Philippines Education and Health Challenges Quiz

Assessing Sectoral Performance

• Results focus on Basic Education, Welfare, and Solid Waste Collection and Disposal
• Sectoral performance assessment is crucial to understanding effectiveness of public service delivery
• This report focuses on basic education, welfare, and solid waste collection and disposal
• The analysis revolves around results achieved in these sectors and highlights importance of performance-based assessments for service improvement

Assessing Sectoral Performance in Basic Education

• Study on public education expenditure noted inefficiencies in fund allocation and use
• Delays in textbook procurement despite substantial budgets (impact learning)
• Limited number of textbooks procured since 2012 (World Bank data)
• 2023 Philippine Business for Education (PBEd) report highlighted persistent challenges in student learning outcomes
• Key concerns include low proficiency in literacy and numeracy
• Gaps in teacher training and resources
• Despite recent efforts to improve access to education, quality remains an issue; many students struggle to meet basic learning standards

Assessing Sectoral Performance in Welfare Services

• Healthcare access significantly better in urban compared to rural and remote regions
• Major cities (e.g., Metro Manila) have well-equipped hospitals and specialists, while rural areas face shortages of healthcare workers, facilities, and supplies
• Long travel times and inadequate care result in rural areas
• DOH (Department of Health), partnered with the WHO, launched the 2024-2028 National Integrated Cancer Control Program (NICCP)
• This plan aims to address cancer burden and mortality (second leading cause)
• Focus on early detection, equitable access to cancer care, and financial assistance for treatment

Social Services

• DSWD (Department of Social Welfare and Development) focuses on expanding programs to serve vulnerable populations more effectively
• 4Ps (Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program) is a central initiative, benefiting 4.3 million households
• New grant programs, like the First 1,000-Day Grant, improve maternal and child health.
• Social Pension (SocPen) for indigent senior citizens received increased funding, now covering 4.85 million seniors
• PSA (Philippine Statistics Authority) reports poverty incidence dropped from 18.1% in 2021 to 15.5% in 2023.

Solid Waste Collection and Disposal

• Latest reports on solid waste management in the Philippines reveal critical challenges
• Solid waste generation steadily increased, reaching 16.63 million metric tons in 2020, with projections of 19 million metric tons by 2030 (GMA Network, 2023)
• Despite efforts to improve collection (e.g., Materials Recovery Facilities (MRFs)), only 39% of barangays had access to such facilities by 2021.
• Local governments (LGUs) are serviced by limited sanitary landfills.
• Illegal dumpsites are a significant issue, particularly in Metro Manila
• 15% of waste generated in Metro Manila ends up in waterways.
• Transition between private contractors for waste collection in cities (e.g. Parañaque) led to inefficiencies and volume reductions (Philstar, 2023).

Assessing Sectoral Performance: Health

• This section focuses on the Philippine health care system.

The Health Care System of the Philippines

• Delivering effective, safe, and quality personal and non-personal healthcare interventions to those in need.
• The health sector has proven to be very weak and neglected in the past.
• Nurses and health professionals have been treated as commodities in the past.
• Some scores of healthcare workers have protested several times to demand an end to government neglect and unpaid benefits.

The Philippine Healthcare System

• The Philippine healthcare system is shared between public and private sectors
• There are challenges associated with this shared system.
• Public healthcare varies from excellent in urban areas to poor in rural areas.
• DOH (Department of Health) has issued policies on healthcare quality, but these don't provide specific strategies
• The DOH's National Framework for Quality of Health (Administrative Order 2010-0007) aims to improve quality through licensing, accreditation, medical audits, adverse event monitoring, and feedback mechanisms.

Universal Health Care Act of 2019

• The Universal Health Care (UHC) Act of 2019 strengthens the needed reforms to improve public healthcare access
• UHC guarantees affordable and quality healthcare for all Filipinos, tailored to their needs and preferences
• This Act reinforces the progressive realization of UHC in major investment programs such as the PhilHealth's benefit expansion plan
• It also includes the Department of Health's (DOH) Human Resources for Health Deployment Program (HRHDP) and Health Facilities Enhancement Program (HFEP)

PhilHealth Konsultasyong Sulit Tama (Konsulta)

• PhilHealth Konsultasyong Sulit Tama (Konsulta) is an outpatient benefit scheme mandated by the Universal Health Care Law
• Registered Filipinos are entitled to this package which covers necessary medicine and consultations
• The budget allocated for this program per person is P1,700 by 2024.

The Triad Structure

• The Triad model (Donabedian 1998, with refinements) assesses healthcare quality through governance and administration, service capability and readiness, technical quality, and outcomes.

Assessing Sectoral Performance: Local and Municipal Health Services

• The Philippines decentralized government health services in 1992
• Devolution impacted decision-making for local health services in various opinions over the years
• Health devolution in the Philippines aimed to improve efficiency and effectiveness of health service delivery through reallocation of decision making, and resources

Issues on Devolution

• Local government capacity, unclear expenditure assignments, and two-track delivery systems negatively affect efficiency
• Elite capture, rent-seeking, and corruption affect efficiency in health service delivery
• The Universal Health Care Act (UHCA) of 2019 addresses fragmentation of health systems, including health offices, facilities, services, human resources, and operations.
• LGUs, city-wide health systems require integrating into health systems. Systems should be linked to at least one apex or end referral hospital
• The DOH (Department of Health) is responsible for contractual agreements with wide and city-wide health systems.

Factors Affecting Local and Municipal Health Services

• Limited funding and resources
• Shortage of healthcare workers
• Inadequate health infrastructure
• Limited access to medicines and equipment
• Poor health data and information systems

Infrastructure

• Basic physical and organizational structures and facilities
• Infrastructure projects may be funded publicly, privately, or through public-private partnerships.

Components of the Philippine Infrastructure Sector

• Hard and Visible Infrastructure: Includes roads, railways, electricity, and telecommunications
• Soft Component: Includes policies and regulations

Critical Infrastructure (CI)

• The document lists various sectors as critical infrastructure (communication, emergency services, financial services, transportation, chemical, dams, and others)

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

• Infrastructure Investment in the Philippines has been consistently rising (average of 3% of GDP during 2011-2016, over 5% in 2018).
• Infrastructure Quality:
  • Philippines ranks 106th out of 138 countries in the Quality of roads
  • 113th in Quality of port infrastructure
  • 116th in the air transport infrastructure
  • 65th in mobile cellular connectivity
  • 94th in Quality of electricity supply
  • 95th in the overall ranking.

Social Impact Assessment (SIA)

• Examines social and community impacts of infrastructure projects (job creation, displacement, changes in living standards).

Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA)

• Assesses potential environmental impacts of infrastructure projects to ensure sustainability.
• Governing body is the Philippine Environmental Impact Assessment System (PEISS)

Global Competitiveness Index (GCI)

• Infrastructure is a pillar of competitiveness, measuring quality and efficiency of a countries infrastructure.
• Philippines ranked 61 out of 67 countries in 2024 for infrastructure.

The Significant Role of Salient Infrastructure Services

• Economic Growth: Infrastructure facilitates trade, commerce, investment.
• Quality of Life: Improved services and reduced travel time
• Environmental Sustainability: Mitigation of climate change, protection of the environment.
• Social Equity: Access to quality infrastructure reduces inequality and improves social well-being.

The Evolution of Public Services

• Traditional services were in-person, paperwork-heavy, and time-consuming.
• Shift to digital services (web apps, online services)
• Virtual services are more immersive, interactive (video consultations, AI, chatbots)

Examples of Inclusive Virtual Public Services

• Telehealth for rural areas (remote consultations).
• E-learning resources and virtual classrooms
• Online legal and civic resources/support platforms

Benefits of Going Beyond Digital

• Increased Reach and Accessibility: Services available to more people
• Cost-Effectiveness: Reducing costs associated with physical facilities
• Efficiency and Convenience: Simplifying processes, allowing access from home.

Challenges in Implementation

• Technical and financial barriers (setting up virtual platforms)
• User resistance and adaptation (preference for in-person services)
• Infrastructure needs: Reliable internet, digital literacy, and device accessibility.

Future Outlook for Virtual Public Services

• Innovative technologies (e.g., AI, AR/VR for better service experiences)
• Cross-sector collaborations (partnerships between government, private sector, and nonprofits)
• Policy and support (regulatory frameworks for accessibility, security, and ethical data use)

Key Takeaways

• Virtual public services aim to be more inclusive and accessible.
• Challenges exist, but advancements can overcome them.
• Future of public service lies in creating experiences for all citizens fairly.

Test your knowledge on key issues in basic education and healthcare in the Philippines as highlighted by recent reports. This quiz covers poverty, waste management, and health programs aiming to improve outcomes. Assess your understanding of the current challenges faced by various sectors.