Devastation Feared Across Central Philippines in Typhoon’s Wake Blog #8

About a month ago, I wrote about the 7.2 magnitude earthquake in the Philippines and the impact of the recovery efforts to a country with poor infrastructure. To add more problems, Super Typhoon  Haiyan ripped through and destroyed the country, displaced families and projected thousands dead. As this is a global problem and a natural disaster but when you have them within a small window, you have wonder if there will ever be a full recovery. One alarming fact is that the government buildings mentioned were safe enough for someone to stay in for shelter but the poor neighborhoods were ripped to pieces and that the citizens had already started looting. Under the circumstances, what do expect but the same person speaking about it,
Lynette Lim, a spokeswoman for Save the Children had been rescued and is in Manila. Even though she is just a spokesman, her status played a big part in how she found refuge but as of today, 500,000 Philipinos were moved to Vietnam. This is a situation that the United States experienced when Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans and some of the same situations were brought up instead of focusing to the conditions of the levees because what would anyone do if they were put in that situation. The sad part about this article is that the government officials are speaking negative but never says anything about what type of recovery or plan to action to get through this tragic ordeal. Defense Secretary, Voltaire Gazmin, described a chaotic scene there and was quoted  “There is no power, no water, nothing,” Mr. Gazmin said. “People are desperate. They’re looting.” I think a little more should be said and done and going through my other blogs about the funds that were being taken in the government corruption, that $141 million along with assistance from other countries would come in handy. As I write this blog, please keep the people of the Philippines in your prayers because this an global issue but it is a natural disaster that the finest of technologies could not predict the outcome.

Sean Odom
11-10-13
3:00 p.m.





http://www.nytimes.com/2013/11/11/world/asia/philippines-typhoon.html?ref=world&_r=0

Fatal Typhoon Floods Villages in Philippines Blog #4

Since I have covered the Philippines political corruption issues, I will stay there but address the issue of the recent typhoon that destroyed the rice-growing central plains of Luzon. As we all know that hurricanes are out of the hands of human beings but with 2500 people are forced to evacuate, the thought of the $141 million would have come in handy in this time of need. Now with this major rice-growing region torn, I wonder what type of assistance will be offered and how would the natives recover from this on top of the misused funds because 124,000 acres of rice and vegetables are lost. It may not be 100 percent accurate but I thinks that is almost 200 miles of natural resources, lodging and rehabilitation so future earnings would be possible for these areas. One thing that stands out and goes with the political corruption is that this is an area that has over 20 typhoons a year and the capital Manila suffered minimal flooding while 20 villages are under six feet of water. But the article does state that there are poor infrastructure, clogged drainage and water canals. Again I ask, what will the Philippine government do about this and what other countries will assist with the rebuilding efforts. Let's just hope that any money is actually used to develop the rural lands, establish proper evacuations, and construct major highway renovations. Outside of all the problems from above, now we see how it affects the lower social classes.

Sean Odom
10-13-13
3:15 p.m

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/10/13/world/asia/fatal-typhoon-floods-villages-in-philippines.html?ref=world&_r=0

Blog #4 Moody’s Gives Philippines Investment-Grade Rating

As the theme of my Blogs have been focused on the Philippines and its divided sides of the rich, middle, lower classes and the affects of government corruption. As I mentioned before, the country was plagued with citizen protest stemmed from briberies, sexual harassment and misused funds that actually benefited Jeane Lim-Napoles, the daughter of Janet Lim-Napoles lavish lifestyle along with other politicians and law enforcement. With a country that exports goods ranging from household products to electronics, if there were paved roads, better working conditions or the $141 million that was tied up with corrupt officials, maybe worker standards and morale would be higher. But according to this article, this country was once labeled the  “sick man of Asia” is now “The new growth path is being reinforced in part by improved fiscal management. Revenue growth has accommodated sizable increases in infrastructure and social spending.” Now imagine if this country who has shown positive growth for the past eight years actually had an lower rate of corruption, the percentage of growth would exceed the double digits and the clear presence of modernization would be visible countrywide. But as we talked earlier in class, white collar crimes are very much present but President Benigno S. Aquino III has really made an effort to combat corruption, poverty and tax evasion. To go along with this, his diversification of the economy should jump-start the country's problem along with gaining support from the protestors but that will be one of the biggest hurdles, the transfer of wealth to the lower class.

Sean Odom
10-4-13
10:19 p.m.



http://www.nytimes.com/2013/10/04/business/international/moodys-gives-philippines-investment-grade-rating.html?src=recg&_r=0

Central Figure in Philippine Graft Case Surrenders Blog #3

As I mentioned before in my blogs with Filipinos protesting about corruption in their government, one key member surrendered. Janet Lim-Napoles surrendered but as anyone caught, proclaims her innocents while her daughter lived the life of a celebrity, the funds they were spending was designated to poverty ridden areas. One major positive is President Aquino is making a valiant effort to this corruption and the Global Corruption Barometer reported The Philippines was one the eleven corrupted countries to make improvement.  With $141 million dollars funded to you for muddy roads and ransacked community centers, at least make some effort to get something done but when personal greed comes in, your concerns are for the needy. Let's just hope that President Aquino will continue to honor his commitment to his crusade.


Sean Odom
9-26-13
10:37 p.m.

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/08/30/world/asia/woman-who-drew-ire-in-philippine-corruption-case-surrenders.html

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/08/27/world/asia/filipinos-stage-anticorruption-protest-in-manila.html?_r=0