Changes in Philippines

Ms. Vyvyan Tenorio’s column, “The Old Order Persists Despite Philippine Change” (Opinion, March 5), presents a classic exercise in contradictions.

While blithely accusing President Corazon Aquino and her government of alleged flaws in administration, the author grudgingly acknowledges accomplishments which until three years ago would have been a puerile wish: a consumer-led economic boom, annual growth rate of 6.77%, declining unemployment, and a waning insurgency. She admits that President Aquino is the only leader who can bind the nation together.

But surely the author realizes that “people power” accomplished no mean feat in 1986. At the time it was absurd to believe that the country could return to true democracy. Yet in a bloodless manner, the people restored democratic institutions in the country.

Now, Filipinos take pride in nurturing healthy political dynamics, which the uninitiated often confuse for national discord, a constitution that neutralizes oligarchic rule through congressional representation from labor, peasants, urban poor, indigenous cultural communities, women, youth and other sectors.

And due to strong public confidence in the Aquino government, the economy posted a positive growth rate of 6.77% in 1988 from an aggregate of minus 10% in 1984-1985, and a 300.9% increase in net foreign investments. Moreover, over 1 million tourists visited the country last year, the largest in 14 years.

In addressing the problems mentioned in the article, the government has put in place the following programs: employment programs in the rural areas and a business dispersal program through countrywide entrepreneurship which has drastically reduced unemployment; on the environment, the reforestation of at least 50,000 hectares annually while the newly created Pollution Adjudication Board strictly enforces pollution control laws.

Out of over 400 human rights cases on the Philippines discussed this year before the U.N. in Geneva, only a negligible number may be linked to military abuses during the present administration.

Filipinos are persuaded that President Aquino is leading the country in the right direction at a pace they can very well understand.

LEONIDES T. CADAY

Consul General

Philippine Consulate

Los Angeles