EDITORIAL

International community concerns in the Philippines need to be addressed

Credit it to organizers, but the Philippine Development Forum, with the theme “Accelerating inclusive growth and deepening fiscal stability,” was attended by ambassadors, representatives from the United Nations, World Bank, International Monetary Fund, Cabinet secretaries and other prominent private and government sector participants.

Statements were also issued by the governments of Australia and the United States. Members of the forum secretariat said the statements were intended only for the participants but allowed the media to obtain copies of some of them.

Apart from human rights cases in the Philippines, the EU statement also said the country’s “rapid population growth is draining health and economic resources and slowing down economic growth.”

“It also threatens the sustainability of rural livelihoods and is inexorably destroying the remaining natural forest and marine habitats. The poor are paying the highest price, both individually and collectively,” the EU lamented.

With this, the EU called for “the effective implementation of a comprehensive national
family planning policy and promoting access to family planning methods.”

The EU also encouraged all parties concerned in the peace process between the government and the separatist Moro Islamic Liberation Front “to redouble efforts aimed at seizing the existing window of opportunity to bring lasting peace to the Southern Philippines.”

The EU also wants the Philippine government to “improve competitiveness” through “effective competition policy and a reduction of restrictions on foreign direct investment in order to boost a business environment where a thriving private sector provides decent work opportunities to all Filipinos.”

It cited the “potential importance of the mining sector in contributing to economic growth,” but added that mining should be done in an “environmentally and socially responsible manner.” The government could study these statements and make corrective measures before this country would look more pathetic in the eyes of the foreign community.

The EU, established in 1993 by the Treaty of Maastricht, is a political and economic community of 27 member states, located primarily in Europe. With almost 500 million citizens the EU is generating an estimated 33 percent share of the world’s nominal gross domestic product in 2007.