Lost in one’s dream on a tropical island, it is easy to forget the increasing environmental problems which faces the Philippines. Already 90 percent of the forest has been cut down. Only 6% of the coral reefs in the seas around the islands are still completely intact. Over 40 percent of the Filipinos flock to the already overcrowded towns and cities to seek employment, and more than two-third of the rural population live on or below the the poverty line. Over half the working population are employed in the primary sector, particularly in the argricultural and fishing industries. Vegetables, fruits, nuts and roof crops like sweet potatoes are cultivated in all regions.
Coconut
palms grow on more than 10 percent of the land and their by-products have
placed Philippines in the front rank of exporters in this field. The country
also export bananas, sugar, coffee, rubber and abaca, the famous "Manila
hemp" for rope making. Rice, the population stable food, is largely
imported. Large hopes are also being placed in mining such as copper, iron
ore, silver, lead, manganese, cadmium, platinum, chrome and mercury. Today,
unemployment rate in Philippines is over 30 percent.
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