The Economic Life of Filipinos During Spanish Regime
Loading ...Since the start of their colonization of the Philippines, the Spaniards tried to improve the economic life of the Philippines. They promulgated laws to encourage agriculture, such as those providing for (1) the planting of fruit trees in the towns and villages; (2) the granting of public lands to landless Filipino families; (3) the cultivation of wheat in the valleys; (4) the planting of cacao, coffee, pepper, and rice; and (5) the cultivation of export crops like coconut, cotton, flax, hemp, indigo, and tobacco.
The Spaniards also introduced new plants and animals into the country, chiefly from Central America. They set up new industries and improved the trades of the natives. They founded the Economic Society of Friends of the Country to foster agriculture and manufacturing. They opened Manila and other Philippine ports to world trade.
They gave valuable prizes to individuals for excelling in agricultural production and inventing industrial machinery.
To facilitate the material progress of the colony, they built roads, bridges, piers, and lighthouses.
They established telephone and telegraph lines, railways, and main service. And lastly, they permitted the opening of local and foreign banks and allowed foreign merchants to do business in Manila and in the provinces.
