Carlos P.

Garcia (1957-1961)

CONDITION OF THE PHILIPPINES

The Philippines agreed to numerous conditions set by the United States as a
requirement for the Philippines to receive war reconstruction assistance.

The flow of imports had greatly increased making the Philippines heavily dependent
of imported products. Imports coming from the United States were also allowed to
enter the country without tariffs, the Philippines also promised not to change its
exchange rate from $1 is to P2.

The condition of the Philippines before the administration of Garcia was the
Philippines is just recovering from the after effects of World War 2, with this the
Philippines experienced several economic challenges.

PRIMARY PROBLEMS
The main problem that was facing the Garcia administration was the current
economic situation during that time. Corruption was also prevalent in the country
since he had just inherited the Magsaysay administration. Several cases of
corruption were found within the government offices during his administration.

The imports that were coming in the country greatly outnumbered the exports that
we were shipping out of the country, making the Philippines highly dependent on
foreign products that required dollars to purchase.
ISSUES AND CONTROVERSIES
Garcia was criticized by foreign countries, especially the United States for his anti-
foreign policies. There was also corruption withing the Bureau of Internal Revenue in
which he had the implement the Austerity Program.

SUMMARY OF GOVERNANCE
The focus of the Garcia administration focused on economic independence from
foreign interest. Garcia wanted the Philippines to be an industrialized, self
sustaining country that would not have to heavily rely on the products of foreign
companies.

Garcia also tried implanting his Austerity Program in hopes of eliminating corruption
in his administration all the while bolstering moral fiber to the government leaders
and employees.

At the end of his term Garcia was criticized for his lack of program for the Filipino
common man which was the focus of the next president Macapagal that is why he
lost the election to him.
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A lawyer, poet, and teacher, Carlos P. Garcia also served as a guerrilla leader during
the Pacific War. Born in Bohol, Garcia serviced as vice president under Ramon
Magsaysay and as secretary of Foreign Affairs for four years. He became president
when Magsaysay died in 1957.

Contributions and Achievements:

known for Filipino First Policy, which favored Filipino businesses over foreign
investors
established the Austerity Program focusing on Filipino trade and commerce
known as the Prince of Visayan Poets and the Bard from Bohol
cultural arts was revived during his term
was the first president to have his remains buried at the Libingan ng mga Bayani

As a leader, Garcia promoted a program of austerity; he said that austerity is a

policy that means temperate spending that signifies more work, more thrift, more
productive investment and more efficiency. The result was less imports and more
exports, thus the caption Pilipino Muna.
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