REACTION PAPER IN GOOD GOVERNANCE

ACUZAR, Maezel Joyce

ALDOVINO, Jovy
BANEZ, Rhodalyn
CATAPANG, Noreen
CARINGAL, Pamela
CONTRERAS, Elloisa
MANALO, Mary Chriszel
PACUNLA, Lyra Rose
ROSALES, Rose May
BSA 4101

1.
Amnesty is a pardon extended by the government to a group or class of persons,
usually for political offense. Its purpose is to bring the citizens into compliance with the
law rather than punishing them for past offenses. Amnesty questions the justice system
of a country.
Recently, President Duterte opened up about giving amnesty to political
prisoners. This brought about the petition of The Moro Human Rights advocates for the
pardon of the falsely accused Moro inmates. We agree to what the Moro Human Rights
called for. We believe that a person proven innocent have the right for freedom.
Mistaken Moro inmates should not suffer for the crime they never committed. However,
if the President grant the amnesty to them, many will appeal to file and raise the
defense of innocence for the accusations levied against them. This implies abused
usage of amnesty. The justice system may be so questionable for the liberality and the
integrity of the application of the pardon.
In our opinion, the President should strictly abide by the set of rules governing
the giving of amnesty. He should be independent and just of his judgment. The
deserving should be qualified accordingly to a fair system of verdict. Everyone must
have the right to claim it unless he can prove to the Court of Law that he is not guilty nor
affiliated to the criminal act until he is convicted.

2.
a. Boosting investors confidence
Last October 20, 2016, Duterte said, I announce my separation from United
States, both in military but economics also. I think this statement of him might not help
boost investors confidence since we are all aware that United States is one of the
largest foreign investors in the Philippines. The Aquino administration, we believe, have
made the economy of the Philippines in good state because of the strong relationship of
Philippines and United States, which they value and continuously keep tighter. Pulling
out from United States is we think one wrong move of this new administration. Allies of
United States might lose interest in investing here in the Philippines, as well. Having
announced that Duterte will firm up ties with United States enemies is a big slap to
United States, and were afraid that one more wrong move of this administration will be
the end of PH-US relationship. If this administration thinks that being tied with China
and Russia will sustain the economic gains, then let us just wait what will happen in the
coming days, or after the end of this administration.
And one thing which we think might not boost the confidence of investors is the
killings and such that are happening all over the country. These killings threaten the
security of foreign investors. Organizing our country and making it a peaceful one will
definitely boost the investors confidence in establishing businesses. Peaceful country
will contribute highly to the success of a business.

b. Speed-up Public Private Partnership Program especially in infrastructure spending

With President Dutertes pronouncement that his administration would honor
existing government contracts and projects awaiting implementation, the Public-Private
Partnership (PPP) Center said it would now be able to speed up the implementation of
PPP projects. In his inaugural speech, Duterte issued a verbal order to department
secretaries and heads of agencies to refrain from changing and bending the rules of
government contracts, transactions and projects already approved and awaiting
implementation. He also mandated transparency in government contracts, projects and
business transactions from submission of proposals to implementation.

This could

possibly mean that it can go beyond the previous results as before.

c. Uplifting the poor
As of now, we cant see any concrete plans of the new administration with regard
to poverty. We didnt hear much of their plans for poor in their platforms last election.
According to a report, measures that will address poverty and create jobs are not yet
reflected. War on drugs, we think is one way of uplifting the poor. Poor people resort to
drugs due to poverty, so we think this war on drugs of this administration is one way of
uplifting the poor and encouraging them that theres more to life that will help them rise
from poverty, aside from doing illegal acts. One bold step in uplifting them is by
changing the way they view their lives. It is still essential to help them rise up, and
change their physical state. This doesnt mean that we will give them their immediate
needs, we, the youth, strengthen them so they will help themselves rise up and will not
end up still waiting for alms from other people. If you want to have a big progress of

having success, let the progress start on you. Another one way of uplifting the poor is
the proposed income tax reform. Reducing income tax will likewise increase the take
home pay of poor, minimum wage earners and those middle class. People can get to
buy more of their necessities if tax is reduced thus increasing their disposable income.
Even though the government will somehow lose revenues, the lost money will end up
feeding the economy so its just the same. It looks like not much of a loss to our
economy since with increased consumption, Gross Domestic Product will benefit. But if
the consumption tax will increase, poor and minimum wage earners will not likewise
benefit, and might just worsen the case of poverty.
d.

Traffic Situation
They recognize it as a problem and they do what they can to improve it. Even

national government agencies, such as DPWH (Department of Public Works and

Highways), are putting up road projects without hampering the traffic situation in key
areas, Gabato said. I cannot say that the present administration will be better than
before in terms of lessening and if possible totally removed the traffic situation. But as to
the performance they are doing and their courage to fulfill it, I think that they will really
lessen the traffic situations here in our country. They have also the strict policies and
implementers that our government administers. Also, people today are eager to have a
change and most likely to become better person in the community.

e.

Public Transportation
Public transport (also known as public transportation, public transit, or mass

transit) is a shared passenger-transport service which is available for use by the general
public, as distinct from modes such as taxicab, carpooling, or hired buses, which are not
shared by strangers without private arrangement. In increasing numbers, people are
using public transportation and local communities are expanding public transit services.
This makes the administration come up to better ideas in terms of public vehicles to give
convenience to the people most likely those who are in the average level.

1.

A country's economic health can usually be measured by looking at that country's

economic growth and development. So, what is economic development? Economic

development is the development of economic wealth of countries, regions or
communities for the well-being of their inhabitants. It typically refers to improvements in
a variety of indicators such as literacy rates, life expectancy, and poverty rates. It differs
from economic growth wherein the term "economic growth" refers to the increase of a
specific measure such as real national income, gross domestic product, or per capita
income. Based on the statistics, there is an economic growth. But is there really
economic development? Can we feel the economic growth/development?
We agree that nutritional status is one of the barometers of economic
development. The fruits of development can be seen in the life of the people. Having a
balanced diet and a healthy lifestyle contributes to the productivity and learning
achievements of a person. The way people live their life is a measure whether there is
really economic development in the country. The people that will have a great effect in
this development are those in lower level or those considered as poor most likely those
leaving in squatters area. If other people would see them, their appearance and their
ways of living, they will definitely think that the countrys economy is not developing.
Nutritional and health status are powerful influences on a childs learning and on
how well a child performs in school. Children who lack certain nutrients in their diet or
who suffer from protein-energy malnutrition, hunger, infections or other diseases, do not
have the same potential for learning as healthy and well-nourished children. Weak
health and poor nutrition among school-age children diminish their cognitive
development either through physiological changes or by reducing their ability to

participate in learning experiences - or both. In order to lessen malnutrition children, the

government must conduct school feeding programs that can help to get them into
school and help to keep them there, through enhancing enrolment and reducing
absenteeism; and once the children are in school, the programs can contribute to their
learning, through avoiding hunger and enhancing cognitive abilities. School health and
nutrition programs are a critical step to ensuring a child is able to reach their full
potential.
In the Philippines, under the last administration, it is believed that the economy
have recorded the highest or strongest development. They sustain the countrys
momentum by continuously improving the governance reforms the administration has
established which allowed the government to channel funds to the most immediate
needs of the public like programs that include the health. But the said growth is not felt
by most of the Filipinos. There are still many cases in the country related to malnutrition.
This malnutrition can be due to lack of money to buy foods that some tends to eat those
foods they found in the trash just to satisfy their aching tummy. The lack of money is
because they dont have jobs to support their family. We can say that even if the
government has funds allotted for the health of the Filipinos, that fund is insufficient to
support the large number of people, especially kids, experiencing malnutrition.
To lessen the cases of malnutrition in the Philippines, the government should
give special attention to the nutritional status of every citizen. The new administration
must continue the welfare programs and provide enough budgets for these programs.
Children who are malnourish are commonly from low income and poor families, who do
not have enough budgets to sustain their everyday needs. It would be better if the

government will work hand on hand with private sectors to sustain the ever growing
needs of the ever growing population. The government should also concentrate on the
countrys agriculture especially the rice production instead of importing rice which will
result to higher pricing that some cant afford. We all know that rice is the staple food of
every Filipino which is a very good source of carbohydrates.
If the government really wants to solve the malnutrition problems of their people,
whether or not there is economic development, the time will come that there will be no
more of this case or at least smaller number of people suffering from this. This is not just
a countrys crisis; under nutrition is one of the worlds most serious, but least addressed,
public health challenges in developing countries. As the world moves toward the
sustainable development goals, the countries will need to step up progress on child
health and nutrition outcomes to enhance both human and economic development
prospects.

2.

Filing taxes its one of the most pressing concerns of the Filipino people come

tax season. From the high tax rates to the tedious filing process, the Philippine tax
system is under plenty of scrutiny. Taxes are always paid in cash but every cash outlaid
should also mean that the payment should be worth giving. To begin with, tax
exemptions are highly disfavored. The rule is that tax exemptions should be granted
only by clear and unequivocal provision of law expressed in a language too plain to be
mistaken.
It was not clear what the impact on the government's budget might be from the
proposed tax cuts, which mainly involve the education sector. The government has
been implementing a tight fiscal policy in a bid to keep the budget deficit to below 3
percent of gross domestic product (GDP), in line with EU rules. Having these selective
tax reliefs can benefit every single individual in the community but it can destroy the
community as a group because it can lessen the funds needed for the betterment of the
country.
Tax exemption refers to a monetary exemption which reduces taxable income.
Tax exempt status can provide complete relief from taxes, reduced rates, or tax on only
a portion of items. Examples include exemption of charitable organizations from
property taxes and income taxes, veterans, and certain cross-border or multijurisdictional scenarios. Tax exemption generally refers to a statutory exception to a
general rule rather than the mere absence of taxation in particular circumstances,
otherwise known as exclusion. Tax exemption also refers to removal from taxation of a
particular item rather than a deduction. Being relief from taxes can reduce the
governments project to the community. It can be beneficial and also destructive. Tax-

exempt status results in a multitude of advantages, including the obvious one of not
having to pay taxes such as eligibility for deductible contributions, participation in grant
programs, and exemption from other laws. In general, it may seem that an ability to
avoid income taxation affords little opportunity for a disadvantage.
One of its advantages is that it allows business to be fully developed. And once it
is an established one, the government can collect more taxes. The government should
be strict enough in collecting tax to ensure that the companies are complying and are
paying the right tax.
Exemption is an immunity or privilege; it is freedom from a charge or burden to
which others are subjected. Exclusion, on the other hand, is the removal of otherwise
taxable items from the reach of taxation. Exemption is a good and also a bad thing but
always remember that before coming up to a good and rational decision one should
consider all the things to be considered. If a tax exempt business is not profitable and is
not toward growth and development, if the tax exemption of a particular industry goes
for nothing, thus it does not serve its purpose then, I believe that it must be withdrawn
by the law.

3.

There are 102.7 million people living in the Philippines. The population grows at

about 1.5% every year. Of these numbers, more than 50% belongs to the poor and the
low income earners. They are the ones who earn less than what they needed to keep
up with an average lifestyle. It is so sad to think that there are families who can barely
have three meals a day, or can barely send their children to college, to wear decent
clothes, or have a permanent roof to stay with. Usually, people of this class tend to have
their own family at a very young age, unqualified to certainly most of all high-paying jobs
because of lack of education. They were left with no choice but to settle to some
unstable contractual jobs, under minimum wage or be unemployed. And it is also
frustrating that people of this class, normally, has the most numbers of children that
makes them carry a double burden. They have the littlest knowledge and application of
fertility control measures, natural or artificial.
This rapid population growth accompanied with the gradually declining poverty
rate of the Philippines has a great effect on the development of the country. The poverty
rate may be decreasing but the effect is too little to offset the effect of the
overpopulation and the inflation rate in the market. It is indeed true that as the number
of dependents of a family increases, the harder it is for them to save money. The
expenses rise but the income stays the same.
In response with these, a law was passed to aid the increasing number of the
population in our country. It was known as the Reproductive Health Law that was signed
last 2012 and it was implemented in the last quarter of 2014. In our opinion, the

government has positively set inducements that will increase the fertility curtailment. As
what is stated in our case, the incentive to increase personnel rating is one of the good
points. This gives the women and the mothers the feeling of importance in the society. It
will also boost their confidence to perform better in their respective careers. The free
delivery and maternity service ward is also an effective ways to lessen the expenses of
the family. Giving free access in birth control and contraceptives is one of the effective
ways to give the partners and most especially youth the choice to conceive child or not.
We believe that is also the choice of the people if they will or not take it. All in all, the
governments intention to improve the life of everyone is nothing but good. However, we
dont think that its enough to steadily affect the development of our country. Its just one
of the aspects that hinder our development as a nation.
We also come up with alternatives or other solutions that will assist the lower
sectors in the society. The government should focus more on giving livelihood projects
to them on which they can have for a long period of time. The government should also
provide trainings and seminars to the people who are willing to work and improve their
lives. The effect may somehow be minimized if and only if the lower sector of the society
will realize the importance of having enough number of dependents of which they can
support and only if they have the discipline and willingness to improve their lives. Their
income by some means would be sufficient for the basic needs and they wouldnt have
to sacrifice their health, or education. It might help in the prompt improvement in the
poverty rate thus helping the development of the country.

4.

The external debt is the amount of debt a country owes to foreign or international

creditors. The debtors can be the government, corporations or citizens of that country.
Usually, government borrows money from international financial institution to defray the
expenditures of the public and sustain the national economy.
As of today, the estimated Philippines foreign debt is $77.5 B. It is estimated that
to pay the current obligations of the country, P42-55 of every P100 income will be
allocated as payment for debt. If the debt would be divided to the total number of
Filipinos, each will have an individual debt of $1512.
The Philippine external public debt which amounted to $ 77. 5 B astounded the
people. Though it was said that the amount will be used to develop the economy, and to
improve public services for Filipinos, the government cannot meet the increasing
external debt. Ironically, the goal of developing the country's economy through the use
of public debt contradicts the prevailing situation- that is to lessen debt by paying the
principal with its interest. This situation is alarming in the sense that even unborn
Filipinos are indebted for something they havent even incurred.
One way to pay the huge debt is to implement debt cap. The administration
supports the debt caps legislation. Debt cap is the restriction of corporate tax
deductions claimed by members of large groups. This would result to paying higher
taxes of the members of corporation. The collected taxes would then be used to pay off
the debt. Although the debt cap can be a useful way to cover up for the amount payable
to foreign banks, we think this method is unfair and biased for the taxpayers. Thus, the
burden of paying the liabilities would be shifted to the public. If the debt cap would be

legislated, it would result to the Philippines losing its credit standing which is saddening.
Another effect of this would be the increases in graft and corruption.
Aside from the debt cap, our group suggest a more effective way. That is for the
government to pay the debt as they fall due or renegotiate it to obtain an extension.
The collections from taxes can be used to pay the foreign obligations and can be used
to build infrastructure and improve public services. With the progressive tax rates, we
think that the amounts of tax collected are enough for economic growth.
The Philippines still has a long way to pay off its external obligations, and
hopefully, the government would pay attention to it.