Fidel Valdez Ramos

         Fidel Ramos (born March 18, 1928, Lingayen, Philippines—died July 31, 2022, Makati, Philippines) was a military leader and politician who was president of the Philippines from 1992 to 1998. He was generally regarded as one of the most effective presidents in that nation’s history.

         Ramos was educated at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, New York, and at the University of Illinois, U.S. He then entered the Philippine army, serving in Korea and Vietnam. In 1972 President Ferdinand Marcos (who was Ramos’s second cousin) appointed him chief of the Philippine Constabulary, and when Marcos imposed martial law later that year Ramos was responsible for enforcing it; the Constabulary arrested thousands of political dissidents. In 1981 Ramos became deputy chief of staff of the armed forces.

         After the presidential elections of 1986, in which Marcos claimed victory despite allegations of large-scale electoral fraud, Ramos and defense minister Juan Ponce Enrile supported Marcos’s opponent, Corazon Aquino. Their defection sparked the civilian “People Power” movement that forced Marcos into exile. During Aquino’s presidency Ramos served as military chief of staff (1986–88) and secretary of national defense (1988–91), and he suppressed several military coup attempts against her government.

         Ramos was elected to succeed Aquino in May 1992. As president, he purged the national police force of corrupt officers, encouraged family-planning practices to curb the growth of the country’s population, and liberalized the Philippines’ heavily protected economy in order to spur economic growth. Ramos’s governing coalition won a decisive victory in congressional elections held in 1995, midway through his six-year term as president. His administration reached peace agreements with two long-active guerrilla insurgencies, the communist New People’s Army and the Muslim separatists of the Moro National Liberation Front. He meanwhile continued his efforts to deregulate major industries that were dominated by a handful of large companies and to improve the government’s inefficient tax-collection system.

         These reforms helped revitalize the Philippines’ economy, which emerged from years of stagnation to grow at a rapid rate in 1994–97. The country was thus able to weather a severe business downturn that crippled national economies across Southeast Asia in 1998. Ramos was constitutionally restricted to one term as president, which ended in June 1998.

Achievements and Contributions of Fidel Ramos

         

Economic Reforms: Ramos implemented liberalization policies to open up the Philippine economy, which had been heavily protected. These reforms included deregulating major industries and improving the tax collection system. As a result, the economy experienced rapid growth from 1994 to 1997, allowing it to withstand the Asian financial crisis in 1998.
         

Peace Agreements: Ramos successfully negotiated peace agreements with long-standing insurgencies, including the communist New People’s Army and the Muslim separatists of the Moro National Liberation Front. These agreements were crucial in stabilizing the country.
         

Energy Crisis Management: Upon taking office, Ramos inherited a severe energy crisis characterized by daily electricity outages. His administration effectively addressed this issue, creating a more stable environment for economic recovery.
         

Political Stability: Ramos played a pivotal role in maintaining political stability by purging the national police force of corrupt officers and suppressing military coup attempts during his tenure as military chief of staff and secretary of national defense under President Corazon Aquino.
         

Foreign Policy: Ramos's administration pursued a proactive foreign policy that improved diplomatic relations, notably with China, amidst territorial disputes in the South China Sea.
         

Infrastructure Development: Under Ramos, infrastructure development was prioritized to support economic growth. His administration invested in improving the country's transportation and communication networks, which helped enhance connectivity and promote business activities.
         

Overall, Ramos's leadership was marked by efforts to modernize the economy, promote peace, and enhance political stability, leaving a lasting impact on the Philippines.