Philippines 2010

Island state of Southeast Asia. The population at the 2010 census was 92,337,852 residents, Of which about half reside in the city, with a sustained annual urbanization rate (2.16%), which generated large bands of marginalization in the suburbs of metropolitan areas ; in 2014 it became 100,096,496 residents, according to an estimate by UNDESA (United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs). The Manila area alone has nearly 12 million residents, while Quezon City and Cebu City exceed 2.5 million. The natural increase is 18.6 ‰, reduced by an emigration rate (−1.23 ‰) which remains consistent. The population is very young: more than 50% of individuals are under 24 years of age. Living conditions remain critical for large sections of the population: in 2012, 8% of residents did not have access to drinking water and over 25% to health services; more than 20% of children under 5 were underweight, and about a quarter of the population lived below the poverty line.

Economic conditions. – The Philippine economy in recent years has grown at a rapid pace (7% in 2013) and has only partially been affected by the effects of the global crisis, also as a result of a low dependence on exports and a developed internal market, as well as on constant inflow made up of remittances from Filipinos abroad (23 billion dollars in 2011), which amounted to about 5-6 million people. Unemployment is stationary (6.9% in 2014) and GDP per capita at purchasing power parity (PPA) is $ 6986 (2014). Almost a third of the active population is employed in the primary sector, while only 15% in the secondary sector, although the role of industry is continuously growing and contributes to around 31% of GDP, particularly in the production and export of high-tech products..

Politics

A strong political instability characterized the country during the decade of presidency of Gloria Arroyo Macapagal (2001-2010), who came to power with the support of the ruling elites and the Filipino episcopate. The president had in fact to face the restlessness of the armed forces and the intensification of clashes with the communist guerrillas (organized in the New people’s army, NPA) and with the Muslim guerrilla of the Moro islamic liberation front (MILF), active above all in the southern regions. After the attempts at dialogue failed, the government went back to adopting the intransigent line, with a massive use of the army, thus contributing to making the situation even more tense. The country’s historical problems remained unsolved: the economic backwardness and corruption that massively affected the political and administrative apparatus of the state. In 2010 the candidate of the opposition forces Benigno Aquino III, son of the former president Corazón and of the liberal leader Benigno Aquino assassinated in 1983 during the regime of Ferdinand Marcos, won the presidential elections (42% of the votes) with a program focused on fight against corruption and the revival of the economy. His government expanded welfare spending and increased public investment, especially in the infrastructure and service sectors. These initiatives ensured sustained economic growth which, while not putting an end to social disparities, it led to the gradual emergence of a middle class and allowed a larger segment of the population to enjoy higher wages. A birth control program was also promoted to try to curb population growth, a program severely opposed by the local episcopate. The agrarian reform, which was supposed to reduce the excessive power of the large landowners, remained instead ignored and in the countryside the population continued to be in a state of extreme poverty. In November 2013, the Philippines were hit by a very violent typhoon (Haiyan) which caused thousands of deaths and hundreds of thousands of displaced persons as well as enormous material damage. The government had to ask for international aid and divert public funds on reconstruction. In an effort to pacify the country, Aquino resumed negotiations with both the NPA and the MILF. With the latter, a peace treaty was stipulated in 2014 which provided for the dissolution of the movement and the return of arms, in exchange for the administrative autonomy of the Bangsamoro region, on the island of Mindanao. Instead, the clash with the Islamic extremist group Abū Sayyāf, linked to al-Qā῾ida and supporter of IS, responsible for repeated kidnappings and attacks, remained open. On the international level, relations with Beijing became more strained during the Aquino administration, especially due to the dispute relating to the Spratly Islands, and those with the United States strengthened in contrast. in exchange for the administrative autonomy of the Bangsamoro region on the island of Mindanao. Instead, the clash with the Islamic extremist group Abū Sayyāf, linked to al-Qā῾ida and supporter of IS, responsible for repeated kidnappings and attacks, remained open. On the international level, relations with Beijing became more strained during the Aquino administration, especially due to the dispute relating to the Spratly Islands, and those with the United States strengthened in contrast. in exchange for the administrative autonomy of the Bangsamoro region on the island of Mindanao. Instead, the clash with the Islamic extremist group Abū Sayyāf, linked to al-Qā῾ida and supporter of IS, responsible for repeated kidnappings and attacks, remained open. On the international level, relations with Beijing became more strained during the Aquino administration, especially due to the dispute relating to the Spratly Islands, and those with the United States strengthened in contrast.

Philippines 2010