Post-War Rehabilitation PDF

Post War Rehabilitation Date Created @May 5, 2024 6:44 PM The Third Republic Presidents Manuel Roxas 1946-1948 Elpidio Quirino 1948-1953 Ramon Magsaysay 1953-1957 Carlos Garcia 1957-1961 Diosdado Macapagal 1961-1965 *Ferdinand Marcos 1965-1972 Main Question: How did post-war relations shape the nati...

Post War Rehabilitation Date Created @May 5, 2024 6:44 PM The Third Republic Presidents Manuel Roxas 1946-1948 Elpidio Quirino 1948-1953 Ramon Magsaysay 1953-1957 Carlos Garcia 1957-1961 Diosdado Macapagal 1961-1965 *Ferdinand Marcos 1965-1972 Main Question: How did post-war relations shape the nation as it assumes sovereignty? Sources Abinales, Patricio, and Donna Amoroso — All Politics is Local Diokno, Maria Serena — The Price of Rehabilitation Recall The Road to Independence August 29, 1916 Post War Rehabilitation 1 Passage of the Jones Law formalizes the US promise of the PH independence 1919 The first PH “independence mission” is sent to the US March 24, 1934 The Tydings-McDuffie Act secures the date for the PH independence November 1935 The Commonwealth Republic is inaugurated with Manuel L. Quezon as the first elected president July 4, 1946 Target date for the PH Independence December 1941 - February 1945 Japan occupies the PH Ever since Histo 11, it’s all about gaining independence The major impact of the Japanese occupation was that it interrupted the road to independence The promise that the commonwealth offered, only to be interrupted, it’s not like Quezon left the responsibility entirely, when he was in exile, he would get the Americans to follow thru with the plan after the war, etc. We are laying the foundations for a nation that will live not ten years, not a century, but as long as the world lasts, and I call upon every man and woman of my country on this first anniversary of the inauguration of the Commonwealth to cooperate with us in our efforts to bring about a situation that will insure the existence of this nation forever. — Speech of President Quezon on Social Justice, November 15, 1936 Post War Rehabilitation 2 After the War: Impact on Independence There might be some delay because we prioritize recovery over independence? But the Americans would do that, they would still grant us independence on 1946 For much of the Japanese occupation, people were struggling to survive, and one of the strategies of Laurel to deal with the Japanese was he would acknowledge the needs of Filipinos but still appease the Japanese At some point, you cannot expect every Filipino to understand this, and for the view of other Filipinos was that Laurel was collaborating This created mistrust on the government, felt like it was every man for themselves Filipinos have gone thru terrible conditions, they were the ones trying to survive, so the rehabilitation goes beyond the physical reconstruction of Manila, how can you repair the trust of the people? Reorganization of the Government Naturally, Osmena would take over Quezon in 1945 - 1946, until you have elections after independence Manuel Roxas would challenge Osmena on the 1946 elections Osmena and Roxas were the OG Nacionalistas and they were both building their political careers Roxas was a trainee of Quezon, and one of Quezon’s favorites The Nacionalista Party Split into Two Factions Issues Osmena Roxas Collaboration - - War damage compensation - yes Post War Rehabilitation 3 Backpay for government employees - yes Peasant mobilization yes no Collaboration: Osmena won by a small margin because he was in exile Peasant mobilization: The Huks and peasants resisted the come back of the land lords Osmena came up with a compromise Roxas said that it was a hard no, we will not negotiate with the peasants, Roxas is a landlord himself Some Important Endorsements Aurora Quezon would support Roxas because her husband’s favorite is Roxas She evokes the feeling of nostalgia of what could have been if the Commonwealth would’ve continued MacArthur would support Roxas because the one who is close to MacArthur is Quezon and not Osmena People were seeing him as a hero Luis Taruc, the leader of the Huks, would support Osmena because he was the one open to negotiations with the peasants His endorsement was a double edged sword, you have the support of the peasants, but not the landlords The 1946 Elections The Huks supported Osmena even when Roxas tried to win them over The landed elite feared that Osmena would revive Quezon’s Social Justice program MacArthur and Mrs. Aurora Quezon backed Roxas’ bid for the presidency Manuel Roxas Becomes the First President of the Third Republic But only by 203,000 votes Post War Rehabilitation 4 Now he has to face the problem of how do we rehabilitate Manila? Rehabilitation of Manila There were many offices that were destroyed A lot of the factories were in Manila as well, people raided the factories and goods and started selling them in very high prices which caused the inflation Escolta was totally destroyed, and people did not have jobs We needed money to rebuilt our city and economy, but how do we do that when we have nothing? Everything was destroyed and Manila was the center of trade Rehabilitation With Conditions The Rehabilitation Act will grant $620 Million to those who have suffered during the war: $400 Million for property damage compensation $120 Million for reconstruction of roads, highways and harbors $100 Million (not as cash, but) surplus military property The Bell Trade Act Free trade relations between the Philippines and America for a period of eight years Export without tariffs, import without tariffs → you are going to try The granting of parity rights to Americans required amendments to the PH Constitution They take advantage of our resources the same way as we could What parity rights is saying that they can freely use the resources of the PH They would use our resources, manufacture them in their country, then sell it to us in high prices Post War Rehabilitation 5 These two policies together would continue to doom the PH to be an agricultural nation (Go back to LAS from Econ) The disposition, exploitation, development, and utilization of all… natural resources of the PH, and the operation of public utilities, shall, if open to any person, be open to citizens of the US and to all forms of businesses enterprise owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by the US citizens. — Message of President Roxas to the Congress on Amending the Constitution, September 11, 1946 Critics of Parity Critics argued that parity reduces the PH and the Filipinos to factors of production for American industries Your economy exists to support the US economy, when something bad happens to them, you would experience it worse “a decent term for economic prostitution” Parity rights threaten sovereignty Another country would use our resources freely, how can we be independent? With parity, “Americans will undoubtedly succeed in rehabilitation agriculture, industry, trade, and commerce, but after the job is done, where will the Filipinos be? Frankly, we think outside looking in—in our own country. - Editorial in the Manila Chronicle, November 3, 1946 Post War Rehabilitation 6 Supporters of Parity The immediate relief the Americans can provide through jobs and wages appealed to labor groups and their leaders The elites were against parity The laborers wanted it for more employment because th huge problem was there were no jobs around Parity was meant to encourage American investment in the PH Roxas pushes this to the senate Let the few rich fight parity because they are selfish and they don’t want competition from the Americans, but you laborers must vote for parity because it would mean jobs and good wages - Labor Secretary Pedro Magsalin Sentiments on the US Supporters argued that it was a matter of faith and gratitude to the Americans The provision for the non-exploitation of foreigners of the PH resources came from the Americans (House Speaker Eugenio Perez) The US and the PH as parent and child Roxas: If the US wanted to exploit us, they would've done that before At the end of the day, what choice do we have? People are hungry and poor and dreaming of independence will not help The thing about this act was that we will get money eventually, 1950s Japan would give reparation money to the PH but Japan wasn't the reason behind the Manila bombing, it was the Americans For 48 years in the PH… I look about me and see no evidence of outrageous exploitation. Post War Rehabilitation 7 - Pres. Manuel A. Roxas June 21, 1946 In these days of want and hunger, sentimental outbursts cannot help us a bit. The needs of the belly, the heart cannot fill. - Severino Garcia of Bauan, Batangas Rehabilitation: Who Did it Benefit? You have to have lost property to benefit under the $400 Million Wealthy Filipino families with vast investments in land and commerce Benefited American-owned companies and Filipinos exporters as a continued investment on the pre-war export economy They're going to get a big chunk of the $120 Million Elite Filipinos would have the same social circles, so these circles are Roxas’ allies and friends Huge chunks of rehabilitation money will go to the friends of the President The Rehabilitation Finance Corporation tasked to sell material worth 200 million pesos, turned over only 28 million pesos to the government after three years of operation How would you react as a middle class and peasant seeing the money just go to the elites? Property damage compensation ($400 Wealthy Filipino families with vast Million) investments in land and commerce Benefited American-owned companies Reconstruction of roads, highways, and harbors ($120 Million) and Filipinos exporters as a continued investment on the pre-war export economy Surplus military property ($100 Million) The Rehabilitation Finance Corporation tasked to sell material worth 200 million pesos, turned over only 28 Post War Rehabilitation 8 million pesos to the government after three years of operation Cronyism and The Spoils Systems Endure Released rehabilitation funds were distributed to Roxas allies, some of them Japanese collaborators Military back pay and related compensation was distributed to anti-Japanese guerilla fighters—both genuine and fraudulent “Worst of all, this money, which should have been invested in the production of goods and services needed for economic recovery, went largely toward the consumption of imported goods.” (Abinales and Amoroso 2018, 172) How the war affected different social classes? Poor: They couldn't access basic needs Middle class: Deprived of little luxurious Rich: Starved of the luxury Conspicuous Consumption while people around you are suffering and trying to recover, if you are not rich, how would you feel? Economic Collapse and Social Unrest Capital flight, inflation, and 15% unemployment of the active workforce In urban areas, labor groups — including the Communist-controlled Congress of Labor Organizations—demanded increased support for the poor and criticized the heavy influence in government policies In rural areas, peasants criticized Roxas’ ties with the landed elite Distribution of military back pay was irregular and no reforms were made in taxation This is corruption Continuing Ties with the US After WWII, the next threat was cold war Post War Rehabilitation 9 The US shall maintain control over bases needed for the mutual protection of both countries They keep bases in Japan and the PH The US would still represent PH interests in areas where diplomatic relations The Whole Narrative of PH history was to achieve independence, how does it feel that we have it now? After independence, it was not glorious at all How did post-war conditions shape the nation as it assumes sovereignty? 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