/public/documents/apcity/unpan004975.pdf
} http://localweb.neda.gov.ph/national.html
} http://www.neda.gov.ph/econreports_dbs.asp
} http://www.op.gov.ph/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=23778&Itemid=2
} http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Action_For_Economic_Reforms
} http://www.dbm.gov.ph/NEP09/DECS/A.pdf
} sc.judiciary.gov.ph
} http://www.alternat1ve.com/biofuel/2008/05/15/average-philippine-gasoline-prices-2007-2008/
}
2.) News Articles:
“Midnight (Madness) Appointment”, Flores, Megan – March 20, 2010, Philippine Online Chronicles
“Bayan asks Supreme Court to reverse ruling on Chief Justice Appointment” Torres, Tetch March 31, 2010 PDI
“It’s final: Arroyo can appoint next chief justice”, Torres, Tetch – April 20, 2010 PDI
1987 Philippine Constitution
3.) Powerpoint Presentations:
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