The Philippines is a dazzling tiger economy in Asia. In addition to strong population growth, the economy has also had a permanent boost until the outbreak of the Corona crisis in 2020. The interesting island state captivates not only with 7641 islands, some of which are uniquely beautiful, but also with an extraordinarily friendly population. Every inhabitant of the Philippines understands English. Not for nothing do hundreds of call centres vie for the hard-working call centre agents for the US market, Canada, Australia or the UK.
What is causing the government the most headaches?
However, infrastructure has lagged behind population growth and that is why the former President Duterte launched the „Build! Build! Build! – Programme“ at the beginning of his term. This is intended to radically improve the transport infrastructure in particular. Airports are being built or modernised on many islands and in Manila there are also efforts to improve local transport and road connections between districts. Even small and sometimes beautiful islands are involved and wide roads are being built there, so that one rubs one’s eyes in wonderment as to who is supposed to use these wide roads…
However, from an outsider’s point of view, environmental protection falls by the wayside with all these investments. That’s why I arranged to meet Mr Toska Marcos today. Toska studied political science and he was engaged in the association DDSGermany e.V.. He is also a lively Filipino supporter of the ‚Build Build Build‚ programme. In the interview, Toska explains how he sees his Philippines in the future. The author himself has visited this island nation many times and yes, he is biased: „Because I have not only come to know the Philippines, but also to love it…“
Until now, Manila’s average traffic density was the very reason for a traffic jam
So many a worried worker wondered: ‚Do I really have to get up at 5am to get to work on time at 8h? Or do I risk sleeping until six and then facing a scolding boss 45min late?‘ So far, these are problems that many commuters in the capital of the Philippines, Manila, face again every day.
Manila is considered the metropolis with some of the worst traffic jams in the world. One reason for this is the geography of this lagoon city: the nearly 3 million people who try to get into the centre of this metropolis every day in the morning and out again in the evening have to squeeze into a narrow strip between the sea on one side and a lake and hills on the other. Poor urban planning and lack of investment in infrastructure in recent decades have exacerbated the problem.
The travel industry is also extremely important for the Philippines
Tourism is of great economic importance for the Philippines. It accounts for around 12.7% of gross domestic product (GDP) and creates millions of jobs, particularly in the hospitality, transport and services sectors. Popular destinations such as Boracay, Palawan and Cebu attract international and domestic tourists, which boosts the local economy. Tourism also helps promote and protect cultural heritage and natural beauty. During the pandemic, the industry suffered significantly, but it is a key component of the country’s economic recovery. But tourism could bring at least 15 or 16% of the GDP.
What hinders the Philippines’ development the most?
Development in the Philippines is hampered by several factors:
Corruption:
widespread corruption at various levels of government undermines trust in institutions and hampers investment.
Inequality:
Socio-economic inequalities, especially between urban and rural areas, lead to an unequal distribution of wealth.
Infrastructure deficiencies:
Outdated or inadequate infrastructure, particularly in the areas of transport, energy and the internet, slows down economic growth.
Education and health:
Shortcomings in the education and health systems make it difficult to access basic services and prevent the development of human capital.
Bureaucracy:
Complex authorisation procedures and inefficient administration delay projects and investments.
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