Is Sustainable Development Possible in the Philippines?

Figure 01, Paradise towards a Sustainability Development (rvgomeseria)

“With this article paper composition, the author would like to thank the energetic Professors at the University of the Philippines for the Environmental and Management Courses during his studies, which means for valuable wisdom that he learned in every subject that leads to becoming a good writer. And most of all about their kindness, advice and unselfish delivery of the course program to individuals who are in need and the motivation as well. Moreover, it is the privilege to become part of the course study in developing critical thinking and the decision that made sustainably in the competitive landscape. Also, to his loving family that supports the author all the way, and to our God for the wisdom and guidance on whatever in his way on, living peacefully as in Figure 01.”

“This article paper is a glimpse concerning sustainability which we are aiming that could possibly in the country we love as discussed hereof for more information. However, this paper is one of the "Most Read" in the LinkedIn Publishing, ResearchGate and Academia platforms that have been provided a course background based on the studies and experiences in the field.”

Abstract

An essay article paper will discuss the definition of sustainability means to us, by principles that need to be done sustainably, how it will be achieved, and the renewable energy in the country; whereas reflecting on the present status of the Philippine government whereas sustainable development is possible which always comes to an individual’s mindset, however, with President Duterte’s who has the strong political will and love for the country, it is; indeed, the visions that can be possible in sustaining the environment for the Filipino people and the preservation in the next generations to come. In 3-decades of frustrations to overcome those questions environmentally, and now, can be seen, read from different news and observe all the changes in Philippine governance. Unlike before, nobody from the inter-government agencies and the past presidents from the Aquino to Aquino administrations is willing to do what President Duterte did in less than 3-years of his presidency in the country. Moreover, along with the journey has continuously opposed by several politicians and several sectors that fabricated any allegation of wrongdoing as nuisances and exploited for only one goal in driving Duterte out of Malacanang. But because of his strong will for the country, the people behind the social media from around the world have supported him well against all the odds; however, actions always speak louder than voice.

The question ever asks, Is Sustainable Development Possible in the Philippines? Of course, YES! A Strongman with Political Will and a Leadership with Vision towards Sustainable Environment will help in the Country’s Economic Progression, and that is our beloved President Rodrigo Roa Duterte in the present generation after the late beloved President Ferdinand Marcos who loves the Filipinos, the country, and as a Nation Builder for the next generation towards GREATNESS!

Sustainability by definition and understanding

Sustainable development can be carried out and possible in the Philippines, and the author would say “YES.” Why? It is indeed because sustainability was already there ever since as far as Engineering and Country’s Economic Progression is concerned, and these have been practicing through value engineering and securing energy design efficiency in the building-built environment, which is feasible as part of the green building in nowadays practice as part of “Sustainable Development in the Philippines.” However, with the author's engineering practice in the Philippines, before he came to Qatar last 2004, they’ve been practicing on it, but nobody knows that’s sustainability was already there in the Philippines. But let us define sustainability, according to the Worldbank, it describes as sustainable development as the one that supports that growth must be both inclusive and environmentally sound to reduce poverty and build shared prosperity for today’s population. In addition to this is to continue meeting the needs of future generations shout compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs, which President Duterte is now doing it for the Filipino and for the country in giving the chance to live sustainably.

Additionally, because of President Duterte has a political will and has a spirit in taking care of the environment as you can see and observe how he combat and firmly implement the rule of law. One of the examples he did is the Boracay Island Rehabilitation from being a cesspool island to a sustainable island. The mining industry controversies whereas the environmental law are now the ruling in the prevention of the ecological natural resources, and currently, the rehabilitation implementation of the Manila Bay, and many more as you can see what’s happening around the Philippines under the Duterte administration. To the fact that after the Marcos regime, from Aquino to Aquino administrations, the Philippine environment had been spoiled by the Philippine government corrupt officials and with the article of Habito showed how the Philippine government was graft and corrupt and annoying critics in building up sustainability a chance. Sad to say but that is the fact and happening in the country after the late Beloved President Ferdinand Marcos.

However, as an engineering practitioner, it just came across the word “Sustainability,” which became famous through the USGBC (US Green Building Council) in 2010 and up to present whereas they are chasing and promoting “Green Building” because of what happens around the globes due to the climate change. And since then, the USGBC was founded last 1993 whereas they carefully studied how to secure and to achieve sustainability in a series of experimentation gathered throughout the years into perfection. Because of successful implementation and experimentations, sustainability is known to everyone and being implemented by every state around the world as one of the processes in combating the carbon footprint being hailed for centuries in the atmosphere.

Because of their popularity like for example in the Philippines, the Philippine Green Building Council (PHILGBC) was established in 2007 and adopted the sustainability principles that promote the sharing of knowledge on green building practices to the industry. Thus, helping Mother Earth is to ensure a sustainable environment where they serve as a single voice in the promotion of holistic and market-based green building practices whereas to facilitate the sharing of green building information and practices in the building industry. And this is to serve as a non-partisan venue for the development of a green building rating system throughout in every building-built construction.

From then, Green Building design is now practicing in the country, Philippines, to serve and save our mother earth in resolving climate change happening around the globe. And these sustainability principles have been launched all over the world as the author has also been experienced in Qatar with GSAS towards the application of green building into his design projects in hand.

Needs to be Done in Sustainability by Principles

The representation here is an example where the Philippines has been motivated and applied the principles towards legislation by the policymakers as the fundamental ways to achieve. However, through the researches made via the internet, I’ve found a fascinating article through the BlogSpot of Mr. Antonio C. Antonio. He explains how the Philippines will be, sustained a “Sustainable Development” in the country on a long-term basis where the economic and social development, like to have environmental-focused plans and programs, which have long gestation periods and there will be many challenges to hurdle. But about our beloved Dr. Habito has shared with his generosity thoughts of a “to do” list for success in the implementation of sustainability that can be identified through 1) Political Will, 2) People Empowerment, 3) Law Enforcement, 4) Philippine Agenda 21, 5) Harmonize Laws, and 6) Harmonize Systems and Procedures; with the following detailed definitions as follows:

Political Will – Getting national and local officials to understand and internalize the need for sustainable development as the only way to progress.  Political will also, entail the curbing of corruption in government.

People Empowerment – Getting people involved through different LGUs (local government units), NGOs (non-government organizations) and POs (people’s organizations).  An example of this would be the various People’s Economic Development Councils.

Law Enforcement – A no-nonsense enforcement of the laws on forestry, waste management, mining, fishery, etc.  We have an abundance of rules to cover a broad spectrum of economic activities.  They need to be implemented.

Philippine Agenda 21 – There should be a roadmap to the sustainable development of the economy and the environment.  PA 21 should be seriously revisited and integrated into the present-day implementation of economic and environmental undertakings.  Where PA 21 works, it should be promoted and calibrated to fit present challenges.

Harmonize Laws – We do have an abundance of laws, but some of them are duplications and contradictions.  Duplicate and contradictory laws should be repealed or integrated to prevent waste and confusion in implementation.

Harmonize Systems and Procedures – Government agencies often crisscross functions making it frequently tedious to get things done because of too much intervention from the different functional departments of government. 

Furthermore, the complicated systems and procedures in the government are the breed of corruption, and that should be streamlined to allow for the speedy processing, resolution, and implementation of tasks. However, Mr. Antonio cited that if the above-listed “to do” list is diligently followed throughout the country by all institutions and individuals; evidently, as he said and I secondly agreed that have no doubt where sustainable development is possible in the Philippines. This is to the fact that only the late President Ferdinand Marcos and the current administration by the beloved President Duterte who has a strong political will and has a vision for the country in the preservation of the next generations. And that’s what happening now in the country with the “The Battle of Manila Bay,” after the rehabilitation of the Boracay Island that has been spoiled by the past administrations from Aquino to Aquino government due to their graft and corruption practices.

Moreover, here in Qatar, as a Chartered Environmentalist (CEnv), the author is practicing using renewable energy, gray water harvesting, indoor air quality and handling with the LEED/GSAS ratings in promoting green buildings in our design projects to be energy efficient within the building-built environment. The below image (Figure 02) will explain how to achieve sustainability in society as self-explanatory where sustainable development will be possible in the Philippines need to be addressed. Whereas the economy, the environment, and the community have to do something and focus on achieving the growth of the sustainable development for the country, for the people and our Mother Earth, which are feasible that can be done no matter what as long as we embraced.

Figure 02, Sustainability Development Matrix (credit image, University of the Philippines)

Can Sustainability be achieved in the Country Needs?

The only thing we need to develop is the essence of following the rule of law, which was after the Marcos Regime, as the author pronouncement, and from Aquino to Aquino Administrations; do the Philippines have a concern for the environment? The graft and corruptions are everywhere whereas they fattened their pockets for their self-interest that spoiled the environment and natural resources of the Philippines. Look, any development that has been developed by the late President Marcos in the Philippines and after Marcos left the Malacanang office have been changed and corrupted by the hypocrites Aquino to Aquino administrations, and that’s the reality. Sustainable developments created by President Ferdinand Marcos (FEM) for the country have been destroyed for their self-interest whereas FEM subsidized everything for the Filipino and from the Aquino to Aquino administrations have lost everything whatever FEM did. And this has been justified by Dr. Habito's article which is about the concept of dismayed to the Philippine government particularly on how the government will become a sustainable country. But with our President Duterte, the author can see how he managed similarly to the late President Marcos, which is always for the sake of Filipinos whereas you can see and observed what's happening now and that includes cleaning up all graft and corruptions, and messy environment within inter-agencies and the Philippine environmental, and natural resources.

Sustainable development is the preservation of our future generation, and this lies to the individuals and not only for what the government effort they did today but for every one of us has to respect, love the environment and follow the rule of law. Because if everyone loves their country and love the environment we are living with, then, we need to respect and abide by the rule of law and policies.

Moreover, without any discipline from individuals is always a failure. Additionally, the attitudes whereas fattening individuals pocket from graft and corruption practices that have been overruled in the last 3-decades on what was happening in the Philippines. But now, you can compare the president's administrations that have political will that might inspire us. Who indeed has devotions and political will for the nation as a nation builder, and that is, the late President Marcos, who improved our country’s infrastructure for the next generations while from Aquino to Aquino's administrations are full of lies and the hypocrisy that made the Philippines messy. That is so sad for us, countrymen, who are aiming for the development as Marcos did that the Philippines, became one of the riches in ASIA, but they destroyed our country and the preservation of the next generations.

That's the reason why most Filipinos are leaving the countries and me, too. Because of failure in governance from Aquino to Aquino administrations and that can be justified and we know these things. Currently, we have President Duterte who has the political will and has a love for our environment. In sustaining the developing country needs have to have strong leadership and the most I like environmentally is the rehabilitation of Boracay Island from a cesspool to a sustainable environment as well as declaring and distribution of agricultural land to the people who are entitled.

That's an excellent example of a good and brave President, but how about from Aquino to Aquino administrations, what they have done to our country? They messy-up the Philippine environment, full of graft and corruption in the country and the Filipino has no subsidy as Marcos did.

Therefore, the only thing we can survive and contribute to our environment as an individual is our initiative and following the rule of law, and that's it, and don't be stupid like Noynoy Aquino! Aside from the government policies which are now being implemented because of President Duterte’s, it is individual discipline that makes us respected. I know that there are many stupid Filipinos everywhere, but we need to show them our love for the country and to the environment for us to achieve what the country needs for a sustainable environment in the preservation of the next generations. Again, it is the economy, environment, and society for sustainable development.

Renewable Energy for a Sustainable Environment

It is indeed, as part of Sustainable Development which has been practicing in the Philippines for decades, and now they call it as one of the Renewable Energy whereas serving the country as one of the grid in our country and they are available in the Philippines includes the use of the followings that was built by the late Beloved President Ferdinand Marcos for the Filipinos as follows; 1) Hydro Power Plants, 2) Geothermal Power Plants, 3) Wind Power Plants (initiative by his son, Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos in Ilocos Region), and 4) Biomass Power Plants.

Where the Philippine government has legislated many policies to increase the use of renewable energy and some are using Solar Power in today’s decade for the building institutions in the country. As a matter of fact, the Philippines is not beyond and has the following: 1) Electric Power Industry Reform Act (2008), 2) Climate Change Act (2009), and 3) Biomass Act (2006).

Thereby, that provides a legal basis for addressing climate change through Sustainable Development for the country. Thus, Sustainable Development is Possible in the Philippines and as an Engineering practitioner and aware of what happens in the world have valued ever since in the Philippines.

For further details, the author wrote an article entitled, “Helping Future Environmental Movement with Strategies," published in the Durreesamin Journal, (ISSN: 2204-9827) December Vol 4 Issue 3, the Year 2018; and the article paper can be read and downloaded either in ResearchGate or Academia websites.

However, the complete details of the article entitled, “Energy Conservation for Utilities Means Sustainability” was published in the CEAI ViewPoint Journal, September 2018 Edition (The official magazine of the Consulting Engineers Association of India as one of their Article Writer Contributor), and cited at the ResearchGate and Academia websites that can be read and downloaded.

Conclusion

However, the only problem that the country is facing from the governance of the Aquino to Aquino administrations do not have a dearth of sound policies on the environment, but graft and corruption throughout the inter-government agencies and that was the reason if sustainable development is capable in the Philippines. The sad thing there, many institutions or even have some good-on-paper initiatives from individuals. Sustainable development is always in question as always the case happening in the Philippines, whereas more problems arise when that comes in the implementation level and some innovative programs done by some LGUs have not necessarily made sense at all to address but a great debate full of illusions and in the end is just a dream.

The fact is, all Filipinos are excellent in conceptualizations of ideas and plans, however, along the way can’t be able to handle and will create a nuisance until the programs were lost and brought to confusion. On the brighter side of our realization and political will this give importance to the environment that has already been initiated, and that was the current administration, President Duterte. However, with the development of the PSSD or the Philippine Strategy for Sustainable Development and Philippine Agenda 21 (P21), under Duterte, the government was able to address the need for environmental protection with adequate policies to protect and conserve our environment, natural resources which have already been prepared and implemented.

The ecological Management Programs and strategies are re-assuring the quality of air, water, and biological diversity has also been addressed with strong political will. Amidst all the interrelated poverty and environmental issues the country is facing, The author, however, is still optimistic that sustainable development can be executed possibly and with the help of everyone in the country is enough. President Duterte's strong political will which has good governance under his administration for the country and to the Filipinos, and can be said, it is POSSIBLE ONLY WITH POLITICAL WILL.

Write-Up References can be Read from this Links;

Gomeseria, R. V. (2019, February). "Is Sustainable Development Possible in the Philippines? (A Strongman with Political Will and a Leadership with Vision towards Sustainable Environment will help in the Country's Economic Progression)." Retrieved from; https://www.researchgate.net/publication/330986098_Is_Sustainable_Development_Possible_in_the_Philippines_A_Strongman_with_Political_Will_and_a_Leadership_with_Vision_towards_Sustainable_Environment_will_help_in_the_Country's_Economic_Progression

https://www.academia.edu/38316398/_Is_Sustainable_Development_Possible_in_the_Philippines_A_Strongman_with_Political_Will_and_a_Leadership_with_Vision_towards_Sustainable_Environment_will_help_in_the_Country_s_Economic_Progression_._

Ronald Valledor Gomeseria

University of the Philippines

UP STD NO 2011-82336