Because I Love Jufa

Economics

37 Nina Jillian Tan IV-5

38 Jufa Maris C. Taub

39 Therese Alyanna Tomacruz

Estrada Administration

Joseph Estrada assumed his position as president last June 30 1998. He promised that he will improve the lives of the Filipino people during his term as a president but after a couple of years, he was impeached because of certain scams that he was involved in.

To help improve the situation of the Philippines, Estrada thought of ideas that will be beneficial to us. One of these was the abolishment of the Pork Barrel. This was the money of the people set aside for the Congress at their own disposal. The Congress would be able to use this money for their little projects and it also promotes corruption. Also, the Agrarian Reform Agenda was formed. This agenda is based upon the three (3) important principles. Social Justice which gives fairness to the Filipino farmers who are not given the right to own the land they till, the political democratization that “involves increasing state accountability to its rural citizenry” and lastly, extending the accessibility of basic needs to the poor especially the ones in provinces. It consists of several branches and these are the following:

Completion of Land acquisition and Distribution: Distribution of the 3.466 M hectares of land by end of June 2002. They also aim to double the amount of land being distributed. From 200,000 hectares of the previous administration, they aim to distribute 400,000 hectares of land per year.

Intensification of Agrarian Reform Beneficiary Development: The administration of Estrada hopes to find a balance in the allocation of funds because the two previous administrations weren’t able to do so.

Promotion of Democratic Agrarian Reform: Allows the widespread participation of the masses in the programs of the government regarding the Agrarian reforms and strengthening the NGOs and the farmers.

Estrada also initiated the use of rolling stores. He called these the “Erap Para Sa Mahirap” rolling stores. These rolling stores sold basic needs that will be affordable for the poor.

ECONOMIC PROBLEMS

Main problem of the Estrada Administration is Poverty

1. The stock market is a tragedy

- Peso was weak, meaning the Peso-Dollar exchange was low ($1/P45)

- Control of stock trading in Manila by old line business families

2. Terrorism

- Bombings in Manila (malls, bus) and hostages crisis

- Rebellion of Muslims (MILF)

3. Landlords

- avoiding land reforms (government is in charge of the possession and use of land)

- converting farmlands to industrial or residential properties

- promotes deforestation and deteriorating agricultural sectors

4. Population

- increase by 4%

- lesser jobs because human resources will increase = unemployment

- wages are lower

5. Garbage

- no land for garbage disposal

- “NIMBY” Not in my back yard

- cause of sickness and disease

Reaction of the community/government

1. Jokes about Erap

- poor english

- supported by poor people because of his films

- his education

2. EDSA II

- people rebelled against his administration

3. Fake EDSA III

- people who supported Erap

http://www.philsol.nl/pir/Morales-98b.htm

http://www.philsol.nl/solcon/Miriam-Coronel-99.htm

http://www.apmforum.com/columns/orientseas18.htm