PGMA’s farewell message
My fellow Filipinos,
We come together tonight as we approach a hallmark of democracy for our great nation – the smooth transition of power to a new leader.
We have just come through a historic election. It was open and it was modern.
As a result, we were able to declare winners in hours and days rather than weeks and months. The face of politics in our nation has changed forever.
Tonight, I once again congratulate president-elect Aquino and vice president-elect Binay.
Nine years ago, I came to the presidency at a time of great turmoil in our nation. I accepted the challenge of the office when it was thrust upon me.
At that time, our country was reeling from political intrigue and a distressed economy.
We set to work to reform our economy and invest in our people. Along the way, we had to make unpopular choices such as raising taxes but we did so against the odds for a very simple reason: we had to have new money for more and better healthcare, education, and job creation.
We needed new and better roads, bridges, ports and a technology backbone to attract new businesses and investors to create new jobs.
Through hard work, determination and a clear plan of action, we helped achieve many of these objectives.
As a result, we have had 37 quarters of uninterrupted economic growth even against the headwinds of a major global recession.
Look around you in our cities as you drive by the office towers that have changed the skyline.
Look around you in our provinces as you drive along the roads, bridges and Ro-Ro ports where we have made massive investments.
This is the face of change.
Eighty-five percent of our people now have access to Philhealth insurance, over a hundred thousand classrooms have been built and nine-million jobs have been created.
We developed the call-center industry almost from scratch. Today there are 500,000 call-center and BPO jobs when only 5,000 existed when I took office.
Yet, these accomplishments are merely part of the continuum of history.
The gains I made were built on the efforts of previous leaders. Each successive government must build on the successes and progress of the previous one.
Advance the programs that work and leave behind those that don’t.
I feel confident that we are leaving this nation much stronger than I came to office but I leave that for history to judge.
Tonight, I call on everyone to unite behind our new leaders. I am optimistic and I am hopeful about our future yet until every Filipino child is born to a family free of poverty, we cannot rest.
We must always set our sights on the future and keep an eye on improving our economy, investing in people and building bridges, not just bridges of iron and steel but bridges between people, generations and governments.
The bridges we must build to the future rest on the hard work, grace and compassion of our people.
The people of our nation are our greatest asset.
You are the backbone that drives our nation forward everyday.
From the fisherman to the farmer, to the taxi driver and the teacher, we are a nation of industrious, hardworking people.
I thank each and everyone for your contribution to help the
This time next week I will be moving into new phase of life leading a quieter public role.
We’re all on a journey together. As our nation moves forward let us all join hands in unity and walk confidently towards a better tomorrow.
From the bottom of my heart, I thank you for giving me the honor and privilege of serving you.
Malaking karangalan ang makapag-lingkod sa sambayanan bilang Pangulo.
Sa inyong lahat na napag-silbihan ko sa mahirap ngunit makasaysayang landas, maraming maraming salamat.
SK leaders thank PGMA
Four very articulate leaders of the Sangguniang Kabataan, or the youth councils, all over the country took turns in praising and thanking President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo for her full support to their needs and concerns and for championing the cause of education and environment for future generations of Filipinos.
In their separate speeches, Jane Censoria D. Cajes, president of the Sangguniang Kabataan National Federation; Marinelle Formentera SK Federation from Parañaque representing Luzon; Karl Guisseppe Gumban of Iloilo representing SKs in the Visayas and Jessa Lumanog SK president for Davao del Sur, representing SKs in Mindanao took turns in praising the steadfast leadership, the vision, the programs and projects of President Arroyo, which they said helped spur growth in the countryside.
The SKNF leaders paid a courtesy call on the outgoing Chief Executive Wednesday afternoon to bid her farewell.
“By name she is known as the President of the Republic. But in our hearts, she is the mother of SK’s empowerment. The support, trust and confidence she has extended to us and to our program have demonstrated how the statement in our constitution is translated into action,” said Cajes.
“She has been a great mother to this nation. The motherly leadership that she exhibited during her term is definitely a unique statement of her leadership principles and philosophies,” she added.
Through rough and trying times, we have seen how she managed to brave all challenges and how she triumphed over political battles and how she forged all the storms and turbulence, Cajes said.
For her part, Lumanog said that the youth from Mindanao will forever be grateful to President Arroyo for the various infrastructure projects, the tourism industry, the ports, airports and seaports, the scholarship programs, the peace effort that are being implemented in different approaches and the battle to maintain and promote peace, security and peace and order in our homeland.
Gumban said “the SKs and the youth of the Visayas are grateful for your dedication and for the development that you have sowed in the humble lands of the Visayas.”
“We are thankful for the school buildings you built especially in remote barangays, the hollowed grounds where dreams, aspirations and wishes of young children are being conceived, born and nurtured,” Gumban said.
“We thank you for your efforts to attract investors to invest in the Visayas, your presence in the Visayas which made us and the people
According to Gumban, the present generation and those to come, “shall experience and appreciate how you have labored for development to flourish in the Visayas area.”
Formentera, on the other hand, told the President that her “attitude towards leadership changed when she began to be inspired by a person who has gone through a lot of challenges yet remained strong, firm and decisive.”
“The person (referring to the President) encouraged me to face the challenges that I met in performing my duties and responsibilities. She is one of the most powerful women in the world,” she added.
Se noted that the President’s accomplishments in various programs to uplift the lives of Filipinos are great but like other public figures she has been subjected to the harshest criticisms by people who chose to be blind to see the fruits of her labor.
“For me and for many young Filipinos, Her Excellency, President Arroyo is the modern face of an empowered woman, the guiding vision. Her constant passion, admirable discipline and remarkable persistence clearly led her to achieve and accomplish so much for a better
PAPI fetes PGMA for accomplishments
The Publishers Association of the Philippines, Inc. (PAPI) honored President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo today for her exemplary accomplishments in public governance particularly in growing the economy and infrastructure development and for supporting the community press over the years.
The Chief Executive was conferred the “Parangal at Pasasalamat” plaque of appreciation by PAPI president Juan Dayang and PAPI secretary Johnny Nunez during the organization’s 14th Midyear Media Conference and Executive Session at the Makati Sports Club this morning.
Organized in 1974, PAPI is the largest organization of community editors, columnists, correspondents, publishers and broadcasters in the country.
Being at the forefront of community journalism, PAPI has been informing and rallying public support for constructive and beneficial government programs.
“Our job is to support programs of government and President Arroyo, in recent history, is the only one who participated actively in the affairs of the Publishers Association of the
Dayang, who has been at the helm of PAPI for more than 14 years, said the President has actively supported the activities of PAPI since she was still undersecretary at the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI).
“And in all these activities, the President realized that the community journalists can play a vital role in development,” Dayang said.
In support of the community press, Dayang said the President also issued Presidential Proclamation No. 1187 in 2007 declaring December of every year as “National Press Congress Month and the Month of the Community Press in the Service of the Nation.”
Dayang said the proclamation provided the legal mandate for the annual National Press Congress which PAPI spearheads every year as the officially designated lead agency for the month-long observance.
During the event, PAPI members thanked and appreciated the President’s governance and beneficial programs particularly in the countryside.
Arthur Daguro, publisher of the Brigada based in
Nestor Abrematea, publisher of the Tacloban Star, cited the President’s visit even to the remote areas in Samar and Leyte to personally inspect the completion of projects including the Samar Circumferential Road and the Agas-Agas Bridge in Sogod, Southern Leyte which he said, opened the route from the Visayas going to Surigao in Northeastern Mindanao.
Ben Diansay, publisher of the Mindanao Gazette based in Davao City, also thanked the President for her various development projects such as the upgrading of the 1,500-bed capacity Davao Medical Center, highways, circumferential roads, airports, and establishment of roll-on roll-off ferry system which enabled Mindanao farmers and businessmen to bring agricultural and other products to Luzon within 36 hours.
“Overall, she has done much better than many of her predecessors. I am confident history will judge her fairly and kindly,” Dayang said. (OPS)
PGMA streamlining saves government P2.234 billion
A total of P2.234 billion has been saved as a result of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s order of streamlining the bureaucracy to make it lean but efficient.
In a press briefing, Budget Undersecretary Laura Pascua said the approval of the rationalization plan of 76 government agencies resulted in the abolition of 11,256 positions of which 5,930 were funded positions.
Ninety-four more rationalization plans of departments, agencies or government-owned and controlled corporations are still being evaluated by the Department of Budget and Management, according to Pascua.
The government, she added, has paid P1.2 billion in benefits and incentives but stressed that the benefits paid were “recouped within the year.”
Pascua expressed hopes that the Aquino Administration would continue implementing the rationalization program.
EO 366, entitled "Directing a Strategic Review of the Operations and Organizations of Executive Branch and Providing Options and Incentives for Government Employees Who May Be Affected by the Rationalization of the Functions and Agencies of the Executive Branch," aims to promote effectiveness, efficiency, affordability and transparency in government service.
Under the plan, government agencies are required to submit their own rationalization plans to weed out redundant positions and avoid duplication of functions.
The government will allocate funds to pay state employees who opt to voluntarily retire from service under the rationalization program.
The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) will provide "seed funds" to agencies upon submission of the separation and retirement package.
The EO is based on the mandate of Republic Act 9206, as reenacted, authorizing the President to direct changes in the organizational units or key positions in any agency; require the executive branch to conduct comprehensive review of its mandates, missions and operations; and implement structural and functional adjustments to improve the delivery of government services.
It is also grounded on the Administrative Code of 1987, which vests the President the authority to reorganize the executive branch. (OPS)
PGMA fiscal program puts RP in stronger position
President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s adroit fiscal management has been cited for the nation’s stronger fiscal position today compared to nine years ago when she inherited an economy on the brink of bankruptcy.
In a news briefing in Malacañang, Finance Undersecretary Gil Beltran stressed that major tax reforms have boosted revenue collections. These reforms include the imposition of excise tax on liquor, cigarettes, and tobacco, the attrition law and the reformed value added tax law.
These reforms Beltran said resulted in increased revenues for social programs such as vital infrastructures that created more jobs and regained the international financial communities’ confidence that resulted in major investments.
Another milestone of the Arroyo administration in fiscal management, he said, was the implementation of administrative reforms such as the RATE (Run After Tax Evaders) program, RATS (Run After Smugglers) program and the RIPS or Program Rest in Peace aimed at running after estate tax evaders.
Other reforms included computerized filing of taxes and computerized tax audit, third part information and Oplan Kandado.
Beltran pointed out that the nation’s fiscal position was stronger during the Arroyo administration because of the proactive debt management where the national government debt rate dropped to a manageable level by cutting deficit, debt exchange, debt pre-payment and debt conversion.
Thus, he recommended that it is but prudent for the new administration to raise more taxes to continue with the improvement in infrastructure efforts. (OPS)
GMA lauded for sugar industry resurgence
The sugar industry found an ally and staunch supporter in President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo with her administration’s programs and policies that resulted to sustained production gains, a representative from the small planters group recently said.
Preciosa Maturan, 2008 Gawad Saka awardee, lauded the outgoing president for ensuring the welfare of thousand of sugar farmers across the country, saying that the resurgence that the industry is currently experiencing is largely due to the policy considerations extended by the Arroyo administration.
Maturan recently gave testimonial on the positive impact of programs implemented by the Department of Agriculture during a Retrospective Program for PGMA, along with other farmers from the country, including Jose Maria Zabaleta, chairman of the San Carlos Bioenergy Inc. who talked on biofuels and renewable energy.
In her testimony, Maturan said the industry attained surplus production for seven consecutive crop years starting 2002.
“In fact, during crop year 2007-2008, the sugar industry attained a production volume of 2.45 million metric tons – the highest production volume the Philippine has achieved in 25 years,” she stressed.
Maturan also attributed the industry’s steady growth to PGMA’s legislative initiatives, particularly the Biofuels Law and Renewable Energy Law, which, she claimed, have encouraged additional sources of income to sugar farmers and promoted rural development while, at the same time, responding to the challenges posed by climate change.
She also cited DA’s policy initiatives, through former Secretary Arthur Yap, which increased the competitiveness of the industry such as the modification of sugar’s World Trade Organization Bound tariff from 50 percent to 80 percent and the transfer of sugar from the temporary exclusion list to the sensitive list in the ASEAN Free Trade Agreement.
Maturan also noted the full government support for the retention of sugar tariffs beyond 2010.
She also reiterated the industry’s appreciation to PGMA for the issuance of Executive Order 285 which curbed technical smuggling of sugar in the guise of premixes and the Presidential Memo Order 850 on the sugar counter-trade program that allowed the
“Millions of sugar farmers in the country, including their families, will remain grateful to President Arroyo for her trust in the industry,” Maturan said, adding the she will always be considered a champion of sugar farmers. (DA-SRA)
Reported Rise of Sugar Prices Debunked
Contrary to the perception that the price of sugar has began to increase, data from the Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) reveal THAT PRICES REMAIN TO BE STABLE. Prevailing and average prices remain within the suggested retail price (SRP) of P52.00 per kilogram for refined sugar. Wet markets monitored by the Bureau of Agricultural Statistics (BAS) last 16 June 2010 reported the following:
| | Average | Prevailing | High | Low |
| Raw | | 46.00 | 48.00 | 43.00 |
| Washed | | 48.00 | 52.00 | 46.00 |
| Refined | | 52.00 | 58.00 | 49.00 |
Groceries and supermarkets monitored by the Regulation Division last 15 June 2010 reported the following:
| | Average | Prevailing | High | Low |
| Raw | 43.98 | 44.00 | 51.50 | 39.15 |
| Washed | 46.38 | 48.00 | 51.75 | 43.00 |
| Refined | 51.12 | 52.00 | 55.00 | 46.30 |
| |
Indeed, some stores have been monitored to be selling at more than the SRP but these are the exceptions rather than the rule. The prices (of more than P52 per kilogram) reported are in the higher end of the range and do not reflect the majority of the stores selling sugar. The Department of Agriculture issued a “Show Cause Order” to those stores selling beyond the SRP and if found to be overpricing, a case is filed against them.
Note: The data presented may be verified with Ms. Rosemarie S. Gumera, Manager III of the SRA Planning and Policy Department (02 455 0446 or 02 455 2352).
This was confirmed by a random sampling conducted last 17 June 2010 in
Refined P51.50 to P53.00
Washed P46.75 to P52.00
Brown P45.50 to P49.00
