ENVIRONMENT AND RESOURCE POLICY IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES

This article analyzes the official and non-official responses of Filipinos to the depletion of some renewable natural resources (particularly water quality). Contrary to popular assumption, and contrary to official statements of the Philippine government at international conferences, it appears that environmental depletion is a political issue in the Philippines. The reasons for the salience of resource and environmental issues are discussed. The dilemma of the Philippine government is that it is committed to economic progress, but the resources which make that progress possible are in short supply. Timber, soil and clean water are endangered by deforestation, erosion and pollution. However, conservation and environmental protection are expensive in the short run. The Philippines faces a problem common to developing tropical countries.