A Report on Fidel Ramos

Submitted By: Ivan Liquiran Avenado BN31

Submitted to: Vinchi Soliman

Philippine History

Fidel Ramos Biography Fidel Ramos was born on March 18, 1928 in Lingayen, Pangasinan. His father, Narciso Ramos (1900-1986), was a lawyer, crusading journalist and 5-term legislator of the House of Representatives, who eventually rose to the position of Secretary of Foreign Affairs. As such, Narciso Ramos was the Philippine signatory to the ASEAN declaration forged in Bangkok in 1967 and was one of the founding fathers of the Liberal Party. His mother, Angela ValdezRamos (1905-1977), was an educator, woman suffragette and daughter of the respected Valdez clan of Batac, Ilocos Norte making him a second degree cousin to Ferdinand Marcos. He took his elementary education in Lingayen and secondary education at the University of the Philippines Integrated School and Centro Escolar University Integrated School. In 1946, Ramos, barely months after enrolling in the Philippines' National University, joined the Philippine Military Academy as cadet and won a government scholarship to the United States Military Academy in West Point. He pursued further studies in engineering following his graduation from West Point in 1950, obtaining a Masters Degree in Civil Engineering in the University of Illinois, where he was also a government scholar in 1951. He is a licensed civil engineer in the Philippines, passing the board exams in 1953 and finishing in the top 10. In 1960, he topped Special Forces-Psy Operations-Airborne course at the United States Army Infantry School at Fort Benning. Ramos also holds a Master's Degree in National Security Administration from the National Defense College of the Philippines and a Master's in Business Administration (MBA) from the Ateneo de Manila University. President, Republic of the Philippines 1992-98 Fidel Ramos was President of the Philippines from 1992 to 1998. Under his leadership the Philippines experienced a period of political stability and rapid economic growth and expansion. Prior to his election as president, Fidel Ramos served as Secretary of National Defence (1988-1991) and Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (1986-1988) with the rank of General. What he wanted above all was a better life for everyone, a life where basic needs are met and wants [are made] conveniently affordable. I envisioned that the Philippines could become a potential economic tiger, a nation that would have advanced on the socio-economic front to catch up with our brothers by the end of the century, he said. And his catch phrase reflected the difficulties that lay ahead as well as the sacrifices that needed to be made: Kaya natin ito.

Vision and Projects As President, Fidel Ramoss policies and programmes to foster national reconciliation and unity led to major peace agreements with Muslim separatists, communist insurgents and military rebels, which renewed investor confidence in the Philippine economy. Ramos pushed for the deregulation of key industries and the liberalization of the economy. He encouraged the privatization of public entities, to include the modernization of public infrastructure through the expanded Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) law. During the years 1993-1997, the Philippine economy recovered dramatically. Gross National Product averaged 5 percent annually, the total inflow of foreign exchange into the country outpaced that of the combined periods of rule of both Presidents Marcos and Aquino, and the average income of the Filipino family grew more during Ramos administration than in the preceding two decades. This allowed Fidel Ramos government to implement a comprehensive Social Reform Agenda (SRA) that addressed longstanding problems regarding poverty, health, education and skills training, housing, environmental protection, children and the youth, the elderly and the handicapped, jobs and livelihood, agrarian reform and access to equal opportunity. The peace agreement which Ramos brokered with military rebels and the MNLF southern secessionists won for him (together with Chairman Nur Misuari) and the Philippines the coveted 1997 UNESCO Peace Prize - the first for Asians. His public service spanned a total period of 51 years. Republic Act 7638 (Charter of the Department of Energy) This act was signed and implemented so that the department of energy would be created. This department rationalizes the organization and functions of government agencies responsible for the management of energy in the Philippines. Being that one of the projects of Ramos was the proper management, sourcing, and allocation of energy, this act had to be implemented in order to have a department responsible for it. Republic Act 7648 (Electric Power Crisis) This act prescribes the measures that are necessary and proper to effectively address the electric power crisis in our country. First RP-US Visiting Forces Agreement The effect of this agreement is that it allows the government of the United States to keep the authority over their military personnel that are accused of committing crimes in the Philippines. This agreement exempts the US military personnel from visa and passport regulations in the Philippines, from being tried in Filipino religious or military courts, materials exported and imported by the military from duties or taxes. This agreement allows unrestricted movement of vessels from the United States and aircrafts in the Philippines.

Republic Act 7832 (Anti-electricity and Electric Transmission Lines/Materials Pilferage Act) This act penalizes theft and pilferage of electric lines and materials. Republic Act 8179 This act further allows foreign investments. It supports Republic Act 7042, which promotes foreign investments and prescribes the procedures and actions foreign investors have to do when registering for a business in the Philippines.

Deregulation and Privatization of Major Industries Protection of Migrant Workers Ramos facilitated the enactment of Republic Act 8042 which is also known as the Migrant Workers Act. This act protects Filipino workers abroad. Philippines 2000 Peace and Stability Economic Growth and Development Energy and Power Generation Environmental Protection Streamlined Bureaucracy Agrarian Reform Program Restatement of the Death Penalty BENEFICIARIES OF THE LAWS AND PROGRAMS Agrarian Reform Program Fishermen Farmers Agricultural Businesses Hacienderos (Because of CARP)

Migrant Workers Act The first Filipino to benefit from this is Sarah Balabagan. Because of the Flor Contemplacion case that the government failed to negotiate properly, upon learning the sentence of Sarah Balabagan, Ramos immediately ordered UAE Ambassador to facilitate the negotiations. Sarahs case was lowered and she was released in 1996. Republic Act 8179 Foreign investors benefited from this Act because the Philippine market was made opened to the world.

PRIMARY PROBLEMS Asian Financial Crisis In 1997, the Philippine economy plunged because of the Asian Financial Crisis. The annual growth rate of the Gross National Product fell in 1998 as compared to 1997. Power Crisis The Philippines was experiencing widespread and frequent brownouts because of the huge demand for electricity and the old and depreciated power plants. ISSUES AND CONTROVERSIES PEA-AMARI Scam Manila Bay Reclamation Deal FVR Was accused of Corruption. This deal involved acquiring 158 hectares of reclaimed land on Manila Bay and it was supposedly going to be converted to what is called as Freedom Islands. The government was accused of corruption because they were said to favor Amari Costal Bay Resources and Filinvest Development by selling them a bigger portion for their own intentions. Ramos was accused that the deal was clinched to benefit the members of LakasNUCD, which was Ramos group. Centennial Expo and Conversion of Military Base in Fort Bonifacio for Private Development The Centennial Expo was supposedly one of his notable contributions to the Philippines and the people. The government was charged of alleged corruption and the misuse of funds. The projects relating to the Expo site were said to be extravagant and showed the inefficiency of the administration. They said it was a convenient vehicle to effect election fund-raising for the Lakas

Political Party of Ramos. The issue there was that there was a budget set for the entire project. However, not all the projects were completed but the entire budget was spent.

Reflection Fidel Ramos for me was a president who accomplished many things for the Philippines. He revived a down economy little by little and had many projects that were successful. He made peace with Muslim groups and gained trust of investors from different countries around the world. He lead the Philippines to the title of Asias Next Economic Tiger and gained respect for his actions in the economy. Even though some criticizes his presidency, it is hard not to look at his accomplishments and say that Philippines did not grow as a country with him leading the way.

References: http://aralingpinoy.blogspot.com/2009/04/fidel-v-ramos_26.html http://www.yonip.com/archives/estella/chit0003.html http://bloomspresidents.wordpress.com/fidel-v-ramos-1992%E2%80%931998/