Knowledge and concern about global issues arc important as countries all over the world are

increasingly becoming interdependent Interdependency is not only on the level of economics

but also in the areas of environment, politics, human rights, gender, education, civics, and
citizenships The interplay of these areas of concern presents a continuous change in belitf8 and
practices of the people and the way people are engaging. The differ ways of engagement reflect
also the historical influences of each country region, and people. Added to this are the different
cultural perspectives during the process of engagement.

Contemporary issues are issues that have particular and significant relevance to the present
time. The word “contemporary” is from the Latin word contemporarius, from com which
means “with” and temporarius which means “of time” (from tempus meaning “time”). While
the word “issues” means “a matter of public concern.”

Contemporary issues greatly affect all of humanity. The condition of the twenty-first
century demands dynamic integration and one has to be equipped, knowledgeable, and critical
when studying a particular issue in order to intensify the practice of democratic values. One
needs to enrich existing knowledge on economy, politics, social structures, human rights, gender,
education, civics, and citizenship in order to widen perspectives and come up with sound
decisions founded on good values and consideration for the greater good.

Contemporary issues have two dimensions—personal and public—wherein the concept of

moral principles, what is right and wrong, and the existence of diversity are at the core of
decision-making This poses the challenge of being consistently critical on matters that affect the
majority through simple actions and the formulation of public policy that bears consequences.

The goal of Contemporary Issues is to enrich knowledge of current issues and dig
deeper into them with critical and analytical approaches. It aims to examine issues that are
not limited only to social, political, economic, religious, and cultural events, but also issues
that are treated before as taboo. It aims to widen the understanding of multiple
perspectives on current issues within the globalized world and community.

Contemporary Issues centers on reflective questions that challenge us in weighing

evidences, our value system, and the consequences to which our reflective decision-making
will bring us. It includes studying the information, knowledge, concepts, and means of inquiry
from the different disciplines. Current issues emphasize on problems and dilemmas confronted
by citizens.

Some Benefits of Studying Contemporary Issues

1. It helps us become part of the global village
Becoming part of the twenty-first century globalization gives us all possible access to
different countries’ resources. Globalization has turned the world into an integrated
economy. It also encourages competition among countries and companies, forcing
everyone to become more efficient in using resources.
The integration of the world economy is leading each country to understand diversity of
cultures and avoid disputes by negotiation and agreement, instead of armed conflict.
 2. It leads us to build informed opinions
Acquiring knowledge of contemporary issues allows us to objectively decide where to
stand on matters concerning the environment, the community, our fellow citizens, our
country, and ourselves. This may influence government officials in terms of improving
existing laws and provisions to make these more just and beneficial, for the people.

3. It stimulates discussion

Awareness and knowledge of contemporary mues participation in discussions. It also

gives everyone immediate feedback from both the students and the teachers. It therefore
helps us improve our content and helps us develop our skills in speaking.

4. It helps us establish more persona! relationships

Sharing insights and objective points of view on matters that ' concern the society
gives other people a better view of us and help, them understand us. It gives people a
view of our "inner soul," the] of us that cannot be seen during regular conversations.
Displaying, broad understanding of current issues also helps set us apart.

5. It helps us learn about cultural relativism

The globalized twenty-first century is presented with cultural diversity and issues that
can be viewed as both controversial and traditional. Knowing the issues will better equip
us to understand different contexts of cultures and enlighten us on how to make a wise
decision and stand on different issues. It will also serve as an opportunity to change our
views of cultural stereotypes and facilitate coexistence.

SUMMARY

Contemporary Issues centers on reflective questions. Information can be taken from

different sources such as books, newspapers, online sources, and other forms of media. It poses
two dimensions: personal and public. The personal dimension pertains to the impact of the
issues to an individual person in terms of his or her social, political, and economic background,
and beliefs. The gravity and effect of the issues on the person will depend on these factors and
on how the person will respond to them through discourse. In the discourse, the person is able
to share his or her stand on the issue by sharing questions that will lead the person to the
answer that will enlighten his or her queries.

In the process of gathering information, the issue on the table becomes public when everyone
shares ideas and different perspectives based on valid accounts. After the discourse, revalidation
of personal stand should be made, and in the process, we should reflect on all possible
implications of our decision that can directly or indirectly affect the greater public.

Contemporary issues are already public. They already affect everyone but the change and
the direction they steer us to will depend on the participation of the greater public. This is why
discourse is crucial.
 PROFILE OF THE ENVIRONMENT :
NATURAL RESOURCES
AND ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEMS

The word environment refers to all the elements and condition, in which living things, including
humans, animals, plants, and organisms, live, interact, and coexist. Knowing the different
elements of the environment is important in order to understand the fragility of the environment
and the necessity for its protection.

Environmental Elements
A. Weather and Climate
Weather is the state of the wind, rain, and temperature in the atmosphere at any
given time and place. It pertains to whether it is hot or cold, wet or dry, calm or stormy, or
clear or cloudy. It is affected by the amount of sunlight, sun, condition of the land, water
distribution over the earth, and the topography of the place.

Climate is the weather condition prevailing in an area in a given period of time.

Climate is affected by human activities, primarily due to the emission of greenhouse gases
and burning of fossil fuel which releases harmful gases into the atmosphere.

B. Landforms
A landform is a natural feature of the Earth’s surface. Mountains, I hills, plateaus, and plains
are examples of landforms. Movement under I the earth, as explained by plate tectonics, creates
landforms such as hills and mountains over millions of years. These geographical features
control the ecosystem, climate, weather, and life on earth.

Major Landforms
1. Mountains
Mountains are the highest landforms on the surface of the earth. Some have steep sides
and the highest point is referred to as the peak. The highest mountain in the world is Mount
Everest.

Four Types of Mountains

a. Volcanic—formed when molten rock or magma deep within the earth erupts and piles
upon the surface. Examples of volcanic mountains are Mount Pinatubo in the Philippines
and Mauna Kea in Hawaii.

b. Fold—the most common type of mountain. The vast mountain ranges stretching for
thousands of kilometers are fold mountains. Fold mountains are formed when two of the
Earth’s tectonic plates collide head on. The edges of each tectonic plate crumple and
buckle, and these create the mountains. Examples of fold mountains are the Sierra Madre
in the Philippines and the Himalayan Mountains in South Asia.

c. Fault-block—created when faults or cracks in the Earth’s crust force materials upward.
Fault-block mountains usually have a steep front side and then a sloping back side.
Examples of fault-block mountains include the Sierra Nevada Mountains,
 d. . Dome created when a large amount of magma pushes up from below the
Earth’s crust, but never actually reaches the surface and erupts. The source of the
magma goes away and then pushes up rocks which cool and harden into a dome. An
example of a dome mountain is the Black Hills in South Dakota, US.

2. Hills
Hills are lower than mountains but are higher than their surrounding areas. They
are usually covered with grass. The climate in these areas is neither too cold nor too
hot. Vegetation is thick and is suitable for growing crops. The most popular example of
hills in the country are the Chocolate Hills in Bohol.

3. Valleys
Valleys are low-lying areas between two mountains or hills. Valleys are formed
when rivers flow down mountainsides and hillsides. As water wears off the rocks and
soil, it carves out V-shaped grooves. These grooves get deeper and wider and finally
form lowland areas called valleys. Valleys are either V-shaped or U-shaped depending
on the rate of the widening and deepening of the lowland areas.
The climate in valleys is suitable for living and settlement. The soil is fertile and
water is readily accessible. The world’s earliest civilizations were built along river
valleys.

4. Plateaus
A plateau is a flat-topped highland with steep sides. It is usually surrounded by steep
rock faces referred to as cliffs. It is formed when magma pushes up toward the surface of
the earth’s crust. The magma does not break through but raises a portion of the earth’s
crust creating a plateau.

5. Plains
Plains are areas of flat land which usually meet the oceans or seas. The areas near the
oceans and seas are known as coastal plains. Some plains are formed by the action of rivers
and these are called river plains. River plains are highly fertile and excellent for farming and
growing crops. Their suitability for growing crops, settlement, and transportation usually
make these areas densely populated.

6. Islands
An island is a landform which is surrounded by water from all
and formed either due to volcanic eruptions or due to hot spot, in the
lithosphere. Islands that are close to each other form an archipelago.
The Philippines is an archipelago.

7. Deserts
Deserts are large, dry, and hot or cold areas of land which receive little or no rainfall
throughout the year. The vegetation is scarce due to shortage of water. The atmospheric air
is very dry. Daytime temperature is high and nights could be very cold. Deserts are
covered with sand or snow.
 Two Types of Deserts
a. Hot Deserts—deserts that are covered mainly with sand and dust. These receive little or
no rainfall and are very dry. Animals that can survive in hot deserts are camels, snakes,
lizards, and rats.

b. Cold Deserts—deserts that are covered largely by snow. These also receive little or no
rain or snowfall. Animals like penguins and fur seals survive in these deserts. Antarctica
is an example and it is the world’s biggest cold desert.

C. Major Water Forms

Water is the natural resource that people take for granted the most. Without clean water, it
would be impossible for us to survive. We also need water for growing crops. In areas with
little rainfall, people must irrigate or transport water to the dry areas. Water also gives us a
means of travel and carrying goods. It can also serve as an important source of power. Power
plants near rivers and waterfalls use water to turn machines or cool nuclear reactors that
produce electricity.

1. Ocean—the biggest body of water. It contains saltwater and some of its parts are very deep
which allow large ships to travel between continents. There are live oceans: The Arctic,
Atlantic, Indian, Pacific, and Southern Oceans.

2. Sea—body of water which is smaller than an ocean. Aquatic resources live in the sea. In
the Philippines, much of our aquatic resources are from the Philippine Sea and the West
Philippine Sea.

3. Bay—body of water that is almost completely surrounded by land except for the water
passage connecting it to the sea. The bay serves as a harbor for seafaring vessels that
transport people and goods to different places. In the Philippines, Manila Bay and Subic Bay
are the two most known harbors.

4. Lake—body of water surrounded by land. It contains fresh water. It is a good for fishing,
boating, and swimming. The biggest lakes in the Philippines are Laguna de Bay, Lake
Lanao, and Taal Lake.

5. River—body of water formed when water moves from the mountains to the seas or oceans.
Some of the longest rivers in the Philippines include the Cagayan River, Mindanao River,
Agusan River, Pulangi River, and Pampanga River.

Philippine Natural Resources

The Philippines, being the second to the largest archipelagic country in the world after
Indonesia, is immensely rich in natural resources, materials, and substances such as minerals,
forests, water, and fertile land, all of which can be put to use for economic advantage. A tropical
country with 7,641 islands covering an area of 300,000 square kilometers (km4) in the Western
part of the Pacific Ocean, it has vast potential and can offer a wealth of things to its people and
the world. Its coastline of 36,289 km gives the country the advantages of having beaches, ports,
shipping areas, and easier access to trade.
Fishery Resources
With its territorial waters measuring 2,200,000 km 2 and located in the world’s fishing
center, the Philippines is definitely rich in marine resources. Of the 2,400 fish species found in
the country, 65 have good commercial value.
The Philippines ranked seventh among the top fish-producing countries in the world with its
total production of 4.87 million metric tons of fish, crustaceans, mollusks, and aquatic plants
including seaweeds. The production constitutes 2.66% of the total world production of 182.9
million metric tons.
 In terms of value, the country’s aquaculture production of fish, crustaceans, and mollusks
has amounted to over 1.95 billion dollars based on tin- report of the Bureau of Fisheries and
Aquatic Resources. The country is also the world's third largest producer of aquatic plants
including seaweeds, having produced a total of 1.75 million metric tons or nearly 7.36% of the
total world production of 23.78 million metric tons.

The fishing industry’s contributions to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) were 1.7% and
1.9% at current and constant 2000 prices respectively.

It translates to PHP 199.3 billion for current prices and PHP 131 billion for constant prices of
the country’s GDP of PHP l1,548 billion (current prices and PHP 6,765 billion at constant
prices).The industry also accounted for 15.4% (P199.3 billion) and 18.5% (PHP151 billion) of
the Gross Value Added (GVA) in the Agriculture, Hunting, Forestry, and Fishing Group of PHP
1.297 billion and PHP 706.6 billion at current and constant prices, respectively. It boasts the
largest share next to agricultural crops.

Employment in the fishing industry amounted to 1,614,368 fishing operators nationwide

(NSO 2002 Census for Fisheries), of which the municipal fisheries sector accounted for more
than one million (1,371,676) operators while the commercial and aquaculture sectors added
some 16,497 and 226,195 operators, respectively.

The fishing industry provides employment to about one million Filipinos in total or around
3% of the country’s labor force. Sixty-eight percent from municipal fishing, 26% from
aquaculture, and 6% from commercial fishing. The data shows that indeed the country's fishing
industry is one of the largest industries in the country, the country being archipelagic. It enjoys
the vastness of the oceans and the seas.

Environmental Concerns on Fishing

The Philippines is one of the countries with an abundant supply of marine resources and
organisms. However, protecting them has become a big challenge to the Philippine government.
The Republic Act No. 10654 is an act that aims to prevent, deter, and eliminate illegal,
unreported, and unregulated fishing, amending Republic Ac. No. 8550, otherwise known as "The
Philippine Fisheries Code of 1998.”
Through time the law has become futile. Technology in fishing has improved and fishing
vessel, became motorzed and go. bigger and more powerful, hu, fishers get no. only those that
are of sizeable catch but also almost everything from the fishing grounds, affecting even the
coral reefs resulting to overfishing as a major problem of the country.

The increasing population of people resulted to higher demands for marine organism and
made most of the residents in coastal areas use fishing as their main source of livelihood.

The population increase, coupled with improved fishing technology, brought stress to the
country’s marine and coastal ecosystem, thereby affecting the fishery resource. Added to the
situation is also the case of illegal fishing which includes the use of dynamites, fine fishing nets
that capture smaller fish, and illegal fishponds.
 Pollution also affects marine organisms. Solid waste and discharges of chemical wastes by
factories go to the seas and lead to fish kills.

Cutting of trees, mining, coastal infrastructure development, and unmindful human activities
result in poisonous and toxic substances polluting the water. Silts and sediments lead to lower
riverbeds killing phytoplankton and other aquatic organisms, which are responsible for
photosynthetic activities. Photosynthesis, aside from starting the food chain process, supplies the
oxygen requirement of fish.

Land and Soil Resources

The total land area of the Philippines is about 30 million hectares, half which is classified as
forest lands, 47% as alienable and disposable lands, and the remaining 3% as unclassified
forestlands. Around 33% of its total land are* is devoted to agriculture.

The Philippines' primary source of livelihood is its fertile land- T& country's major crops are
rice, corn, sugarcane, coconut, abaca, tobacco, bananas, and pineapples. Therefore soil
resources arc very important to the Philippine economy.
Classification of Soils and Their Suitability
1. Inccptisols—most suitable for cultivated crops. Half of the country's
soil is composed of this.
2. Entisols, Vertisols, and Mollisols—suitable for rice and other crops.
3. Ultisols-high in erodability and have low nutrient content. This
type of soil is found in steep areas and is best suited for woodland, recreation, and
wildlife.

The Philippines primarily remains an agricultural country. The September quarter 2015
GDP reports that agriculture contributes 12% to the GDP with a growing population largely
dependent on land for its food and livelihood.
There are several factors affecting food security. The physical and biological
characteristics of soil determine the soil’s capacity to produce food. The production of food is
also influenced by the percentage of nonarable lands, which amount to 21.5 million hectares in
the Philippines.

Problem on Land and Soil Resources

1. Soil Erosion
Soil erosion is a naturally occurring process that affects all landforms. In agriculture,
soil erosion refers to the wearing away of a field's topsoil, which is high in organic matter and
fertile, by the natural physical forces of water and wind. It is further aggravated by
deforestation. Soil erosion reduces the productivity of the land and contributes to the pollution
of water sources.
2. Land Conversion
Land conversion is the process of changing the status of tracts of land from agricultural to
nonagricultural. Their conversion from agricultural to other economic uses is becoming
widespread as it offers immediate and more attractive returns of investing. Therefore the
transformation of agricultural lands into residential, commercial, and industrial centers despite
the regulations of the government continues
to increase.

Currently, there are laws governing the conversion of agriculture lands in order to protect
the country's economy and the sustainability of food production.

Mineral Resources
The location of the Philippines which is within the Pacific Ring of Fire, makes it one of the
countries loaded with mineral deposits. The country's large reserves of minerals have placed it
fifth in the mineral industry of the world, third in gold reserves, fourth in copper, and fifth in
nickel.

According to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), around 9

million hectares or 30% of the country's total land area (which is 30 million hectares), contain
important metallic mineral deposits, and 5 million hectares are potential sites
for nonmetallic reserves.

Among the important metallic minerals found in abundance in various parts of the country
include gold, copper, iron, chromite, nickel, cobalt, and platinum, while our nonmetallic
resources include sand and gravel, limestone, marble, clay, and other quarry materials.

Some producers of copper and gold are found in Baguio and the Mankayan districts in the
province of Benguet, while producers of nickel arc in Palawan and Surigao.

The metal deposits are estimated at a 1.5 billion metric tons, while nonmetal deposits arc
projected at 19.3 billion metric tons. Nickel ranks first in terms of deposits and size. It is
found in Surigao del Norte, Davao, Palawan, Romblon, and Samar. Iron is found in Ilocos
Norte, Nueva Ecija, Camarines Norte, and Cotabato, while copper is found in Zambales,
Batangas, Mindoro, Panay, and Negros. Among nonmetal deposits, the most abundant are
cement, lime, and marble. Other nonmetals include asbestos, clay, guano, asphalt, feldspar,
sulfur, talc, silicon, phosphate, and marble. Still the country has $840 billion untapped
mineral wealth according to the Mines and Geosciences Bureau, the agency that issues
permits to mining companies.

However, mining and quarrying contributed the least to the total economy after forestry,
averaging only to 0.9 percent of the total GDP at constant prices during the period 1998 to 2010.
Mining and quarrying contribute an average of 0.4% to the total employment in the country,
generating an average annual employment of 130,000 from 1998 to 2010. However, the
Department of Labor and Employment’s statistics report states that mining has created 211,000
jobs in 2011, but it is still not contributing much to the employment generation.
Impacts of Mining
1. Biodiversity and Ecosystem
The fresh air, food, water, and medicine we get from the environment are the
benefits that are difficult to replace once the ecosystem is destroyed. For mining to be
possible, lands and forests must be cleared, especially large-scale mining which entails
clearing thousands of hectares of rainforests and agricultural lands in order to excavate
and extract minerals.
Reforestation as mandated by law should be done by mining corporations. However,
no amount of reforestation can bring back a damaged biodiversity and ecological
system. Clearing of lands and forests, changing the landscape of mountains, and silts
and sediments from mining sites affecting water systems, coral reefs, and even
mangroves pose a big challenge to people who are directly affected by the consequences
of these events.

2. Livelihood and Employment

The clearing of lands and forests redirects the local people to new jobs in the mining
sites. However, the mining industry worldwide has generated low job opportunities. In
fact, its total share to employment from the year 2000 to 2009 was only 0.376%. In 2010,
it was just 0.5% or the total of 197,000.
Every mining company with permission to excavate and extract minerals is given 25
years to operate and another 25 years upon evaluation. That means that the supply of
employment for a family and mining community has an end. It should also be mentioned
that the mining industry uses nonrenewable natural capital, meaning the resources they
use can no longer be replaced for the next generation.
In a study done by Dr. Arsenio M. Balisacan of the UP School of Economics, poverty
incidence in mining areas is double the national
average of 26%. Poverty incidence is high in the following mining
areas:

The data shows an interesting relation between mining and poverty, which opposes the
claim that mining will improve the quality of life of the affected local people.

3. Health
Working at mining sites exposes people to health hazards from mining waste and
chemicals that remain in the soil and in the water. Dust, spills from chemicals, and fumes
can poison a worker and may cause lifelong damage.
a. Heavy Lifting
Carrying heavy loads and repeatedly being in an awkward position or a cramped
space may lead to injuries of the extremities and the back.
b.Use of Heavy and Loud Equipment
Heavy and vibrating equipment and machineries can cause damage to nerves and blood
circulation, as well as lead to loss of feeling and infections such as gangrene. These types
of machines produce loud, constant noise which can cause hearing problems, including
deafness.
c. Long Work Hours
Working underground for long hours and with little light can harm vision. The hot
conditions without sufficient hydration can also cause heat stress which leads to
dizziness, weakness, rapid heartbeat, extreme thirst, and fainting.
d. Dusty Environment
Sickness caused by dust such as damage to the lungs is a major health problem. Miners
are usually covered with dust as they work for hours. Lung damage also increases the risk of
having tuberculosis or IB especially since tunnel and mining sites are usually cramped and
crowded.

4. Contribution to the Economy

The government earns little from the mining industry. This can be attributed to fiscal
policies and existing regulations on mining such as the following mentioned by Mr.
Christian Monsod in his speech on
March 2, 2012.

a. income tax holidays of 5 years (including excise taxes)

b. deduction of 50% of labor expenditure from taxable income

tax and duty exemptions on imported capital equipment and spare
parts

c. exemptions from wharfage fees and additional incentives for

enterprises located in less-developed areas

d. the privilege to deduct 100% of expenditures on infrastructure

from taxable income over a period of 10 years
exemption of pollution control devices from real property and
other taxes

g. income tax carried forward of net-operating losses incurred in the

first 10 years, which may be deducted from taxable income over a
five-year period

h. accelerated depreciation of assets at twice the normal rate

i. option to deduct the cost of all exploration and development1

expenditures from taxable income over a four-year period from
commencement of commercial operations

Balancing the Equation on Mining

 Mining projects in the Philippines require an environmental compliance certificate (ECC)
and a feasibility study in order to see the viability for both the government and the mining
corporations. Representatives from the mining sector such as Manuel V Pangilinan who is the
head of Philex Mining Corporation, the country* largest gold producer, claim that most mine are
situated in not-so-arable lands which are not good for farming. Mining sites are steep and too
mineralized for farming and agriculture to thrive.

Mr. Pangilinan, in his speech in the mining forum held in Makati on March 2, 2012, said that
the country has enough laws to address the concerna on mining in problematic areas. He said that
what need* to be done are the enforcement and implementation of these laws.

Proposed Actions to Balance the Filiation

1. Subject both large-scale mining and small-scale mining to the same-
regulations and sanctions.
Small-scale and illegal mining operations are the ones commiting
the following violations:
a. absence of health and safety measures
b. employment of child workers
c. exploitation of women
d. nonexistence of livelihood plans
e. noncompliance to the rehabilitation program for mining sites

2. Harmonize both national and local policies on mining.

3. Train and increase the competence of mining regulators.

4. Increase the quantity and quality of regulatory staff. These are

people who inspect mining activities to check if they are complying with the rules.

5. Create an independent environmental commission.

6. Create a profit-sharing scheme that will guarantee appropriate share to

the government. There should be equitable sharing of mining benefits
between the national and local government units.

7. Timely remittance of taxes due local government units should be given.

SUMMARY
 The Philippines is a tropical country that experiences two
generally distinct seasons: wet and dry. However, it can he said that
we have three seasons: the hot and dry or summer season from March
to May; the rainy season from June to November; and the cool dry
season from December to February.

The country is situated along the Pacific Ring of Fire and

comprises of 7,641 islands. It covers a 300,000-kilometer square area
in the Western part of the Pacific Ocean. It boasts an abundance of
marine resources and is included in the top ten countries with the
highest production of fish, crustaceans, mollusks, and aquatic plants.
It is also the world’s third largest producer of aquatic plants.

The total land area of the Philippines is about 30 million hectares,

half of which is classified as forest lands while the other half is
considered alienable and disposal lands. Thirty-three percent of the
total land area of is used for agriculture.

The location of the Philippines makes it one of the countries with

the highest deposits of mineral resources. It is the fifth among the
countries with the highest mineral reserves, third in gold reserves,
fourth in copper, and fifth in nickel.

When looking at all the possible benefits brought by our rich

natural resources, we should also look at the challenges that go
along with them. To regulate and protect both our renewable and
nonrenewable natural resources, the government formulated laws
such as RA 10654 which prevents, deters, and eliminate illegal,
unreported, and unregulated fishing. The government also enacts laws
that regulate land conversion, land is planned to be
converted especially in cases where agricultural into
commercial and residential areas.

However, the implementation of these laws and the protection of the environment and our
natural resources depend not only on the government but also on the people.