Understanding the ’two-pronged approach’ to Philippine development
The key word for clarity of the article is “approach,” which is to act on something in a certain way. Accumulating experiences from working, studying, reading, observing, and other ways to learn will definitely provide us with numerous or multiple approaches and the best answer to our need or solution to our problems.
In development, the “two-pronged approach” of 1) economic approach or the “money side,” and 2) the social approach or the “human side” both contribute to Philippine development in its own unique ways. For a layman, the economic approach, which relates to generating money for national income is outright understood to be needed for development. However, there is a mystery that needs a deeper sense of clarity on 1) how exactly does the social approach or “human side” can better contribute to development, and 2) how do we scientifically and systematically get ideas and insights on how Filipinos think (cognitively) and behave and act (affectively) on a phenomenon or social problem. Thus, our curiosity triggers us to reflect on whether we might be missing out or have overlooked the complementary social approach to development.
For the social approach to better contribute to development, it is suggested to view the reemergence of key social sciences disciplines to focus more attention on research that provides deeper ideas and insights on how we, our communities, society, and country think (cognitively) and behave and act (affectively). This is important and urgent to deeply examine social problems affecting Philippine development, such as innovativeness and creativity, to create new foreign markets and higher value products and services, improving reading comprehension and functional literacy as a requirement for innovativeness and creativity, significantly reducing bullying and crimes for peace and order, ultimately resulting in stability to improve investor confidence, understanding the relationship of mindset and poverty, and other important social problems. A good example is the initiative of the police in the article “PNP to study link between online violence, minors’ behavior” (06/24/2026).
Scientifically, social science research as an approach is ideal for its various qualitative research methods which apply a scientific process. The process also provides us with fascinating and important answers about us, our communities, society, and country on how we think (cognitive) and behave and act (affective) if we examine the right and more relevant phenomena or social problems. This type of research gives us the details of the hows and the whys, or the reason/s behind what people are thinking and how people feel and why they behave and act in certain ways. Simply, social sciences qualitative research helps us better understand the root of social problems. Ultimately, creating better approaches to manage or find solutions to recurring societal problems. Systematically, the process is arranged with connected steps or activities (rational/logical) to investigate a research question from a phenomenon or social problem that produces a conclusion. The conclusion is like a “verified” information valuable for policy analysis and/or formulation because of the steps or activities of the scientific process.
A top Southeast Asian university already has a sort of a hub to store research-based data (data bank) needed for the development of the university but also of their country. The university invites research outputs from different groups and stakeholders. The key idea is to get valuable information (data mining) to find approaches and other initiatives for development (knowledge management). Thus, reviving and strengthening social science qualitative research could lead to our own approaches and initiatives towards Philippine development.
Raymund Sisenando R. Mercado,
raymund_mercado@yahoo.com
