Article 1: Tax reform package ‘biggest Christmas and New Year’s

gift’ – DOF chief.

The Main Idea or Issue of the Article:

The primary concern revolves around the signing of the 2018 General
Appropriations Act (GAA) and the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion
(TRAIN) law. These initiatives are designed to stimulate economic growth,
allocate resources for priority programs such as education and infrastructure,
and enhance government services. The 2018 national budget, amounting to
PHP 3.767 trillion, is the largest in Philippine history, this budget targets
sectors like education, infrastructure. Healthcare and defense as its top
priorities for improvement and change. The TRAIN law introduces personal
tax exemption and significant tax relief for many Filipino citizens; however,
this comes at the cost of increased taxes of essential goods which will then
be used to fund infrastructure and social services.

Though government figures like Se. Loren Legarda and Finance Sect.
Carlos Dominiguez praises the train law, many are against it and argues that
it negatively impacts certain groups, particularly women and low-income
families as though they may be exempted from paying tax, the increased
price of basic goods and services may have a greater effect.

The GAA aims to allocate resources for specific sectors that are
prioritized by the government. Social services receive the most attention in
the 2018 GAA, accounting for 38.7%, followed by economic services (30.5%),
general public services (16.4%), debt load (9.8%), and defense (4.6%). The
budget prioritizes education, healthcare, social services, and infrastructure,
as well as significant investments in national security and disaster recovery.

Finally, addressing long standing inequities in the Philippine tax

system, improving the infrastructure, and funding anti-poverty initiatives are
the main focus of the 2018 Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN)
law. The TRAIN Law aims to change the Philippine tax system by making it
more equal, in order for economic growth by reducing poverty and improving
infrastructure. However, many critics argue that despite its intended
purpose, the TRAIN law can potentially exacerbate or worsen the economic
inequality as the law also orders for the increase of certain products like
petroleum and sugary drinks.

Ideas or Comments Regarding the Issue:

The GAA and the TRAIN law are both a great step towards improving
the economic standing of the Philippine, as the GAA focuses on vulnerable
sectors and groups, like education, healthcare and social services, and even
disaster preparedness, however, due to governmental delays, unequal
resource distribution, and intricate corruption, its efficacy is often
compromised. TRAIN Law, on the other hand, aims to simplify the tax code,
reduce taxes for low-income earners, and raise money for social services and
infrastructure. Despite these advantages, it also raises the cost of
necessities, which significantly affects low-income families and women and
independent workers. Due to the Philippines current political situation, and
issues surrounding the government, it cannot be helped that we will see this
project as flawed, and that corrupt government officials will capitalize the
President’s project.

Though it is truly amazing that vulnerable parts of the Philippines are

being prioritized by the government, it is still a bold movement, as it comes
with multiple risks given how corrupt the government in the Philippines is.

Article 2: Duterte bats for new constitution that will hold officials
more accountable

The Main Idea or Issue of the Article:

The article delves into former President Rodrigo Duterte's proposal of

a new constitution for the Philippines, targeted at making officials more
accountable and reducing the levels of corruption in the country. Duterte
offered cuts in his original powers and even stepped down early, in case the
reforms worked. He criticized specific government practices, such as the
misuse of temporary restraining orders by lower courts and the awarding of
contracts to the lowest bidders, as sources of corruption and inefficiency. The
House of Representatives is currently studying drafts of a federal
constitution. As such, it educates the readers on the call for constitutional
reform by Duterte and his arguments on why such changes must occur to
ensure better governance and root out the manifestations of corruption.

Ideas or Comments Regarding the Issue:

Positively, in the declaration of Duterte of knowing corruption as a

hardcore problem and the willingness of the transition into reforms indicate
that there is a need to correct corruption problems. The article’s message is
clear: Duterte wanted to create a system of governance that is more
accountable, transparent, and decentralized, believing this would help solve
the country’s corruption problems.

This is both a great way to address the biggest problem in the

Philippines as well as dispel any fears the Filipino citizens have regarding
authoritarianism in the President’s administration. Given that his GAA and
TRAIN law’s major flaw is the corruption within the Philippine government,
this statement and act of dedication is a great way to solve this problem. It is
really admirable how sincere Duterte is when it comes to his campaigns and
how willing he is to improve the current state of the Philippines.

In contrast, it is essential that the proposal undergoes thorough

evaluation and debate to ensure that it meets its objectives without
exacerbating current challenges or introducing new complications. The
proposal for constitutional reform is a good idea, but it is a sensitive and
complex issue. It requires thorough discussion, careful planning, and strong
safeguards to ensure the changes benefit the people, not the politicians.
While the proposal highlights the need for change, its success depends on
genuine commitment and proper implementation. It might result in political
instability and chaos, which would impact the economy and governance.
Despite Duterte's pledge to resign, some fear the changes could be used to
give leaders more authority or extend their terms. Because wealthier areas
may advance more quickly while others struggle with fewer resources, a shift
to federalism may also widen the gap between rich and poor regions.
Article 3: Duterte vows to fulfill land reform election promise

The Main Idea or Issue of the Article:

This article emphasizes the ongoing challenge of the slow

implementation of the land reform initiative in the Philippines, despite
President Duterte's commitment to agrarian reform. Although Duterte claims
he intends to keep his electoral promise to advocate for land reform,
significant challenges remain, including the unresolved allocation of 800,000
hectares of land. The President acknowledges the fact that our country’s
agriculture is “lacking behind” and faces many challenges. Despite financial
constraints, the President vowed to push for the distribution of around
800,000 hectares of agricultural land under the Comprehensive Agrarian
Reform Program (CARP), which remains incomplete from previous
administrations. He criticized communist rebels for hindering agricultural
progress through extortion activities.

John Castriciones, a newly appointed acting secretary of DAR or the

Department of Agrarian Reform, promises to push the distribution of land
titles to farmers-beneficiaries, and also provide assistance and support
programs that will improve the lives of the Filipino farmers. Castriciones also
emphasized prioritizing the Filipino farmers’ welfare in order to calm the
social unrest in rural areas and encouraged the DAR staff to combat
corruption while serving with integrity.
Ideas or Comments Regarding the Issue:

Agrarian reform is one of the country's biggest and ongoing issues

in the Philippines, given that its ineffectiveness to address the issue of land
disposition continues to impact negatively on the agricultural business and
the livelihood of the farmer. It is reassuring that the President still
remembers one of his important campaign promises, especially since the
Philippines was once a leader in Agriculture, and addressing the issues
surrounding this sector is needed. Given that one of the GAA’s targets the
agriculture sector of the Philippines, more farmers can benefit from these
projects, which further emphasizes Duterte’s campaign and willingness to
improve the rural citizens’ lives. While their commitment towards land reform
is something to be commended, the stagnation brought by financial
constraints and political ones reveals a more fundamental systemic issue
that calls for remedies beyond promises. This is a welcome change with a
new chief for DAR, but it really depends on how he could tackle the
challenges accordingly so that the actual distribution of land would not fall
into a political game. Focus shouldn't solely be on geographical land
distribution but on making sure that farmers have these basic requirements,
education, and infrastructural facilities for both their improvement and that
of the agricultural sector at large.