A Countries Structure - Essay Example

A Countries Structure: Philippines a. What is the total population? 94,013,200 b. What is the life expectancy and infant mortality rate? Life expectancy at birth: total population: 71.66 years  male: 68.72 years  female: 74.74 years (2011 EST.) Infant mortality rate: total: 19.34 deaths/1,000 live births  male: 21.84 deaths/1,000 live births  female: 16.71 deaths/1,000 live births  c. What is the average income? $2,255 d. What is the name of the largest city: Manila The population of Manila, Philippines is 1,044,452 What surprised you the most about the country and then contrast the life style of the country to your experience in the United States? The Philippines can be said to be a paradox because the disposition of its people does not match its circumstance. Philippines is considered to be a poor country which ranked 19th among the 31 countries surveyed (HSBC 14) yet its people are the fourth happiest in the world according to another survey (Cervantes). In addition, despite its low disposable income, it is very surprising that it ranked second in the whole world in terms of social life and fourth in entertainment beating United States and many other rich others by many notches. It has also a healthy work life balance ranking second in the world. It is a very positive country if only it could improve its economic condition. Unlike in the United States, official corruption in the Philippines is rampant. It is only recent that the current administration of President Aquino is bent on eliminating corruption that has stalled the country’ development for decades. This culture of official corruption can also be blamed as one of the culprits of the country’s inability to protect its biodiversity. Bribery to officials of Department of Environment Natural Resources (DENR), the government regulating agency of its natural resources are common to the point that illegal loggers would murder uncooperating officials. Given what you have learned thus far in the class comment on the use of resources in this country. The use of resource in the country can be said to be indiscriminate. Perhaps this is because the country is embarking on an economic take off where industrialization is more preferred than preserving the environment. This is not surprising because this is a common phenomenon among developing countries such as China and India who are known to contribute tremendous amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere will little concern of its effect. Majority of its population also are not conscious on how much their behaviors take its toll to the environment. Most people are more preoccupied in making a living to better their economic condition than the responsible use of its resources. This can be gleaned with the rampancy of illegal logging, issuance of permits to erect structures on former water ways (rivers, lakes which were reclaimed). The responsible use of its resources is not also a part of the life of everyday Filipinos. Government efforts to segregate and to recycle are often ignored either due to the lack of credibility of its local government or utter lack disregard for the environment. Efforts on the responsible use of resources seemed to be superficial. Usage of recyclable bags in its department stores or boutique are intended more to enhance its corporate image than to genuinely care for the environment. Floods, which are common in its capital, Manila is the biggest evidence of the country’s disregard on its resources as it throws it waste anywhere without recycling or disposing properly. Are they protecting their natural biodiversity? The mere fact that Philippines has been the recipient of the few worst flooding in the recent years, tells so much about the imbalance of the country’s biodiversity and its lack of effort to protect it. First, it was typhoon Ondoy in 2009 which claimed thousands of lives and hundreds of thousands homeless, then Milenyo which did the same and worst, the typhoon Sendong which literally buried barangays in the Southern Part of the Philippines particularly in Cagayan de Oro and Iligan and yet, there still seems no coherent policy on how to address flooding and its root cause (AFP). The usual culprits that are being blamed are climate change and congested sewerage system. But looking closely on the root of the problem, climate change might have intensified the storms but the magnitude of the flood is not commensurate to the increased intensity of the storms. First, it was found out that illegal logging is still rampant in its suburbs of the country which practically denuded portions of its mountains. This deprived rain waters a watershed where its impact on lowlands can be cushioned by the roots of the trees. Worst, the natural waterways in the country were also converted into subdivisions or housing areas which disturbs the natural path of the water. So when the flood water claims its natural path, thousands of residents drowned. Its marine biodiversity are also in danger. While there are efforts to protect its marine resources such as its rich corals and whale shark “Butanding” which is considered as an endangered species, cyanide and dynamite fishing are still rampant. In what ways are they protecting or destroying natural habitats? Are they living sustainability? In what ways do they live within the carrying capacity of the earth? The unabated illegal logging still continues due to the connivance of some of the countries official at Department of Natural Resources (DENR). Illegal loggers have a sense of impunity that when an official dares to curb illegal logging, they are being threatened or actually killed such as the case of Melania Dirai, a forest specialist who was shot by a lone gunman in her office (Gascon). The local law enforcers are also helpless to bring the culprits to justice that contributed to the perpetuation of the killings and illegal loggings. In addition, its local officials have no sense of urban planning such as the case of Mayor Vicente Y. Emano of Cagayan de Oro who was blamed for letting residents erect structures in waterways in to have supporters during election (cagayandeoro.elizaga.net). This incidence is not only limited to Cagayan de Oro but also elsewhere in the country. The conglomerates and big business in the country does not seem to have concern for the environment also. Recently, a controversy erupted between a local mall, SM and the residents of a tourism area where it intends to put up its department store. The debacle is rooted on SM’s plan to uproot the trees in the area so that it can build its mall where the residence of the area protested. The government also does not have sound policy on how to control pollution. Already, Manila, its capital, is considered as one of the most polluted cities in the world yet the government does not have a coherent policy on how to address or abate it. There are efforts to protect its environment. Fortunately for the Philippines, it has a strong civil society which complement where the government lacks. The biggest rehabilitation of its rainforest is being initiated by ABS CBN Bantay Kalikasan which intends to restore forest diversity in the country by replanting thousands of acres of denuded lands. Also, Non Governmental Organizations (NGO) efforts are also underway to revive its dying river Pasig through a program called “piso para sa Pasig” (peso for Pasig). In general, the Philippines is blessed with a rich natural biodiversity but it does not seem to appreciate what it has with its wanton disregard for the environment. Works Cited Gascon, Melvin (2012). DENR exec shot dead in Cagayan. Philippine Daily Inquirer. Online. http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/141783/denr-exec-shot-dead-in-cagayan [accessed March 24, 2012] President Aquino orders mayor to answer complaints (2012) http://cagayandeoro.elizaga.net/index.html[accessed March 24, 2012] Cervantes, Ding (June 05, 2009). Pinoys among happiest, most church-going people in website survey . http://www.philstar.com/article.aspx?articleid=474670, [accessed March 24, 2012] MANILA (AFP)( Dec 01, 2004). Illegal logging a major factor in flood devastation of Philippines. http://www.terradaily.com/2004/041201072557.jj82upor.html HSBC (2011). HSBC. Expat Explorer Survey 2011. http://www.expatexplorer.hsbc.com/files/pdfs/overall-reports/2011/report.pdf Read More