The President of the Philippines is the head of state governing the country.

According to the
Philippine government, the office has been held by politicians who were inaugurated as President
of the Philippines following the ratification of a constitution that explicitly declared the existence
of the Philippines.

Malacaang Palace the official residence of the president

For leaders of the Philippines prior to the arrival of the Spaniards, see Datu. For leaders prior to
the ratification of the 1899 constitution, see Royal Governor of the Philippines. For leaders prior
to the ratification of the 1935 constitution, see Governor-General of the Philippines.
The King of Spain was the head of state during the Spanish era (15651898) and the President of
the United States was the head of state during the American era (18981946). Note that the
presidents under the Commonwealth of the Philippines were under United States sovereignty,
and that the president of the Second Republic is considered to have been running a puppet
government of the Japanese during World War II although this puppet government of Jose P.
Laurel during the Japanese occupation was officially considered independent by the Japanese.
Thus the Philippines had three Presidents during that war - one de facto and two de jure, and two
at the same time.[1]
Emilio Aguinaldo's government wasn't officially recognized by the Government of the Republic
of the Philippines until the term of Diosdado Macapagal.[2]

The official Presidential Seal. The Standard bears a gold ring of stars.[3]
The colors in the following chart indicate the political party or coalition of each President at
Election Day or at the time of ascendence.
List of Presidents
Took Left Prime Vice Ter
# President Party Era
office office Minister President m

none Apolinar
First
Emilio January (Formerly io Mariano
April 1, Katipunan, Republic
1 Aguinald 23, [L 2]
[L 3]
Mabini Trias -
1901 Magdalo (Malolos
o 1899[L 1] Pedro Abolished
faction) Republic)
Paterno

Abolished
Due to the leadership of the Governors of the Philippine Islands from April 1, 1901 to November
15, 1935.
1
none
(The 1935
Manuel Novemb August Constitutio
Nacionalist n did not Sergio Commonwea
2 L. er 15, 1, provide
a Osmea 2 lth
Quezon 1935 1944[L 4] for a
Prime
Minister)

none
KALIBAPI[L 6] (The 1943 Benigno
Aquino
August (Caretaker Constitutio
Jos P. October government n did not Sr.[4] Second
3 17,1945[ under provide -
Laurel 14, 1943 L 5] Ramon Republic
Japanese for a Avancena
occupation) Prime [4]
Minister)

none
(The 1935
Constitutio
n did not
Sergio August May 28, Nacionalist provide
4 for a vacant 2 Commonwea
Osmea 1, 1944 1946 a
Prime lth
Minister) (Restored)

5 Manuel May 28, April Liberal Elpidio 3

Roxas 1946 15, Quirino
1948[L 7] Third
 vacant

Decemb
Elpidio April 17,
6 er 30, Fernando
Quirino 1948 4
1953 Lopez

Ramon Decemb March

Carlos P. Republic
7 Magsaysa er 30, 17,
Garcia 5
y 1953 1957[L 8]

Nacionalist
a vacant

Decemb
Carlos P. March Diosdado
8 er 30,
Garcia 18, 1957 Macapag 6
1961
al

Diosdado Decemb Decemb

Emmanue
9 Macapag er 30, er 30, Liberal 7
l Pelaez
al 1961 1965

10 Ferdinan Decemb Februar Nacionalist Fernando 8

 a Lopez 9
Second
Ferdinan 10 Dictatorship
d vacant "The New
er 30, y 25, Kilusang Marcos Society"
d Marcos
1965 1986[L 9] Bagong 11
Lipunan
Cesar Arturo Fourth
Virata Tolentino Republic

Salvador
Laurel 12
February
Corazon June 30, PDP- Salvador
11 25,
Aquino [L 10] 1992 LABAN Laurel
1986

Lakas
Fidel V. June 30, June 30, Joseph E.
12 NUCD 13
Ramos 1992 1998 Estrada
UMDP

none
(The 1987
PMP Constitutio
(Under Laban n does not
Fifth
January ng provide Gloria Republic
Joseph June 30,
13 20, Makabayang for a Macapag
Estrada 1998
2001[L 11] Masang Prime al-Arroyo
Pilipino Minister) 14
coalition)

Lakas vacant
CMD/KAM Teofisto
PI Guingona
Present Lakas
Gloria (Term Kampi
January
14 Macapag ends CMD
20, 2001
al-Arroyo June 30, (Under Noli de
2010) Koalisyon ng 15
Castro
Katapatan at
Karanasan sa
Kinabukasan
coalition)

[edit] President-elect
# President-elect Electoral Electoral Party Prime Vice Term Era
 Term Term
Minister President
Begins Ends

none
(The 1987
Benigno Constitution
June 30, June 30, Jejomar
(15) Aquino Liberal does not 16 Fifth
2010 2016 provide for a Binay
III
Prime
Minister)

Economy - overview
Definition
The Philippine economy grew at its fastest pace in three decades with real GDP growth
exceeding 7% in 2007. Higher government spending contributed to the growth, but a resilient
service sector and large remittances from the millions of Filipinos who work abroad have played
an increasingly important role. Economic growth has averaged 5% since President
MACAPAGAL-ARROYO took office in 2001. Nevertheless, the Philippines will need still
higher, sustained growth to make progress in alleviating poverty, given its high population
growth and unequal distribution of income. MACAPAGAL-ARROYO averted a fiscal crisis by
pushing for new revenue measures and, until recently, tightening expenditures. Declining fiscal
deficits, tapering debt and debt service ratios, as well as recent efforts to increase spending on
infrastructure and social services have heightened optimism over Philippine economic prospects.
Although the general macroeconomic outlook has improved significantly, the Philippines
continues to face important challenges and must maintain the reform momentum in order to
catch up with regional competitors, improve employment opportunities, and alleviate poverty.
Longer-term fiscal stability will require more sustainable revenue sources, rather than non-
recurring revenues from privatization.
GDP (purchasing power parity)
Definition - World rank and map
$299.6 billion (2007 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate)
Definition
$144.1 billion (2007 est.)
GDP - real growth rate
Definition - World rank and map
7.3% (2007 est.)
GDP - per capita
Definition - World rank and map
$3,400 (2007 est.)
GDP - composition by sector
Definition
agriculture: 13.7%
industry: 31.4%
services: 54.8% (2007 est.)
Labor force
Definition
36.22 million (2007 est.)
Labor force - by occupation
Definition
agriculture: 35%
industry: 15%
services: 50% (2007 est.)
Unemployment rate
Definition - World rank and map
7.3% (2007 est.)
Population below poverty line
Definition
30% (2003 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share
Definition
lowest 10%: 2.4%
highest 10%: 31.2% (2006)
Distribution of family income - Gini index
Definition - World rank and map
45.8 (2006)
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
Definition - World rank and map
2.8% (2007 est.)
Investment (gross fixed)
Definition - World rank and map
14.2% of GDP (2007 est.)
Budget
Definition
revenues: $24.63 billion
expenditures: $24.9 billion (2007 est.)
Public debt
Definition - World rank and map
55.8% of GDP (2007 est.)
Agriculture - products
Definition
sugarcane, coconuts, rice, corn, bananas, cassavas, pineapples, mangoes; pork, eggs, beef; fish
Industries
Definition
electronics assembly, garments, footwear, pharmaceuticals, chemicals, wood products, food
processing, petroleum refining, fishing
Industrial production growth rate
Definition - World rank and map
6.6% (2007 est.)
 Electricity - production
Definition - World rank and map
53.67 billion kWh (2005)
Electricity - consumption
Definition - World rank and map
46.86 billion kWh (2005)
Electricity - consumption per capita
Definition - World rank and map
505.7 kWh (2005)
Electricity - exports
Definition
0 kWh (2005)
Electricity - imports
Definition
0 kWh (2005)
Oil - production
Definition - World rank and map
24,310 bbl/day (2005 est.)
Oil - consumption
Definition - World rank and map
340,000 bbl/day (2005 est.)
Oil - consumption per 1,000 people
Definition - World rank and map
3.7 bbl/day (2005 est.)
Oil - exports
Definition - World rank and map
34,900 bbl/day (2004)
Oil - imports
Definition - World rank and map
353,700 bbl/day (2004)
Oil - proved reserves
Definition - World rank and map
152 million bbl (31 December 2006)
Natural gas - production
Definition - World rank and map
2.781 billion cu m (2005 est.)
Natural gas - consumption
Definition - World rank and map
2.781 billion cu m (2005 est.)
Natural gas - consumption per capita
Definition - World rank and map
30 cu m (2005 est.)
Natural gas - exports
Definition - World rank and map
0 cu m (2005 est.)
Natural gas - imports
Definition - World rank and map
0 cu m (2005)
 Natural gas - proved reserves
Definition - World rank and map
107.5 billion cu m (1 January 2006 est.)
Current account balance
Definition - World rank and map
$6.351 billion (2007 est.)
Exports
Definition - World rank and map
$49.32 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)
Exports - commodities
Definition
semiconductors and electronic products, transport equipment, garments, copper products,
petroleum products, coconut oil, fruits
Exports - partners
Definition
China 29.4%, US 13.4%, Japan 11.8%, Hong Kong 7.9%, Singapore 7.9% (2006)
Imports
Definition - World rank and map
$57.56 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)
Imports - commodities
Definition
electronic products, mineral fuels, machinery and transport equipment, iron and steel, textile
fabrics, grains, chemicals, plastic
Imports - partners
Definition
Japan 14.8%, US 12%, China 11.1%, Singapore 9.5%, Taiwan 7.5%, South Korea 5.7%, Saudi
Arabia 5.1%, Thailand 4.5%, Hong Kong 4.1% (2006)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold
Definition - World rank and map
$33.71 billion (31 December 2007 est.)
Debt - external
Definition - World rank and map
$61.83 billion (31 December 2007 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home
Definition
$18.4 billion (2007 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad
Definition
$5.28 billion (2007 est.)
Market value of publicly traded shares
Definition
$103.4 billion (2007)
Economic aid - recipient
Definition
ODA, $451.4 million in commitments (2006)
Currency (code)
Definition
Philippine peso (PHP)
 Exchange rates
Definition
Philippine pesos per US dollar - 46.148 (2007), 51.246 (2006), 55.086 (2005), 56.04 (2004),
54.203 (2003)
Fiscal year
Definition
calendar year

SONA (2009) of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo set on

July 27, 2009
Press Secretary Cerge Remonde and Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita gave an idea or
summary of what PGMA (President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo) will most likely tackle on her
final State of the Nation Address (SONA) on July 27, 2009.
Summary of what PGMA may discuss on her SONA 2009
- Highlight the achievements of her administration and the status of the governments projects
and programs since 2001
- Dwell on how her administration has given too much attention to the overall welfare of the
Filipinos
- BEAT THE ODDS program (acronym for Balance budget, Education for all, Automated
elections, Transportation and digital infrastructure, Terminate hostilities with the MILF and
NPA, Heal the wounds of EDSAs I, II and III, Electricity and water for all, Opportunities for
livelihood and ten million jobs, Decongestion of Metro Manila, and Develop Subic and Clark)
- Report the developments on the Super Region concept, the development in Northern Luzon,
Southern Luzon and the other parts of the country.
- Clarify numerous political issues surrounding her
- Discuss political reforms
GDP - real growth rate: 0.9% (2009 est.)
3.8% (2008 est.)
7.1% (2007 est.)
Yea GDP - real Ran Percent Date of
r growth rate k Change Information

200
4.60 % 45 2002 est.
3

200
4.50 % 70 -2.17 % 2003 est.
4

200
5.90 % 57 31.11 % 2004 est.
5

200
4.80 % 103 -18.64 % 2005 est.
6

200
5.40 % 87 12.50 % 2006 est.
7

200
7.30 % 45 35.19 % 2007 est.
8

200
3.80 % 108 -47.95 % 2008 est.
9

201
.90 % 95 -76.32 % 2009 est.
0

Definition: This entry gives GDP growth on an annual basis adjusted for inflation and expressed
as a percent.
Source: CIA World Factbook - Unless otherwise noted, information in this page is accurate as of
February 19, 2010
See Also

GDP - real growth rate rank chart

GDP - real growth rate - comparative map
GDP (purchasing power parity)
GDP - per capita (PPP)
GDP - composition by sector
GDP (official exchange rate)
Equivalent Data From the International Monetary Fund
Variable: Gross domestic product, constant prices
Note: Annual percentages of constant price GDP are year-on-year changes; the base year is
country-specific.
Units: Annual percent change
Country-specific Note: See notes for: Gross domestic product, constant prices (National
currency).
Source: International Monetary Fund - 2009 World Economic Outlook
Yea Gross domestic product, Percent
r constant prices Change

198
5.149
0

198
3.423 -33.52 %
1

198
3.619 5.73 %
2

198
1.875 -48.19 %
3

198
-7.324 -490.61 %
4

198
-7.307 -0.23 %
5

198
3.417 -146.76 %
6

198
4.312 26.19 %
7

198
6.753 56.61 %
8

198
6.205 -8.11 %
9
199
3.037 -51.06 %
0

199
-0.578 -119.03 %
1

199
0.338 -158.48 %
2

199
2.116 526.04 %
3

199
4.388 107.37 %
4

199
4.679 6.63 %
5

199
5.846 24.94 %
6

199
5.185 -11.31 %
7

199
-0.577 -111.13 %
8

199
3.396 -688.56 %
9

200
5.968 75.74 %
0

200
1.756 -70.58 %
1

200
4.449 153.36 %
2

200
4.93 10.81 %
3

200
6.38 29.41 %
4

200
4.952 -22.38 %
5

200 5.341 7.86 %

6

200
7.079 32.54 %
7

200
3.839 -45.77 %
8

200
0.994 -74.11 %
9

Philippines - Overview of economy

The Philippine economy has experienced repeated boom-and-bust cycles in the 5 decades since
the nation achieved independence from the United States in 1946. In the 1950s and early 1960s
its economy ranked as the second most progressive in Asia, next to that of Japan. After 1965,
when Ferdinand E. Marcos became president, the nation experienced economic problems and
social unrest, especially from the 1970s, when corruption and cronyism (the practice of
appointing friends to well-paid posts regardless of their qualifications) took hold. In 1972,
Marcos declared a state of emergency and placed the country under martial law to stifle unrest
and control economic development. By his third term in
1981, democratic institutions in the country had severely eroded, foreign debt
ballooned, and the country's economy plummeted. In less than 20 years, the
Philippines had gone from relative prosperity to becoming the "sick man of Asia." In
1983, the leader of the political opposition, former senator Benigno Aquino, was
assassinated upon his returned from exile in the United States.

Marcos was removed from office in 1986 through a peaceful "People Power" revolution in which
millions of people demonstrated in the streets. Aquino's widow, Corazon, became president, and
a new constitution was approved in 1987. Meanwhile, the GDP growth rate increased steadily
from 3.5 percent in 1986 to 4.3 percent in 1987, peaking in 1988 at 6.7 percent. The Aquino
administration endured many troubles, including 6 coup d'etat attempts, many natural disasters
(e.g. earthquakes, the Mt. Pinatubo eruption), and a power shortage problem that caused
economic activities to stop. During this period, the Aquino administration passed various critical
laws such as a liberal Foreign Investment Act, the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Law, and
the privatization of government corporations that brought the economy back to its feet.
Aquino's successor, Fidel Ramos, embarked on an ambitious development plan dubbed
"Philippines 2000." Under the plan, several industries critical to economic development were
privatized, such as electricity, telecommunications, banking, domestic shipping, and oil. The
taxation system was reformed, and external debt was brought to more manageable levels by
debt restructuring and sensible fiscal management. By 1996, GNP was growing at a rate of 7.2
percent and GDP at 5.2 percent. The annual inflation rate had dropped to 5.9 percent from its
high of 9.1 percent in 1995. By the late 1990s, the Philippines' economic growth gained
favorable comparisons with other Asian countries such as Taiwan, Thailand, South Korea, and
Malaysia.
The Philippine economy took a sharp downturn during the Asian financial crisis of 1997. Its
fiscal deficit in 1998 reached P49.981 billion from a surplus of P1.564 billion in 1997. The peso
depreciated (fell in value) to P40.89 per U.S. dollar from its previous rate of P29.47 to a dollar.
The annual growth rate of the GNP fell to 0.1 percent in 1998 from 5.3 percent in 1997. Despite
these setbacks, the Philippine economy fared better than that of some of its Asian neighbors, and
other nations praised the Ramos administration for its "good housekeeping."
In 1998, Joseph Estrada was elected president. Even with its strong economic team, the Estrada
administration failed to capitalize on the gains of the previous administration. His administration
was severely criticized for cronyism, incompetence, and corruption, causing it to lose the
confidence of foreign investors. Foreign investors' confidence was further damaged when, in his
second year, Estrada was accused of exerting influence in an investigation of a friend's
involvement in stock market manipulation. Social unrest brought about by numerous bombing
threats, actual bombings, kidnappings, and other criminal activities contributed to the economy's
troubles. Economic performance was also hurt by climatic disturbance that caused extremes of
dry and wet weather. Toward the end of Estrada's administration, the fiscal deficit had doubled to
more than P100 billion from a low of P49 billion in 1998. Despite such setbacks, the rate of GNP
in 1999 increased to 3.6 percent from 0.1 percent in 1998, and the GDP posted a 3.2 percent
growth rate, up from a low of-0.5 percent in 1998. Debt reached P2.1 trillion in 1999. Domestic
debt amounted to P986.7 billion while foreign debt stood at US$52.2 billion. In January 2001
Estrada was removed from office by a second peaceful "People Power" revolution engineered
primarily by youth, non-governmental organizations, and the business sector. President Estrada
was the first Philippine president to be impeached by Congress, and his vice-president, Gloria
Macapagal-Arroyo, became the fourteenth President of the Republic.
The economy of the Philippines is hampered by huge foreign debt, a low savings rate, inefficient
tax collection, inadequate infrastructure , especially outside major cities, and poor agricultural
performance. The Philippine economy is vulnerable to oil-price increases, interest-rate shifts by
the U.S. Federal Reserve, and the performance of international stock exchanges. Social factors
that have a negative impact on the economy include a high crime rate, especially kidnappings
and rape, pockets of Communist rebels in rural areas, threats from Muslim separatist
movements, high rates of poverty and unemployment, and the government's inability to begin its
land-distribution program. Environmental factors also damage economic development, including
frequent typhoons and drought. Worker productivity is adversely affected by illnesses brought on
by air and water pollution. In metropolitan Manila alone, the effect of pollution on health and
labor productivity has been estimated to be equal to a loss of about 1 percent of gross national
product annually.
Foreign aid, or official development assistance (ODA) funds, have contributed immensely to the
development of the nation's economy. Through grants and loans extended by development
agencies and international creditors, the government is able to finance infrastructure
development (bridges, roads, highways, railways, transportation systems) and social programs
(livelihood projects, training seminars, immunization programs, and environmental projects).
Since the late 1990s, ODA funds have helped improve living conditions in the most depressed
rural areas, especially in Mindanao, Southern Philippines, mostly via agricultural programs. In
1999 most funds were allocated to agricultural programs. About 95 percent of ODA assistance is
distributed in loans, with the remainder in grants.

Read more: Philippines Overview of economy, Information about Overview of

 economy in Philippines http://www.nationsencyclopedia.com/economies/Asia-and-
the-Pacific/Philippines-OVERVIEW-OF-ECONOMY.html#ixzz0qv3iNhQr

PHILIPPINE EXTERNAL DEBT INDICATORS

March 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2008 a/ 2009 a/
Outstanding External Debt (end-of-period, in billion US dollars) 51.2 51.9 53.6 57.4
54.8 54.2 53.4 54.9 53.9 54.6 52.5 Ratios (in percent): 1. External Debt/GNP
63.5 68.3 65.6 67.2 58.6 50.7 41.9 35.1 29.0 32.6 28.8
2. External Debt/GDP 67.5 72.9 69.8 72.1 63.1 54.8 45.4 38.1
32.3 35.6 32.3 3. External Debt Service Ratio 1/ 13.0 15.7 17.1
16.9 13.8 13.5 12.0 10.1 9.6 9.8 10.3 4. GIR to Short-
Term Debt based on original maturity 2/ 274.1 261.5 294.4 276.2 321.6
289.2 458.5 476.5 536.4 550.6 600.6 5. GIR to Short-Term Debt based on
remaining maturity 3/ 154.1 140.4 146.8 150.0 161.9 160.3 235.4 289.6
337.6 342.9 335.1 a/ 1/
Computed as the ratio of debt service burden (DSB) to exports of goods and
receipts from services and income (XGSI). Income includes cash remittances of
overseas Filipino workers that were coursed through banks. DSB represents the
sum of principal and interest payments on foreign loans excluding prepayments of
future years' maturities. 2/ Loans with original maturity of one year or less 3/
Loans with original maturity of one year or less plus amortizations on medium and
long-term loans falling due within the next 12 months a/ For comparability, data
on Gross National Product (GNP), Gross Domestic Product (GDP), DSB and XGSI for
March 2008 and March 2009 were annualized. Source: International Operations
Department, Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas

Relationship Between Economics and Politics

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By Shane Hall, eHow Contributing Writer

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Political scientist Harold Lasswell defined politics as the process of deciding who gets what,
when and how. Economics is the study of how societies allocate scarce resources, deciding
 what to produce, how and for whom. The similarity of these definitions demonstrates a
relationship between politics and economics, as both represent methods by which societies
make decisions. Economic stewardship is a major concern for any government, raising the
question of the nature and extent of its involvement in the economy.

History
1. In the 18th century, the separate disciplines of political science and economics were known
as the field of political economy, which studied the management of economic affairs, and a
central debate focused on the role of government in the economy.
Considerations
2. Differing views about the role of government in the economy lead to differing systems of
political economy.
Types
3. Under a pure free-market system, government has only minimal intervention in the
economy. The opposite extreme is a centrally planned economy, in which the government
controls all economic activity.
Geography
4. Most nations' economies lie somewhere between the two poles described in the previous
section. The United States has primarily a free market economy, but government influences
economic activity. Meanwhile, communist China has strong government control of the
economy, with some free-market characteristics.
Effects
5. Often, the state of a nation's economy influences voter behavior at election time. Voters
often re-elect the government in power during good economic times and punish it during
economic downturns.
Warning
6. Because economic conditions can affect politicians' re-election prospects, sitting politicians
will often manipulate the economy to win re-election. For example, a huge tax rebate in an
election year could be an attempt by the sitting government to win voter support.

Read more: Relationship Between Economics and Politics |

eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/facts_5484306_relationship-between-economics-
politics.html#ixzz0qvarUCQ1

Economics-politics Relationship (or Why Politicians Need Economics)

Following the famous dictum of Franz Oppenheimer, there are two kinds of means of
acquiring wealth: i) economic means based on production and exchange, and ii) political
means based on plunder. When getting richer, one either does not use any violence (explicit or
implicit), or does make use of it. There is no other way.
Oppenheimers choice of the term political was no coincidence since politicians form perhaps
the single largest group of people whose actions are based on violence and coercion. No
matter how hard they try to do some good, they can never succeed in it. Anything they do
must be preceded by some kind of privilege and/or taxation, both of them being instances of
coercion.3 Thus, Oppenheimer was led to a conclusion that politics is a realm of, and a state
an organization of, political means.
Since time immemorial the populations awareness of this true nature and description of
politicians, politics and the state posed a tremendous threat for politicians survival.