Slipping in social progress
Ranking 64th among 133 countries isn’t too bad. But dipping from the previous year’s ranking of 56th in the Social Progress Index indicates that more effort is needed to improve the overall quality of life for the average Filipino.
The Washington- based Social Progress Imperative measures a society’s wellbeing based on the provision of basic human needs and opportunity to progress. The 52 indicators include health and wellness, sanitation, personal safety, sustainability of ecosystems, and personal freedoms.
While economic indicators take a backseat in the index, it is no coincidence that advanced economies rank high, with this year’s top three being Norway, Sweden and Switzerland. Economic prosperity allows states to provide better services to citizens, from health care and education to public safety.
The Philippines’ ranking is just the latest reminder that the country needs to work harder to recover its place of eminence half a century ago in Asia. In the past decades, the country has progressively fallen behind its better performing neighbors in almost all human development indicators. Even in personal freedoms where a democratic society should rate high, the Philippines obtained poor ratings in press freedom in the Social Progress Index. The country also scored low in violent crime and political terror, with weak prospects for improvement in the coming year as the general elections approach.
Sustained economic growth has allowed the Philippines to invest more in human development. This month, commencement exercises are being held for the first batch of beneficiaries of the conditional cash transfer who are graduating from high school. The Department of Social Welfare and Development reported that 333,673 student beneficiaries of the 4Ps or Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program would be assisted in pursuing vocational courses or seeking college scholarships.
The 4Ps is for the extremely poor. For millions of other Filipinos, more investments are needed in human development and other measures that will open opportunities for progress.