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Expat Economic Impact
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Do expats from Western countries living in the Philippines hurt the Filipino economy?
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Do expats from Western countries living in the Philippines hurt the Filipino economy?
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Hurt the economy? Quite the opposite. If we marry a Filipina we take away all the problems for the government to support her and her family. We pay their medical bills, their food and their education. Then again, I am not sure the government supports these people anyway. And it’s not always marriage, either, to a Filipina. It also applies for a GF. Westerners add to the economy with the amount of money we spend every month here compared to the average Filipino family. We add to the tourism by travelling to many places and letting our friends know to come and visit and experience the fabulous beaches. Let’s face it, with over 7,000 islands, it would take you 5 lifetimes to even get near to seeing everything. Tourism means dollars collected at the airport, entering and leaving, money spent at restaurants, paying for the banqa to take you island hopping, paying at the resorts so that staff get paid, tipping taxi drivers, and buying souvenirs. We prop up the Customs and Immigration Department with our endless visa renewals, retirement deposits, and other costs they like to put upon us. We boost the economy and help with the employment situation by opening businesses, hiring staff, paying taxes and all other costs associated with a business in the Philippines. We also help individuals that we get to know with money for medicines, doctors and helping them obtain valid ID’s so they can apply for jobs and go about their business legally. I don’t know the value of our contribution to the Philippine economy, but it’s definitely in the billions. It’s a shame that sometimes we are racially discriminated against in certain instances, rather than appreciated for our positive influence on the economy and the people. This is not to say we are the saviours of the Philippines, we are here because we love to be here, and the country is doing okay in many places and it’s a mess in other areas. Our money goes further here than back home, that’s for sure. To answer the question bluntly: We do a LOT for the Philippine’s economy.
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They don't necessarily “hurt” the economy in a tangible manner, such as taking jobs away from locals, but many times what happens is that people here – and we're talking primarily females – become reliant upon the money foreigners bring in, thereby inducing a lack of incentive on the part of the indigenous to be creative and / or be industrious. Conversely, the foreigners, thinking themselves chivalrous and a boon to society, fall into the trap of feeling as if they are appreciated, when the truth is they are in fact regarded as nothing but walking atm machines. If people are given whatever they want, there is no impetus toward progress.