4. Obstacles to Growth High fertility rates consequent rapid population growth (2.3% per year) Very high rates of infectious diseases (Ex. tuberculosis)
5. Corruption Inhibited development of fully competitive markets Limited government capacity to raise revenue and make critical investments in human resources and infrastructure
6. Lack of technical skills, financial capacity, and political will to protect the natural environment Threatens basic food security and globally significant biological diversity Acceleration of rural to urban migration over the short-term Greater stress on inadequate infrastructure Large parts of the Philippines could be uninhabitable over the long-term
7. Environmental Issues Overfishing and Destructive Fishing Declining fish stocks and biodiversity A drop of 90% in the quantity of marine organisms Economic Loss Mismanagement of fisheries resources cost $ 420 million annually in lost revenues Weak fisheries management Ineffective policies Poor enforcement of fishery laws.
8. Coastal infrastructure development Excavation, dredging, and coastal conversion to accommodate coastal development Corals extracted for reclamation and construction Mangroves suffered from the aquaculture industry 36% reduction of mangroves from 1990
9. Deforestation 3% left of the original cover Under threat from agriculture, urbanization, illegal logging, and forest fires Severe soil erosion Rich biodiversity threatened Endemic species Inconsistent laws Inadequate regulations Weak enforcement Lack of funding
10. Pollution Poor waste management Polluting industrial material (i.e. mercury) from abandoned mining areas Poor planning Weak management and enforcement of regulations
11. Problems in Social Development More investment in constructing physical structures than funding basic social services Despite the $ 600 million budget surplus in 2006, only 29% of total expenditures in UNICEF focus areas spent for social services
