Filipino forum. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1928-196?, 1950-07-01
Social Conditions

In addition to physical recon-
struction, the Filipinos have not
neglected measures for social bet
torment in their postwar planning.
The creation by executive order of
the Presidents Action Committee
on Social Amelioration was an out
standing step forward in caring for
those in need.
Much has been done to raise the
overall standard of living in the
Philippines. Assistance has been
given to farmers through credit IA
cilities and equipment pools. Sub
stantial gains in wages, job security
and healthful employment condi-
tons have been achieved by work
ers. The Court of Industrial Rela-
tons and the Department of Labor
are active in promoting industrial
harmony. The basic pay of Army
enlisted personnel and the mini
mum salaries of teachers have been
increased. Such benefits as are
feasible have been extended by the
new government to the heroes of
the war and the resistance. Pro-
vision for the disqualification of
veterans has been obtained from
the United States government.
The agencies of public safety
such as the police and fire depart
ments are efficient and well organ
lied. particularly in Manila, The
Philippine National Red Cross is a
leading organization in the field of
social advancement.
Education
Education is adequately provided
for in the Philippines, which boasts
the highest literacy rate of any
nation III the Far East. Accommo-
dations in elementary schools are
available for all. In Manila alone,
such institutions of higher learning
as the University of the Philip
pines, the University of Santo
Tomas, and Far Eastern University,
maintain standards equal to the
best in the world. In addition there
are numerous other colleges offer
ing both specialized and general
courses, institutes, junior colleges,
and normal schools throughout the
islands.
For the 1948-49 school year
there were 1880 public schools,
including 10 of collegiate level, and
1,684 approved private schools
operating in the Philippines. The
public school enrolment was g.
510,631 pupils including 4,493 in
public collegiate institutions. The
private school total was 361, 1873,
and this figure included 1856 stu
dents in collegiate and technical
schools and 8,736 in special voca-
tional institutions.
English is the medium of in
struction in all schools and is I'M
derstood everywhere in the islands,
although numerous dialects are
spoken by the people. 1t is also
used exclusively in official corre-
spondence. Recently provision has
been made for the preservation of
the best elements of the Spanish
culture through the teaching of the
Spanish language in high schools.
Agriculture and Resources
The six major farm crops in the
Philippines are rice, corn, abaca
| manila hemp), copra (dried COCO
nut meat), sugar cane, and tobacco.
Gradual restoration of all crops to
pre-war status is being achieved,
aided by the governments program
of constructive assistance to farm
ers. Prior to the war, sugar and
sugar products led the list of Phil
ippine exports, approximately l.
100000 tons annually were sent to
the United States alone. Despite its
being ruined during the conflict,
the sugar industry is recovering
rapidly, and it is expected that
production will soon reach pre-war
| figures.