ID No.

11397233

May 16, 2015

Integration Examination Part 1

1)

Sustainable development is defined by the current generations use of its resources for the

satisfaction of their needs and attainment of its development goals without sacrificing the ability
of the future generations to achieve theirs. With the rapid urbanization that is happening in the
country, it is necessary for the government to spend on the improvement of the road networks
that would be the supply for the demand for such transportation infrastructures.
Economically, this initiative of the government would be the bridge for the farther
producers to reach a larger market with efficiency in time and fuel cost. The projects would also
be beneficial in terms of having alternative destinations for goods, services, and trades to occur
as there may be a need for decongestion in Manila as suggested by the observed heavy traffic
and large population distribution in the countrys center.
Socially, having these infrastructure developments around brings the peri-urban areas
closer to the urban centers. Because the periphery is being brought closer to the center by the
growing road networks, people coming from areas that are more distant may not need to leave
their families for employment opportunities, giving way for fewer workers to be week-enders
in their own homes. One desirable by-product to this phenomenon is stronger family ties.
Environmentally, it is in this area where much of the prices of development are paid.
With the construction of highways comes with it the pouring in of air-polluting vehicles and the
clearing of certain areas from its natural greens resulting to the displacement of the biotic
components of the ecosystems. As such things happen, it is appreciated that major highways
leave the sides of the roads untouched, with the much trees and plants whose role in the cleaning
of air could not be underestimated. It is therefore important to keep our forest reserves, land use,
and zoning regulations enforced.

ID No. 11397233

May 16, 2015

Integration Examination Part 1

3)

Privatization is driven by the notion that the private sector tend to be more efficient and

technologically more advanced than the private sector. Given that businesses are oriented to
producing profit, efficiency of public water utilities is more likely to be promoted by
privatization. This situation, however, is dependent on the private groups interests and costbenefit analyses. Since the water utility agency of Metro Manila was transferred to the two
business consortia in the mid-1990s, a lot of infrastructure was already in place leaving the
private corporations with a limited workable room for development for both sewerage and
distribution pipelines. Yet, given their expertise and technology, water quality and supply has
been by far satisfactory to the consumers.
With the privatization of such an important and perishable good comes the issue of
equity. It was written and agreed that these private companies shall not earn more than a 12%
return of investment in their water businesses as part of their service to the public. For more
income, the companies have to cover more consumers. However, it is not the private sectors
primary interest to improve water access to the poor and lower-income groups. In such
situations, the government or coalitions that serve and protect the interest of the lower-income
groups may facilitate interventions.
Privatization is part of the governments steering, and not rowing function as it is to
mind its own business and not own a business. It is the governments function, however, to
ensure that the rights of its constituents are served by being the party to oversee the relationships
among and occurrences that happen between the markets and the society as it is the sole
authority to govern and implement policy.

ID No. 11397233

May 16, 2015

Integration Examination Part 1

4)

Multiple concerns arose from the peri-urbanization policies in the region. When it comes

to land, an overview of the problem may be seen on the mapping of the forest cover of the
country. Following its legend, the map of the countrys forest cover has shown a drastic shift
from being mostly green in the 1990s to almost absolutely brown in this millennium.
Urbanization, in general, has caused advanced economies in creating the bulk of the factors that
speed up the human-caused climate change. As the South-East Asian economies progress, the
region is fast becoming a part of the worse half of the globe when it comes to environmental
degradation. Essential forest and agricultural land are converted to industrial and residential
areas.
The influx of businesses and increase of population equates to higher demand for water.
There have been particular areas where water has been becoming a problem especially in
relocation sites that lack water systems. Interviews from affected individuals reflect that some
members of the families in relocation areas spend most of their time waiting for their turn to
fetch water from common water sources. In addition, there are areas where the alleged over
extraction of water by industries deprives the local communities of sufficient water supply.
Looking into the case of the Philippines, the delivery of public health services can be
identified as one of the major problems that arise due to peri-urbanization. A number of local
government units (LGUs) lack hospital facilities and health workers while some LGUs do not
have hospitals at all. The urban hospitals still are the top choices for the sick to go to for medical
attention and same city hospitals are the ones prioritized in budget allocation. Though there may
be medical missions to the periphery, these medical missions are mostly occasional and are
limited. In general, the urban areas are more privileged and favoured than the peri-urban areas.