Predatory Privatization and Middle-Class Bubbles: A Study On How Rapid Urbanization Fakes Prosperity in Cebu Philippines
Jennifer Banzon
Co-Presenters: Individual Presentation
College: Michael Graves College
Major: Architecture (M.Arch.)
Faculty Research Mentor: Sarah Ruel-Bergeron
Abstract:
This research analyzes how rapid urbanization and overinvestment into the middle class incentivizes predatory privatization of infrastructure that hurts both the poor and middle class alike. The area of research is Cebu, Philippines where private interests are closely interwoven with governmental activities.The purpose of this research is to make the connection on how government’s increase in contract work for private corporations has given rise to government sponsored predatory privatization of public and institutional projects. We make this connection by identifying the developments of Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) business parks and large private developments in Cebu and layering that with the wealth index data from the last 25 years as presented in the National Demographic and Health Surveys (NDHS). The wealth indicators measured include income, education, water & waste management and women’s health to name a few.Rapid urbanization in the modern world shows a complex, multilayered problem that is difficult to unravel considering how interconnected we are globally. The research has shown that the middle-class quintile groups are just as vulnerable as the lower quintile groups and how the rise of unfettered privatization leaves them exposed and unprepared.The implications of rapid urbanization and predatory privatization, if not collectively studied and disseminated, is that all the public governance and the guardrails we have upheld to stand against privateers could eventually fail. The case of Cebu is a cautionary tale of the importance of how strong governance and public awareness is important if we are to stand against predatory privatization.