Letter for the Philippine President: A Plea for Action

                                                                                                 

    

Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos Jr. 

Republic of the Philippines

Manila

Vigan City, August 22, 2024

Greetings of Peace Based on Justice!

                

            President Marcos, I am deeply frustrated, worried, and saddened by the current state of our country, especially in terms of our academic standings- widespread poverty, and unresolved issues of unemployment. It pains me to see so many students failing behind their education due to the lack of resources and support, while countless families continue to suffer in poverty with no clear path out. The high number of unemployed Filipinos add to this despair. These issuess are interconnected and cannot be ignored any longer.

           

                                                                        

                The recent rise in prices of essential goods, the continued impact of the pandemic, and the uneven pace of economic recovery have left many of our fellow citizens struggling to make ends meet. Inflation has severely affected the purchasing power of ordinary Filipinos, especially those in the lower-income sectors. This growing disparity is evident as many families fall deeper into poverty while a few reap the benefits of economic recovery. We understand that global factors play a role in this, but as our leader, I implore you to intensify efforts to curb inflation, improve food security, and create sustainable livelihood opportunities for the vulnerable. Programs for micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) should also be strengthened to spur local economic growth, as they form the backbone of our economy.   

          

        Like any other Filipino, the recent price increases of the basic goods, the remaining impact of the pandemic, and the paced recovery of the economy have driven many of our fellow citizens into another cycle of hardships. Inflation has severely eroded the buying power of the ordinary Filipino, particularly in the low-income sectors. This growing gap is clear from how many families sink deeper into poverty in comparison to a few who will enjoy the fruits of recovery. We appreciate that global factors contribute to this, but as our leader, I urge you to increase efforts to tame inflation, boost food security, and catalyze sustainable livelihoods for our vulnerable citizens. In addition, MSME programs need to be solidified in order to support local economic growth since they consist of the largest share of our economy.

        Equally concerning is our ongoing territorial dispute with China in the West Philippine Sea. It is demoralizing to see our sovereignty being challenged, and our fishermen harassed, while our resources in these waters are continually threatened. While it is appreciated that your administration was trying to engage in diplomatic dialogue, we hope the administration's stance on defending our sovereign rights as declared by the Permanent Court of Arbitration in 2016 would be firmer; otherwise, the ripple effects will leave a mark for a long time. We accept that peaceful relations with China are necessary, but we cannot compromise our national interests for them.

             

                I respectfully appeal you to take immediate and decisive action to improve our education system, create more jobs, and provide necessary support to lift our people out of poverty. The future of our nation depends on it.

 

Sincerely Yours,

Aidan Marc Zaniel A. Ramos

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    Sources: 

•  Asian Development Bank. (2023). Philippines: Youth employment challenges and opportunities. https://www.adb.org/publications/philippines-youth-employment-report

• Carpio, A. (2022). The Sout
  h China Sea dispute: Legal perspectives. Institute for Maritime Affairs.

• Department of Trade and Industry. (2023). Supporting MSMEs for sustainable economic growth. https://www.dti.gov.ph/msme/
• Gomez, J. (2023). West Philippine Sea dispute: Harassment incidents involving Filipino fishermen. Philippine Daily Inquirer. https://www.inquirer.net/west-philippine-sea
• Philippine Statistics Authority. (2023). Inflation rates report 2023. https://psa.gov.ph/inflation  
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