President Benigno S. Aquino III's Speech on the First Hundred Days of the Administration, La Consolacion College, Manila, October 7, 2010
Maraming salamat po. Maupo ho tayo lahat.
Vice President Jejomar Binay, members of the Cabinet, our host led by Sister Imelda, honored guests, fellow workers in government, mga minamahal ko pong kababayan.
Magandang umaga po sa inyong lahat.
Ang basehan po ng demokrasya kaya mayron tayong mga pulitikong naglalahad ng kanilang plataporma ang nanalo po ay obligadong ipatupad ang platapormang ipinangako.
Isandaang araw po ang nakalipas, nagpanata ako sa taumbayan: Hindi ko tatalikuran ang tiwalang kaloob ninyo sa akin. Ang nakalipas na isandaang araw ang magsisilbing tanda ng atin pong paninindigan.
Malalim at malawak po ang mga problemang minana natin. Nag-ugat ito sa isang gobyernong parang tatlong matsing na nagbibingi-bingihan, nagbubulag-bulagan, at gumawa ng sariling katotohanan.
Mali po ito. Ngayon, mayroon na po kayong gobyernong handang makipag-usap at magsabi ng totoo; handang makinig sa makabuluhang usapan; handang iangat ang antas ng pampublikong diskurso ukol sa mga isyung nakakaapekto sa ating lahat, at maging sa mga darating na henerasyon.
Ang natamasa po natin ngayong unang isandaang araw ng ating panunungkulan: Mayroon na pong kayong gobyernong hindi kayo binabalewala o inaapi.
Bumalik na po ang kumpyansa sa ating bansa. Tumatatag ang ating ekonomiya, at dahil dito, lumalago ang kaban ng ating bayan. Ang lahat ng inani at aanihin pa natin mula sa pinatibay na ekonomiya ng ating bansa, ibinabalik naman natin sa taumbayan upang tuluyan na tayong makaahon sa kahirapan. Binibigyan natin ng katuturan ang paggastos.Walang pisong dapat nasasayang.
Halimbawa po ang mga itinalagang opisyal sa mga GOCC. Naroon po dapat sila para pangalagaan ang interes ng taumbayan. Noon pong nakaupo sila doon, nilabag nila ang Memorandum Order 20, na pinirmahan noon pang Hunyo 2001. Inatupag po nila ang sariling interes na nagdulot ng pinsala sa interes ng taumbayan: nakakuha sila ng kung anu-anong mga bonus at allowance.
Ipinatutupad naman po natin ang Executive Order No. 7 na nagsuspinde sa lahat ng pribilehiyong iyon. Idiniin lamang po natin ang dapat naipatupad pa noon pang 2001. Sa isang kumpanya lang po tulad ng MWSS, ang napigil nating mahulog sa bulsa ng bawat opisyal ay umaabot na sa dalawa’t kalahating milyong piso kada taon. Siyam po ang miyembro ng Board nila, at sa MWSS lamang po iyan. At ilan pa po ang ating mga GOCCs, GFIs, at mga ahensyang sakop ng EO No. 7? Isandaan, dalawampu’t dalawang mga ahensya at kumpanya (122).
Nariyan din po ang nangyayari sa mga kontrata tulad sa NAIA 3. Isipin lang po natin, tatlong administrasyon na ang dinaanan nito. Pang-apat na kami. Tumagal na po nang husto ang kasong ito, may mga pinaslang pa dahil dito. Kundi dahil sa mga tapat na nagmamahal sa bansa tulad nina Justice Florentino Feliciano at Justice Meilou Sereno, baka wala na ring pinatunguhan ang kasong ito. Sila po ang mga tunay na bida sa kaso, ngunit death threats pa po ang ibinayad sa kanila.
Tila ba nagkulang sa aruga ang nakaraang gobyerno.
Ngayon pong alam nilang suportado sila ng mga kapwa nila nasa tuwid na landas, naresolba na po nila ang kontrata. Kung natalo po ang gobyerno natin rito, 990 million dollars ang nalagas sa ating mga pondo. 43.5 bilyong piso ang perang nailigtas nila at natin. Higit pa rito, mapapakinabangan na natin ang airport sa lalong madaling panahon.
Kung naaalala po ninyo, pinahinto natin itong negotiated contracts ng DPWH; pinarebid natin ito. Ginawa lang po natin kung ano ang tama, napigil na po natin ang paglustay ng 934.1 million pesos, at lumalabas na kung susunod tayo sa tamang proseso ay nasa 600 million pesos lang ang dapat gastusin sa mga proyektong ito. Nabalik po ang pera sa kaban ng bayan na kung pinahintulutan natin ang maling sistema ay natapon na naman sanang muli.
Hindi lang po sa mga kalsada: sa DOTC, pinigil natin ang pagwaldas ng isang bilyong piso.
Sa Department of Agriculture, 30 million at least ang natipid sa iisang proyekto lang na bibili tayo ng isang spectrometer na gusto sanang doblehin ang presyo.
Doon po sa Department of National Defenese ang dinifer po ang pag purchase ng mga helicopter na tila overspecified para paburan ang isang kumpanya lang sinisiyasat ito. Itinabi na muna natin at ang gastos na 3.6 billion ay hindi pa ho nangyari.
Lahat po iyan naibalik natin sa kaban ng bayan.
Meron pa po. May proyektong inaprubahan ang dating administrasyon, huhukayin daw nila ang Laguna de Bay para palalimin ito. Ang sabi raw dadami ang isda. Mas makakaiwas tayo sa baha. Mas madali daw makaikot ang mga bangka at mga ferry service. Tatanggalin din ang mga pollutants doon sa Laguna de Bay.
Isa po sa aking mga tanong? Saan ililipat ang lupang hinukay? Ang tatanggalin sa Laguna de Bay, ay itatambak lang din pala sa ibang bahagi ng Laguna de Bay.
At magkano naman po ang uutangin ng gobyerno para sa pribelehiyong ito? Konti lang raw po 18.5 billion pesos lang naman po. At pareho rin ang kuwento: Tila hindi na naman dumaan sa tamang proseso ang pag-aapruba sa kontrata. Hindi natin dadaanin sa madaliang hokus-pokus ang proyektong ito. Pag-aaralan natin ito nang husto at sisiguraduhing hindi masasayang ang pondong gagamitin para rito. Idadagdag ko lang po eto po ay ni review natin last week isipin po niyo hanggang ngayon meron pa ring mga humihirit.
Napansin niyo po ba, pati ‘yung weather forecasting gumanda? Napansin niyo po ba na hindi na paulit-ulit ang mga mensahe ng PAGASA? Ngayon po, nakatutok na at mas malaman ang mga weather bulletin natin. Ang dating intermittent rainshowers across the country, ngayon, sasabihin na uulan sa ganitong lugar nang ganitong mga oras, delikadong lumabas sa mga mangingisda at iba pa.
Tama po na hindi pa kumpleto ang equipments natin. Pero ngayong nagsimula na po tayong magtrabaho, kakaunti na lang ang kulang na kagamitan. Maling sistema at maling palakad ang nangligaw sa pagtataya ng panahon. Ang mga update dati na dumarating kada anim na oras, kada oras na ngayon kung dumating. Marami po tayong binago sa PAGASA, at kasama na po rito ang bulok na sistema.
Nakita naman po natin ang katakut-takot na problemang minana natin, pero hindi po tayo natinag. Naisaayos at naisasaayos na natin sa loob lamang ng isandaang araw ang hindi nagawa ng dating administrasyon sa loob ng tatlong libo, apat na raan, apatnapu’t walong (3,448) araw.
Hininto na po natin ang pagkatagal-tagal na sistema kung saan itinuloy nang itinuloy ang mga proyekto na walang sumisiyasat kung angkop ba o kung may katuwiran ba ang mga ito.
Isinulong po natin ang zero-based budgeting.Ang sabi po namin, isa-isahin natin iyan. Kung hindi po mapatunayang may saysay ka pa, tigil na ang ginugugol ng bansa sa iyo.
Ang mga Agriculture Input Subsidies na lalo lamang nagpayaman sa mayayaman na habang binalewala ang mga mahihirap; ang mga programa tulad ng Kalayaang Barangay at Kilos-Asenso na hindi naman inilatag nang malinaw kung ano ang prosesong dapat daanan, at kung saan napunta ang pera. Inilipat po natin ang kanilang mga pondo tungo sa mga programang napatunayan nang makakatulong sa taumbayan. Humigit-kumulang na labing-isang bilyong piso pa po ito na magagamit at mas mapapakinabangan natin lahat.
Sa edukasyon, kalusugan, at pag-ahon sa kahirapan natin itinutok ang pondong natipid natin. Mula 175 billion pesos, umangat ang budget ng DepEd sa 207.3 billion pesos. Gugugulin po ito upang makabuo ng 13,147 bagong classroom, at ng sampung libong bagong teaching positions.
Sa DoH, umangat mula 29.3 billion pesos ang budget papuntang P33.3 billion, upang mapatatag unang una National Health Insurance Program.
Sa DSWD, lagpas doble na po ang budget, galing 15.4 billion pesos papuntang 34.3 billion pesos.
Ang punto po natin dito: Walang maiiwan. Hindi po tayo papayag na yayaman ang iilan habang nalulunod sa kahirapan ang karamihan.
Kaya nga po kaya nga po natin pinatatatag ang Conditional Cash Transfer Program. Salbabida po ito para sa mga nalulunod nating kababayan, upang makapunta na sila sa pampang ng pagkakataon at pag-unlad. Lampas doble po ang bilang ng mga pamilyang matutulungan ng Conditional Cash Transfers, mula isang milyong pamilya sa ngayon, tungo sa kabuuang 2.3 million na pamilya sa 2011.
Patuloy po ang ating tema ng pagbibigay ng lakas sa taumbayan. Dahil na rin po sa panunumbalik ng tiwala sa gobyerno, nabiyayaan ang KALAHI-CIDSS program ng dagdag na 59.1 million dollars—halos tatlong bilyong piso—mula sa World Bank. Sa programa pong ito, dadami pa ang komunidad na magkakaroon ng kuryente, kalsada, at malinis na tubig—mga proyektong ang taumbayan mismo ang nagpaplano at nagpapalakas.
Paulit-ulit po nating ididiin: trabaho ang pangunahing agenda ng ating administrasyon. At marami pong magandang balita ukol dito. Ang papasok na pera sa ating bansa mula sa mga foreign investors ay aabot sa 2.4 billion dollars at yun ay pang umpisa pa lamang. Direkta po itong magbibigay ng 43,600 na bagong trabaho sa mga Pilipino.
Simula pa lamang po iyan: Kung hindi natin sila papadaanin sa butas ng karayom, makukumbinsi pa po silang magnegosyo rito, at madadagdagan pa ang mga trabahong nalikha. At manganganak pa po ng manganganak ang mga trabahong ito.
Halimbawa, sa call center, kailangang panggabi ang trabaho. Kailangang magbukas ng kapihan, ng fastfood, ng mga convenience store. Hindi bababa sa dalawandaang libong bagong trabaho ang malilikha pa—kahit hindi ka marunong mag-computer, may pagkakataon ka sa dagda na mga trabaho.
Trabaho din po ang idudulot ng mga Public-Private Partnerships na patuloy nating isinusulong. Nagtayo na po tayo ng PPP Center, kung saan ang mga gustong makilahok sa pagbabago ay magpapasailalim sa tapat, malinaw, at mabilis na proseso. Mula sa pagpapahaba ng mga LRT Lines, hanggang sa pagpapatayo ng bagong paliparan na tutulong sa turismo, hanggang sa mga eskuwelahan na itatayo sa buong sambayanan. Magsisimula na po ang bidding para sa mga ito sa loob ng mga susunod na buwan.
Kinikilala na ng pandaigdigang merkado ang pagtatag ng piso. All-time high po ang ating Gross International Reserves na umabot na sa 52.3 billion dollars noong ika-dalawampu ng Setyembre. Ang dati rati’y parang imposibleng maabot na Philippine Stock Exchange Index na 4000, nalampasan na po.
Kahapon lamang po, all-time high na naman ito itong index na ito umabot na sa 4,196.73 points. Ipinapakita nito ang kompyansa sa ating ekonomiya, sa ating mga mamamayan at sa atin pong pamahalaan. Kabilang na po ang ating PSE sa mga best-performing stock market sa buong Asya. At habang lumalakas ang piso at lumalago ang ekonomiya, steady lang naman po ang mga presyo ng ating mga bilihin. Handang-handa na tayo po talaga sa pag-unlad.
Lahat po ito nagawa natin dahil nakasandal ang gobyerno sa inyong tiwala. At umaapaw na rin po ang tiwalang iyan sa buong daigdig.
Dalawang ulit na pong nag-apply ang Pilipinas para sa Millenium Challenge Corporation Grant. Sa unang tatlong buwan lang po ng administrasyon natin napaaprubahan ito. Ang sa kanila lamang po, aminado silang hindi natin maiwawasto agad ang lahat ng problema pero naniniwala silang patungo na tayo roon. Sabi nila, gusto namin kayong matulungan para maabot ang inyong mga pinapangarap, heto ang 430 million dollars. Ididiin ko lang po dalawang beses nag apply, ni reject sa loob ng ibababa sa siyam na taon. Tayo po sa tatlong buwan inapurubahan.
Pati po ang mga international organization tulad ng OECD, tinanggal na tayo sa listahan ng mga bansang kumukupkop ng mga tax evader. Maaari na tayong makakuha ng impormasyon na makakatulong sa paghuhuli sa mga tax evader na isinasagawa na po ng BIR.
Dahil na rin po sa panibagong tiwalang nangingibabaw sa pamahalaan, dumadami ang mga tumutulong sa pamamagitan ng pagbibigay ng mga tip tungkol sa katiwalian. Sumaksi sila sa maling pangyayari, para makatulong sa ating paghahabol ng demanda. Halimbawa, sa bagong-tayo ng Pera ng Bayan website, isa-isa nang lumilitaw ang mga taong makatutulong sa atin upang tugisin ang mga smuggler at tax evader.
Ibinabalik ng mga hakbang na ito ang kompiyansa ng daigdig sa Pilipinas. Nagkakaisa nang muli ang ating lipunan, at ang nananatili na lang na parang sirang-plaka na paulit-ulit ang reklamo ay ang mga gustong manumbalik sa poder upang ituloy ang kanilang ligaya na nagmumula sa ating pagkakaapi.
Sila na nga mga kapatid, ang nagdulot sa atin ng mga problemang pinapasan natin ngayon, sila pa ang may ganang bumanat nang bumanat sa atin. Papansinin ba ninyo sila?Magpapalinlang ba kayo muli?
Hindi po kami nagbibiro sa pagtahak ng tuwid na landas. Kayong mga mali ang palakad at pinipinsala ang mga kababayan natin, ginagarantiya ko sa inyo may taning kayong lahat.
Ito pong mga problemang pinangako nating solusyonan, tatlong buwan pa lang nakikita na ninyong nabubuo ang solusyon. At ang inyong tiwala po ang pundasyon ng lahat ng ating naaabot sa loob lamang ng tatlong buwan ng ating panunungkulan.
Mula pa noong kampanya, ibinato na po sa atin ang lahat ng puwedeng ibato sa loob at labas na yata ng Revised Penal Code. Pati po ang buhok ko ginawa nilang isyu. Sabi ho nila, at palagay ko dahil siguro binata pa tayo, hindi na tayo binigyan ng honeymoon. Payag po si Sister Imelda dyan.
Gusto talaga tayong gibain ng mga taong nais mapanatili ang lumang sistema, kung saan para silang mga dambuhalang buwayang nagpapakasasa sa kaban ng bayan.
Binabatikos lang naman po tayo dahil may iilan na naghahanap ng paraan para magpatuloy ang siklo ng mali. Alam din naman po nila ang tama, hindi pa nila maatim gawin. Mayroon po talagang mga nag-aambisyon na makabalik sa poder, nag-aambisyon na panatilihin ang sistemang sila lang ang nakikinabang, mga kapit-tuko sa puwesto na nakikinabang sa lumang sistema—mga taong gusto lamang ituloy ang kanilang ligaya, habang binabalewala naman ang sakripisyo ng taumbayan.
At tayo naman po: tuloy na tuloy ang laban. Hindi po tayo titigil.
Kung mayroon po tayong pagkukulang, ito marahil ay ang hindi natin naging kaugalian na ipamalita ang mga tagumpay na atin pong nakamit. Mas binigyan natin ng halaga ang paghahanap ng mga paraang makakatulong sa ating mga kababayan.
Kitang-kita naman po ng taumbayan ang resulta ng ating pagtatrabaho: talagang nakakagalak ng puso itong satisfaction rating na seventy one percent. Natural po sa inyo ang tagumpay na ito—sa bawat Pilipinong nagtitiwala at nakilahok sa ating agenda ng pagbabago.
Ang patuloy ko pong panata: Hindi tayo titigil. Habang dumarami tayo sa tuwid na landas, dumadali naman po ang tungkulin nating itama ang mali.
Hinding-hindi po tayo titigil sa tuwid na landas. Unti-unti na pong natutupad ang ating mga pangarap.
Maraming salamat po magandang umaga sa lahat.
Aquino holds “town hall meeting” format for 100 days report
President Benigno S. Aquino III chose to use the “town hall” meeting format for his 100 days report to the nation for better transparency and to make the people aware that nothing in what he says is scripted.
This was the explanation given by Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda during an interview Thursday morning with RMN-DZXL on why the President chose to give his hundred days report to the nation at the La Consolacion College along Mendiola, a stone’s throw away from Malacañang.
“The President feels that it would be better to hold his hundred days report outside so that people will have access to us. If it were held in Malacañang, they will feel that everything is scripted,” Lacierda explained saying that this was precisely the President’s opinion on the matter.
Hopefully, he added, after the hundred days report each of the department secretaries will come out with their respective reports on their accomplishments.
In a related development, Lacierda said that the satisfaction rating of 71 percent from the Class E people surveyed by the most recent Social Weather Station survey shows that the President’s poverty alleviation programs are now making an impact with this sector.
During the campaign, Lacierda said, the Aquino camp fared so low with the Class E people, or the poorest of the poor.
“We appreciate that because the approval rating shows our message is getting across to this sector. We are still promoting poverty alleviation and anti corruption measures,” Lacierda said.
Lacierda said “when we (Cabinet secretaries) meet in small groups with the President, he always reminds us that “we are here to serve the people.”
Another survey conducted by the Philippine Information Agency showed that people want the President to focus on job generation, livelihood programs and the eradication of corruption. The PIA survey was done on Sept. 28-29 and involved face-to-face interviews with 629 sectoral leaders including elected officials, businessmen, religious, media and the uniformed personnel.
Of those interviewed, 78 percent said jobs and livelihood should be more important in the government’s priority, 66 percent considered the fight against corruption as of utmost importance, 59 percent urged the administration to improve access to quality education and 57 percent recommended the implementation of measures to control spiraling prices of basic goods.
In another development, the President said he has appointed former Congressman Tony Roman at the Legislative Executive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC) and he has scheduled a LEDAC meeting with Secretary Julia Abad of the Presidential Management Staff.
“The LEDAC meeting will take up the priority legislative agenda of the President, which were outlined in his first State of the Nation Address last July,” Lacierda added. (PCOO)
Aquino shows poise in wake of rude interruption
It was the loudest feedback President Benigno S. Aquino ever received in his 100 days in office and like what he vowed to do for the rest of his term, listened and heard them well.
Surprised as he may seem by a lightning protest staged by a group of university students while delivering his report for his first 100 days in office at the La Consolacion College auditorium this morning, the President calmly handled the rude interruption and reminded them that education remains one of the priorities of his administration.
The President was in the middle of hosting a town hall meeting with mullti-sectoral representatives when four University of the Philipppines students began shouting their group’s sentiments on the government’s plan to slash the budget of state universities and colleges.
The protesters raised bond paper-sized placards with the words “No to SUC budget cuts.”
Without batting an eyelash, the President thanked the protesters for expressing their views but reminded them that the government had in fact increased the budget allocation for education in next year’s General Appropriations Act.
“Let us not forget that education encompasses not only the tertiary level but basic: elementary and secondary, and technical. Please re-check the government’s budget allocation for education which we increased (from P175-billion in 2010 to P207.3-billion for 2011),” the President told the students led by UP student council chair Tessa Trazona and her colleagues Cesarie Ann Santos, Mark Panganiban and an unidentified companion.
“With this increase, we are reminding all of you that we have not put aside the budget requirements of giving all Filipinos quality education,” the President added to a loud applause from the audience.
Members of the Presidential Security Group quickly surrounded the group but nevertheless allowed them to finish their short stint which lasted less than two minutes.
The group of protesters left immediately after being escorted out the school premises. (PCOO)
Aquino set to finalize recommendations on hostage probe
President Benigno S. Aquino III is expected to issue an official statement Monday adopting majority of the recommendations made by a fact-finding body on the hostage tragedy that left eight Hong Kong tourists dead last Aug. 23 in Rizal Park, Manila.
In an interview, Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Atty. Ed de Mesa said they are just consolidating the recommendations of the Incident Investigation and Review Committee (IIRC) which submitted to the President the result of its marathon hearings last Sept. 17.
“We are still finalizing it and the President will come out with the report on Monday,” De Mesa said.
The President earlier directed De Mesa and Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa to carefully study and review the IIRC report to ensure that charges will prosper against personalities who will be found liable including specific laws broken, the penalties and the process to be followed.
After the incident, the President also ordered the immediate implementation of remedial measures to address the lack of personnel, training and equipment in the Philippine National Police (PNP).
“He wants to make sure that if cases are to be filed that they will prosper and that we will not unnecessarily charge anybody,” De Mesa said.
The partial IIRC report recommended administrative or criminal charges against about a dozen people for certain lapses during the hostage taking incident. (PCOO)
More timely weather reports to be expected, DOST says
President Benigno S. Aquino III on Thursday proudly reported to the country that the weather forecasts and weather bulletins have greatly improved, enabling the citizens to be alert in cases of floods, landslides and when to avoid traveling by sea or air.
In his first 100 days report at the La Consolacion College in Mendiola, the President said that “intermittent rain showers across the country are now explicitly explained in details as to time and place so that the fishermen can avoid fishing then.”
The President said little is left to be invested in equipment, adding that the weather updates, done every six hours before, will now be every hour. “We changed a lot at the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration,” he said.
Similarly, the Department of Science and Technology assured the people that more real time weather updates is now a reality after it forged a co-location agreement with wireless communication giant, Smart Communications.
Science Secretary Mario Montejo said the DOST, through its weather forecasting arm, the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical Astronomical Services Administration, signed on Monday an agreement with Smart initially covering 63 cell sites nationwide.
“The co-location of our telemetric gauges in Smart cell sites will complement our on-going program to strengthen the capacity of PAGASA in issuing weather forecasts and flood warnings to the public,” Montejo said.
Each telemetric rain gauge automatically sends rainfall data to PAGASA’s 44 Automatic Weather Stations in the form of short messaging system or SMS. The data are then posted real-time in PAGASA’s website [www.pagasa.dost.gov.ph] that is accessible to the public.
The co-location arrangement also means PAGASA telemetric rain gauges will have uninterrupted power supplies during power outage caused by the weather disturbances.
DOST Undersecretary and concurrently acting PAGASA Administrator Graciano P. Yumul Jr. explained that the agreement saves the weather bureau additional expenses in setting up new locations for its weather forecasting instruments since Smart cell sites are already in place nationwide.
Smart offered to accommodate the installation of additional PAGASA rain gauges in its cell sites nationwide similar to its initiative that covered Metro Manila.
Engineers of PAGASA and Smart earlier identified the ideal sites for co-location of the rain gauges in Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, La Union, Pangasinan, Abra, Benguet, Bulacan, Zambales, Metro Manila, Batangas, Cavite, Laguna, Quezon, Mindoro Oriental, and Marinduque Camarines Norte, and Sorsogon in Luzon and Negros Occidental, Aklan, Antique, Capiz, Iloilo, Bohol, Northern Samar, and Leyte in the Visayas.
Other provinces in Mindanao considered for the project include Lanao Del Norte, Bukidnon, Misamis Oriental, Sarangani, Davao Del Norte, Sultan Kudarat, Agusan del Sur, Surigao del Norte, and Surigao del Sur.
“Smart is very happy to be part of this noble partnership which aims at saving the lives of our people during disasters,” Smart Communications President and CEO Napoleon L. Nazareno said. (PCOO)
LCCM officials, students extol Aquino’s report
The president and student council chair of La Consolacion College of Manila said they, as well as the majority of faculty and students of LCCM, were “satisfied” with President Benigno S. Aquino III’s 100th day accomplishment report.
Sister Imelda Mora, OSA, president of LCCM said she “liked” the way the President handled the presentation of his first 100 days in office saying, “It was not like (how) a politician (would handle a similar event)” with the usual pomp, fanfare and grandstanding.
She added that the President’s report was “comprehensive” because the different sectors as well as our overseas Filipino workers were represented.
Live feeds with our countrymen working in San Francisco, USA, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia and Hong Kong were linked-up to the Question and Answer portion with the President to allow free-flowing discussion between parties in real time.
Live feeds from key points in the country such as in Baguio, Cebu and Davao Cities was also made available to allow more Filipinos to get involved in the momentous occasion.
Sis. Mora further pointed out that the President’s report brought out his credibility as a leader.
“As a whole his first 100 days is a promise of what would come in the coming six years,” Mora said.
Meanwhile, student council chair and 4th year Psychology student Em Castillo lauded President Aquino’s speech despite his problems in hrebuilding the nation.
She pointed out that the President’s report on his 100th day in office brought about a sense of hope not only for her but for the rest of her school mates.
“I was more than satisfied with his speech and I hope he would do all the things that he said and promised,” Castillo said. (PCOO)
Aquino vows to achieve more beyond 100 days
President Benigno S. Aquino on Thursday said he is more determined to work harder to fulfill his promise of an honest government and a decent life for every Filipino.
In his report on his first 100 days in office, the President said the trust the people have given his administration has inspired him to achieve more.
“Hinding-hindi po tayo titigil sa tuwid na landas. Unti-unti na pong natupad ang ating mga pangarap (We will not stop to take the right path. Our dreams are slowly taking shape; our goals are slowly being achieved), the President said.”
He said his determination to rid the bureaucracy of corruption is paying off--- business confidence is back and the economy is stronger.
Among the great strides he took in his first 100 days included the issuance of Executive Order #7 ordering the suspension of all privileges of officials of 122 government-owned and controlled corporations and government financial institutions that resulted in savings of P2.5 million.
The Philippines’ winning the case on the Ninoy Aquino International Airport 3 also saved the government P43.4 billion, he said.
The President’s order to stop negotiated contracts with the Department of Public Works and Highways and the re-bidding of urgently-needed projects also saved the government P934.1 million.
He said his order to defer the purchase of a helicopter for the Department of Defense due to allegations that it favors one company allowed the government to set aside P3.6 billion.
The President said he has ordered a thorough study on the P18.5 billion Laguna de Bay project to avoid waste of money.
The Chief Executive noted that weather forecasting has improved from the every six hour update to an hourly, more focused weather update when he ordered the change in the stewardship of the country’s weather bureau and saved the government billions of pesos.
“Lahat po iyan naibalik natin sa kaban ng bayan,” the President said adding that the benefits derived from an improved economy will be given back to the people through projects that will uplift their lives
According to the President subsidies for agricultural inputs that made the rich richer and the poor poorer and funds for projects such as the Kalayaan Barangay at Kilos Asenso were transferred to projects that will really benefit the poor.
Some P11 billion were poured into education, health and other pro-poor projects.
The 2011 Reform Budget reflects all of these with the increase in the budget allocation for the Department of Education from P175 billion to P207.3 billion, to build 13,147 new classrooms and hire 10,000 new teachers.
The Department of Health budget increased to P33.3 billion from P29.3 billion so as to strengthen the National Health Insurance program while the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s budget more than doubled from P15.6 billion to P34.3 billion.
The conditional cash transfer program was also strengthened and expanded from one million families to 2.3 million families covered in 2011.
The President stressed that his priority is to create more jobs. He said the $2.4 billion in investments he got from his recent US trip will create 43,600 new jobs. And, if the investment climate will be friendlier, more investors will be coming into the country. (PCOO)
Aquino says peace talks with MILF to include inputs from stakeholders
President Benigno S. Aquino III said the forthcoming formal peace talks with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) will include inputs from all stakeholders who will hold a series of dialogues starting as early as this month of October.
The President bared this before multi-sectoral representatives during the Town Hall Meeting highlighting his 100 days in office at the La Consolacion College auditorium along Mendiola Street, Manila on Thursday morning.
Asked by Jainab Abdul Majib, a female civic coordinator in Sulu, on his programs to bring lasting and sustainable peace in Mindanao, the President said his peace advisers and the government negotiating panel were already given instructions to seek long lasting solutions to the peace problem in Mindanao.
He said the Philippine government also have negotiated with Malaysia, the third party facilitator, for the reopening of formal talks with the MILF.
“Tayo po ay hopeful na talaga namang mas malapit na iyong starting position kesa noong araw. At ang minumungkahi nga natin maging all-inclusive na lahat ng stakeholders na apektado nitong peace agreement ay magkasama-sama dito sa dialogong ito na mag uumpisa, kung hindi ako nagkakamali, nitong buwan na ito ng Oktubre kung hindi po, pinaka-late na sa Nobyembre,” the President said.
With peace, the President said the government can easily establish the necessary programs, infrastructure and primary services particularly the provision of livelihood for Mindanaoans.
The President also broke the good news that the economic activity in the island will soon normalize after the present power problem in Mindanao is addressed.
In an interview, Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Secretary Teresita Deles said the government peace panel is just awaiting diplomatic communications from Malaysia which facilitates the setting of the date for the resumption of the formal talks with the MILF.
Deles said the President already talked with Malaysian Foreign Minister Dato Sri Anifah Aman and Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak and discussed the resumption of the peace negotiations. (PCOO)
Participate in nation building, Aquino tells youth
President Benigno Simeon Aquino III urged the youth to participate in nation-building by sharing their knowledge and expertise towards the country’s progress and development.
In a speech at the awarding ceremonies of the Ten Outstanding Students of the Philippines (TOSP) at the Heroes Hall of Malacañang on Thursday, the Chief Executive noted the undying efforts of the students in pursuing their dreams of being the best. He vowed to address the problems hounding the educational system and promote a more extensive approach in teaching for the future leaders of the country.
The President feted 10 students from among 31 finalists who were recognized for their academic excellence, leadership, good morals and diverse involvement with the community.
The TOSP 2010 awardees are Raymund Siegfrid Li from UP Diliman, Marc Louie Yap, University of San Carlos; Nadia Biancas Nicolette Ong, De La Salle Manila; Mohammad Ben-Usman, Mindanao State University-Marawi; Ma. Joaquin Jose Bunag, Ateneo de Manila University; Rankine Roel Novabos, University of San Jose Recoletos; Jihan Santanina Santiago, Visayas State University; Philippe Jan Dela Cruz, University of St. La Salle; Nestor Necesito, UP-Visayas and Camille Remoroza of San Pedro College.
The TOSP continuously recognizes the best students through the auspices of RFM Foundation, Inc. with the cooperation of the Commission on Higher Education, National Bookstore and The Rotary Club of Makati Central.
Anchored on promoting integrity, excellence, fear of God and service as a way of life to produce competent future leaders, the TOSP was established on June 19, 1961, the centennial birth anniversary of national hero Jose P. Rizal, by businessman Jose Concepcion Jr.
Concepcion took inspiration from Rizal believing that the key to a nation’s prosperity, peace and harmony is making the youth aware of the great significance of hig integrity, good morals and high education.
It was held annually until then president Ferdinand E. Marcos declared martial law in 1972. The program was re-launched in 1989 from which the winners were called the “Revival Batch.” Since then, TOSP has continued to seek exemplary students to celebrate, recognize and support the vision of its founder.
In 1994, TOSP expanded to include the regional searches for outstanding students. (PCOO)
