Dream for the PHuture: Exploring Diversities in Public Health

By: Charlene Divine Catral

Last June 18-24, 2019, delegates were deployed to Yokohama, Japan to participate in the Sustainable City Program they offered. Countries around the world are currently facing a global issue regarding the different urban settings, environmental problems, and health issues that affect society as a whole. Thus, a program such as the one offered in Yokohama City University gives UPM-CPH a great opportunity to see the stands of the different countries that are developed and developing in order to establish a common ground of pursuit in achieving sustainable living for all. 

Based on my personal experience as one of the delegates for the program, I can testify that Japan is a very beautiful place and they hold an exemplary urban planning set-up in order to discuss ideal and sustainable city living and urban planning communities. There were numerous outlines of Japan’s community system that have displayed various strategies they have used in order to cope with the growing and advancing society. 

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1. Hit the Brakes- Walk it Off

In the Philippines, the common trend is to save up enough money or loan in order to buy a car. It is thought of to be a more accessible means of travel. There might be numerous factors that have affected this train of thought such as the unevenly paved roads, long-lines of taxi stands, slow and easily damaged trains, or neglectful PUV drivers. As stated by my fellow classmates during the program, countries like Malaysia, Indonesia and Thailand are also experiencing similar “traffic problems” that are caused by the excessive purchasing of private vehicles. Reasons they’ve stated include the “status” a car brings to a person, inadequate desire for walking and for convenience reasons. 

The question is: Is buying privately owned vehicles more logical and effective than using a public transport chain? In most developing countries, it seems that the mindset of the people mostly leans to the answer of ‘yes’. However, in Japan, they have offered an alternative means of transportation. Their bus stations are conveniently positioned at accessible sites; subways and underpass are interconnected to different parts of the city. These limits the need for awaiting the stop light color to turn green. A large train chain system is also positioned all over the country interconnecting almost all parts of Japan while also allowing easier access to the most common locations such as schools, tourists areas and hospitals. You are only a train stop away from your desired destination with minimal walking required, unless of course your goal is to lose some weight and get extra carbs out of your system. Feel free walk it out for their roads are positioned in such a way that accommodates all kinds of people- old, young and even PWDs. 

2. Prevention is Better Than A Cure

Countries positioned near the Pacific Ring of Fire are disaster-prone areas. Like the Philippines, Japan has experienced countless disasters such as the 2011 earthquake as well as the large tsunami that followed afterwards. Since that tragedy, they have learned to become more prepared when it comes to disaster prevention techniques and have constructed their infrastructures and surroundings in a way that lessens the probability of experiencing a large-scale damage when disasters strike. 

A number of strategies they have  used included cementing steep-sloped mountains to prevent erosion and mass wasting, using shock absorbers that can withstand a high magnitude of earthquakes, and improving passageway of water and sewers to prevent flooding.

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3. Love Grows with Age

Even until the present day, Japan is experiencing problems in finding solutions to prevent accidents that occur with super-aged individuals (old-aged people ranging from 60+). During our 5-day program, we were shown a preview on our 2nd day regarding the daily experiences our elder’s face. Body weights were placed on our thighs, ankles, legs, arms and back; Goggles that perfectly displayed minimal eye-view as well as a color defect between the colors yellow and white were also worn; Earplugs were added to allow us to experience their difficulty in hearing as well. The experience made me appreciate the difficulties of adulthood. Imagine, those were only outer physical difficulties they have to go through every day. What more do they feel when they experience arthritis or muscle aches? 

Statistics have shown numerous road accidents that have killed mostly old aged individuals and in theory, it is due to their difficulty in hearing, seeing and/ or other old-aged problems. Thus, the proper deliberation of equipment and facilities that cater to the needs of the old should also be entertained. In the Philippines, the demographics of the young is greater than the number of old people. However, in Japan, their society is super-aging. Based on their studies, the Philippines would soon face a similar problem with their super-aging society wherein over half of their population consists of the elderly and thus, vital care and support for them is very much critical. Simple help would very much be appreciated. Assist them on crossing the road, stop your vehicle and let them pass first if you could, or more effectively if you’re someone who can make a difference in road rules and regulations, make the roads and transportation more efficient for them as well as those with special needs.

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4. Universal Health Care- Health Benefit for All

There is a system called Universal Health Care which idealizes that healthcare should be available for all without compromising their living expenses or their monetary allowance. With this, Japan has devised a system where everyone is given insurance by the government for healthcare at the expense of higher tax. What’s good with the program is its transparency and insightful benefit for the people. Everyone has easy access to healthcare and the government prioritizes sustaining the health of the people. Of course, they have also implemented that people must contribute a certain amount of expense as well without compromising their allowances. This is to ensure that the people would not fully depend on the government and insurance systems for support. 

Just imagine how much the Philippines could achieve if health is seen and exercised as a right as it should be instead of just a mere privilege. Striving for health that is available for all should be a promise for today especially since it is our right as citizens of the country to be cared for. With easier access to hospitals due to a more affordable cost of consultations, numerous children would be saved, lives would be preserved and diseases would possibly be eradicated in a pro-health catering society.

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5. Health of the Environment is the Health of the People

We’ve already discussed about challenges pertaining to society and individual citizens. Now, let’s move our focus onto the deeper idea. Our environment is vital for our survival. It can become the toxic that destroys us or the cure that alleviates us from sickness. It is a matter of choice and how we take action in order to utilize our environment. There had been numerous studies that discuss on how the world is changing as our produces (plastics, paper bags, wastes) are destroying our Earth. Statements have also been released on how numerous toxic rivers and water-polluted areas have become due to mankind’s lack of sensitivity in environmental issues. 

Our class discussions have allowed us to realize that as Japan was also developing, they had also faced numerous environmental issues which they have now solved or at least started implementing strategies to eradicate these problems. If the Philippines can follow their example, maybe we can bring back the beauty of our once Pearl of the Orient. They’ve made sure to plant various trees everywhere. EVERYWHERE. They have enough spaces for trees to grow and nurture while also not destroying the living accommodations. There are strict policies in trash segregations that people are disciplined enough to follow. Garbage collection comes on regular dates and times as well as their insight in minimizing trash that cannot be reused. They are trying to discover ways in order to reuse old and damaged materials in order to not throw them away. There are designated smoking areas that are covered in order to prevent the smoke from affecting others and lessen the diseases caused by smoking.

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6. Planning for the Future- A City for All

Urban city planning and sustainable living is the main highlight of our program. We tackled numerous ideas on how to create a sustainable society. Thus, I may suggest numerous things to the Philippines such as those I’ve stated above. Create an environmentally friendly community by planting more trees and plotting areas for tree planting, road passage and housing. Build specific areas for specific tasks as well as train the people in becoming disciplined to follow rules and regulations stated by the law. Create effectively efficient transportation chain as well as underpass and overpasses which would be accessible to all destinations. Promote health as a right instead of a privilege by allowing healthcare to be more affordable to the common people.

It is never too late to change for the better. The Philippines is just starting to become more developed. If we all help each other in promoting our country to become a better society, hand-in-hand, we would be able to achieve the Perlas ng Silanganan that we envisioned- an ever-changing society where the needs of the people are catered to and everyone’s voices are heard. Our country would become a place unlike any before and it starts from within- it starts with a change that comes from you.