Aquino pushes for modernization plan of the
Armed Forces of the Philippines
President Benigno S. Aquino III pushed for the
modernization of the country’s armed forces to make it more capable in
addressing modern-day challenges.
In his third State of the Nation Address on
Monday before the Joint Session of the 15th Congress at the Batasang Pambansa
in Quezon City, the President said his administration was able to allocate P28
billion in less than two years for the Modernization Program of the Armed
Forces of the Philippines.
The amount allotted by the Aquino administration
almost matched the P30 billion allocated by the previous administrations in the
last 15 years, the chief executive said.
“Bumubuwelo pa lang po tayo sa lagay na ‘yan:
kapag naipasa na ang panukala nating AFP modernization bill sa Kongreso,
makakapaglaan tayo ng P75 bilyon para sa susunod na limang taon,” the President
said.
“Kasado na rin po ang tatlumpung milyong dolyar
na pondong kaloob ng Estados Unidos para sa Defense Capability Upgrade and
Sustainment of Equipment Program ng AFP. Bukod pa po ito sa tulong nila upang
pahusayin pa ang pagmanman sa ating mga baybayin sa ilalim ng itatayong Coast
Watch Center ng Pilipinas,” he added.
The President also said the AFP has started
shopping for modern equipment such as cannons, armored personnel carriers and
frigates adding that a warship from the US would be arriving in January.
The BRP Ramon Alcaraz, the country’s second
Hamilton class cutter will arrive next year, he said. Last year, the Philippine
Navy commissioned the BRP Gregorio del Pilar to guard the Philippine waters.
Two C130 cargo aircraft will also augment
airlift capabilities of the Philippine Air Force, the President said. This will
help the single C-130 that has been operating for more than 30 years.
The President said that next year, 21
refurbished UH-1H Helicopter will be delivered to the air force, in addition to
four combat utility helicopters, radio and communication equipment, rifles,
mortars, mobile diagnostic laboratories and bullet station assembly.
While the government is providing equipment to
soldiers and policemen, the administration is also working to make their lives
better, President Aquino said.
More than 22,000 homes were constructed by the
government through the AFP-PNP housing program, he said.
“Hindi po ito tungkol sa pakikipaggirian o
pakikipagmatigasan. Hindi ito tungkol sa pagsisiga-sigaan. Tungkol ito sa
pagkamit ng kapayapaan. Tungkol ito sa kakayahan nating ipagtanggol ang ating
sarili—isang bagay na kay tagal nating inisip na imposible,” the President
said.
These government efforts are also about
protecting the lives of soldiers and policemen to make their jobs safer for the
benefit of their families, the President concluded. (as/6:21pm)
Philhealth benefits and services are now
available to 85 percent of Filipinos, says Aquino
President Benigno S. Aquino III’s advocacy to
provide healthcare to more and more Filipinos is slowly becoming a reality as
coverage to the national health insurance program has reached 85 percent.
This, the President said in his third State of
the Nation Address at the Joint Session of the 15th Congress at the Batasan
Pambansa in Quezon City on Monday, was made possible through reforms
implemented in the health sector and “not on being in the good graces of
politicians.”
“When we first took office, only 62 percent of
Filipinos were enrolled in PhilHealth. Now, 85 percent of our citizens are
members. This means that since we received our mandate, 23.31 million more
Filipinos have access to PhilHealth’s array of benefits and services,” the
President said.
He added that included in this increase are the
5.2 million poorest households identified by the Department of Social Welfare
and its National Household Targeting System.
Now, all members can now avail the services of
Philhealth-accredited hospitals and medical practitioners free of charge
through the Department of Health’s No Balance Billing Policy.
“The process for our poorest PhilHealth members:
Enter any government hospital. Show your PhilHealth card. Get treatment. And
they return to their homes without having to shell out a single centavo,” the
President said.
To address the ratio mismatch of medical
practitioners to the number of Filipinos, the President said, 30,801 nurses and
midwives have been deployed to remote areas of the country under the Registered
Nurses for Health Enhancement and Local Service (RNHEALS) program.
“And today, because of efficient targeting, they
(nurses and midwives) are deployed to where they are most needed: to areas that
have been for so long left in the margins of society. We have sent our health
professionals to 1,021 localities covered by the Pantawid Pamilya, and to the
609 poorest cities and municipalities, as identified by the National
Anti-Poverty Commission,” the President said.
“This new system addresses two issues: thousands
of nurses and midwives now have jobs and an opportunity to gain valuable work
experience; at the same time, millions of our countrymen now have increased
access to quality health care,” he added. (rck)
Aquino assures Filipinos of adequate protection
against calamities, storms through nationwide operational assessment of hazards
President Benigno S. Aquino III assured
Filipinos of adequate protection against various calamities and other
destructive storms through the Nationwide Operational Assessment of Hazards or
Project NOAH.
In his third State of the Nation Address on
Monday during the Joint Session of the 15th Congress at the Batasang Pambansa
Complex in Quezon City, the Chief Executive said Project NOAH was launched in
Marikina last July in a bid to step up national efforts toward greater and more
intensive disaster risk reduction and management procedures in the face of
typhoons and calamities.
"Let us talk about the situation in
Disaster Risk Reduction and Management. Once, the government, which is supposed
to give aid, was the one asking for aid. Today, even when the storm is still
brewing, we already know how to craft clear plans to avoid catastrophe,"
President Aquino said.
"Talking about disasters reminds me of the
time when a typhoon struck Tarlac. The dike collapsed due to the rains; when
one of the barangay captains awoke, the floods had already taken his family, as
well as his farming equipment. Fortunately, the entire family survived. But the
carabao they had left tied to a tree wasn’t as lucky; it was strangled to death
from the force of the flood," he said.
President Aquino stressed that natural hazards
inflicted loss of lives and costly damage to property in the past years.
"Many of those affected by typhoons Ondoy,
Pepeng, and Sendong were just as defenseless. We lost so many lives to these
natural disasters," he said.
"And now, through Project NOAH, all our
anti-disaster initiatives have been brought inside one boat, and we no longer
leave the evacuation of families up to mere luck. We now have the technology to
give fair warning to Filipinos in order to prepare for and avoid the
worst," the President said.
Through the use of advanced science and
technology, the President said Project NOAH will improve disaster management
capacity of the government and assure homeland security by reducing casualties
and property loss from extremely hazardous events.
"Our 86 automated rain gauges and 28 water
level monitoring sensors in various regions now benefit us directly and in real
time. Our target before the end of 2013 are 600 automated rain gauges and 422
water level sensors. We will have them installed in 80 primary river basins
around the country," he said. (js)
Aquino’s State of the Nation Address earned
positive reactions
President Benigno S. Aquino III earned positive
reactions from the members of both Houses of Congress - the Senate and the
House of Representatives - as he delivered his third State of the Nation
Address (SONA) in over two years of his six-year term of office.
In his SONA before the Joint Session of the 15th
Congress at the Batasang Pambansa in Quezon City on Monday, President Aquino
was applauded one hundred and twenty one (121) times by the audience and a
standing ovation during the whole duration of his SONA which was also witnessed
by the members of the cabinet, business groups, religious sector, youth and
members of the Diplomatic Corps, among others.
The Chief Executive cited the major reforms
being implemented in the government that has brought considerable progress to
the nation and eventually uplifted the living standards of the Filipinos.
The President, together with his party, arrived
at the Batasan Complex at exactly 3:40 p.m. via the Presidential convoy. Upon
his arrival, the President was received by Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile,
House Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr., Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP)
Chief of Staff Gen. Jessie Dellosa, House Sergeant at Arms Police Chief
Superintendent Nicasio Radovan Jr. (Ret.) and Senate Sergeant at Arms MGen.
Jose Balajadia Jr. (Ret.).
President Aquino then proceeded to the
Presidential Legislative Liaison Office, which served as the holding room.
The Joint Session was called into order at
exactly 4:00 p.m. by the Senate President and the House Speaker.
The Mandaluyong Children’s Choir sang the
National Anthem while religious leaders from various religious groups led the
opening prayer.
The President’s one hour and twenty-minute
speech also featured the Aquino administration’s continuing initiatives to
achieve sustainable development that will ensure a brighter future for the
Filipinos and the coming generations. (jcl/6:40 p.m.)
Aquino vows to distribute all lands covered by
Comprehensive Agrarian Program during his term
President Benigno S. Aquino III vowed to
distribute to legitimate farmer beneficiaries all lands covered by the
Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program Extension with Reforms (Carper) during
his administration.
"My mother initiated the Comprehensive
Agrarian Reform Program. It is only just that this program sees its conclusion
during my term," President Aquino said in his third State of the Nation
Address before the Joint Session of the 15th Congress on Monday at the Batasang
Pambansa in Quezon City.
The Chief Executive remains committed to
complete the objectives of CARPER and attain a genuine agricultural development
in the country.
"We are improving the system, so that we
can more swiftly and more efficiently realize agrarian reform. The government
is doing everything in its power to ensure that our farmers can claim as their
own the land they have tilled and nurtured with their sweat," he said.
"There are those, however, who wish to
obstruct us. I say to them: We will obey the law. The law says, the nation
says, and I say --- Before I step down, all the land covered by CARP will have
been distributed," he said. (js)
Reforms start to benefit the education sector,
Aquino says
Reforms in the education sector have started to
bear fruits, President Benigno S. Aquino III said, as he noted that his
government was able to address shortage in classrooms and books, as well as the
meager budget for the country’s state universities and colleges.
In his third State-of-the-Nation Address (SONA)
before the Joint Session of the 15th Congress on Monday at the Batasang
Pambansa in Quezon City, President Aquino said his administration inherited 66,800
classroom backlogs amounting to P53.44 billion. There was also the shortage of
2,573,212 chairs worth around P2.31 billion, he noted.
But after carrying out government reforms, the
President said he expects the education department to fully address the
shortage in classrooms next school year. He pointed out that this year, the
government was able to construct 40,000 classrooms.
According to the President, by the end of 2012,
he said he expects the Department of Education to completely fill more than
two-million backlogs in chairs as well as the 61.7 million textbook shortage.
“At para naman po hindi mapag-iwanan ang ating
mga State Universities and Colleges, mayroon tayong panukalang 43.61 percent na
pag-angat sa kanilang budget para sa susunod na taon. Paalala lang po: lahat ng
ginagawa natin, may direksyon; may kaakibat na kondisyon ang dagdag-budget na
ito,” the President said.
To ensure quality education being offered by the
state colleges and universities, the President said the agreed SUC Reform
Roadmap of the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) must be carried out.
“Kung mataas ang grado ninyo sa assignment na
ito, asahan ninyong dodoblehin din namin ang kayod para matugunan ang mga
natitirang pangangailangan po ninyo,” he said.
The President also explained the continuing
increases in education’s budget. DepEd’s 2010 budget at the start of the Aquino
administration was P177 billion, he said. For 2013, the government proposed for
P292.7 billion budget for education.
For SUC’s, the 2010 budget was 21.03 billion,
the President said adding that his administration is making yearly increases.
He said that for next year, the administration increased it to P37.13 billion.
(as/7:02pm)
President Aquino pegs retirement benefits of
old-age and disability pensioners at P5,000
Old-age and disability pensioners have something
to look forward to next year as President Benigno S. Aquino III has pegged
their retirement benefits at P5,000 a month.
The President said in his third State of the
Nation Address before the Joint Session of the 15th Congress at the Batasang
Pambansa in Quezon City on Monday that this was the State's way of saying thank
you for the long years of dedicated service of government retirees.
“From the womb, to school, to work, change has
touched the Filipinos. And should a life of government service be chosen, our
people can expect the same level of care from the state, until retirement,” the
President said.
“Our administration will recognize their
contributions to our society as public servants, and will not withhold from
them the pensions they themselves contributed to,” he added.
The President said he was shocked to discover
that some retirees receive less than P500 a month in pension benefits, barely
enough to cover the daily expenses of water, power and food.
“Our response -- when the New Year comes our
resolution would be that all old-age and disability pensioners will receive no
less than five thousand pesos monthly,” the President said.
He added the prudent government spending
together with fiscal reforms have allowed the government to use sources to fund
priority programs such as the retirement benefits.
"We are heartened that we can meet their
needs now, without jeopardizing their future benefits,” the President said.
(rck)
Former President Estrada cites Aquino's
leadership in pursuing reforms
Former President Joseph Ejercito Estrada
expressed satisfaction for the leadership of President Benigno S. Aquino III in
pursuing reforms within his administration particularly in his efforts to
achieve lasting progress and development to the nation.
In an interview prior to President Aquino's
third State of the Nation Address (SONA) before the Joint Session of the 15h Congress
at the Batasang Pambansa in Quezon City on Monday, Estrada noted the obvious
positive effects of the efforts of the Aquino administration to effect reforms
in the government.
“Malaki ang accomplishments… umakyat ang ating
ekonomiya, iyon ang pinakamahalagang bagay…” Estrada said adding that the
people need to give the present administration more time to perform for the
benefit of the country and the Filipino citizenry.
“Iyong siyam na taon ng nakaraang administrasyon
sobra-sobra ang katiwalian na nangyari, hindi naman maso-solve agad ang
problema sa loob lamang ng dalawang taon kaya bigyan pa natin ng panahon ang
ating kasalukuyang Pangulo para mai-ayos lahat ang mga iniwang katiwalian ng
nakaraang administrasyon,” Estrada said.
When asked on his thoughts on the initiatives of
the government to go after those who betrayed the people’s trust, Estrada said
“Hindi naman sa naninisi kaya lang dapat lipulin lahat ang mga nagnakaw sa
kaban ng bayan”. (jcl/7:12 p.m.)
President Aquino asks for the public to support
the country's claim in the West Philippine Sea
President Benigno S. Aquino III asked for public
support in connection with the country’s territorial claims in the West
Philippine Sea adding that he has been consulting with experts and working for
a diplomatic solution to the dispute.
“Kaya nga po hinihiling ko sa sambayanan ang
pakikiisa sa isyung ito. Iisa lang po dapat ang kumpas natin. Tulungan ninyo
akong iparinig sa kabilang panig ang katuwiran ng ating mga paninindigan,” the
President said in his third State of the Nation address before the Joint
Session of the 15th Congress at the Batasang Pambansa in Quezon City on Monday.
“Hindi po simple ang sitwasyon, at hindi
magiging simple ang solusyon. Magtiwala po kayo --- kumokonsulta tayo sa mga
eksperto, at sa lahat ng pinuno ng ating bansa, pati na sa kaalyado
natin—gayundin sa mga nasa kabilang panig ng usaping ito—upang makahanap ng
solusyon na katanggap-tanggap sa lahat,” he added.
The Philippines has shown patience and calmness
in handling the present stand-off with China, the President said, as he
expressed hope that the Chinese government and its people will also respect the
Philippine position.
As to proposals advising the Philippine
government to abandon its claims, such move would be unacceptable for him, the
President said.
“Kung may pumasok sa inyong bakuran at sinabing
ang kanyang kinatatayuan ay sa kanya na, papayag ba kayo? Hindi naman po yata
tamang ipamigay na lang natin sa iba ang sadyang atin talaga,” he said.
The Philippine government said it wants a
peaceful resolution to the dispute through dialogue with China. It also
proposed to raise the issue to the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of
the Sea or UNCLOS, a proposal opposed by China.
The members of the Association of Southeast
Asian Nations (ASEAN) have also agreed to the so-called six-point principles to
resolve conflicting claims in the West Philippine Sea.
China claims the West Philippine Sea nearly in
its entirety, while Taiwan is also pursuing its own claim. ASEAN member
countries seeking ownership over the disputed territory include Brunei,
Vietnam, Malaysia, and the Philippines. (as/7:26pm)
Aquino remains committed to fight corruption
President Benigno S. Aquino III renewed his
resolved Monday to fight corruption and injustice in the country reiterating
that he will continue to hold accountable those who committed wrongdoings in
the previous administration.
In his third State of the Nation Address (SONA)
before the Joint Session of the 15th Congress at the Batasang Pambansa in
Quezon City on Monday, the President said that while his administration carries
out bureaucratic reforms there are those who continue to oppose his initiatives
and derail his plans.
“Sa bawat hakbang sa tuwid na daan, nagpunla
tayo ng pagbabago. Ngunit may mangilan-ngilan pa ring pilit na bubunot nito.
Habang nagtatalumpati ako ngayon, may mga nagbubulung-bulungan sa isang silid
at hinihimay ang aking mga sinasabi; naghahanap ng butas na ipambabatikos
bukas. Sasabihin nila, ‘Salita lang ito, at hindi totoo ang tuwid na landas.’
Sila na rin po ang magsasabing hayaan na, magkaisa na; forgive and forget na
lang para makausad na tayo,” the President said.
“Hindi ko po matatanggap ito. Forgive and forget
na lang ang sampung taon na nawala sa atin? Forgive and forget na lang para sa
magsasakang nabaon sa utang dahil sa kakaangkat natin ng bigas, gayong puwede
naman palang pagyamanin sa ating sariling lupa?”
Filipinos shouldn’t forgive and forget those who
erred and wanted to retain the status quo, including the perpetrators of the
Maguindanao massacre.
“Ang tugon ko, ang magpatawad, maaari; ang
makalimot, hindi. Kung ang nagkasala ay hindi mananagot, gagarantiyahan mo ang
pagpapahirap muli sa sambayanan,” the President stressed.
“Ang tunay na pagkakaisa at pagkakasunduan ay
magmumula lamang sa tunay at ganap na katarungan. Katarungan ang tawag sa
plunder case na isinampa laban sa dating pangulo.”
With the charges filed against the former
leader, she’ll have an opportunity to defend herself in court, the President
said noting that this is the only way to attain justice.
The removal from office of the Chief Justice of
the Supreme Court is also a significant achievement in the country’s quest for
justice, the President said, adding that the recent impeachment trial against
the former chief magistrate proved that there’s equality under the law.
(as/7:44pm)
President Aquino cites Filipinos as inspiration
for his 3rd State of the Nation Address
President Benigno S. Aquino III cited the
Filipino people as his inspiration in delivering his third State of the Nation
Address before the Joint Session of the 15th Congress at the Batasang Pambansa
in Quezon City on Monday.
The President said the indomitable and positive
spirit of Filipinos to rise above challenges in their quest for change was the
wellspring that guided his Administration in the last two years.
“This is what I have learned in the 25 months I
have served as your President: nothing is impossible. Nothing is impossible
because if the Filipino people see that they are the only Bosses of their
government, they will carry you, they will guide you, they themselves will lead
you towards meaningful change,” the President said.
“I stand before you today as the face of a
government that knows you as its Boss, and draws its strength from you. I am
only here to narrate the changes that you yourselves have made possible,” he
added.
The President’s SONA centered on his
administration’s efforts to improve the delivery of services from the different
branches, offices and agencies of government.
These include electricity; infrastructure
projects such as highways, bridges, airports, trains, and ports; fair
contracts; peace in our cities and our rural areas; every classroom, desk, and
book assigned to a child; and every Filipino granted a future.
“This is why, to all the nurses, midwives, or
doctors who chose to serve in the barrios; to each new graduate who has chosen
to work for the government; to each Filipino athlete who proudly carries the
flag in any corner of the globe, to each government official who renders true
and honest service: You made this change possible,” the President said.
“I repeat: what was once impossible is now
possible. I stand before you today and tell you: this is not my SONA. You made
this happen. This is the SONA of the Filipino nation,” he added. (rck)
Aquino confident Congress will pass law on
mining
President Benigno S. Aquino III expressed
confidence that Congress would pass a law on mining in a bid to improve
environmental mining standards and increase government revenues to promote
sustainable economic development and social growth.
"Umaasa po tayo sa pakikiisa ng Kongreso
upang makapagpasa ng batas na sisigurong mapapangalagaan ang kalikasan at
matitiyak na makatarungan ang magiging pakinabang ng publiko at pribadong
sektor sa mga biyayang makukuha natin mula sa industriyang ito," President
Aquino said in his third State of the Nation Address on Monday during the Joint
Session of the 15th Congress at the Batasang Pambansa Complex in Quezon City.
Last July 6, the Chief Executive signed
Executive Order No. 79 to strengthen environmental protection, promote
responsible mining and provide a more equitable revenue-sharing scheme amid the
projected boom in the sector.
"Mapayapang pag-uusap rin po ang
prinsipyong isinulong natin upang mabuo ang ating Executive Order ukol sa
pagmimina. Ang kaisipan sa likod ng nabuong consensus: mapakinabangan ang ating
likas na yaman upang iangat ang buhay ng Pilipino, hindi lamang ngayon kundi
pati na rin sa susunod na salinlahi. Hindi natin pipitasin ang ginintuang bunga
ng industriyang ito, kung ang magiging kabayaran ay ang pagkasira ng
kalikasan," he said.
The President said the passage of legislation on
mining is still needed to complement the Executive Order.
"Ngunit unang hakbang lamang ito. Isipin po
ninyo: Noong 2010, 145 billion pesos ang kabuuang halaga na nakuha mula sa
pagmimina, subalit 13.4 billion pesos lamang o siyam na porsyento ang napunta
sa kaban ng bayan. Ang likas na yamanay pag-aari ninyo; hindi tayo papayag na
balato lang ang mapupunta sa Pilipino," he said. (js)
Aquino confident about the country achieving
targetted 4.6 million tourist arrivals for 2012
President Benigno S. Aquino III on Monday
expressed confidence that the Philippines will achieve its target of 4.6
million tourist arrivals for 2012, saying that more tourists will visit the
country before the end of the year.
During his third State of the Nation Address
before the Joint Session of the 15th Congress at the Batasang Pambansa in
Quezon City, the President said that the number of tourist arrivals by June of
this year had reached 2.1 million. He is optimistic that more tourists will
arrive during the peak season.
President Aquino said that in 2001 under the
previous administration, the Philippines was only able to attract 1.8 million
foreign tourists to visit the country. When the Aquino administration assumed
office, he said the number of tourists had grown to only around 3.1 million.
“Mantakin po ninyo: sa hinaba-haba ng kanilang
administrasyon, ang naidagdag nilang tourist arrivals, 1.3 million lamang; may
ambag pa kaming kalahating taon diyan,” the President said.
“Tayo naman po, Hunyo pa lang ng 2012—2.1
million na turista na ang napalapag. Mas marami pang dadagsa sa peak season
bago matapos ang taon, kaya hindi ako nagdududang maaabot natin ang quota na
4.6 million na turista para sa 2012,” he said.
“Ibig sabihin po: 1.5 million na turista ang
ating maidadagdag. Samakatuwid, sa dalawang taon, mas malaki ang magiging
paglago ng ating tourist arrivals, kumpara sa naidagdag ng pinalitan natin sa
loob ng siyam at kalahating taon. Hindi po tayo nagtataas ng bangko; nagsasabi
lang po tayo ng totoo,” he further said.
President Aquino said that if Filipinos continue
to embody the “same solidarity” that allowed the Puerto Princesa Underground
River to become one of the New Seven Wonders of Nature, there is no doubt that
the country will be able to reach its goal of 10 million foreign tourists by
2016.
The Puerto Princesa Underground River was named
one of the world’s New 7 Wonders of Nature (N7WN) early this year. It is
located some 50 kilometers north of the city of Puerto Princesa in the province
of Palawan.
During his State of the Nation Address, the
President also lauded Tourism Secretary Ramon Jimenez for his efforts to
promote the country’s tourism campaign “It‘s more fun in the Philippines.”
“Ang pahayag nga po natin sa daigdig: “It’s more
fun in the Philippines.” Kahit wala pang isang taon sa puwesto si Secretary Mon
Jimenez, nagagapas na natin ang positibong bunga ng ating mga naipunlang
reporma,” he said. (co)
Stronger economy shields the country from global
uncertainty, Aquino says
While many countries struggle to regain their
footing in the midst of the global economic slowdown, President Benigno S.
Aquino III said the Philippines was able to strengthen its economy through
reforms and good leadership.
“Tunay nga po: Ang matatag at malakas na
ekonomyang pinanday ng mabuting pamamahala ang pinakamabisang kalasag laban sa
mga hamon na kinakaharap ng daigdig. Dalawang taon po nating binaklas ang mga
balakid sa pag-unlad, at ngayon, tayo na lang mismo ang makakapigil sa ating
sariling pag-angat,” the President said during his third State of the Nation
Address at Batasang Pambansa in Quezon City on Monday.
“Hindi po tayo nag-iisa sa mundo, kaya’t habang
tinutugunan natin ang sarili nating mga suliranin, angkop lamang na bantayan
din ang ilang pangyayaring maaaring makaapekto sa atin,” he added.
The President boasted recent changes in the way
investors do business in the Philippines. He said that in the past
administration, businessmen weren’t confident in putting their money in the
country because of corruption and secrecy in government policies.
“Ngayon, dahil patas na ang laban, at may hayag
at hindi pabagu-bagong mga patakaran, patuloy ang pagtaas ng kumpiyansa sa
ating ekonomya. Patuloy ang pagpasok ng puhunan; patuloy ang pagdami ng
trabaho; patuloy ang positibong siklo ng pagkonsumo, paglago ng negosyo, at
pagdami ng mamamayang na-eempleyo,” he said.
“Dahil maayos ang paggugol ng gobyerno, walang
tagas sa sistema. Dahil maayos ang pangkolekta ng buwis, lumalago ang kaban ng
bayan. Bawat pisong nakokolekta, tiyak ang pupuntahan: Piso itong diretso sa
kalsada, piso para sa bakuna, piso para sa classroom at upuan, piso para sa
ating kinabukasan,” he said.
As a result of a more efficient tax collection,
the government could sufficiently fund projects such as construction of
bridges, roads, and other infrastructures. These reforms also result to better
the flow of goods and services to the people.
According to the President, the agriculture
sector also benefited from these reforms adding that food production, stability
of prices, and better wages were the end results of these reforms. (as/8:27pm)
Aquino cites country’s rice, coco coir export
potentials
President Benigno S. Aquino III said his
administration will focus on the country’s agriculture sector recognizing its
potential for exporting different agricultural products.
In his third State of the Nation Address at the
Batasang Pambansa in Quezon City on Monday, the President said, the Philippines
could export rice next year as well as increasing its capacity to ship out coco
water as well as coco coir.
While farmers disposed coco water as waste in
the past, it is now a source of income for them because of its export
potentials, the Chief Executive said.
“Noong 2009—483,862 liters ng cocowater ang
iniluwas natin. Umangat po ito ng 1,807,583 liters noong 2010. Huwag po kayong
magugulat: noong 2011 --- 16,756,498 liters liters ng cocowater ang in-export
ng Pilipinas,” he said.
In the case of coco coir, the product that
seemed to be unimportant in the past is now very important to farmers and
exporters, the President said.
The President asked the people to seize the
opportunity to export this product vowing to allocate more money for modern
processing equipment of coco coir.
“Hindi natin sasayangin ang pagkakataong ito:
bibili pa tayo ng mga bagong makinang magpoproseso ng bunot para makuha ang mga
hiblang ginagawa mula sa coco coir. Sa susunod na taon, lalo nating
mapapakinabangan ang industriya ng niyog: Naglaan na tayo ng P1.75 billion
upang mamuhunan at palaguin ito,” President Aquino said.
Although the country was a major rice importer
in the past, the agriculture department was able to reverse this trend. Next
year if good weather permits, the Philippines could ship rice overseas, the
President said.
The previous government imported two million
metric tons of rice in 2010 and this large volume ended up in government
warehouses and left to rot, he said.
The present government reduced the volume of
rice imports, and this year, it only imported 500,000 tons, including the
buffer stock intended for the time of disasters. (as/8:48pm)
Government continues to push for reforms in
Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao to attain genuine peace
President Benigno S. Aquino III said his
administration has taken significant steps to improve the peace and order
situation in the country by defeating over 1,700 outlaws and initiating reforms
in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).
"Tagumpay pong maituturing ang dalawandaan
at tatlong rebeldeng sumuko at nagbabalik-loob na sa lipunan, at ang 1,772 na
bandidong nawakasan na ang karahasan. Halimbawa po ang kilabot na teroristang
si Doctor Abu, na hindi na makakapaghasik ng kaniyang lagim," President
Aquino said in his third State of the Nation Address on Monday during the Joint
Session of the 15th Congress at the Batasang Pambansa Complex in Quezon City.
With the vigorous efforts of all law enforcement
agencies, peace and order were restored in most places in the country.
"Nagpupugay rin po tayo sa panunumbalik ng
katahimikan sa mga lugar na matagal nang biningi ng putukan. Ang resulta nga po
ng bayanihan: 365 na barangay ang naagaw sa kamay ng kaaway, 270 na gusali’t
paaralan ang naipaayos, at 74 health centers ang naipagawa," he said.
The Chief Executive said the government
continues to push for reforms in the ARMM in order to attain genuine peace and
order in the region.
"Kung kapayapaan na lang din po ang usapan,
dumako naman tayo sa lugar na matagal naging mukha ng mga mithiing ‘di
makamtan-kamtan. Bago po magsimula ang mga reporma natin sa ARMM, at alam naman
po n’yo, may mga ghost students doon, na naglalakad sa isang ghost road, tungo
sa isang ghost school, para magpaturo sa isang ghost teacher," he said.
"Iniimbestigahan na rin ang mga teacher na
hindi lumilitaw ang pangalan sa talaan ng Professional Regulation Commission,
gayundin ang mga tauhan ng gobyernong hindi nakalista sa plantilya. Limampu’t
limang ghost entry ang tinanggal sa payroll. Ang dating paulit-ulit na
pagsasaboy ng graba sa kalsada para lang pagkakitaan ng pera, bawal na,"
he said.
The President lauded Officer-In-Charge Govenor
Mujiv Hataman for the reforms in the region, including the cleansing of the
voters' list. "Wala nang cash advance sa mga ahensya, para maiwasan ang
pagsasamantala. Ang mga multo sa voters list, mapapatahimik na ang
kaluluwa," he said.
"Ang pumalit po --- pabahay, tulay, at
learning center para sa mga Badjao sa Basilan. Mga community-based hatchery,
lambat, materyales para maglinang ng seaweeds, at punlang napakinabangan ng
2,588 na mangingisda. Certified seeds, punla ng gabi, cassava, goma, at mga
punong namumunga para sa 145,121 na magsasaka," he said.
The President said the government allocates more
funds for the ARMM's development. He said the government set aside P183 million
for fire stations; P515 million for clean drinking water; P551.9 million for
health-care equipment; P691.9 million for daycare centers; and P2.85 billion
for the roads and bridges across the region.
"Ilan lang po iyan sa patutunguhan ng
kabuuang 8.59 billion pesos na ipinagkaloob ng pambansang gobyerno para
isakatuparan ang mga reporma sa ARMM. Lilinawin ko rin po: hindi pa kasama rito
ang taunang suportang natatanggap nila, na ngayong 2012 ay umabot sa 11.7
billion pesos," he stressed.
"Sa peace process naman po: hayag at
lantaran ang usapan; nagpapamalas ang magkabilang panig ng tiwala sa isa’t isa.
Maaaring minsan, magiging masalimuot ang proseso; signos lang po ito na malapit
na nating makamit ang nag-iisa nating mithiin--- ang kapayapaan," he said.
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