KPB1983 Business Ethics:“The Slum-Episode 4

(Vote For Me)” Analysis

Prepared for: Mr Wan Nazrul Helmy

Prepared by: Esther Mingel (Universiti Malaysia Pahang, MBA,

KBA15026)

Introduction

Tondo, Manila Located in Manila, Philippines and is

the largest district of 16 districts.

It’s total population of estimated

628,106 (in 2010) contributed to 38%

of total Manila city population.

The district is known for the city’s

slums; the most underdeveloped.

Unsolved problem faced; the extreme

poverty that leads to ethical issues in

various perspectives.

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Case BackgroundElection Weeks in Tondo, Manila

The documentary is about the scenario happened in Tondo,

Manila in which it is five weeks before the election day. Typically,

the tradition of the people is to gather with their favourite “to-be-

leader” of the barangay or district and help out in preparing for

elections. There are six candidates shown in the documentary in

which they hope to win the voting as part of influence and power

in the society. It is common that the slums in Tondo, being the

largest population will get the visits from these candidates to get

the people’s voting, in return, the slums get to have their daily

meal and some cash during that week. The documentary also

shows many other problems existed including malnutrition, low

paid worker, no birth control and medications in the slums which

have not been getting the attention from the Government or the

ex leaders of that districts for the past 21 years, and in fact there

are a total of seven elections in Tondo.

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Problem Statement

1. The effects of fragmented states

in the city.

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Problem Statement 1

Why

• The fragmented cities will leads to imbalance economicdevelopment. Eventually leads to poverty in theunderdeveloped states. Public officers, civil society knownhave a lot of influence in Manila and thus the abuse of power.

Explanation

• Government as the policy maker must look into theeffects from underdeveloped states for years ahead.

Evidence

• In Manila, urban fragmentation is a clear example of politicians, leaders andtheir allies living a good life. Nonetheless, the slums will remain as they are.

• Number of case studies showed there has been few delayed housing projects forthe slums; i.e the issue of corruption and abuse of power

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Problem Statement

2.The local election is not effective

to “transform” the slums

community to have a better

future.

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Problem Statement 2

Why

• The local election should aim to transform the lives ofthe slums so they can have a better future instead of justsolving their present basic needs; money, food, water.

Explanation

• The main issue is the election candidates only want the power andinfluence in the society with no genuine concern. As per the documentary,the election candidates only visit the slums only to get them to vote and inreturn provide them with food supply . There is also no transparency inwhich there is cheating in votes.

Evidence

• The election candidates misused the “huge” population of Tondo to win the voting. Two evidences from the documentary showed that only during the election, the slums were “lucky”.

• 1. The candidate promised to provide the drainage system and clear the rubbish in GK area.

• 2. During the fire in Ulingan area, the candidates offered their help in monetary and food only to realize that the slums are living in the poor condition for many years. Other than this, only one centre was built to accommodate the disaster’s victims.

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Problem Statement

3.The influence of NGOs and

religious party to take care of the

well fare of the slums

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Problem Statement 3

Why

• The NGOs which also come from the religious background i.e thereligious leader is not supported with enough funding from thegovernment to help the poor.

Explanation

• The slums are so “used” to be taken care by the NGOs and religious leader during times such as hazard; fire and during election, however the real problem of the society has not been curbed. Leads to insufficient attention from the authority.

Evidence

• The religious party which mostly is the Christian leader helped out the poor society; i.e provide the food and money. They could only provide what they can but nonetheless it’s beyond their power and influence to change the future of the slums.

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Ethical Issues

1. The social life in slum

2. The political attitude towards

slum dwellers

Ethical issues are being addressed

in relations to;

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1. The social life in slum

Poor basic amenities; including shelter, food, clean

water and poor sanitation.

Crowded slum population leads to various other

social problems;

- The slums hard to get better job due to the stereotype

of their living condition and no transportation.

- No sustainable job for each family leads to gambling,

crime, and violence.

- Poverty leads to lack of education from early

childhood, teen pregnancy, and miscarriage.

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2. The political attitude towards slum dwellers

Neglecting slum’s basic amenities; including shelter, food,

clean water and poor sanitation.

Only NGOs & religious group of people genuinely helped

the slums but they had not been getting any funds from the

government for their efforts.

The politician only shows their concern during the election,

to get the votes.

After the election day, there is a slow action from the

politician as what they had promised to the slums i.e to

clear the rubbish, to improve the drainage system.

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2. The political attitude towards slum dwellers (cont..)

The rampant corruption had caused the

government gave excuses that the areas of slums

too huge that the process of clearing the rubbish

and other areas of improvement will need more

fund, support and takes time.

The delayed of housing projects; to relocate the

slums showed that there is no transparency

amongst the policy maker of the country

towards the society development.

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Recommendation

1. The legal instrument

2. The social instrument

There are two instruments to be used

to relieve the plight of the slum

dwellers:

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1. Legal Instrument

a) Reduce the environmental risk.

Enforce the environment law i.e to fine for

dumping at the slums area.

Enforce the urban development policy to improve

the drainage system and sanitation to curb the

issue of flood and clogged dirty water to the

houses.

Subsequently it can reduce the diseases occurring

due to environmental; as an example, health

poisoning from dirty water, or from dead animals

namely cholera etc.

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1. Legal Instrument(cont..)

b) To curb poverty or famine.

Provide job opportunity through job agency to the

slums which is more sustainable jobs with appropriate

earnings for each family.

Enforce the policy to combat poverty i.e relocation

policy for the slums.

Enforce the health policy i.e check ups and medication

for babies and pregnant women; due to the

malnutrition, there is an increase of death rate of

babies in slums.

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1. Legal Instrument(cont..)

Provide recognitions to CSR effort from the big

corporations and NGOs in terms of urban development

to build low cost house to relocate the slums. Relocation

is a step towards other opportunity.

Subsequently, as the economic development has

improved, malnutrition is reduced and the society will

get proper medication.

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1. Social Instrument

a) To create awareness amongst the other

society in Manila through mass media, social

media;

Slums areas are not dumping site.

The slums should not be marginalized in

terms of job opportunity due to stereotypes

i.e poor education, criminal, drug addicts.

They deserve an appropriate earnings.

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1. Social Instrument

b) To provide better transportation services to enable

the slums to commute to other places.

This will enable them to go to the school, clinic,

hospital or find a job.

Indirectly, this will allow getting sufficient attention

from the authority to solve the problem. At the same

time, it enable more people to reach out to them. As

an example, any donations of foods, cloths,

medication can be done in appropriate way without

middle person.

Conclusion

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1. The marginalized slums from the other society due to their

poor living condition had affecting their socio-economic.

2. This unacceptable situation is an abuse to the human’s

rights to have a proper living condition.

3. Manila is not an exclusion; we discovered that the ethical

issue i.e political issue is highly correlated to the emerge of

slums.

4. Therefore, it is very important to enforce the authority on

corruption issue i.e abusing of power and influence because

the Government and politician of the country must have the

genuine concern towards the development of the society.

Without this, it will be difficult to have a strong economy.

Conclusion (cont..)

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5. The commitment from the

Government is very important.

First to abolish urban

fragmentation among the

states. Second, improve and

enforce the policy including

health policy, employment

policy, urban development

policy. Third, enforce the

education from young children.

Fourth, to provide sufficient

jobs and a standard earning.

Fifth, provide sufficient clinic

and medications.

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