Name: Marie France B.

Lopez RELIGIOUS EDUCATION 10 Section: 10-Charity

5 CONTEMPORARY ISSUES IN THE PHILIPPINES

1. Poverty
- The state of being extremely poor or the state of being inferior in quality or insufficient in
amount. Some causes of Poverty include: Rapid Population Growth- As the Philippines has
financially limited resources and a high poverty rate, the rapid increase in population has
become a problem because there is already insufficient resources to support the population,
which leaves much fewer resources to improve the economy, Weakness in employment
generation and the quality of jobs generated- maybe because of mobility problems or
digestive disorders and stomach conditions, alcoholism, etc.

2. Covid-19

- The world has experienced a prolonged period of uncertainty and unrest caused by
the SARS-COV2 responsible for the Coronavirus or COVID-19 pandemic. To date it
has already affected the lives of peoples in almost 200 countries (and still counting)
globally including the Philippines. The human cost is rapidly being matched by huge
economic costs. Agricultural sector in the Philippines is affected because they export
their agricultural products like tropical fruits and other products to other countries
but since the global pandemic the production and trades have diminished, it also
continues to impact the economy which includes the OFWs working abroad who had
contributed a lot to the GNP of the Philippines but because of the pandemic, millions of
Filipinos went home unemployed and at risk. Philippines witnessed a slower economic
growth in the first half of 2019, compared to 2018.

3. Corruption

- Political corruption is the use of powers by government officials for illegitimate private
gain. An illegal act by an officeholder constitutes political corruption only if the act is
causally related to their official duties, is done under color of law or involves trading in
influence. (Wikipedia). It can be formed in any bad acts that can disturb the public. “Don’t
 let a person who has dirty hands handle your country, your life, and the future of your
children.” Victorino Q. Abrugar said. Corruption. This word states all the problems of the
nation. It means a lot for Filipinos who are experiencing the damage and the impact of
corruption , also, corruption was referred to as a great sin already in the Bible: “Do not
accept bribe, for a bribe blinds those who see and twist the words of the innocent.” One
effect of Corruption includes poverty.

4. Religious conflicts in the Philippines

- In its declaration of principles, the 1987 Philippine Constitution provides for the
separation of Church and State. While the principle honors distinctions between temporal
and spiritual functions, both Church and State maintain a unique and cooperative
relationship geared towards the common good however, traditional boundaries governing
political and religious agency have been crossed during Duterte’s presidency causing a
conflict between leaders of government and the Catholic hierarchy. For several reasons,
the conflict is unique in the contemporary history of church-state relations in the
Philippines. First, previous presidents, whether from the Catholic faith or not, have
sought the blessings of the Catholic Church; Duterte did not, signaling the ascendancy of
a new secular elite leader in the country, second, for the first time a Philippine president
has publicly cursed the Pope (even as a joke) and has openly challenged and criticized the
Catholic Church and its teachings, third, Catholic leaders have openly and repeatedly
criticized the president on key public policy issues, especially his anti-drug war and
attendant violations of human rights.

5. Environmental Issues

- One of the most pressing environmental issues impacting the Philippines is climate

change. Some of these impacts include increased frequency and severity of natural
disasters, sea level rise, extreme rainfall, global warming, resource shortages,
and environmental degradation which affects the lives of the people and the society.
Some environmental issues include: Decline of Natural Resources and biodiversity,
alarming waste problem in the Philippines, water, air and land pollution which affects the
quality of life of the people and other living organisms.
SOURCES:

 https://www.bartleby.com/essay/Philippine-Contemporary-Problems-and-Issues-
P3G2TNL36YYS
 https://www.pharmaceutical-technology.com/features/coronavirus-affected-countries-
philippines-measures-impact-tourism-economy/
 https://www.ipl.org/essay/Effects-Of-Corruption-In-The-Philippines-
PKM8HQ7EACF6
 https://www.intechopen.com/books/trade-and-global-market/corruption-causes-and-
consequences
 file:///C:/Users/skyel/Downloads/religions-10-00197.pdf
 file:///C:/Users/skyel/Downloads/TUCP%20-%20Ocampo.pdf