Economic development in the Philippines' uplands: Who wins? Who loses?

Both trade liberalization and decentralization hastened economic development in the uplands. Upland dwellers are seen to be increasingly integrated in crop and labor markets. But this economic encroachment on peoples way of lives has differential impacts on various groups of people in the uplands. This paper examines those differential impacts. By using the data from surveys of the SANREM-CRSP Project based in Bukidnon, we find that, in general, the older members of the population and the females are negatively affected by economic development. Social policies at the local level of governance should be in place to secure safety nets for these vulnerable groups. Livelihood opportunities for women and the ageing population could minimize the inequities that economic development brings.