The Development Studies Program under which Economics
subjects are taught has a differentapproach and perspective
in teaching Economics.
In all classes in Economics to be conductedby its faculty,
especially on the methods of teaching the subjects,
the following guidelines are hereby presented:
1. The making relevant of the teaching of Economics to
particular conditions of society and with regards to the
Philippine situation to respond to its maldevelopment as
exemplified in the extent of the poverty of its people and
its heavy dependence on foreign capital.
This would necessitate the analysis of the roots of the
maldevelopment of the Philippines historically and structurally.
2. The application of the methods of Political Economy
in studying the economic situation, which means
examining the social relations of production of
people (class analysis) and the means of production
of society (land, labor, capital) and their modes of
utilization and the impacts of the economy on the
political and cultural systems of society.
3. The rejection or the disabuse of the mentality of
considering the economic activities of humans
as independent from their valuing activities.
We advance that the study of economics as well as all
social activities of people cannot be value-neutral as
the positivists would have us to believe because humans
are valuing animals as well as being rational (Aristotle, Kant).
4. Development studies in the Philippines as viewed by
our program is thereby pro-people
(pro-masses, particularly the poor and the marginalized)
and takes a nationalist point of view. The latter aims for a
self-reliant policy in launching national industrialization
and agricultural development for the Philippines,
primarily to promote the welfare of the majority Filipino.
5. Development Studies Program rejects a purely abstract
and mathematical presentation of economic variables
neglecting its social relevance. We believe that mathematics
is just a tool in order to advance the good of society
especially the democratic majority. In itself,
mathematical economics, for example, the graphical
presentation of the law of supply and demand,
is meaningless if cannot be used as a method to correct
inequitable distribution of resources in a society.
