DRUG ADDICTION AS SOCIAL PROBLEM

A common misconception surrounding drug addiction is that it solely affects the life of
the user. However, the idea that they aren’t hurting anyone except for themselves is an
excuse that many individuals who abuse drugs use in order to justify their addiction.
Drug addiction is not a one-person phenomenon, and it creates a domino effect on the
lives of those around them. It is a social problem that normalizes drug use and affects
individuals and their families.

Effects of Drug Addiction

At first glance, a drug addiction may appear to only affect the person who is using.
However, because addiction is a destructive issue that can have an adverse effect on
the community, family, and individual, it’s very rare that other people aren’t affected. An
individual neglecting their responsibilities as a result of drugs can negatively affect their
career, children’s education, or family’s financial security. Their impact can also extend
outside of the immediate family. Friends or community members who rely on their
presence or companionship can suffer from their absence.

There are a variety of short-term and long-term health effects associated with addiction.
Although the specific effects vary between drugs, prolonged abuse of any substance
can lead to chronic disease or alter an individual’s productivity. The most permanent
effect of drug addiction is death, which becomes more likely through addiction because
of increased tolerance leading to overdose.
The Connection Between Addiction and Crime
There is a definitive link between crime and drug addictions that is mainly contributed to
the illegal status of commonly abused drugs. Not only is it illegal to carry many of these
drugs but an individual’s lowered inhibitions when under the influence can encourage
them to commit other crimes. The types of crime that an individual may commit when on
drugs is extensive and dependent on a variety of sub-factors, but regardless, drug users
are more likely than nonusers to commit crime. Petty theft in order to obtain drugs and
satiate their cravings when desperate is another way in which drugs influence
individuals to commit crimes.
How Drug Rehabilitation Can Better Society
There are two types of people: those who believe that drug addiction treatment should
be given to everyone, and those who think that drug addiction shouldn’t be treated as a
criminal issue. Ultimately, it doesn’t matter who suffers from addiction, criminal or not.
With the proper help and treatment, you will be able to overcome your addiction and fit
into society once again. Due to the process of drug rehabilitation, there is almost a
countless number of people who took the necessary steps to beat their crippling
addiction and even become pillars of various communities. Some individuals have
managed to procure fantastic jobs and live healthy, drug-free jobs.

Unfortunately, drug addiction is still in society. Once an addiction starts, it can become
very difficult for you to come back from it. With that said, you don’t have to fight it alone.
Don’t be ashamed to tell people of your addiction. Many people are going through or
have gone through the same thing. You will need the support of your family, friends and
even the professionals treating you. If you or someone you know is suffering from an
addiction, asking for help is the first step to regaining control of your life.

A Social Problem Of Prostitution

There are many different social problems that gain attention to investigation
as well as solutions or intervention. Prostitution is one of those social
problems, and a large one at that. Prostitution is the act or practice of
engaging in sexual activity indiscriminately, especially for money; the crime of
engaging in such activity (Merriam-Webster). One of the oldest professions
around is prostitution. Society doesn’t view prostitution as an asset to society
in the United States, but the same cannot be said in other places around the
world. What are the consequences associated with prostitution? Does
prostitution benefit our society at all? There are many risks involved in the
profession of selling sex. The risk includes, but are not limited to, sexually
transmitted diseases, human trafficking, and mental & physical abuse. I
personally do not believe prostitution can be stopped due to the length of
time the profession has been around, as well as the demand for sex in society
today. Our focus cannot be n eliminating this social problem, but helping
those that are currently active prostitutes and preventing others from
choosing that path in the future.

Impacts of corruption
Corruption hurts everyone.

The impact of corruption goes beyond the corrupt individuals, the innocent colleagues who are
implicated, or the reputation of the organisations they work for.
Corruption erodes the trust we have in the public sector to act in our best interests. It also wastes
our taxes or rates that have been earmarked for important community projects – meaning we have
to put up with poor quality services or infrastructure, or we miss out altogether.

It is in everyone’s interest to report corruption and misconduct.

Organisational impacts of corruption

 financial loss
 damage to employee morale
 damage to organisation's reputation
 organisational focus and resources diverted away from delivering core business and services to
the community
 increased scrutiny, oversight and regulation.
Individual impacts of corruption
 disciplinary action
 termination of employment
 criminal charges
 may affect relationships with family, friends and colleagues.
Community impacts of corruption
 wasted taxpayer funds
 loss of goods and services
 lower community confidence in public authorities
 disadvantage to honest business that miss out on government contracts.
A social problem is any condition or behavior that has negative consequences for large numbers
of people and that is generally recognized as a condition or behavior that needs to be addressed.
This definition has both an objective component and a subjective component.

The objective component is this: For any condition or behavior to be considered a social

problem, it must have negative consequences for large numbers of people, as each chapter of this
book discusses. How do we know if a social problem has negative consequences? Reasonable
people can and do disagree on whether such consequences exist and, if so, on their extent and
seriousness, but ordinarily a body of data accumulates—from work by academic researchers,
government agencies, and other sources—that strongly points to extensive and serious
consequences. The reasons for these consequences are often hotly debated, and sometimes, as we
shall see in certain chapters in this book, sometimes the very existence of these consequences is
disputed. A current example is climate change: Although the overwhelming majority of climate
scientists say that climate change (changes in the earth’s climate due to the buildup of
greenhouse gases in the atmosphere) is real and serious, fewer than two-thirds of Americans (64
percent) in a 2011 poll said they “think that global warming is happening”(Leiserowitz, et. al.,
2011).

This type of dispute points to the subjective component of the definition of social problems:

There must be a perception that a condition or behavior needs to be addressed for it to be
considered a social problem. This component lies at the heart of the social constructionist
view of social problems (Rubington & Weinberg, 2010). In this view, many types of negative
conditions and behaviors exist. Many of these are considered sufficiently negative to acquire the
status of a social problem; some do not receive this consideration and thus do not become a
social problem; and some become considered a social problem only if citizens, policymakers, or
other parties call attention to the condition or behavior.

Social problems and social policy

Whether social problems emerge as issues of social justice or social order, they are
usually associated with the idea that ‘something must be done’. Social problems
represent conditions that should not be allowed to continue because they are perceived
to be problems for society, requiring society to react to them and find remedies. Where
private troubles are matters for the individuals involved to resolve, public issues or
social problems demand a public response. The range of possible public responses is,
of course, very wide. At one extreme we might point to interventions that are intended to
suppress or control social problems: locking people up, inflicting physical punishments
or deprivations on them, even – in the most severe form – killing them. Such
interventions are intended to stop social problems by means of controlling the people
who are seen as problems (juvenile delinquents, drug takers, thieves, terrorists). Those
who seek the suppression and control of social problems are usually, but not always,
associated with the view that social problems are a challenge or threat to social order.
The point about ‘not always’ is important, since sometimes these types of intervention
are presented not in terms of protecting society or social order, but as being in ‘the best
interests’ of the person being punished or ‘treated’: they need a ‘bit of discipline’, they
respect ‘toughness’, and so on.
However, other interventions are intended to remedy or improve the circumstances or
social conditions that cause problems – bringing about greater social justice, enhancing
social welfare, or providing a degree of social protection. Thus, the development of
welfare states in most advanced industrial societies during the twentieth century was
associated with attempts to remedy social problems or to provide citizens with some
collective protection from dangers to their economic and social well-being. In the
process, a whole range of issues moved from being private troubles to becoming
matters of public concern and intervention. Between the late nineteenth and the mid-
twentieth centuries, these societies redefined the distinction between private and public
matters. Sending children to school became a matter of public compulsion rather than
the private parental choice that it had been until the middle of the nineteenth century.
Health became a focus of public finance, provision and intervention rather than being
left to private arrangements. For most of the nineteenth century unemployment was
seen as something that people chose (by refusing to take work), while for most of the
twentieth century it has been seen as something against which collective action and
defence by the state was necessary. Unemployment was not a social problem in the UK
for most of the nineteenth century, although the unemployed themselves were certainly
seen as a threat to social order (being beggars, thieves and a bad example to other
workers).
Government Monitoring of Prostitute in the Philippines
 Dr. Jose Florante J. Leyson wrote in the Encyclopedia of Sexuality: Although prostitution is still
illegal, Filipino society believes that some regulation is always needed, based on the premise that
prostitution is regulated in order to minimize the damage to society. Local city councils may require
filing an application with the city to establish a brothel, indicating the location for legal reasons and/or
tax purposes. Local authorities may also restrict brothels to certain areas and regulate any signs that
would identify it as a brothel. Prostitutes cannot reside anywhere other than at the brothel itself,
which is her official domicile. Brothels also have to have a bedroom for each working woman. The
women cannot show themselves at the balconies or in a window, nor can they solicit in the streets.
In order to work in a brothel, a woman has to register with the sanitaryhealth authorities (Bureau of
Health). The authorities will check whether she is a victim of deceit or coercion and advise her that
help and assistance is available from legal authorities. [Source: Jose Florante J. Leyson, M.D.,
Encyclopedia of Sexuality [Link]/sexology, 2001 |~|]
 Each prostitute is given a “sanitary notebook” with her picture, personal data, registration number (if
any), and the main articles of the decree that concern her rights as a provider of a service. Her rights
include being free to stay or quit the brothel in which she lives and works, debts cannot be used to
compel her to stay in a given brothel, and no one can subject her to any abuse. Each prostitute has
to undergo mandatory monthly medical examinations for sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). If an
STD is diagnosed, the brothel pays for medical treatment. The sex worker must show her sanitary
notebook to any customer that asks to see it. The manager of the brothel cannot accept any
“prostitute-candidate” or applicant who has not first registered and passed a medical examination.
The manager also has to report immediately to the sanitary authorities whenever a prostitute is ill, be
this an STD or non-sexual disease. |~|
 It is easy to imagine the rampant corruption that this naive attempt to protect customers and
suppliers of contractual sex alike has produced. Police protection is bought, violations are ignored,
and politicians and judges are bribed, often on the pretext of protecting the free practice of a fully
consensual sex by the client and sex worker. In reality, this law and its application or lack thereof
does little to protect the health of the women and their clients. The women have no protection from
customers already infected. The prostitutes can request that their clients wear condoms, but cannot
demand the performance of safe sex practices. The clients are not subject to compulsory medical
“control,” and many may be infected but not show any symptoms while others suffer in silence and
continue practicing unsafe sex with other prostitutes, lovers, and even wives.

Early History of Prostitution in the Philippines

 Dr. Jose Florante J. Leyson wrote in the Encyclopedia of Sexuality: Tribal wars between the
aborigines in the Philippine islands turned the vanquished into slaves for labor or cannibalism, but
not sexual slaves. When Chinese merchants started trading with the inhabitants of the archipelago in
960 C.E., they intermarried with native women, but did not sexually exploit the women. With the
advent of Spanish colonists in the late 1500s, a flourishing slave trade was established between the
Philippines, the Caribbean, and Spain. Anecdotal reports revealed that some Filipina slaves were
sold as “exotic sex objects” or prostitutes to European brothels. When Pope Gregory XIV abolished
slavery in the Philippines in 1591, middle-class Europeans started to immigrate to the archipelago,
but the sexual exploitation of Filipinas by the Spanish colonists continued. [Source: Jose Florante J.
Leyson, M.D., Encyclopedia of Sexuality [Link]/sexology, 2001 |~|]
 During World War 11 (1941-1944), the Japanese Imperial Army forced Philippine women from
Manila and surrounding towns to serve as “comfort girls” (military prostitutes) to provide sexual
favors to all Japanese soldiers serving in the Philippines and in the Pacific region. In the 1990s, with
international (legal) backing, these comfort girls were partially compensated for their humiliation and
moral sufferings. When the American troops liberated the Philippines from Japanese imperialism in
October 1945, many American soldiers left illegitimate Amerasian children behind. The mothers of
these children and their Amerasian children were social outcasts. In order for these mothers to
survive, they became part-time prostitutes in the rural areas for single laborers and traveling
salesmen and in the cities with all kinds of customers. |~|

GRAFT and CORRUPTION

1.
2. GRAFT AND CORRUPTION IN THE GOVERNMENT  In 1988, graft and corruption in the
Philippines was considered as the “biggest problem of all” by Jaime Cardinal Sin, the
Archbishop of Manila.  In 1989, public perception was that “corrupt government officials are
greater threat to the country” than the communist guerrillas.  In 1992, President V. Ramos
considered graft and corruption as the third major hindrance towards attaining his
development strategy for the country.  In 1998, the country got good marks from
Transparency International and the Political and Economic Risk Consultancy (PERC), LTD.
2. 3.  The Philippines then placed 6th out of the 11 Asian countries under the PERC corruption
perception index (CPI), a measure of lost development opportunities in terms of investment. 
However, while the anti-corruption landscape in the Philippines has improved, its low score
of 6.5 still placed the Philippines as highly prone to corruption.  In general, national and
international opinion depict the Philippines as still corrupt and being unable to effectively fight
this problem.  About 30 % of the national budget is reportedly lost to graft & corruption every
year.

1. SPECIFIC TYPES OF CORRUPTION IN THE PHILIPPINES There are 8 types of corruption

frequently practiced in the Philippines, namely: 1. Tax evasion 2. Ghost projects & payrolls 3.
Evasion of public bidding in awarding of contracts 4. Passing of contracts 5. Nepotism &
favouritism 6. Extortion 7. Protection Money 8. Bribery
2. 7. TAX EVASION This is very rampant, particularly in the private sector due to the refusal of
those engaged in private businesses to honestly declare their annual income and to pay the
corresponding taxes to the government.
3. 8. GHOST PROJECTS & PAYROLLS This is done by high officials of the government
whereby non-existing projects are financed by the government while non-existing personnel
or pensioners are being paid salaries & allowances. This practice is rampant in government
agencies involved in formulation and implementation of programs & projects particularly in
infrastructure and in the granting of salaries, allowances and pension benefits.
4. 9. EVASION OF PUBLIC BIDDING IN THE AWARDING OF CONTRACTS Government
offices, particularly Bids & Awards Committees ( BAC) forego the awarding of contracts
through public bidding or award these contracts to favored business enterprises or
contractors. Sometimes, members of bids and awards committees are very subjective of
awarding the contract to those who can provide them with personal benefits.
5. 10. PASSING OF CONTRACTS In the construction of infrastructure projects, contractors
have the practice of passing the work from one contractor to another and in the process
certain percentage of the project value is retained by each contractor and sub- contractors
resulting to the use of substandard materials or even unfinished projects.
6. 11. NEPOTISM AND FAVORITISM Government officials particularly those occupying high
positions tend to cause the appointment or employment of relatives and close friends to
government positions even if they are not qualified or eligible to discharge the functions of
that office. This is one of the root causes of inefficiency and the overflowing of government
employees in the bureaucracy.
7. 12. EXTORTION This is done by government officials against their clients by demanding
money, valuable items, or services from ordinary citizens who transact business with them or
their office. This is rampant in agencies issuing clearances, and other documents, those
involved in the recruitment of personnel, or those performing services that directly favor
ordinary citizens.
8. 13. “TONG” OR PROTECTION MONEY This is form of bribery which is done by citizens
performing illegal activities and operations. They deliver huge amount of money to
government officials particularly those in- charge of enforcing the law in exchange for
unhampered illegal operation. The law enforcement officer who receives the money will be
duty – bound to protect the citizen concerned together with his illegal activities from other law
enforcement authorities. This is practiced mostly by gambling lords and those engaged in
business without the necessary permits.
9. 14. “LAGAY” SYSTEM OR BRIBERY The “lagay” system or the act of citizens to bribe
government officials occupying sensitive positions in government is perpetuated due to
bureaucratic red tape. The most frequently employed method is offering a considerable
amount of money to a government official who can facilitate the issuance of the desired
documents in agencies issuing licenses, permits, clearances, and those agencies deputized
to make decisions on particular issues.
10. 15. COSTS OF CORRUPTION  On politics, administration, & institutions  Economic effects
 Environmental & Social effects  Effects on Humanitarian Aid  Other areas, health, public
safety, education, trade
11. 16. MEASURES EMPLOYED TO CONTROL GRAFT & CORRUPTION The government
employs legal measures and anti-corruption bodies to combat the problem of graft &
corruption. 1. LEGAL MEASURES  The 1987 Philippine Constitution Article XI of the 1987
Philippine constitution, titled “Accountability of Public Officers”, states in Section 1 that
“public office is a public trust.” Public Officers and employees must at all times be
accountable to the people, serve them with utmost responsibility, integrity, loyalty, and
efficiency, act with patriotism and justice, and lead modest lives.
12. 17. Section II of the same article states that the President, Vice President, members of the
constitutional commissions and the ombudsman may be removed from office from
impeachment for bribery and graft and corruption.  Republic Act No.. 3019 also known as
the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act of 1960 This law enumerates all corrupt practice of
any public officer, declares them unlawful and provides the corresponding penalties of
imprisonment (between 6- 15 years) perpetual disqualification from public office, and
confiscation of forfeiture of unexplained wealth in favor of the government
13. 18.  Executive Order No. 292 of the Administrative Code of 1987 This order reiterates the
provisions embodies in Section 1, Article XI of the 1987 Constitution. It also gives the
President the power to institute proceedings to recover properties unlawfully acquired by
public officials and employees.  Republic Act No. 6713 also known as the Code of Conduct
and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees of 1989  This act promotes a high
standard of ethics and requires all government personnel to make an accurate statement of
assets and liabilities, disclosure of net worth and financial connections. It also requires new
public officials to divest ownership in any private enterprise within 30 days from assumptions
of office
Sophomore student Dale Casocot asked Binay about his stand on lying and
corruption. “What do you think of people who are liars and who are corrupt? Do you
consider yourself to be one of them?” he asked.
Binay answered that whenever someone is accused, some people already believe him
to be guilty.
There are also some who automatically assume that the money used to buy the nice
jewelry worn by government employees came government coffers, he said.
Binay, who is facing charges of graft, malversation and falsification of public
documents in connection with the allegedly overpriced Makati City Hall Building II,
said graft and corruption are not the same.
Graft is about abusive use of power, corruption is about mishandling money, he said.
Binay maintained that 85 to 95 percent of the allegations thrown against him were
neither graft nor corruption.
“Those [allegations] were special procedures,” Binay said.
Binay cited that giving burial assistance was one of the questionable acts he was asked
to explain. “[They say that] there is no law that allows it,” he said.

Read more: [Link]
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Defining Filipino street children[edit]
According to the "A Better Life" foundation, there are three different categories of street children:

 Children on the streets make up approximately 75% of the street children in the Philippines.
They work on the streets but do not live there. They generally have a home to return to after
working, and some even continue to attend school while working long hours on the streets.
 Children of the street make their homes on the street. They make up 25%-30% of the street
children in the Philippines. They often create a sort of family with their fellow street children.
Some of them still have family ties, but may either rarely tend to them or view them negatively.
 Completely abandoned children have no family ties and are entirely on their own for physical
and psychological survival. They make up approximately 5%-10% of the street children in the
Philippines.[2][3]

Problems facing street children[edit]

Drugs[edit]
The most common substances are inhalants, such as solvents, rugby (a toluene-based glue) and
cough syrups, followed by marijuana and shabu. Marijuana and shabus in particular are shared with
friends whenever one of the group has enough money to buy them. Some street children take drugs
as often as once a day.[2] A 1997 study estimated that up to 40% of street children had used drugs in
the past. Other reports suggest that 66% to 85% of children had used inhalants, and 3% had used
marijuana and shabu.[4]

Summary execution of street children[edit]

Many street children were in danger of summary execution during the Marcos Government era.[5] In
2005, a report found that 39 children in Davao City had been killed by vigilante groups since 2001,
most after having been released from police detention cells.[6]

Child prostitution[edit]
Child prostitutes are used by foreign sex tourists and pedophiles, as well as local people. Some are
used to film child pornography, which is rampant in the Philippines.[7] Many street children are lured
into prostitution as a means of survival, while others do it to earn money for their families. A variety
of different factors contribute to the commercial sexual exploitation of children in the Philippines. [8][further
explanation needed]

Rooted in poverty, as elsewhere, the problem of child prostitution in Angeles was exacerbated in the

1980s by Clark Air Base, where bars employed children who ended up as sex workers for American
soldiers.[9] Street children are at particular risk because many of the 200 brothels in Angeles offer
children for sex.[10] According to 1996 statistics of the Philippine Resource Network, 60,000 of the 1.5
million street children in the Philippines were prostituted. [11]

Preventive Measures[edit]
Promoting access to early education. The Department of Social Welfare and Development
(DSWD) used to provide for public day care centers. It has since become the responsibility of local
government units (LGUs) by virtue of the 1991 Local Government Code. Since then, the DSWD has
focused on accreditation standards setting, compliance monitoring, provision of technical assistance
and/or capability building. There are also day care centers that are operated by NGOs, faith-based
organizations, parents’ groups and private individuals. Day care centers are designed to provide
supplemental parental care to children of working mothers during part of the day. It can
accommodate 30 children at a time; with morning and afternoon sessions, a center's capacity
doubles to 60. Some factories and government agencies and corporations also provide worksite-
based childcare centers for their employees.
Organizing LCPC. Another strategy is the organization of local councils for the protection of children
(LCPC) at all levels of local government, especially at the barangay level. The barangay is the
primary implementing structure closest to children. This unit, however, must implement many other
duties in compliance to a multitude of directives coming from the local chief executive and national
level agencies. There is an urgent need to support barangays to directly respond to the needs of
children. While organizing rates are high, their functionality remains in question. In most cases, the
activities of the BCPCs depend on the priorities of the local chief (barangay captain), who also sits
as chair of the BCPC. The programs take off or falter depending on his/her interest. Wherever
children's concerns are not the main priority, the BCPCs are not convened, or if convened at all, are
non-functional. In many cases, civil society groups undertake initiatives without much barangay
support. The same is true at the municipal, city or provincial levels.
Upgrading competencies of childcare providers. UNICEF has also helped the Philippine
Government in the capacity-building of childcare providers.
It has assisted in the following:
• Scaling up gender-sensitive capacity building for day care workers and teachers to guarantee
effective and gender-fair teaching-learning practices in day care centers and schools.
• Designing recovery, rehabilitation and reintegration services for abused children to address the
special needs of girls.
• Building the capacity of health sector workers, male and females to provide women access to
prenatal care and health facilities with more skilled birth attendants.
• Promoting youth participation, which addresses the specific barriers that children face from
participating actively at home, in school, in the community and in the larger society. [19]
 THE STATE OF HOMELESSNESS IN
THE PHILIPPINES
The Philippines is one of the fastest-growing economies in Southeast Asia, yet it is facing a homeless
crisis. There are approximately 4.5 million homeless people, including children, in the Philippines, which
has a population of 106 million people. Homelessness in the Philippines is caused by a variety of
reasons, including lost jobs, insufficient income or lack of a stable job, domestic violence and loss of
home due to a natural disaster. The government and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) are
working to address this issue.

Causes of Homelessness
In the Philippines, families end up homeless for many reasons, including:

 Poverty: Although the unemployment rate in the Philippines is low (5.3% in March of

2020), 16.6% of Filipinos’ wages remained below the country’s poverty line in 2018. Low income can
make it difficult for many families in the Philippines, especially those living in Manila, to pay rent.
 Domestic violence: Women and children in the Philippines are in danger of domestic abuse,
exploitation and trafficking. Approximately one in five women between the ages 15-49 in the
Philippines experience domestic violence in their life. Women who escape their abusive partners
could lose their source of income and have difficulty finding a place to stay. Shelters for women tend
to have long waiting list.
 Human trafficking: In the Philippines, there are approximately 100,000 people trafficked each
year. Many trafficked victims are promised jobs in the cities. However, after moving to a city, they are
exploited and forced into prostitution.
 Natural disasters: In addition, some families have lost their homes due to natural disasters such
as typhoons, earthquakes and volcano eruptions. In 2019, more than 20 typhoons battered the
Philippines. One of the typhoons that hit the country damaged over 500,000 houses. A volcano
eruption that happened in January impacted half a million people and forced the relocation of 6,000
families.
Types of Homeless Families
According to the Modified Conditional Cash Transfer for Homeless Street Families (MCCT-HSF) program,
homeless families fit into four different categories:
 Families on the street: “Families on the street” represent 75% of the homeless population. They
are families who earn their livelihood on the street, but eventually return to their original communities.
This category includes both “displaced homeless families” and “community-based street families”.
 Families of the street: “Families of the street” are families who live on the street for a long time and
have created communities among themselves. They perform daily activities, like cooking, bathing or
playing in the public spaces they live in. They are visible by their use of a “kariton,” also known as a
pushcart that contains their family’s belongings, which they move around within Manila.
 Displaced homeless families: “Displaced homeless families” are families who have lost their homes
due to natural disasters or live in their communities. They are families who leave their rural
communities of the Philippines to find a job in the cities. This category also may also include families
and children who may be escaping abuses at home. Displaced homeless families may also push
around a kariton that contains their personal belongings.
 Community-based street families: “Community-based street families” are families who are from
rural communities, but move to urban areas for a better way of life; however, they often end up
returning to the rural area they are from.
Homeless Children
Homeless children are among the most vulnerable of the homeless in the Philippines. There are
approximately 250,000 homeless children; however, that number could be as high as 1 million. Children
leave home and end up on the streets because of the excessive beating from their parents, poverty or
sexual exploitation.
When children are on the streets, they can face problems such as sexual exploitation, abuse and
prostitution. Although victims of circumstances beyond their control, children who live on the street are
often viewed as criminals or future criminals resulting in discrimination from the police. Additionally, to
numb their pain and their hunger, some children may turn to drugs. Both the external and internal factors
that children face make it very difficult for them to escape the street life.

Addressing Homelessness in the Philippines

The government, NGOs and religious institutions are working help the homeless. Government programs
include the Modified Conditional Cash Transfer for Homeless Street Families program (MCCT-HSF). This
program provides financial support, such as housing grants and funding for health and education, to
homeless families in Metro Manila.
To help street children, ASMAE-Philippines travels the streets of Manila to teach kids on the basics of
hygiene. The organization also provides children with school support, as well as supporting other NGOs
in the area. Kanlungan sa ER-MA Ministry, Inc. is another organization that works to educate street
children, though projects that teach children about hard work while providing them with an income.

Although the government and NGOs have made efforts to help the homeless population, much more still
needs to be done. Moving forward, these initiatives need to be increased in order to significantly reduce
homelessness in the nation.

Philippines Gambling Laws

Philippine gambling laws were initially set up to govern the casinos and protect the
players. The government established the Philippine Amusement and Gaming
Corporation (PAGCOR) to regulate and license the industry and disburse the
revenue obtained from these sources to other governmental branches. Over the
years amendments have been added and retracted to fine tune the gambling
industry in the Philippines. Today you will find that brick-and-mortar casinos and
poker rooms are available across the region and while the current president
disagrees with Philippine legal online gambling, the laws relating to this type of
gambling entertainment do not impose any restrictions. This page will go into detail
as to what laws pertain to gambling and how they affect the Filipino players and the
gambling market in the region.
Is Gambling Legal In The Philippines?

Yes, gambling is legal in the Philippines when it is licensed and regulated. In 1975,
then President Ferdinand Marcos wrote into law Decree No. 1067-a that defined
legal gambling and created PAGCOR to license and regulate the industry. PAGCOR
is the government agency created to oversee the gambling industry for the specific
purpose to promote tourism and fund the building of infrastructure. There are also
many casinos that are owned by PAGCOR, as of early 2017 they owned at least 46
casinos across the islands.

Is Online Gambling Legal In The Philippines?

Yes, there are no Filipino laws that state that it is illegal for residents to gamble
online. The one exception is that Filipino-based casinos and sportsbooks are not
allowed to offer their online services to residents of the Philippines, but Filipino
players are given free access to partake in Philippine legal online poker, Philippine
legal online casinos, Philippine legal horse betting, and Philippine legal online
sports betting sites as long as the destinations are regulated and licensed by their
local regulatory agencies or gaming commissions. All the gambling laws in force on
the islands are directed towards the casino operators instead of the players.
Why are theories important in education?
Theories provide a basis to understand how people learn and a way to explain,
describe, analyze and predict learning. In that sense, a theory helps us make more
informed decisions around the design, development and delivery of learning.

Theory serves to provide a rationale for decision-making. Managerial activity is enhanced by an

explicit awareness of the theoretical framework underpinning practice in educational institutions.

For many people, gambling is harmless fun, but it

can become a problem. This type of compulsive
behavior is often called “problem gambling.”

A gambling addiction is a progressive addiction that can have many negative

psychological, physical, and social repercussions. It is classed as an impulse-
control disorder.

It is included in the American Psychiatric Association (APA’s) Diagnostic and

Statistical Manual, fifth edition (DSM-5).

Problem gambling is harmful to psychological and physical health. People

who live with this addiction may experience depression, migraine, distress,
intestinal disorders, and other anxiety-related problems.

As with other addictions, the consequences of gambling can lead to feelings

of despondency and helplessness. In some cases, this can lead to attempts at
suicide.

The rate of problem gambling has risen globally over the last few years. In the
United States in 2012, around 5.77 million people had a gambling disorder
that needed treatment.
Because of its harmful consequences, gambling addiction has become a
significant public health concern in many countries.

Some of the signs and symptoms of problem gambling include:

Gambling is not a financial problem, but an emotional problem that has

financial consequences.

It also impacts the way in which the person with the disorder relates to his or
her family and friends. For instance, they may miss important events in the
family, or they might miss work.

Anyone who is concerned about their gambling might ask “Can I stop if I want
to?” If the answer is “no,” it is important to seek help.

Diagnosis
For a diagnosis of gambling addiction, The DSM-5 states that a person must
show or experience at least four of the following during the past 12 months:

1. Need to gamble with increasing amounts of money to feel excitement

2. Restlessness or irritability when trying to stop gambling
3. Repeated unsuccessful attempts to stop, control, or reduce gambling
4. Thinking often about gambling and making plans to gamble
5. Gambling when feeling distressed
6. Returning to gamble again after losing money
7. Lying to conceal gambling activities
8. Experiencing relationship or work problems due to gambling
 9. Depending on others for money to spend on gambling

Gambling behavior becomes a problem when it cannot be controlled and

when it interferes with finances, relationships, and the workplace. The
individual may not realize they have a problem for some time.

Many people who develop a gambling addiction are considered responsible

and dependable people, but some factors can lead to a change in behavior.

These could include:

 retirement
 traumatic circumstances
 job-related stress
 emotional upheaval, such as depression or anxiety
 loneliness
 the presence of other addictions
 environmental factors, such as friends or available opportunities

Studies have suggested that people with a tendency to one addiction may be

more at riskTrusted Source of developing another. Genetic and
neurological factors may play a role.

Some people who are affected by gambling may also have a problem with
alcohol or drugs, possibly due to a predisposition for addiction.

The use of some medications has been linked to a higher risk of compulsive
gambling.
Secondary addictions can also occur in an effort to reduce the negative
feelings created by the gambling addiction. However, some people who
gamble never experience any other addiction.

Some factors increase the risk. These include:

 depression, anxiety conditions, or personality disorders

 other addictions, such as drugs or alcohol
 the use of certain medications, for example, antipsychotic medications,
and dopamine agonists, which have been linked to a higher risk of a
gambling addiction
 sex, as it is more likely to affect men than women

 For someone with a gambling addiction, the feeling of gambling is

equivalent to taking a drug or having a drink.
 Gambling behavior alters the person’s mood and state of mind.
 As the person becomes used to this feeling, they keep repeating the
behavior, attempting to achieve that same effect.
 In other addictions, alcohol, for instance, the person starts developing a
tolerance. An increasing amount of alcohol is necessary for the same
“buzz.”
 A person who has an addiction to gambling needs to gamble more to
get the same “high.” In some instances, they “chase” their losses,
thinking that if they continue to engage in gambling, they will win back
lost money.
 A vicious circle develops, and an increased craving for the activity. At
the same time, the ability to resist drops. As the craving grows in
intensity and frequency, the ability to control the urge to gamble is
weakened.
 This can have a psychological, personal, physical, social, or
professional impact.
  Neither the frequency of gambling nor the amount lost will determine
whether gambling is a problem for an individual.
 Some people engage in periodic gambling binges rather than regularly,
but the emotional and financial consequences will be the same.
 Gambling becomes a problem when the person can no longer stop
doing it, and when it causes a negative impact on any area of the
individual’s life.

Prevalence: How common is it?

Gambling is widespread. Increased accessibility, for example, through online
gambling, calls for greater awareness and appropriate legislation.

Anyone who provides gambling services has a responsibility to develop

policies and programs to address underage and gambling addictions.

Research, treatment, and prevention of problem gambling should be

encouraged.