PRESIDENTS OF THE PHILIPPINES AND

THE NEGATIVE CONTRIBUTIONS OF THEIR ADMINISTRATION

1. MANUEL ROXAS AND THE BELL TRADE ACT’S PARITY RIGHTS

 The parity rights obliged the country to grant U.S. citizens and corporations the same rights as
Filipinos in the utilization and exploitation of Philippine natural resources; American citizens and
corporations enjoyed the right to acquire land of the public domain, right to acquire grazing,
fishing and mining rights and the right to engage in the ownership and operation of public
utilities
 Enabled the U.S. monopolies to plunder at will Philippine natural resources and operate public
utilities and prolonged free trade relations between the Philippines and the United States

2. ELPIDIO QUIRINO AND THE ECONOMIC AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AGREEMENT

 This agreement required the placement of U.S. advisers in the strategic offices of the
government to ensure the perpetuation of colonial policy

3. RAMON MAGSAYSAY AND THE LAUREL-LANGLEY AGREEMENT

 The agreement called for the gradual abolition of the free trade between the U.S. and the
Philippines as the Revision of the Bell Trade Act
 BUT gave U.S. monopolies to enjoy parity rights in “all business activities” not only in the
exploitation of the natural resources and the operation of public utilities
 “Mutual Parity Rights” is not reciprocal in the real sense because only resources under federal
control of the U.S. were allowed to the Filipinos but do the Filipinos have the money to invest
abroad?

4. CARLOS P. GARCIA AND THE FILIPINO FIRST POLICY

 The policy adopted guidelines that gave preference to Filipino businessmen over foreign
businessmen EXCLUDING the Americans

5. DIOSDADO MACAPAGAL AND THE DEVALUATION OF THE PHILIPPINE PESO

 When the dollar reserves got exhausted, the Philippine peso was devalued from P2. 00 to P3. 90
per dollar which favored the foreign investors
 This resulted in high prices which cut down the real income of the Filipinos
 There was not a single commodity in the Philippines unaffected by the higher cost of finished
goods, spare parts, fuel and the like from the United States

6. FERDINAND MARCOS, HIS CRONIES AND THE MARTIAL LAW

 Martial Law — an extraordinary measure taken by the state to defend itself from extreme
danger such as invasion, rebellion, insurrection, and lawless violence.
 Two Objectives for declaring Martial Law
A. To save the Republic
B. To form a NEW SOCIETY (BAGONG LIPUNAN) “Sa Ikauunlad ng Bayan, Disiplina ang
Kailangan”
 One of the evils & most significant feature of Martial Law — CRONYISM (PCGG estimated that
Marcos & his cronies amassed an unbelievable fortune worth $ 5-10 B in the years of the
“CONJUGAL DICTATORSHIP”)
7. CORAZON AQUINO, HER “KAMAG-ANAKS” AND THE DYSFUNCTIONAL COMPREHENSIVE
AGRARIAN REFORM PROGRAM (CARP)
 Some businesses and corporations formerly confiscated by Marcos were given to Cory Aquino’s
relatives
 The CARP was not implemented on the lands owned by the Aquino’s and their friends; ordered
the Mendiola Massacre of farmers who were clamoring for the equitable distribution of lands

8. FIDEL RAMOS AND HIS JUNKETTING

 Spent a huge amount of government funds for tours abroad to invite investors and was called
the “Most Travelled President”
 Ordered the construction of the “Expo-Filipino” in Pampanga, the appropriation for the budget
(over budgeting) of such, remains questionable up to this day