Globalization increases flow of goods, services, capital and people across borders around the

world but there is also a more comprehensive definition of this which says it’s not just about
increasing flows but also about changing rules. Changing rules means changing patterns,
government procurement, and many others.

Globalization happens because of technology. Technology is about communications,

transportations and development of digital technology.

1) Globalization has far-reaching implications on peoples’ lives and livelihood. It has some
good and positive effects, however, the negative outweighs them. In the Philippines,
globalization worsens the already poor situation of the masses. It sends millions of Filipinos
to work on a global stage where there is shortage of laborers, skilled, domestic and
professional workers. This is because of unemployment and underemployment brought about
by structural adjustments in the country.

Focusing on sending workers overseas may result not only in the physical loss of talent—
popularly known as brain drain—but also in mismatches between jobs and skills, as
educational and training institutions align themselves with the needs of the international labor
market rather than of local ones.

Former Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III previously reported that around 800,000 to 1
million skilled workers in the field of construction, architecture, and engineering are needed
up to 2022 to address the labor shortage amid the country’s construction boom. Even as the
Philippines sends a robust supply of workers abroad, it suffers labor shortages in key
industries, such as science, technology, engineering, mathematics (STEM), medicine, and
aviation.

2) Globalization has converted rice lands, water and ancestral domain of indigenous peoples
to multi-national companies for export products, high-tech fishing and mining operations,
respectively. Farmers and fisher folks go empty-handed, hungry and mostly indebted while
indigenous peoples wander to exist. The import liberalization policy has destroyed the
domestic economy as it continues the closure of small and medium enterprises. It causes
Filipinos to consume cheaper import products and their own products left unsold or sold at a
much cheaper price.

a. The Mining Act of 1995 allows 100% foreign ownership of mining operations under a
Financial or Technical Assistance Agreement (FTAA), attracting big mining
companies to operate in the Philippines.

The 11-day barricade of residents of Sibuyan Island in the province of Romblon has
forced the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) to halt mining
exploration activities in the island as it slapped notices of violation to Altai
Philippines Mining Corp. (APMC) on Friday, February 3.

Human rights and environmental groups from six countries called on the government
to shut down the mine of Australian-Canadian firm OceanaGold in Nueva Vizcaya,
 which scarred the lands of indigenous Tuwali people and polluted water systems in
the area.

b. The Bureau of Customs (BOC) has intercepted more than P101 million worth of
onions and other agricultural products that were supposed to be distributed at the local
market after their arrival at the Manila International Container Port (MICP).
Due to importations of products from china and other neighboring countries, the farm
gate price of white onions from our local farmers have reached 45-50 pesos per kilo
compared to imported white onions which is ranging from 100-150 pesos. Onion
growers in Vintar, Ilocor Norte, are suffering from losses due to the low price of their
onions.

3) Globalization allows privatization of social institutions (e.g. schools, hospitals and other
social centers) and services (e. g. water and light), that are much needed by the poor majority.
Globalization allows foreign militarization into the country to fight the so-called global
terrorism. This threatens people, destroys nature and life rather than build peace and justice.

Militarism is a family and community issue when governments use their defense forces and
arms against their own peoples in the name of national security. The effects of these activities
can be devastating to humanity and the environment in totality not only in Mindanao but in
the whole country. What was rejected in 1991 as the RP – US Bases Agreement comes back
again in the form of the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA).

Pemberton was on a “rest and recreation” break after the PH-US military exercises under
VFA. Lance Cpl. Joseph Scott Pemberton, who was 19 at the time, choked Jennfier Laude
and pushed her head into a toilet bowl until she drowned after he found out she was a
transgender. Then he took a taxi across town to Subic Bay, where his ship was docked, and,
according to a shipmate who later testified in court, admitted what he had just done.

Other cases include the rape of “Nicole” and “Vanessa,” and the thousands of faceless
Filipino women who fall into prostitution in areas where there US forces are stationed. An
earlier study of Gabriela Women’s Party estimated some 50,000 prostituted women in the
cities of Olongapo and Angeles in Pampanga for the “rest and recreation” of US soldiers
stationed there.

The effects of globalization are felt worldwide and, sad to say, the Philippines is on the losing
side. Globalization being an overarching system is indeed an economic, political, sociological
and cultural issue that affects the Philippines. Unfortunately, the Philippine government has
become the implementing partner of globalization in the country. It lacks the political will to
safeguard the welfare of its people.