My subject for discussion is the Philippines the sub topics are Aid,Corruption,Business in the Philippines, Corrupt leaders in prominent positions., and a historical perspective on the Philippines, OFW's(Overseas foreign workers) and Schools and hospitals, and sport .
1) Philippines and Corruption
Historically the Philippines was of Spanish origins with the Catholic Church taking over the religious beliefs of the country. If we look at most of the countries were the Spanish and the Catholic Church have been we see corruption, civil wars and poverty e.g. Mexico, Chile, Uruguay, etc.. If we look at the countries where the British were we see robust economies, a low level of corrutpion, good infrastructure and good socialist sturcture. So you tell me what is the problem historicallly and how to rectify it.
1) How to reduce corruption
a) Promote whistleblowing as in the case of Jun Luzada and the ZTE deal.
b) have a board of selectors to hire staff instead of one person who hires friends and family relatives in goernment jobs.
c) The Philippines is ranked 117 out of 159 on the Corruption scale worldwide which will severally reduce the aid to the Philippines in the future unless real steps are taken to get it under control and make reforms. Need to create a level of trust so countries will provide aid again and lower the ranking.
d) If aid is given it should be given under tight constraints such as controlled by the Embassy concerned, an embassy official controls the purse strings and controls and checks what is going on, the contracts for goods and services go to the country suppling the aid which will hire local staff where required.
e) Promote ethical behaviour through church using local leaders the church has to take some responsibility. I have seen a church goer commit fraud.
f) Promote ethical behaviour by bringing overseas specialist into various departments such as Hospitals,Police,Local Government, and Provincial and Main government. For guidance and to be able identify inherint problems.
g)brain drain a highly skilled work force leaving each year estimated at 1,000,000 million to use them before they leave to prevent corruption and identify it.
h) If the people find out about corruption it should then be investigated using overseas investigators and prosecuted where possible.
i) Promote on television, radio and newspapers investigative journalism to show the problems and find ways to fix them.
j) a lot of solicitors are corrupt caused by sellers who want to reduce the capital gains tax they pay. They get nothing for doing this so why do it.Wipe out capital gains tax on properties and all the associated paperwork and give solicitors the job of transferring the property from seller to buyer. Look at the Australian system and duplicate it here in the Philippines.
k) A government that doesn't seem to understand its priorties. For example the building of roads double or triple roads on the island of Luzon and is neglested every where else an example of this is on the island of Samar the road from Allen to Tacloban is an absolute disgrace and needs urgent attention. I have driven a lot in Australia, New Zealand, Austria Italy Czech republic,Thailand and never seen or felt so exhausted in my whole life if you want to test yourself then go there a typical 100kms in Australia takes 1.2Hrs this road takes 4hrs there is no maintenance and the only thing I can ever think when I go to Samar is I can't wait to get off this god forsaken island.
2) Sport, this country has little or no sport development programs. If we take a look at the Olympics zero medals what are the governments plans to overcome this appalling situation they need help from overseas such as Australia to set up clubs, provide facilities promote sport in school and get it televised and promoted on television. We only get sometimes some college sport here.
3)Business in the Philippines.
Why aern't business's corrupt and going out of business here because they don't promote nepitism,and keep controls on what is going on and promote and hire the right person for the job.
Some of the companies that are prospering in the Philippines are SM Malls has one of the largest malls in Asia Pacific as is currently expanding into China and owns Philippine Airlines, Cebu Pacific has got brand new aircraft A319/A320 and is expanding into international ports. San Miguel Breweries largest beer company in the Philippines and owns James Boag Brewery in Tasmania. Mcdonalds, HSBC Bank, China Bank, Citibank, Jollibee a company similar to McDonalds has branche in a few overseas locations.
Staff are loyal and don't get paid very much and work hard on average they work 6 days a week not sure if they get holiday pay as government workers do.
Promoting telethons in the Philippines to get aid for the poor, the hospitals as in Australia, getting industry to give aid and overseas to match the aid given by industry in the Philippines.
4)Police schools and hospitals.
All 3 urgently need computers and Photocopiers they are still using typewriters can't remember the last time I used one of these. In Biliran hospital I had the unfortunately had to stay there twice when my wife was pregnant, the hospital is to small we had to wait in the reception for 2 days each time before and after my wife gave birth. We had to get medicines from the local pharmacy, and get our doctor to do the deilvery who we paid direct. I wouldn't want to tell you what it is like if you get mentally ill in this country what happens.
The Police are lazy and lack direction they sit all day on guard posts and don't stop traffic what a waste of resources and there is some corruption in Manila by Police on patrol they call them crocidiles.
Hospitals lack urgent equipment and to kept some of the trained people going overseas.
Schools, don't do sport, lack photocopiers and computers have no social worker or guidance councillor, students can not speak English at all even though learnt at school. No school buses so parents that can;t afford the transport the student stays at home.
5)Terrorism
Terrorism is not a problem in the Philippines except for the Civil War that has been going on in Zamboanga for the last 30 years. The Philippines should be downgrade from a terrorist country to a country with a Civil War in a remote place.
6) Australian Embassy
The Australian Embassy in Manila is very unfriendly and hard to contact and not customer service orientated and it is very hard to get to see a customer service representative to get your visa processed without documenscreaming and shouting and the over use of the Internet for the getting of its, and staff who can't read basic documents when it says third party they send to me instead recognising it is they who are the third party, staff who are Phillipino's who are jealous I believe and I can't understand why you would have them processing our paperwork. Not full declalration of thewhat is required when you apply for a visa this goes for Tourist and SPouse sponsored visas. Lack of trust by the Embassy to Applicants and having to prove your are marries and get photos and write a story of where and when you meet. I am a New Zealand citizen living in Australia for the lst 45 years and I had to get a medical examination,get a criminal record check from NZ even though I left there when I was 7 years old and have a good character and worked for over 40 years in Australia,
Why am I wrting this and sending it to you to highlight a few of the problems here and also the good side, most of the Philipinos are friendly people and the woman in general make good wives and the standard of living if you are live here is reasonably well off, you would have a servant or maid or driver at very little cost, and live in a housing estate and shop in an excellent shopping centre better than in Australia.
The Philipines needs urgently to get help in many areas or it will slip into a very underdeveloped country, I would be glad to hear from you, if you think I am crazy then okay but someone needs to look at the problems and provide help not just see the problems and put your head in the sand.
There are many Philipinos overseas providing some help in supporting families back home but it is only money. You need to provide help for your people by telling people about the Philipines and getting help and voicing your concerns politically.
The Philipines is great place to invest and is cheap to stay and get around.
That's all for today I AM A bit tired from writing this so have a good day
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