Uploaded on 2016-11-02 by Patrick Andrew Y. Tanhuanco

Image/Infographic uploaded NOT MINE: Original source: http://www.imoney.ph/articles/ofw-remittances-philippines-infographic/ 1. Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW) / Overseas Contract Workers (OCW) The Philippines has a very high number of OFW’s numbering to an estimated 2.4 million workers, majority of them coming from Luzon Island - Central Luzon, Calabarzon Area and the National Capital Region; and majority works in Asia – Middle East. Stocks: Human Resources or the Filipinos who stay in foreign countries for work Flows: Cash Remittances amounting to $ 26.92Billion (according to the survey in 2015) from workers abroad to their families in the Philippines; Gifts and goods in ‘balik-bayan’ boxes sent by workers from abroad to their families; and the Overseas Filipino workers themselves when they fly or dock home during holidays or leaves from their work. With increasing security and safety concerns in the Middle East and other parts of the globe, and the Philippines growing economy, some OFW’s are forced to leave/ or decide to leave their area of work and return home to the Philippines. This in the long-run may benefit the local economy in terms of advanced skills and knowledge being brought home to the country, but may pose challenges to providing / finding suitable jobs; and will lessen the remittances coming from abroad which is one of the contributing factors to the country’s relatively stable economic growth. Reference and Image sources: Retrieved Nov. 2, 16, 11:50pm [http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/500918/money/infographic-where-26-92b-of-ofw-remittances-come-from] Retrieved Nov. 3, 16, 12:06am [https://psa.gov.ph/content/statistical-tables-overseas-contract-workers-ocw-2015] 2. Private Cars / Vehicles In the issue of Transportation and traffic congestion; in the area where I live, most of the people in the community own cars. With increase in purchasing power , having a car is one of the things Filipinos aspire for; In hindsight, apart from status symbol, it is also partly because of the inefficient public transport that people opt to drive rather than ride. Stocks: Private Cars / Vehicles in garages, parking lots Flows: When cars and vehicles leave garages and parking lots, and move around the city from one destination to another. In the future, I do hope that private cars will be lessened and public transport improved. Having less private cars, means lesser area for parking and garages; which then means community dwellings have more space for other activities; developments prioritize active and habitable spaces rather than static parking lots. Traffic congestion will be less and flow from one area to another would be faster and more efficient. Reference and Image sources: Retrieved Nov. 3, 16, 12:23am [http://business.inquirer.net/174409/high-demand-purchase-power-cited-for-24-9-growth-in-vehicle-sales] Retrieved Nov. 3, 16, 12:27am [http://www.philstar.com/business-usual/2016/03/14/1562552/luxury-spending-rise-philippines] 3. Fresh Food (Vegetables and Fish) Vegetables come from the North of the Philippines, fruits from the southern islands, rice from north and central plains, and fish from the sea ports. Stocks: when food are brought to the vegetable and fish market to be sold. Flows: when food are transported from places of origin to markets; when food are sold and taken from market to consumer home/commercial establishment. The Philippines has over 102 Million people, with about 45% living in urban areas. The National Capital Region (NCR) or Metro Manila is the most dense area in the Philippines. With about 12-13million people. With more people coming in the capital, based on my personal observation, the challenge to provide fresh food exists because of the inefficient transport network (i.e. infrastructure and handling of goods); Heavy Traffic and congestion slows down the flow of the goods. Natural disasters sometimes disrupt the flow. Investing in improving and building new infrastructures such as trains can ease the flow of the food from far away areas of the country to the capital. This way, prices do not fluctuate easily, and goods arrive fresh on time.