By President Benigno S. Aquino III
`Kayo po ang gumawa ng pagbabago. SONA ito ng sambayanang Pilipino’
(President Benigno S. Aquino III’ s third State of the Nation
Address delivered before a joint session of Congress at the Session
Hall of the House of Representatives, Batasan Pambansa Complex, Quezon
City, on July 23, 2012)
Maraming salamat po. Maupo po tayong lahat.
Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile; Speaker Feliciano Belmonte; Bise
Presidente Jejomar Binay; mga dating Pangulong Fidel Valdez Ramos at
Joseph Ejercito Estrada; ang ating mga kagalang-galang na mahistrado ng
Korte Suprema; mga kagalang-galang na kagawad ng kalipunang diplomatiko;
mga kagalang-galang na miyembro ng Kamara de Representante at ng
Senado; mga pinuno ng pamahalaang lokal; mga miyembro ng ating Gabinete;
mga unipormadong kasapi ng militar at kapulisan; mga kapwa kong
nagseserbisyo sa taumbayan; at siyempre sa akin pong mga boss, magandang
hapon po sa inyong lahat.
Ito po ang aking ikatlong SONA, at parang kailan lang nang nagsimula
tayong mangarap. Parang kailan lang nang sabay-sabay tayong nagpasyang
tahakin ang tuwid na daan. Parang kailan lang nang sinimulan nating
iwaksi ang wang-wang, hindi lamang sa kalsada kundi sa sistemang
panlipunan.
Dalawang taon na ang nakalipas mula nang sinabi ninyo, “Sawa na kami
sa korupsyon; sawa na kami sa kahirapan.” Oras na upang ibalik ang isang
pamahalaang tunay na kakampi ng taumbayan.
Gaya ng marami sa inyo, namulat ako sa panggigipit ng
makapangyarihan. Labindalawang-taong gulang po ako nang idineklara ang
Batas Militar. Bumaliktad ang aming mundo: Pitong taon at pitong buwang
ipiniit ang aking ama; tatlong taong napilitang mangibang-bansa ang
aking pamilya; naging saksi ako sa pagdurusa ng marami dahil sa
diktadurya. Dito napanday ang aking prinsipyo: Kung may inaagrabyado’t
ninanakawan ng karapatan, siya ang kakampihan ko. Kung may abusadong
mapang-api, siya ang lalabanan ko. Kung may makita akong mali sa
sistema, tungkulin kong itama ito. [Applause]
Matagal nang tapos ang Batas Militar. Tinanong tayo noon, “Kung hindi
tayo, sino pa?” at “Kung hindi ngayon, kailan pa?” Ang nagkakaisang
tugon natin: tayo at ngayon na. Ang demokrasyang ninakaw gamit ang
paniniil at karahasan, nabawi natin sa mapayapang paraan; matagumpay
nating pinag-alab ang liwanag mula sa pinakamadilim na kabanata ng ating
kasaysayan.
Ngunit huwag po nating kalimutan ang pinag-ugatan ng Batas Militar:
Kinasangkapan ng diktador ang Saligang Batas upang manatili sa
kapangyarihan. At hanggang ngayon, tuloy pa rin ang banggaan sa pagitan
ng gusto ng sistemang parehas, laban sa mga nagnanais magpatuloy ng
panlalamang.
Mula sa unang araw ng ating panunungkulan, walang ibang sumalubong sa atin kundi ang mga bangungot ng nawalang dekada.
Nariyan po ang kaso ng North Rail. Pagkamahal-mahal na nga nito,
matapos ulitin ang negosasyon, nagmahal pa lalo. Sa kabila nito,
binawasan ang benepisyo. Ang labingsiyam na trainsets naging tatlo, at
sa mga estasyon, mula lima, naging dalawa. Ang masaklap pa po,
pinapabayaran na sa atin ang utang nito, now na.
Nariyan ang walang pakundangang bonus sa ilang GOCC, sa kabila ng
pagkalugi ng kanilang mga ahensya. Nariyan ang isang bilyong pisong
pinasingaw ng PAGCOR para sa kape. Nariyan ang sistemang pamamahala sa
PNP na isinantabi ang pangangailangan sa armas ng 45 porsiyento ng
kapulisan, para lang kumita mula sa lumang helicopter na binili sa
presyong brand new.
Wala na ngang iniwang panggastos, patung-patong
at sabay-sabay pa ang mga utang na kailangang bayaran na. Mahaba ang
iniwang listahan na tungkulin nating punuan: Ang 66,800 na backlog sa
classrooms, na nagkakahalaga ng tinatayang 53.44 billion pesos; ang
2,573,212 na backlog sa mga upuan, na nagkakahalaga naman ng 2.31
billion pesos. Nang dumating tayo, may halos tatlumpu’t anim na milyong
Pilipinong hindi pa miyembro ng PhilHealth. Ang kailangan para makasali
sila: maaaring umabot sa 42 billion pesos. Idagdag pa po natin sa lahat
ng iyan ang 103 billion pesos na kailangan para sa modernisasyon ng
Hukbong Sandatahan. Sa harap ng lahat ng ito, ang iniwan sa ating pondo
na malaya nating magagamit: 6.5 percent ng kabuuang budget para sa
natitirang anim na buwan ng 2010. Para po tayong boksingerong isinabak
sa laban nang nakagapos na nga ang mga kamay at paa, nakapiring pa ang
mga mata, at kakampi pa ng kalaban ang referee at ang mga judge.
Kaya nga sa unang tatlong buwan ng aming
panunungkulan, inaabangan namin ang pagdating ng Linggo para maidulog sa
Panginoon ang mga bangungot na humaharap sa amin. Inasahan naming
mangangailangan ng ‘di bababa sa dalawang taon bago magkaroon ng
makabuluhang pagbabago. Bibigyan kaya tayo ng sapat na pag-unawa ng
taumbayan?
Subalit kung may isang bagay mang nakatatak na
sa ating lahi, at makailang ulit na nating pinatunayan sa buong mundo:
Walang hindi makakaya ang nagkakaisang Pilipino. Nangarap po tayo ng
pagbabago; nakamit natin ang pagbabago; at ngayon, karaniwan na ito.
[Applause]
Ang kalsadang pinondohan ninyo ay tuwid, patag, at walang bukol; ang tanging tongpats ay aspalto o semento. Karaniwan na po ito.
Ang sitwasyon kung paparating ang bagyo:
nakaabang na ang relief, at hindi ang tao ang nag-aabang ng relief.
Nag-aabang na ring umalalay ang rescue services sa taumbayan, at hindi
tayo-tayo lang din ang sumasaklolo sa isa’t isa. Karaniwan na po ito.
Ang wang-wang sa lansangan, galing na lang sa
pulis, ambulansya, o bumbero—hindi sa opisyal ng gobyerno. Karaniwan na
rin po ito. Ang gobyernong dating nang-aabuso, ngayon, tunay na kakampi
na ng Pilipino. [Applause]
Nagpatupad po tayo ng reporma: tinanggal ang
gastusing hindi kailangan, hinabol ang mga tiwali, at ipinakita sa
mundong open for business under new management na ang Pilipinas.
Ang dating sick man of Asia, ngayon,
punung-puno na ng sigla. Nang nagkaroon tayo ng positive credit rating
action, ang sabi ng iba, tsamba. Ngayong walo na po sila, tsamba pa rin
kaya? [Applause] Sa Philippine Stock Exchange index, nang una nating
nahigitan ang 4,000 na index, may mga nagduda. Ngayon, sa dami ng
all-time high, pati economic managers, nahirapan yata sa pagbilang, at
ako rin po ay nagulat: nakakaapatnapu’t apat na pala tayo, at bihira
nang bumaba sa 5,000 ang index. [Applause] Nito pong first quarter ng
2012, ang GDP growth natin, 6.4 percent; milya-milya ang layo niyan sa
mga prediksyon, at pinakamataas sa buong Southeast Asian region;
pangalawa po ito sa Asya, sunod lang tayo sa Tsina. [Applause] Kung dati
po, tayo ang laging nangungutang, ngayon, hindi po birong tayo na ang
nagpapautang. [Applause] Dati, namamalimos tayo ng investments; ngayon,
sila na ang dumadagsa. Ang mga kumpanyang Hapon, sa isang pagpupulong po
namin, ang sabi ay, “Baka gusto n’yo kaming silipin. Hindi nga kami ang
pinakamura, pero una naman kami sa teknolohiya.” Pati pinuno ng isa
pong malaking bangko sa Inglatera, kamakailan nakipag-usap sa atin, ang
sinabi, maisali sana sila sa ating kinukunsulta sa usapang pinansyal.
Sa bawat sulok ng mundo, nagpapakita ng
paghanga ang mga komentarista. Ayon sa Bloomberg Businessweek, and I
quote: “Keep an eye on the Philippines.” Ang Foreign Policy magazine,
pati isa sa mga pinuno ng ASEAN 100, nagsabing maaari daw tayong maging,
and I quote, “Asia’s Next Tiger.” [Applause] Sabi ni Ruchir Sharma,
pinuno ng Emerging Market Equities and Global Macro ng Morgan Stanley, I
quote: “The Philippines is no longer a joke.” At mukha naman pong hindi
siya nambobola, dahil tinatayang isang bilyong dolyar ang ipinasok ng
kanyang kumpanya sa atin pong bansa. [Applause] Sana nga po, ang
kaliwa’t kanang paghanga ng taga-ibang bansa, masundan na ng lokal na
tagapagbalita. [Applause]
Sinisiguro po nating umaabot ang kaunlaran sa
mas nakakarami. Alalahanin po natin: Nang mag-umpisa tayo, may 760,357
na kabahayang benepisyaryo ang Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program.
Tinarget [target] natin itong paabutin sa 3.1 million sa loob ng
dalawang taon. Pebrero pa lang po ng taong ito, naiparehistro na ang
ikatlong milyong kabahayang benepisyaryo ng Pantawid Pamilya. [Applause]
Sa susunod na taon naman, palalawakin pa natin ang sakop nito sa 3.8
milyong bahay; limang beses po ang laki niyan sa dinatnan natin.
Pangmatagalan po ang impact ng proyektong ito.
Hindi pa kumpleto ang mga pag-aaral, pero ngayon pa lang, maganda na ang
ipinapakita ng numero. Base sa listahan ng DSWD: May 1,672,977 na mga
inang regular nang nagpapacheck-up. 1,672,814 na mga batang
napabakunahan laban sa diarrhea, polio, tigdas at iba pa. Four point
fifty-seven million na estudyanteng hindi na napipilitang mag-absent
dahil sa kahirapan. [Applause]
Sa kalusugan naman po: Nang dumating tayo,
animnapu’t dalawang porsiyento lamang ng mga Pilipino ang naka-enrol sa
PhilHealth. Ang masaklap, hindi pa masiguro kung lahat sila ay kabilang
sa mga totoong nangangailangan ng kalinga ng estado, o buwenas lang na
malapit sa politiko. Ngayon po, 85 percent ng lahat ng mamamayan,
miyembro na nito. [Applause] Ang ibig pong sabihin, 23.31 million na
Pilipino ang naidagdag sa mga saklaw ng PhilHealth mula nang bigyan tayo
ng mandato. [Applause]
Ang maganda pa rito: ang 5.2 million na
pinakamahirap na kabahayang tinukoy ng National Household Targeting
System, buong-buo at walang-bayad nang makikinabang sa benepisyo ng
PhilHealth. [Applause] Dahil po sa No Balance Billing policy ng
Department of Health, ang lunas para sa dengue, pneumonia, asthma,
katarata, gayundin ang pagpapagamot sa mga catastrophic disease tulad ng
breast cancer, prostate cancer, at acute leukemia, makukuha na nang
libre ng mga pinakamahirap nating kababayan. [Applause]
Ito po ang proseso ng pagpapagamot para sa
kanila: Papasok ka sa alinmang ospital ng gobyerno. Ipapakita mo ang
iyong PhilHealth card. Magpapagamot ka. At uuwi kang maginhawa nang
walang inilabas ni isang kusing.
Sabi nga po sa isa sa mga briefing na dinaluhan
natin, apat sa sampung Pilipino, hindi man lamang nakakakita ng health
professional sa tanang buhay nila. Sa iba po, mas malaki pa: may
nagsasabing anim sa bawat sampung Pilipino ang pumapanaw nang malayo sa
kalinga ng health professional. Anuman ang ating pagbatayan, hindi po
maikakaila: nakakabahala ang bilang ng mga Pilipinong hindi naaabot ang
serbisyong pangkalusugan ng pamahalaan. Tinutugunan na po natin ito.
Mula sa sampung libo noong dumating tayo, umabot na sa 30,801 ang mga
nurse at midwife na ating nai-deploy sa ilalim ng RNHeals Program.
[Applause] Idagdag pa po natin sa kanila ang mahigit labing-isang libong
Community Health Teams na nagsisilbing tulay upang higit na mapatibay
ang ugnayan ng mga doktor at nurse sa komunidad.
At kung dati tutungo lamang ang mga nurse kung
saan makursunadahan ng kanilang hepe, ngayon, dahil sa tamang targeting,
kung saan sila kailangan, doon sila ipinapadala: [applause] sa mga
lugar na matagal nang naiwan sa laylayan ng lipunan. Ipinadala po ang
ating mga health professional sa 1,021 na pook na saklaw ng Pantawid
Pamilya, at sa 609 na pinakamahihirap na lungsod at munisipyo, ayon sa
pag-aaral ng National Anti-Poverty Commission. [Applause]
Dalawang problema po ang natutugunan nito:
bukod sa nagkakatrabaho at nabibigyan ng work experience ang libu-libong
nurse at midwife na dati ay walang mapaglalaanan ng kanilang kaalaman,
nagiging abot-kamay din ang dekalidad na kalinga para sa milyun-milyon
nating kababayan.
Subalit hindi pa po tayo makukuntento rito,
dahil ang hangad natin: kalusugang pangkalahatan. Nagsisimula ito, hindi
sa mga pagamutan, kundi sa loob mismo ng kanya-kanya nating tahanan.
Ibayong kaalaman, bakuna, at checkup ang kailangan upang mailayo tayo sa
karamdaman. Dagdag pa po diyan ang pagsisikap nating iwasan ang mga
sakit na puwede namang iwasan.
Halimbawa: Nabanggit ko ang mosquito traps
kontra dengue noong nakaraang taon.Alam naman po ninyo, ang mga
syantipiko mahigpit sa pagsisiyasat. Maaga pa para sabihing
siguradong-sigurado na tayo, pero nakaka-engganyo po ang mga paunang
resulta nitong programang ito.
Sinubok natin ang bisa ng mosquito traps sa mga
lugar kung saan naitala ang pinakamataas na insidente ng dengue. Sa
buong probinsya ng Bukidnon noong 2010, may 1,216 na kaso. Nang inilagay
ang mga mosquito trap noong 2011: mukhang nakatulong dahil bumaba ito
sa tatlumpu’t pito; 97 percent raw po ang reduction po ito. Sa bayan ng
Ballesteros at Claveria sa Cagayan, may 228 na kaso ng dengue noong
2010. Pagdating ng 2011, walo na lang ang naitala. Sa Catarman, Northern
Samar: 434 na kaso ng dengue noong 2010, naging apat na lang noong
2011. [Applause]
Panimulang pag-aaral pa lamang po ito. Pero
ngayon pa lang, marapat na yata nating pasalamatan sina Secretary Ike
Ona ng DOH at Secretary Mario Montejo ng DOST, [Applause] Wala naman
tayong masyadong umento, [palakpak ninyo na lang] para naman ganahan
silang lalong magsaliksik at mag-ugnayan.
Marami pa po tayong kailangang solusyonan.
Nakakabahala ang mataas pa ring maternal mortality ratio ng bansa. Kaya
nga po gumagawa tayo ng mga hakbang upang tugunan ang pangangailangan sa
kalusugan ng kababaihan. Nais din nating makamit ang Universal Health
Care, at magkaroon ng sapat na kagamitan, pasilidad, at tauhan ang ating
mga institusyong pangkalusugan.
Sa pagtugon natin sa mga ito, malaki ang
maiaambag ng Sin Tax Bill. Maipasa na po sana ito sa lalong madaling
panahon. [Applause] Mababawasan na ang bisyo, madadagdagan pa ang pondo
para sa kalusugan.
Ano naman kaya ang sasalubong sa kabataan
pagpasok sa paaralan? Sa lilim ng puno pa rin kaya sila unang matututo
ng abakada? Nakasalampak pa rin kaya sila sa sahig habang
nakikipag-agawan ng textbook sa kaklase nila?
Matibay po ang pananalig natin kay Secretary
Luistro: Bago matapos ang susunod na taon, ubos na ang minana nating
66,800 na kakulangan sa silid-aralan. [Applause] Ulitin ko po, next year
pa po ‘yan; 40,000 pa lang this year. Ang minana po nating 2,573,212 na
backlog sa upuan, tuluyan na rin nating matutugunan bago matapos ang
2012. [Applause] Sa taon din pong ito, masisimot na rin ang 61.7 million
na backlog sa textbook upang maabot na, sa wakas, ang one is to one
ratio ng aklat sa mag-aaral. [Applause] Sana nga po, ngayong paubos na
ang backlog sa edukasyon, sikapin nating huwag uling magka-backlog dahil
sa dami ng estudyante. Sa tingin ko po, Responsible Parenthood ang
sagot dito. [Applause]
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.
[Applause] Paalala lang po: lahat ng ginagawa natin, may direksyon; may
kaakibat na kondisyon ang dagdag-budget na ito. Kailangang ipatupad ang
napagkasunduang SUC Reform Roadmap ng CHED at ng kaukulang state
colleges and universities, upang siguruhing dekalidad ang magiging
produkto ng mga pamantasang pinopondohan ng estado. Kung mataas ang
grado ninyo sa assignment na ito, asahan ninyong dodoblehin din namin
ang kayod para matugunan ang mga natitirang pangangailangan po ninyo.
[Applause]
Panay addition po ang nagaganap sa ating budget
sa edukasyon. Isipin po ninyo: ang budget ng DepEd na ipinamana sa atin
noong 2010, 177 billion pesos. Ang panukala natin para sa 2013: 292.7
billion pesos. [Applause] Noong 2010, 21.03 billion pesos ang budget
para sa SUCs. Taunan po iyang dinagdagan upang umabot na sa 37.13
billion pesos na panukala natin para sa 2013. [Applause] Pero sa kabila
nito, ngayon pa lang, may nagpaplano nang magcut-classes para mag-piket
sa Mendiola. Ganito po kasimple: ang 292.7 ay mas malaki sa 177, at ang
37.13 ay mas malaki sa 21.03. Kaya kung may magsasabi pa ring binawasan
natin ang budget ng edukasyon, kukumbinsihin na lang namin ang inyong
mga paaralan na maghandog ng remedial math class para sa inyo. [Laughter
and applause] At sana po, sa mga klaseng iyon, pakiusap po, pasukan
naman ninyo.
Nang maupo tayo, at masimulan ang makabuluhang
reporma, minaliit ng ilan ang pagpapakitang-gilas ng pamahalaan. Kundi
raw buwenas, ningas-kugon lang itong mauupos rin paglaon. May ilan pa
rin pong ayaw magretiro sa paghahasik ng negatibismo; silang mga tikom
ang bibig sa good news, at ginawang industriya na ang kritisismo.
Kung may problema kayo na bago matapos ang
taon, bawat bata ay may sarili nang upuan at aklat, tingnan ninyo sila,
mata sa mata, at sabihin ninyong, “Ayaw kong makapag-aral ka.”
Kung masama ang loob ninyo na ang 5.2 million
na pinakamahihirap na kabahayang Pilipino ay maaari nang pumasok sa
ospital nang hindi iniintindi ang gastos sa pagpapagamot, tingnan ninyo
sila ulit, mata sa mata, at sabihin ninyong, “Ayaw kong gumaling ka.”
Kung nagagalit kayo na may tatlong milyong
pamilyang Pilipino nang tumutungo sa katuparan ng kanilang mga pangarap
dahil sa Pantawid Pamilya, tingnan ninyo sila, mata sa mata, at sabihin
ninyong, “Ibabalik ko kayo sa kawalan ng pag-asa.” [Applause]
Tapos na ang panahon kung kailan choice lang ng
makapangyarihan ang mahalaga. Halimbawa, ang dating namumuno sa TESDA,
nagpamudmod ng mga scholarship voucher; ang problema, wala palang
nakalaang pondo para rito. Natural, tatalbog ang voucher. Ang napala:
2.4 billion pesos ang sinisingil ng mahigit isanlibong eskwelahan mula
sa pamahalaan. Nagpapapogi ang isang tao’t isang administrasyon;
sambayanang Pilipino naman ang pinagbabayad ngayon.
Pumasok si Secretary Joel Villanueva;
[applause] hindi siya nagpasindak sa tila imposibleng pagbabagong dapat
ipatupad sa kanyang ahensya. Sa kabila ng malaking utang na minana ng
TESDA, 434,676 na indibidwal pa rin ang kanilang hinasa sa ilalim ng
Training for Work Scholarship Program. [Applause] Kongkretong tagumpay
din po ang hatid ng TESDA Specialista Technopreneurship Program (mas
mahirap pong bigkasin kaysa sa resulta). Biruin po ninyo: Bawat isa sa
5,240 na sertipikadong Specialistas, kumikita na ngayon ng 562 pesos
kada araw o 11,240 pesos kada buwan. Mas malaki pa po ito sa minimum
wage. [Applause]
Mula sa pagkasanggol, hanggang sa pagkabinata,
gumagana na ang sistema para sa mamamayan. Sinisiguro nating manganganak
ng trabaho ang pagsigla ng ating ekonomiya.
Alalahanin po natin: para tumabla lang,
kailangang makalikha taun-taon ng isang milyong bagong trabaho para sa
mga new entrants. Ang nalikha po natin sa loob ng dalawang taon: halos
3.1 million na bagong trabaho. [Applause]
Ito po ang dahilan kung bakit pababa nang
pababa ang unemployment rate sa bansa. Nang dumating tayo, eight percent
ang unemployment rate. Naging 7.2 ito noong Abril ng 2011, at bumaba pa
lalo sa 6.9 ngayong taon, sa buwan rin ng Abril. ‘Di po ba makatwirang
mangarap na balang araw, bawat Pilipinong handang magbanat ng buto, may
mapapasukang trabaho?
Tingnan na lamang po natin ang BPO sector.
Noong taong 2000, limanlibo katao lang ang naempleyo sa industriyang
ito. Fast forward po tayo: 638,000 katao na ang nabibigyang trabaho ng
mga BPO, at labing-isang bilyong dolyar ang ipinasok nito sa ating
ekonomiya noong taong 2011. Ang projection nga po, pagdating ng 2016,
kung saan ako po ay magpapaalam na sa inyo, 25 billion dollars na ang
maipapasok nito, at makakapag-empleyo ng 1.3 million na Pilipino.
[Applause] Hindi pa po kasama rito ang tinatayang aabot sa 3.2 million
na mga taxi driver, barista, mga sari-sari store, karinderya, at marami
pang ibang makikinabang sa mga indirect jobs na malilikha dahil sa BPO
industry.
Malaking bahagi din po ng ating job-generation
strategy ang pagpapatayo ng sapat na imprastruktura. Sa mga
nakapagbakasyon na sa Boracay, nakita na naman ninyo ang bagong-binyag
nating terminal sa Caticlan. Nakalatag na rin po ang plano upang
palawakin ang runway nito.
Magkakaroon pa po ‘yan ng mga kapatid: bago
matapos ang aking termino, nakatayo na ang New Bohol Airport sa Panglao,
[applause] New Legaspi Airport sa Daraga, at Laguindingan Airport sa
Misamis Oriental. [Applause] Ia-upgrade na rin po natin ang ating
international airports sa Mactan, Puerto Princesa, at Tacloban.
[Applause] Dagdag pa po diyan ang pagpapaganda ng mga airport sa Butuan,
Cotabato, Dipolog, Pagadian, Tawi-Tawi, Southern Leyte, at San Vicente
sa Palawan. [Applause] Kami po sa Tarlac ay maghihintay na lang.
[Laughter]
Pang-apat na Pangulo na po akong sasalo sa
problema ng NAIA 3. Hindi lang po eroplano ang nag-take off at
nag-landing dito: maging mga problema’t anomalya, lumapag din. Nagbitiw
na po ng salita si Secretary Mar Roxas: bago tayo magkita sa susunod na
SONA, maisasaayos na ang mga structural defects na minana natin sa NAIA
3. [Applause]
Nitong Hunyo po, nagsimula na ring umusad ang
proseso para sa LRT Line 1 Cavite Extension project, na magpapaluwag sa
trapik sa Las Piñas, Parañaque, at Cavite. [Applause] Dagdag pa diyan,
para lalong mapaluwag ang traffic sa Kamaynilaan at mapabilis ang
pagtawid mula North Luzon hanggang South Luzon Expressway, magkakaroon
ng dalawang elevated NLEX–SLEX connector. Matatapos po ang mga ito sa
2015. [Applause] Magiging one hour and 40 minutes na lang ang biyaheng
Clark papuntang Calamba oras na makumpleto ang mga ito. Bago po tayo
bumaba sa puwesto, nakatayo na rin ang mga dekalidad na terminal sa
Taguig, Quezon City, at Parañaque na paparadahan ng bus biyaheng
probinsya, [applause] upang hindi na sila makisiksik pa sa EDSA.
Nagbago na po ang takbo ng usapan tungkol sa
ahensyang dati’y itinuturing na pugad ng kapalpakan. Naalala ko po dati:
Kapag tag-ulan at umapaw ang Tarlac River, nalulunod ang MacArthur
Highway. Tutunawin nito ang aspalto; magbabaku-bako ang kalsada hanggang
sa tuluyan na nga itong mawawala. Bilang kinatawan noon ng aking
distrito, inireklamo ko po ito. Ang tugon ng DPWH: alam namin ang
problema, alam namin ang solusyon, pero wala kaming pera. Kinailangan ko
pong makiusap sa aking mga barangay, at ang sabi ko po sa kanila ay
“Kung hindi natin ito uunahin, walang gagawa nito, at tayo rin ang
mapeperhuwisyo.” Dati, panay ang “hoy, gising!” sa gobyerno, bakit wala
daw kasing ginagawa. Ngayon ang reklamo, “sobra namang trapik, ang dami
kasing ginagawa.” [Laughter and applause] Paalala lang din po:
naisasaayos na natin ang mga kalsadang ito nang hindi nagtataas ng
buwis. [Applause]
Bubuo tayo ng mga daanan, hindi ayon sa
kickback o kursonada, pero ayon sa isang malinaw na sistema. Dahil hindi
na bara-bara ang paglalagak natin ng pondo para sa mga proyekto, hindi
na ito mapapako sa plano, totoong kalsada na ang pakikinabangan ng
Pilipino. Nang maupo po tayo sa puwesto, 7,239 kilometers sa ating
national road network ang hindi pa naisasaayos. 1,569 kilometers na nito
ang naipaayos natin sa ilalim ng pamamahala ni Secretary Babes Singson;
[applause] sa 2012—2,275 kilometers pa ang maidadagdag na natapos na
rin po. Pati po ang mga kalsada at kurbadang mapanganib, tinutukoy at
inaayos na gamit ang teknolohiya. Taun-taon po nating bubunuin ito,
upang bago matapos ang aking termino, bawat pulgada ng ating national
road network, maayos na po. Siyempre ‘wag la lang po n’yo dagdagan ang
national road network.
Hindi lang kalsada, kundi pati sistema,
isinasaayos sa DPWH. Dahil sa pagsunod sa tamang proseso ng bidding at
procurement, 10.6 billion pesos na ang natipid ng kanilang ahensya mula
2011 hanggang nitong Hunyo. [Applause] Maging mga kontratista, batid ang
positibong bunga ng reporma sa DPWH. Sabi nga po nila, “ang top 40 na
kontratista, fully booked na raw po.”
Sana po hindi maantala ang pagpapatayo natin ng
iba pang imprastraktura para hindi rin mapurnada ang paglago ng ibang
industriya.
Kaakibat ng pagpapaunlad ng imprastruktura ang
paglago ng turismo. Isipin po ninyo: Noong 2001, ang tourist arrivals sa
ating bansa, 1.8 million. Nang dumating po tayo noong 2010, naglalaro
ito sa 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. Tayo naman po, Hunyo
pa lang ng 2012—2.1 million na turista na ang napalapag. [Applause] 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. [Applause] 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. [Applause]
Pero hindi nakuntento rito si Secretary Mon
Jimenez. Sabi niya, kung sa Malaysia may bumisitang 24.7 million na
turista noong 2011, at kung sa Thailand naman tinatayang 17 million, sa
dinami-rami ng magagandang tanawin sa ating bansa, hindi naman siguro
suntok sa buwan kung mangarap tayong pagdating ng 2016, sampung milyong
turista na ang bibisita sa Pilipinas kada taon. [Applause] Kung patuloy
na magkakaisa ang sambayanang Pilipino, gaya ng ipinamalas nating
hirangin ang Puerto Princesa Underground River bilang isa sa New Seven
Wonders of Nature, walang dudang makakamtan natin ito. Ang pahayag nga
po natin sa daigdig: “It’s more fun in the Philippines.” [Applause]
Kahit wala pang isang taon sa puwesto si Secretary Mon Jimenez,
nagagapas na natin ang positibong bunga ng ating mga naipunlang reporma.
Masasabi nga po nating pagdating sa turismo, “It’s really fun—to have
Secretary Mon Jimenez as our Secretary.” [Applause]
Kung paglago po ang usapan, nasa tuktok ng
listahan ang agrikultura. Kayod-kalabaw po si Secretary Alcala upang
makapaghatid ng mabubuting balita. Dati, para bang ang pinapalago ng mga
namumuno sa DA ay ang utang ng NFA. Twelve billion pesos ang minana
nilang utang; ang ipinamana naman nila sa atin, 177 billion pesos.
Hindi po ba’t noon, pinaniwala tayo na 1.3
million metric tons ang kakulangan sa bigas, at para tugunan ito, ‘di
bababa sa two million metric tons ang kanilang inangkat noong 2010.
Parang unlimited rice sila kung maka-order ng bigas, pero dahil
sobra-sobra, nabubulok lang naman ito sa mga bodega. Ang 1.3 million
metric tons, unang taon pa lang, napababa na natin sa 860,000 metric
tons. [Applause] Ngayong taon, 500,000 na lang, kasama pa ang buffer
sakaling abutin tayo ng bagyo. [Applause] Huwag lang po tayong
pagsungitan ng panahon, harinawa, sa susunod na taon ay puwede na tayong
mag-export ng bigas. [Applause]
Ang sabi po ni Secretary Alcala: ang susi dito,
makatotohanang programa sa irigasyon, at masigasig na implementasyon ng
certified seeds program. [Applause] Ang masakit po, hindi bagong
kaalaman ito; hindi lang ipinapatupad. Kung dati pa sila nagtrabaho nang
matino, nasaan na kaya tayo ngayon?
Tingnan rin po natin ang industriya ng niyog at
ang cocowater na dati tinatapon lang, ngayon, napapakinabangan na ng
magsasaka. 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 [applause]—puwede ho bang
ulitin iyon?—16,756,498 liters ng cocowater ang in-export ng Pilipinas.
Ang coco coir naman, kung dati walang pumapansin, ngayon may shortage na
dahil pinapakyaw ng mga exporter. 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 1.75 billion pesos upang mamuhunan at palaguin ito.
[Applause]
Sinimulan po ng aking ina ang Comprehensive
Agrarian Reform Program. Nararapat lamang na matapos ang programang ito
sa panahon ng aking panunungkulan. [Applause]
Isinasaayos na po ang sistema upang mapabilis
ang pagpapatupad ng repormang agraryo. Ginagawa ng pamahalaan ang lahat
ng hakbang upang maipamahagi sa ating magsasaka ang mga lupaing
diniligan at pinagyaman ng kanilang pawis. Subalit mayroon pa rin pong
ayaw paawat sa pagtatanim ng mga balakid. Ang tugon ko sa kanila:
susunod tayo sa batas. Ang atas ng batas, ang atas ng taumbayan, at ang
atas ko: Bago ako bumaba sa puwesto, naipamigay na dapat ang lahat ng
lupaing sakop ng CARP. [Applause]
Liwanagin naman po natin ang nangyayari sa
sektor ng enerhiya. Mantakin po ninyo: Dati po, umabot lang ang kawad ng
kuryente sa barangay hall, “energized” na raw ang buong barangay. Kaya
ganun na lang kung ipagmalaki nilang 99.98 percent na raw ng mga
barangay sa bansa ang may kuryente. Pati ba naman sa serbisyong dapat ay
matagal nang napapakinabangan ng Pilipino, nagkakagulangan pa? Kaya nga
po, para subukan ang kakayahan ng DOE at NEA, naglaan tayo ng 1.3
billion pesos para pailawan ang unang target na 1,300 sitios, sa
presyong isang milyong piso bawat isa. Nang matapos sila, ang napailawan
sa inilaan nating pondo: 1,520 sitios, at gumastos lamang sila ng 814
million pesos. [Applause] Nagawa nila ito sa loob lamang ng tatlong
buwan, at mas marami pa pong gagawin dito hangga’t matapos ang 36,000
sitios, na dati’y inaabot ng dalawang taon. Kay Secretary Rene
Almendras, bilib talaga ako sa iyo; parang hindi ka nauubusan ng
enerhiya. Sa paghahatid-serbisyo, hindi ka lang eveready, nagmistulang
energizer bunny ka pa—you keep on going, and going, and going.
[Applause]
Nangingibabaw na nga po ang liwanag sa ating
bayan—liwanag na nagsiwalat sa krimeng nagaganap sa madidilim na sulok
ng lipunan. Ang pinagsisikapang kitain ng Pilipino, hindi na magagantso.
Patuloy po ang pagbaba ng crime volume sa buong bansa. Ang mahigit
limandaan libong krimen na naitala noong 2009, mahigit kalahati po ang
nabawas: 246,958 na lamang iyan nitong 2011. Dagdag pa rito: ang dating
dalawanlibo’t dalawandaang kaso ng carnapping noong 2010, lampas
kalahati rin ang ibinaba: 966 na lang po iyan pagdating ng 2011.
Ito nga po sana ang dalhin ng ating mga
headline. Hindi po natin sinasabing wala nang krimeng nagaganap, pero
palagay ko naman po, wala dapat magalit na nangalahati na ito. Si
Raymond Dominguez na matagal nang labas-masok sa kulungan, hindi ba’t sa
loob lamang ng mahigit isang taon, nasentensyahan at naipakulong na?
Ang dalawa pa niyang kapatid ay sinampahan na rin natin ng kaso at
kasalukuyan na ring nakabilanggo. May dalawang suspect sa bus bombing sa
Makati noong nakaraang taon, ang isa po’y pumanaw na; ‘yung isa,
humihimas na ng rehas. Kakosa niya ang mahigit sampung libong sangkot sa
ilegal na droga na inaresto ng PDEA nitong 2011. [Applause]
Alam po nating hindi araw-araw ang laban ni
Pacman, at hindi puwedeng iasa dito ang pagbaba ng krimen. Kaya nga po
pinalalakas natin ang puwersa ng kapulisan. ‘Di po ba, nang dumating
tayo, apatnapu’t limang porsyento ng ating kapulisan ang walang baril at
umaasa sa anting-anting habang tumutugis ng masasamang-loob? [Laughter]
May nanalo na po sa bidding, tinitiyak na lamang nating dekalidad ang
kanilang mga produkto. Pagkatapos ng proseso, at itong taon po nating
inaasahan ito, maipagkakaloob na ang 74,600 na baril na magagamit nila
upang ipagtanggol at alagaan ang bayan, lipunan, at sarili. [Applause]
Dumako naman po tayo sa usapin ng pambansang
tanggulan. May mga nagsabi na po na ang ating Air Force, “all air, at no
force.” [Laughter] Imbes na alagaan ng estado, para bang sinasadyang
ilagay sa alanganin ang ating mga sundalo. Hindi po tayo makakapayag na
manatiling ganito.
Makalipas nga lang po ang isang taon at pitong
buwan, nakapaglaan na tayo ng mahigit dalawampu’t walong bilyong piso
para sa AFP Modernization Program. Aabutan na nito ang tatlumpu’t
tatlong bilyong pisong pondo na ipinagkaloob sa nasabing programa sa
nakalipas na labinlimang taon. [Applause] Bumubuwelo pa lang po tayo sa
lagay na ‘yan: kapag naipasa na ang panukala nating AFP modernization
bill sa Kongreso, makakapaglaan tayo ng pitumpu’t limang bilyong piso
para sa susunod na limang taon.
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.
Nagka-canvass na rin po ang Sandatahang Lakas
ng mga kagamitan tulad ng mga kanyon, armored personnel carrier, at
frigates. Hindi magtatagal, dadaong na ang karelyebo ng BRP Gregorio del
Pilar sa ating pampang. Sa Enero, aangkla na po sa Pilipinas ang BRP
Ramon Alcaraz, ang pangalawa nating Hamilton class cutter. ‘Di na po
bangkang papel ang ating ipapalaot; [applause] ngayon po, mga hi-tech at
dekalidad na barko na ang tatanod sa 36,000 kilometers nating
coastline.
Mainam na rin po siguro kung maglilinis-linis
na ng mga hangar ang ating Sandatahang Lakas, dahil darating na ang mga
kagamitang lalong magpapatikas sa ating tanggulan. Sa wakas, may
katuwang na po ang kaisa-isa nating C-130 na tatlumpu’t anim na taon
nang rumoronda sa himpapawid: dalawa pang C-130 ang magiging operational
ulit sa taong ito. Bago matapos ang taong ito, inaasahan nating
mai-dedeliver na ang binili nating dalawampu’t isang refurbished UH-1H
Helicopter, apat na combat utility helicopters, mga radyo’t iba pang
communication equipment, rifles, mortars, mobile diagnostic
laboratories, kasama na ang bullet station assembly. [Applause]
Pagdating naman po ng 2013, lalapag na ang sampung attack helicopters,
dalawang naval helicopters, dalawang light lift aircraft, isang frigate,
at mga force protection equipment. [Applause]
At hindi lang po natin sa armas ipinaparamdam
ang pagkalinga sa ating pulis at kasundaluhan. Nabawasan na rin po ang
mga pasanin nila sa pamumuhay dahil sa mahigit dalawampu’t dalawang
libong bahay ang naipatayo na sa ilalim ng AFP–PNP housing program.
[Applause]
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 kaytagal nating inisip na imposible.
Tungkol po ito sa buhay ng isang sundalong araw-araw sumasabak sa
peligro; tungkol ito sa pamilya niyang nag-aabang na makabalik siyang
ligtas, ano man ang kanyang makaharap. Hayaan po nating ang ilang mga
benipisyaryo ang magbigay ng kani-kanilang mga kuwento:
[Video]
At ngayon ngang inaaruga na sila ng taumbayan,
lalo namang ginaganahan ang ating kasundaluhan na makamtan ang
kapayapaan. 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.
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. [Applause]
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 maglalakad sa isang
ghost road, tungo sa isang ghost school, para magpaturo sa isang ghost
teacher. Ang mga aparisyon pong gumulantang kay OIC Governor Mujiv
Hataman: [applause] Apat na eskuwelahan na natagpuang may ghost
students; 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.
Wala nang cash advance sa mga ahensya, para maiwasan ang pagsasamantala.
Ang mga multo sa voters list, mapapatahimik na ang kaluluwa. [Applause]
Kaya nga po kay OIC Gov. Mujiv Hataman, ang masasabi natin: talaga
namang isa ka nang certified ghost buster.
Ang pumalit po, at pinapalit na: 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. Simula pa lang po iyan: nakalaan na ang 183 million pesos
para sa mga municipal fishing port projects sa ARMM; 310.4 million pesos
para sa mga istasyon ng bumbero; 515 million pesos para sa malinis na
inuming tubig; 551.9 million pesos para sa mga kagamitang pangkalusugan;
691.9 million pesos para sa daycare centers; at 2.85 billion pesos para
sa mga kalsada at tulay na babagtas sa rehiyon. Ilan lang po iyan sa
patutunguhan ng kabuuang 8.59 billion pesos na ipinagkaloob ng
pambansang gobyerno para isakatuparan ang mga reporma sa ARMM.
[Applause] Lilinawin ko rin po: hindi pa kasama rito ang taunang
suportang natatanggap nila, na ngayong 2012 ay umabot sa 11.7 billion
pesos. [Applause]
Miski po ang mga dating gustong tumiwalag,
nakikita na ang epekto ng reporma. Kinikilala natin bilang pahiwatig ng
kanilang tiwala ang nakaraang pitong buwan, kung kailan walang
nangyaring sagupaan sa pagitan ng militar at ng MILF. 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: Kapayapaan.
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. [Applause]
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 yaman, pag-aari ninyo; hindi
tayo papayag na balato lang ang mapupunta sa Pilipino. Umaasa po tayo sa
pakikiisa ng Kongreso upang makapagpasa ng batas na sisigurong
napapangalagaan ang kalikasan at matitiyak na makatarungan ang magiging
pakinabang ng publiko at pribadong sektor sa mga biyayang makukuha natin
mula sa industriyang ito. [Applause]
Pag-usapan po natin ang situwasyon sa Disaster
Risk Reduction and Management. Dati, ang gobyernong dapat tumutulong,
nanghihingi rin ng tulong. Ngayon, nasa Pasipiko pa lang ang bagyo, alam
na kung saan idedestino ang ayuda, at may malinaw nang plano upang
maiwasan ang peligro.
Tuwing pag-uusapan nga po ang sakuna, lagi kong
naaalala ang nangyari po sa amin sa Tarlac noong minsang bumagyo. Sa
lakas ng ulan, bumigay ang isang dike. Nang nagising ang isang barangay
captain, tinangay na ng baha ang kanyang pamilya at mga kagamitang
pangsaka. Buti nga po’t nakaligtas ang buong mag-anak. Malas lang po ng
kalabaw nilang naiwang nakatali sa puno; nabigti ito sa lakas ng ragasa.
Walang kalaban-laban din po ang marami sa
tinamaan ng bagyong Ondoy, Pepeng, at Sendong. Napakarami pong nasawi sa
paghagupit ng mga delubyong ito. Sa ilalim ng bagong-lunsad na Project
NOAH, isinakay natin sa iisang bangka ang mga inisyatiba kontra-sakuna,
at hindi na rin po idinadaan sa tsamba ang paglilikas sa mga pamilya.
Gamit ang teknolohiya, nabibigyan na ng wastong babala ang Pilipino
upang makapaghanda at makaiwas sa disgrasya.
Real-time at direkta na ang pakinabang ng
walumpu’t anim na automated rain gauges at dalawampu’t walong water
level monitoring sensors natin sa iba’t ibang rehiyon. Bago matapos ang
2013, ang target natin: animnaraang automated rain gauges at apatnaraan
at dalawampu’t dalawang water level sensors. Ipapakabit po natin ang mga
ito sa labingwalong pangunahing river basins sa buong bansa. [Applause]
Isa pa pong pagbabago: Dati, ang mga ahensya’y
kanya-kanyang habulan ng numero, kanya-kanyang agenda, kanya-kanyang
pasikatan. Ngayon, ang kultura sa gobyerno: bayanihan para sa kapakanan
ng taumbayan. Convergence po ang tawag natin dito.
Dati pa naman po naglipana ang mga programa sa
tree planting. Pero matapos magtanim, pababayaan na lang ang mga ito.
Kapag nakita ng mga komunidad na naghahanap din ng kabuhayan, puputulin
ang mga ito para gawing uling.
May solusyon na po rito. Mayroon na pong
128,558 hectares ng kagubatang naitanim sa buong bansa; bahagi lang po
iyan ng kabuuang 1.5 million na ektaryang matatamnan bago tayo bumaba sa
puwesto. [Applause] Nakapaloob po rito ang mga komunidad na nasa ilalim
ng National Convergence Initiative. Ang proseso: pagkatanim ng puno,
makikipag-ugnayan ang DSWD sa mga komunidad. Kapalit ng conditional cash
transfer, aalagaan ang mga puno; mayroon ding mga magpapalago ng bagong
punla sa nursery. 335,078 na po ang mga Pilipinong nakakakuha ng
kabuhayan mula dito.
Sa isa nga pong programa, nakiambag din ang
pribadong sektor, na nagbibigay ng espesyal na binhi ng kape at cacao sa
komunidad, at tinuturuan silang alagaan at siguruhing mataas ang ani.
Itinatanim ang kape sa lilim ng mga puno, na habang nakatayo ay
masisigurong hihigop ng baha at tutulong makaiwas tayo sa pinsala. Ang
kumpanyang nagbigay ng binhi, sure buyer na rin ng ani. Panalo po ang
mga komunidad nay may dagdag kita, panalo ang pribadong sektor, panalo
pa ang susunod na salinlahing makikinabang sa matatayog na puno.
[Applause]
Matagal na pong problema ang illegal logging.
Mula nga po nang lumapag ang EO 23, nakasabat na si Mayor Jun Amante ng
mahigit anim na milyong pisong halaga ng troso. Nagpapasalamat tayo sa
kanya. Sa Butuan pa lang ito; paano pa kung magpapakita ng ganitong
political will ang lahat ng LGU?
Ang mga trosong nakukumpiska ng DENR, lalapag
sa mga komunidad na naturuan na ng TESDA ng pagkakarpintero. Ang
resulta: upuan para sa mga pampublikong paaralan na hawak naman ng
DepEd. Isipin po ninyo: ang dating pinagmumulan ng pinsala, ngayon,
tulay na para sa mas mabuting kinabukasan. Dati, imposible nga ito:
Imposible kung nagbubulag-bulagan ang pamahalaan sa ilegal na gawain.
Kaya kayong mga walang konsensya; kayong mga
paulit-ulit isinusugal ang buhay ng kapwa Pilipino: maghanda na kayo.
Tapos na ang maliligayang araw po ninyo. [Applause] Sinampolan na natin
ang tatlumpu’t apat na kawani ng DENR, isang PNP provincial director, at
pitong chief of police. Pinagpapaliwanag na rin po natin ang isang
Regional Director ng PNP na nagbingi-bingihan sa aking utos at
nagbulag-bulagan sa mga dambuhalang trosong dumaan sa kanilang tanawin.
Kung hindi kayo umayos, isusunod namin kayo. Magkubli man kayo sa ilalim
ng inyong mga padrino, aabutan namin kayo. Isasama na rin namin ang mga
padrino ninyo. [Applause] Kaya bago pa magkasalubong ang ating landas,
ako po’y muling makikiusap, mas maganda sigurong tumino na kayo.
Mula sa sinapupunan, sa pag-aaral at
pagtatrabaho, may pagbabago nang haharap sa Pilipino. At sakaling piliin
niyang magserbisyo sa gobyerno, tuloy pa rin ang pag-aaruga ng estado
hanggang sa kanyang pagreretiro. Tatanawin ng pamahalaan ang kanyang
ambag bilang lingkod-bayan, at hindi ipagdadamot sa kanya ang pensiyong
siya rin naman ang nagpuhunan.
Isipin po ninyo, at ako po’y nagulat dito: may
mga pensyonado tayong tumatanggap ng 500 pesos lamang kada buwan. Paano
kaya niya ito pagkakasiyahin sa tubig, kuryente, at pagkain araw-araw?
Ang atin pong tugon: Pagsapit ng bagong taon, hindi na bababa sa
limanlibong piso ang matatanggap na buwanang pensyon ng ating old-age
and disability pensioners. [Applause] Masaya tayong matutugunan natin
ang pangangailangan nila ngayon, nang hindi isinusugal ang kapakanan ng
mga pensyonado bukas.
Iba na po talaga ang mukha ng gobyerno.
Sumasabay na po sa pribadong sektor ang ating pasahod para sa entry
level. Pero kapag sabay kayong na-promote ng kaklase mong piniling
mag-pribado, nagkakaiwanan na.
Mahahabol din po natin iyan; pero sa ngayon,
ang good news natin sa mga nagtatrabaho sa pamahalaan: Performance-Based
Incentives. Dati, miski palpak ang palakad ng isang ahensya, very
satisfactory pa rin ang pinakamababang rating ng empleyado. Dahil sa
pakikisama, nahihirapan ang bisor na bigyan ng makatarungang rating ang
mga tauhan niya. Nakakawawa tuloy ang mga mahusay magtrabaho; nawawalan
sila ng dahilan para galingan dahil parehas lang naman ang insentibo ng
mga tamad at pursigido.
Heto po ang isa lamang sa mga hakbang natin
upang tugunan ito. Simula ngayong taon, magpapatupad tayo ng sistema
kung saan ang bonus ay nakabase sa pagtupad ng mga ahensya sa kanilang
mga target para sa taon. [Applause] Nasa kamay na ng empleyado ang susi
sa kanyang pag-angat. Ang insentibo, maaaring umabot ng tatlumpu’t
limang libong piso, depende sa pagpapakitang-gilas mo sa iyong trabaho.
Dagdag pa ito sa across-the-board na Christmas bonus na matatanggap mo.
Ginagawa natin ito, hindi lamang para itaas ang
kumpiyansa at ipakita ang pagtitiwala natin sa ating mga lingkod-bayan.
Higit sa lahat, para ito sa Pilipinong umaasa sa tapat at mahusay na
serbisyo mula sa lingkod-bayan, at umaasang sila at sila lamang ang
itinuturing na boss ng kanilang pamahalaan.
Alam po niyo, sa simula pa lang mayroon nang
mga kumuwestiyon sa sinasabi nating, “Kung walang corrupt, walang
mahirap.” Hanggang ngayon mayroon pa rin pong mangilan-ngilang
nagtatanong: nakakain ba ang mabuting pamamahala? Ang simpleng sagot,
“Siyempre.”
Isipin po natin ang ating pinanggalingan: Dati,
parang “Wild West” ang pamumuhunan sa Pilipinas. May peligro na nga ang
negosyo, sinagad pa ang risko dahil sa di tiyak at nakalihim na
patakaran. Kakamayan ka nga gamit ang kanan, kokotongan ka naman na
gamit ang kaliwa.
Ngayon, dahil patas na ang laban, at may hayag
at hindi pabagu-bagong mga patakaran, patuloy ang pagtaas ng kumpiyansa
sa ating ekonomiya. Patuloy ang pagpasok ng puhunan; patuloy ang pagdami
ng trabaho; patuloy ang positibong siklo ng pagkonsumo, paglago ng
negosyo, at pagdami ng mamamayang naeempleyo. [Applause]
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. [Applause]
Dahil maayos ang paggawa ng tulay, kalsada, at
gusali, itinatayo ang mga ito kung saan kailangan. Maayos ang daanan,
mas mabilis ang takbo ng produkto, serbisyo, at mamamayan.
Dahil maayos ang pamamahala sa agrikultura,
tumataas ang produksyon ng pagkain, at hindi pumapalo ang presyo nito.
Stable ang pasahod, at mas malakas ang pambansang ekonomiya.
Tunay nga po: Ang matatag at malakas na
ekonomiyang 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.
Ginawa po natin ang lahat ng ito habang
binubuno rin ng bawat bansa sa iba’t ibang sulok ng daigdig ang
kani-kanilang problema’t pagsubok.
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.
Naging maugong ang mga kaganapan sa Bajo de
Masinloc. May mga mangingisdang Tsinong pumasok sa ating teritoryo.
Nasabat ng barko natin at nasabad sa kanilang mga barko ang endangered
species. Bilang pinuno, kailangan kong ipatupad ang batas na umiiral sa
ating bansa. Sa pagsulong nito, nagbungguan ang Nine-Dash Line Theory ng
mga Tsino, na umaangkin sa halos buong West Philippine Sea, at ang
karapatan natin at ng marami pang ibang bansa, kasama na ang Tsina, na
pinagtibay naman ng United Nations Convention on the Laws of the Sea.
Ibayong hinahon ang ipinamalas natin. Ang barko
ng Hukbong Dagat, bilang tanda ng ating malinis na hangarin, ay agad
nating pinalitan ng barkong sibilyan. Hindi tayo nakipagsagutan sa mga
banat ng kanilang media sa atin. Hindi naman po siguro kalabisan na
hilingin sa kabilang panig na galangin ang ating karapatan, gaya ng
paggalang sa kanilang mga karapatan bilang kapwa bansang nasa iisang
mundong kailangang pagsaluhan.
Mayroon po tayong mga miron na nagsasabing
hayaan na lang ang Bajo de Masinloc; umiwas na lang tayo. Pero kung may
pumasok sa inyong bakuran at sinabing sa kanya na 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. [Applause]
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.
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. [Applause]
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 rin po ang magsasabing hayaan na, magkaisa
na; forgive and forget na lang para makausad na tayo.
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?
Forgive and forget na lang ba para sa pamilya
ng isang pulis na namatay nang walang kalaban-laban, dahil batuta lang
ang hawak niya habang hinahabol ang armadong masasamang-loob?
Forgive and forget na lang ba para sa mga
naulila ng limampu’t pitong biktima ng masaker sa Maguindanao?
Maibabalik ba sila ng “forgive and forget?” [Applause] Forgive and
forget ang lahat ng atraso ng mga naglubog sa atin sa bulok na estado?
Forgive and forget para maibalik ang lumang status quo? Ang tugon ko,
“Ang magpatawad, maaari; ang makalimot, hindi.” [Applause] Kung ang
nagkasala ay hindi mananagot, gagarantiyahan mo ang pagpapahirap muli sa
sambayanan.
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. [Applause]
Katarungan na bigyan siya ng pagkakataong harapin ang mga akusasyon at
ipagtanggol ang kanyang sarili. Katarungan ang nasaksihan natin noong
ika-dalawampu’t siyam ng Mayo. Noong araw na iyon, pinatunayan natin:
Posibleng mangibabaw ang katarungan kahit na ang kabangga mo ay may
mataas na katungkulan. [Applause] Noong araw na iyon, may isang Delsa
Flores sa Panabo, Davao del Norte, na nagsabing, “Posible palang iisang
batas lang ang kailangang sundin ng court interpreter na tulad ko, at ng
Punong Mahistrado.” [Applause] Posible palang maging patas ang
timbangan; maaaring isakdal at panagutin miski ang mayaman at
makapangyarihan.
Kaya po sa susunod na magiging Punong
Mahistrado, malaki ang inaasahan sa inyo ng sambayanan. Napatunayan na
po nating posible ang imposible; ang trabaho natin ngayon, siguruhing
magpapatuloy ang pagbabago tungo sa tunay na katarungan, matapos man ang
ating termino. [Applause] Marami pong sira sa sistemang kailangan
ninyong kumpunihin, at alam kong hindi magiging madali ito. Alam ko po
kung gaano kabigat ang pasanin ng isang malinaw na mandato; ngunit ito
ang atas sa atin ng taumbayan; ito ang tungkuling ating sinumpaan; ito
ang kailangan nating gampanan.
Simple lang ang hangad natin: kung inosente ka,
buong-loob kang haharap sa korte, dahil kampante kang mapapawalang-sala
ka. Kung ikaw ang salarin, anuman ang apelyido mo, o gaano man karami
ang titulong nakakabit sa iyong pangalan, may katiyakan din na
pananagutan mo ang ginawa mong kasalanan. [Applause]
Salamat din po kay Ombudsman Conchita
Carpio-Morales, [applause] sa pagtanggap ng hamon na maging tunay na
tanod-bayan. Kung tutuusin, pwede na niyang tanggihan ang
responsibilidad at sabihing, “Retirado na ako, puwede bang ‘yung iba na
lang?” Subalit nangibabaw ang kaniyang malasakit sa bayan. Sa kabila
nito, may nagregalo pa rin sa kanya ng granada sa bahay. [Laughter]
Ma’am, may mga darating pa pong pagsubok; baka po paglaon, magaya na
kayo sa akin na tinatawag, sabay-sabay pang tinatawag, na ganid na
kapitalista na komunista din patungong diktador dahil sa masigasig na
mga repormang ipinapatupad natin.
Bilib po ako sa inyong pagpapakitang-gilas at
maraming salamat sa pagiging instrumento ng katarungan, lalo na noong
kasagsagan ng impeachment trial. Salamat din po sa dalawang institusyong
bumubuo ng Kongreso: Sa Senado at Kamara de Representante, na tinimbang
ng taumbayan at nakitang sapat na sapat.
Sa lahat po ng tumulong sa pagpapagana ng mga
prosesong pangkatarungan: Dumaan kayo sa matinding pagsubok, batikos, at
agam-agam; kasama pa ang kaba na kung natalo tayo, kayo ang unang
pupuntiryahin ng kalaban. Pero ‘di kayo natinag. Umasa sa inyo ang
Pilipino, at pinatunayan ninyong tama ang pag-asa sa inyo. Hindi ninyo
binigo ang sambayanan; ipinaliwanag ninyo lalo ang ating kinabukasan.
[Applause]
Paalala lang po: hindi natatapos ang laban sa
isang tiwaling opisyal na natanggal sa puwesto, sa isang maanomalyang
kontratang napigil ipatupad, o sa isang opisinang naituwid ang
pamamalakad. Kaya naman nananawagan po tayo sa Kongreso na ipasa ang
panukala nating sa pag-amyenda sa Anti-Money Laundering Act, upang mas
mapaigting pa natin ang pagpapanagot sa mga tiwali.
Itong tinatamasa natin ngayon: ang bawat
nailawan at iilawan pang sitio; ang bawat daan, tulay, paliparan, tren,
at daungan; ang bawat kontratang walang bukol; ang kaligtasan at
kapayapaan mula lungsod hanggang nayon; ang pagbalik ng piring sa
sistemang pangkatarungan; ang bawat classroom, upuan, at aklat na
napasakamay ng kabataan; ang bawat Pilipinong nahahandugan ng bagong
kinabukasan—ang lahat ng ito, naabot natin sa loob lamang ng dalawang
taon.
Pagtabihin po natin ang dalawang taon na ito,
at ang nakaraang siyam at kalahating taon na ating pinagdusahan. ‘Di po
ba’t sumusulong na ang agenda ng pagbabago? Ang kapareho namin ng
adhikain, malamang, kasama namin sa agendang ito. At kung kontra ka sa
amin, siguro kontra ka rin sa ginagawa namin. Kung kumukontra sila sa
agenda ng pagbabago, masasabi ba niyang sila’y nasa panig ninyo?
Paparating na naman po ang halalan. Kayo po,
ang aming mga boss, ang tangi naming susundan. Ang tanong ko sa inyo,
“Boss, saan tayo tatahak? Tuloy ba ang biyahe natin sa tuwid na landas, o
magmamane-obra ba tayo’t paatras, pabalik sa daan na baluktot at walang
patutunguhan?”
Naalala ko pa po noong nagsimula tayo. Mulat na
mulat ako sa bigat ng pasaning sasalubong sa atin. Kabilang ako sa mga
nag-isip: Kaya pa bang ituwid ang ganito kabaluktot na sistema?
Heto po ang aking natutuhan sa dalawampu’t
limang buwan ng pagkapinuno: Walang pong imposible. [Applause] Walang
imposible dahil kung nakikita ng taumbayan na sila ang tanging boss ng
kanilang pamahalaan, bubuhatin ka nila, gagabayan ka nila, sila mismo
ang mamumuno tungo sa makabuluhang pagbabago. Hindi imposible na ang
Pilipinas ang maging kauna-unahang bansa sa Timog-Silangang Asya na
magbibigay at nagbibigay ng libreng bakuna laban sa rotavirus. Hindi
imposible para sa Pilipinas na tumindig at sabihing: “Ang Pilipinas ay
sa Pilipino—at handa kaming ipagtanggol ito.” Hindi imposible na ang
Pilipinong kaytagal nang yumuyuko tuwing may nakakasalubong na
dayuhan—ang Pilipino, ngayon, taas-noong tinitingala ng buong mundo.
[Applause] Talaga namang ang sarap maging Pilipino sa mga panahong ito.
Noon pong nakaraang taon, hiniling ko sa
taumbayan: Magpasalamat sa mga nakikiambag sa positibong pagbabago sa
lipunan. Hindi po biro ang mga pagsubok na dinaanan natin, kaya angkop
lamang na pasalamatan ang mga taong nakibalikat, sa pagkukumpuni sa mga
maling idinulot ng masamang pamamahala.
Sa lahat ng miyembro ng aking Gabinete:
Maraming, maraming salamat. [Applause] Mapalad po ang sambayanan at may
mga tulad ninyong handang isuko ang pribado at mas tahimik na pamumuhay
para maghatid serbisyo-publiko, kahit pa batid ninyong ang kapalit nito
ay mas maliit na sweldo, panganib, at pambabatikos. Maraming salamat
muli.
Huwag din po sana nilang masamain dahil
personal ko silang papangalanan: Kina Father Catalino Arevalo, at Sister
Agnes Guillen, na dumidilig at nagpapalago sa aking buhay spirituwal,
lalo na sa mga panahong sukdulan ang pagsubok sa amin, maraming,
maraming salamat din po. [Applause]
Ito po ang aking ikatlong SONA, tatlo na lamang
din po ang natitira. Papasok na po tayo sa kalagitnaan ng ating
liderato. Noong nakaraang taon, ang hamon ko sa inyo: iwaksi ang kultura
ng negatibismo; sa bawat pagkakataon, iangat ang kapwa-Pilipino.
Batid po sa tinatamasa natin ngayon: hindi kayo nabigo. Sa inyo nagmula ang pagbabago. Ang sabi ninyo: posible.
Humaharap po ako sa inyo bilang mukha ng isang
gobyernong kayo ang boss at kayo pa rin ang lakas. Inuulat ko lamang ang
mga pagbabagong ginawa ninyong posible.
Kaya nga po sa lahat ng nurse, midwife, o
doktor na piniling magsilbi sa mga baryo; sa bawat bagong graduate na
piniling magtrabaho sa gobyerno; sa bawat atletang Pilipinong bitbit ang
watawat saan mang panig ng mundo; sa bawat kawani ng pamahalaan na
tapat na nagseserbisyo: Kayo po ang gumawa ng pagbabago. [Applause]
Sa tuwing haharap ako sa isang ina na
nagsasabing, “Salamat at nabakunahan na ang aking sanggol,” ang tugon
ko: Ikaw ang gumawa nito.
Sa tuwing haharap ako sa isang bata na
nagsasabing, “Salamat sa papel at lapis, sa pagkakataong makapag-aral,”
ang tugon ko: Kasama ka sa gumawa nito.
Sa tuwing haharap ako sa isang OFW na
nagsasabing, “Salamat at puwede ko na muling pangaraping tumanda sa
Pilipinas,” ang tugon ko: Ikaw ang gumawa nito.
Sa tuwing haharap ako sa isang Pilipinong
nagsasabing, “Salamat, akala ko hindi na magkakakuryente sa aming sitio.
Akala ko hindi ko na aabuting buhay ang liwanag na ganito,” ang tugon
ko: Ikaw ang gumawa nito.
Sa bawat pagkakataon na haharap ako sa isang
magsasaka, guro, piloto, inhinyero, tsuper, ahente sa call center,
karaniwang Pilipino; sa bawat Juan at Juana dela Cruz na nagsasabing
“Salamat sa pagbabago,” ang tugon ko sa inyo: Kayo ang gumawa nito.
[Applause]
Inuulit ko po: posible na ang dating imposible.
Humaharap po ako sa inyo ngayon, at sinasabing: hindi ko SONA ito. Kayo
ang gumawa nito. SONA ito ng sambayanang Pilipino. Maraming, maraming
salamat po at magandang hapon po sa lahat.
//////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
‘Thank you for this change. You made this happen’
(English translation of the speech
delivered at the Session Hall of the House of Representatives, Batasan
Pambansa Complex, Quezon City, on July 23, 2012)
Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile;
Speaker Feliciano Belmonte; Vice President Jejomar Binay; former
Presidents Fidel Valdez Ramos and Joseph Ejercito Estrada; eminent
Justices of the Supreme Court; distinguished members of the diplomatic
corps; honorable members of the House of Representatives and of the
Senate; our leaders in local government; members of our Cabinet;
uniformed officers of the military and of the police; my fellow public
servants;
And to my Bosses, the Filipino people: a pleasant afternoon to all.
This is my third SONA. It wasn’t too
long ago when we began to dream again; when, united, we chose the
straight and righteous path; when we began to cast aside the culture of
wang-wang, not only in our streets, but in every sector of society.
It has been two years since you said: We
are tired of corruption and of poverty; it is time to restore a
government that is truly on the side the people.
Like many of you, I have been a victim
of the abuse of power. I was only 12 years old when Martial Law was
declared. For seven years and seven months, my father was incarcerated;
we lived in forced exile for three years. I saw for myself how many
others also suffered.
These experiences forged the principles I
now live by: Where a citizen is oppressed, he will find me as an ally;
where there is an oppressor, I will be there to fight; where I find
something wrong in the system, I will consider it my duty to right it.
Martial Law ended long ago and when it
did, we were asked: “If not us, then who?” and “If not now, then when?”
Our united response: let it be us, and let it be now. The democracy that
was taken from us by force was reclaimed peacefully. And in so doing,
we brought light to a dark chapter in our history.
Let it not be forgotten: Martial Law was
borne because a dictator manipulated the Constitution to remain in
power. And to this day, the battle rages: between those who seek a more
equitable system, and those who seek to preserve their priveleges at the
expense of others.
The specters of a lost decade haunted us from our first day in office.
There was the North Rail contract—an
expensive project that became even more expensive after renegotiation.
Ironically, the higher cost came with fewer public benefits; a fleet of
19 trainsets was reduced to three, and the number of stations, from five
to two. To make matters worse, the debts incurred from the project are
now being called in.
We had GOCCs handing out unwarranted
bonuses, despite the losses already suffered by their agencies. We had
the billions wasted by PAGCOR on—of all things—coffee. We had the
suspect management practices of the PNP, which involved ignoring the
need to arm the remaining 45 percent of our police force, just to
collect kickbacks on rundown helicopters purchased at brand-new prices.
We were left with little fiscal space
even as debts had bunched up and were maturing. We were also left a long
list of obligations to fulfill: A backlog of 66,800 classrooms, which
would cost us about 53.44 billion pesos; a backlog of 2,573,212
classroom chairs, amounting to 2.31 billion pesos. In 2010, an estimated
36 million Filipinos were still not members of PhilHealth. Forty-two
billion pesos was needed to enroll them. Add to all this the 103 billion
pesos needed for the modernization of our armed forces.
To fulfill all
these obligations and address all our needs, we were bequeathed, at the
start of our term, 6.5 percent of the entire budget for the remaining
six months of 2010. We were like boxers, sent into the ring blindfolded,
with our hands and feet bound, and the referee and the judges paid off.
In our first three
months in office, I would look forward to Sundays when I could ask God
for His help. We expected that it would take no less than two years
before our reforms took hold. Would our countrymen be willing to wait
that long?
But what we know
about our people, and what we had proven time and again to the world was
this: Nothing is impossible to a united Filipino nation. It was change
we dreamed of, and change we achieved; the benefits of change are now
par for the course.
Roads are straight and level, and properly paved; this is now par for the course.
Relief goods are
ready even before a storm arrives. Rescue services are always on
standby, and the people are no longer left to fend for themselves. This
is now par for the course.
Sirens only blare
from the police cars, from ambulances, and from fire trucks—not from
government officials. This is now par for the course. The government
that once abused its power is finally using that power for their
benefit.
Reforms were
established as we cut wasteful spending, held offenders accountable for
their actions, and showed the world that the Philippines is now open for
business under new management.
What was once the
sick man of Asia now brims with vitality. When we secured our first
positive credit rating action, some said it was pure luck. Now that we
have had eight, can it still just be luck? When the Philippine Stock
Exchange Index first broke 4,000, many wondered if that was sustainable.
But now, with so many record highs, we are having trouble keeping
score: For the record, we have had 44, and the index hovers near or
above 5,000. In the first quarter of 2012, our GDP grew by 6.4 percent,
much higher than projected, the highest growth in the Southeast Asian
region, and the second only to China in the whole of Asia. Once, we were
the debtors; now, we are the creditors, clearly no laughing matter.
Until recently, we had to beg for investments; now, investors flock to
us. Some Japanese companies have said to us, “Maybe you’d like to take a
look at us. We’re not the cheapest but we’re number one in technology.”
A British banker recently came loooking for opportunities.
Commentators the
world over voice their admiration. According to Bloomberg Business Week,
“Keep an eye on the Philippines.” Foreign Policy magazine, and even one
of the leaders of ASEAN 100, said that we may even become “Asia’s Next
Tiger.” Ruchir Sharma, head of Morgan Stanley’s Emerging Market Equities
said, “The Philippines is no longer a joke.” And it doesn’t look like
he’s pulling our leg, because their company has invested approximately a
billion dollars in our markets. I only wish that the optimism of
foreign media would be shared by their local counterparts more often.
And we are
building an environment where progress can be felt by the majority. When
we began office, there were 760,357 household-beneficiaries of the
Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program. Our target: 3.1 million within two
years. By February of this year, the three millionth
household-beneficiary of Pantawid Pamilya had been registered. Next
year, we will enroll 3.8 million—five times what we had at the beginning
of our term.
This is a
long-term project, with far-reaching impact. The research is in its
initial stages, but already the figures show promise. Based on data from
the DSWD: 1,672,977 mothers now get regular checkups; 1,672,814
children have been vaccinated against diarrhea, polio, measles, and
various other diseases; 4.57 million students no longer need to miss
school because of poverty.
When we first took
office, only 62 percent of Filipinos were enrolled in PhilHealth.
Enrollment was not necessarily based on need but on being in the good
graces of politicians. 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.
And here’s even
better news: the 5.2 million poorest households identified by our
National Household Targeting System will now fully benefit from
PhilHealth’s programs, free of charge. Because of the Department of
Health’s No Balance Billing Policy, treatment for dengue, pneumonia,
asthma, cataracts—as well as treatments for catastrophic diseases like
breast cancer, prostate cancer, and acute leukemia—can be availed of for
free by our poorest countrymen.
The process for
our poorest PhilHealth members: Enter any government hospital. Show you
PhilHealth card. Get treatment. And they return to their homes without
having to shell out a single centavo.
One of the
briefings I attended noted that four out of ten Filipinos have never
seen a health professional in their entire lifetime. Other figures are
more dire: Six out of ten Filipinos die without being attended to by
health professionals.
But whatever the
basis, the number of Filipinos with no access to government health
services remains a concern. And we are acting on this: In 2010, ten
thousand nurses and midwives were deployed under the RNHeals Program; to
date, we have deployed 30,801. Add to this over 11,000 Community Health
Teams tasked to strengthen the links between doctors and nurses, and
the communities they serve.
And today, because
of efficient targeting, they 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.
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.
But we are not
satisfied with this. What we want: True, universal, and holistic health
care. This begins not in our hospitals, but within each and every
household: Increased consciousness, routine inoculation, and regular
checkups are necessary to keep sickness at bay. Add to this our efforts
to ensure that we prevent the illnesses that are in our power to
prevent.
For example: Last
year, I told you about our anti-dengue mosquito traps. It is too early
to claim total victory, but the initial results have been very
encouraging.
We tested the
efficacy of those mosquito traps in areas with the highest reported
incidence of dengue. In 2011, traps were distributed in Bukidnon—which
had recorded 1,216 cases of dengue in 2010. After distribution, the
number of cases decreased to 37—that is a 97 percent reduction rate. In
the towns of Ballesteros and Claveria in Cagayan, there were 228 cases
of dengue in 2010; in 2011, a mere eight cases were recorded. In
Catarman, Northern Samar: 434 cases of dengue were reported in 2010.
There were a mere four cases in 2011.
This project is in
its initial stages. But even this early on, we must thank Secretaries
Ike Ona of DOH and Mario Montejo of DOST; may our gratitude spur them
into even more intensive research and collaboration.
Challenges remain.
The high maternal mortality ratio in our country continues to alarm us.
Which is why we have undertaken measures to address the health-care
needs of women. We, too, want Universal Health Care; we want our medical
institutions to have enough equipment, facilities, and manpower.
We can easier
fulfill all these goals, if the Sin Tax Bill—which rationalizes taxes on
alcohol and tobacco products—can be passed. This bill makes vice more
expensive while at the same time raising more money for health.
And what of our
students—what welcomes them in the schools? Will they still first learn
the alphabet beneath the shade of a tree? Will they still be squatting
on the floor, tussling with classmates over a single textbook?
I have great faith
in Secretary Luistro: Before the next year ends, we will have built the
66,800 classrooms needed to fill up the shortage we inherited. The
2,573,212 backlog in chairs that we were bequeathed will be addressed
before 2012 ends. This year, too, will see the eradication of the
backlog of 61.7 million textbooks—and we will finally achieve the
one-to-one ratio of books to students.
We are ending the
backlogs in the education sector, but the potential for shortages
remains as our student population continues to increase. Perhaps
Responsible Parenthood can help address this.
For our State
Universities and Colleges: we have proposed a 43.61 percent increase in
their budget next year. A reminder, though, that everything we do is in
accordance to a plan: There are corresponding conditions to this budget
increase. The SUC Reform Roadmap of CHED, which has been deliberated and
agreed upon, must be enacted to ensure that the students sponsored by
the state are of top caliber. Expect that if you work to get high marks
in this assignment, we will be striving just as hard to address the rest
of your needs.
Year after year,
our budget for education has increased. The budget we inherited for
DepEd last 2010 was 177 billion pesos. Our proposal for 2013: 292.7
billion pesos. In 2010, our SUCs were allocated a budget of 21.03
billion pesos. Since then, we have annually raised this allocation; for
next year, we have proposed to set aside 34.99 billion pesos of our
budget for SUCs. Despite this, some militant groups are still cutting
classes to protest what they claim is a cut in SUC budgets. It’s this
simple: 292.7 is higher than 177, and 34.99 is higher than 21.03. Should
anyone again claim that we cut the education budget, we’ll urge your
schools to hold remedial math classes. Please attend.
When we assumed
office and began establishing much-needed reform, there were those who
belittled our government’s performance. They claimed our achievements
were mere luck, and what impact they may have as short-lived. There are
still those who refuse to cease spreading negativity; they who keep
their mouths pursed to good news, and have created an industry out of
criticism.
If you have a
problem with the fact that before the year ends every child will have
their own chairs and own set of books, then look them straight in the
eye and tell them, “I do not want you to go to school.”
If you take issue
with the fact that 5.2 million of the country’s poorest households can
now avail of quality health-care services without worrying about the
cost, then look them straight in the eye and tell them, “I do not want
you to get better.”
If it angers you
that three million Filipino families have been empowered to fulfill
their dreams because of Pantawid Pamilya, then look them straight in the
eye and tell them, “I will take away the hope you now have for your
future.”
The era where
policy was based on the whims of the powerful has truly come to an end.
For example, the previous leadership of TESDA generously distributed
scholarship vouchers—but neglected to fund them. Naturally, the vouchers
bounced. The result: over a thousand schools are charging the
government 2.4 billion pesos for the vouchers. One person and one
administration wanted to show off; the Filipino people are paying for
that now.
When Secretary
Joel Villanueva assumed the post, he was not daunted by the seemingly
impossible reforms that his agency needed to enact. Despite the
staggering debt inherited by TESDA, it still trained 434,676 individuals
under the Training for Work Scholarship Program. The TESDA Specialists
Technopreneurship Program likewise delivered concrete victories—imagine:
each of the 5,240 certified Specialistas are earning 562 pesos a day,
or 11,240 pesos a month. This is higher than the minimum wage.
From infancy, to
adolescence, to adulthood, the system is working for our citizens. And
we are ensuring that our economy’s newfound vitality generates jobs.
Let us keep in
mind: there are about a million new entrants to the job market every
year. The jobs we have produced within the past two years total almost
3.1 million.
As a result, our
unemployment rate is declining steadily. In 2010, the unemployment rate
was at 8 percent. In April 2011, it dropped to 7.2, and dropped further
to 6.9 this year. Is it not an apt time for us to dream of a day where
any Filipino who wishes to work can find a job?
Look at the BPO
sector. Back in the year 2000, only five thousand people were employed
in this industry. Fast forward to 2011: 638,000 people are employed by
BPOs, and the industry has contributed 11 billion dollars to our
economy. It has been projected that come 2016, it will be bringing in 25
billion dollars and will be employing 1.3 million Filipinos. And this
does not include the estimated 3.2 million taxi drivers, baristas,
corner stores, canteens, and many others that will benefit from the
indirect jobs that the BPO industry will create.
A large portion of
our job generation strategy is building sufficient infrastructure. For
those who have gone to Boracay on vacation, you have probably seen our
newly christened terminal in Caticlan. The plan to expand its runway has
also been laid out.
And we will not
stop there. Before the end of my term, the New Bohol Airport in Panglao,
New Legaspi Airport in Daraga, and Laguindingan Airport in Misamis
Oriental will have been built. We will also upgrade our international
airports in Mactan, Cebu; Tacloban; and Puerto Princesa Airport, so they
can receive more passengers; in addition to remodeling the airports in
Butuan, Cotabato, Dipolog, Pagadian, Tawi-Tawi, Southern Leyte, and San
Vicente in Palawan.
I am the fourth
president to deal with the problems of NAIA Terminal 3. Airplanes are
not all that take off and land here; so did problems and anomalies.
Secretary Mar Roxas has already said: Before we convene at the next
SONA, the structural defects we inherited in NAIA 3 will have been fully
repaired.
This June, the LRT
Line 1 Cavite Extension project began to move forward. When completed,
it will alleviate traffic in Las Piñas, Parañaque, and Cavite. In
addition to this, in order to further improve traffic in Metro Manila,
there will be two elevated roads directly connecting the North Luzon and
South Luzon Expressways. These will be completed in 2015 and will
reduce travel time between Clark and Calamba to 1 hour and 40 minutes.
Before I leave office, there will be high-quality terminals in Taguig,
Quezon City, and Parañaque, so that provincial buses will no longer have
to add to the traffic on EDSA.
Perceptions have
also changed about a department formerly notorious for its inadequacies.
I still remember the days when, during the rainy season, the Tarlac
River would overflow and submerge the MacArthur Highway. The asphalt
would melt away; the road would be riddled with potholes, until it ended
up impassable.
As the
representative of my district, I registered my complaints about this.
The Department of Public Works and Highways’ reply: we know about the
problem, we know how to solve it, but we have no money. I had to appeal
to my barangays: “If we don’t prioritize and spend for this ourselves,
no one will fix it, and we will be the ones who suffer.” Back in those
days, everyone called upon the government to wake up and start working.
The complaints today are different: traffic is terrible, but that’s
because there’s so much roadwork being done. May I remind everyone: we
have done all this without raising taxes.
We will not build
our road network based on kickbacks or favoritism. We will build them
according to a clear system. Now that resources for these projects are
no longer allocated haphazardly, our plans will no longer end up
unfulfilled—they will become tangible roads that benefit the Filipino
people. When we assumed office, 7,239 kilometers of our national roads
were not yet fixed. Right now, 1,569 kilometers of this has been fixed
under the leadership of Secretary Babes Singson. In 2012, an additional
2,275 kilometers will be finished. We are even identifying and fixing
dangerous roads with the use of modern technology. These are challenges
we will continue to address every year, so that, before end of my term,
every inch of our national road network will be fixed.
We have fixed more
than roads; our DPWH has fixed its system. Just by following the right
process of bidding and procurement, their agency saved a total of 10.6
billion pesos from 2011 to June of this year. Even our contractors are
feeling the positive effects of our reforms in DPWH. According to the
DPWH, “the top 40 contractors are now fully booked.” I am hopeful that
the development of our infrastructure continues unimpeded to facilitate
the growth of our other industries.
The improvement of
our infrastructure is intertwined with the growth of our tourism
industry. Consider this: In 2001, the Philippines recorded 1.8 million
tourist arrivals. When we assumed office in 2010, this figure had grown
to only around 3.1 million. Take note: despite the length of their time
in office, the previous administration only managed to add a mere 1.3
million tourist arrivals—and we contributed half a year to that number.
Under our administration, we welcomed 2.1 million tourist arrivals by
June 2012. More will arrive during peak season, before the end of the
year, so I have no doubt that we will meet our quota of 4.6 million
tourist arrivals for 2012. This means that we will have a year-on-year
increase of 1.5 million tourists. The bottom line: In two years, we
would have had a bigger growth in tourist arrivals, compared to the
increase charted by the previous administration in their nine years. We
are not singing our own praises; we are merely stating the truth.
But Secretary Mon
Jimenez is still not satisfied. He says: if 24.7 million tourists came
to Malaysia in 2011, and around 17 million visited Thailand, would it be
too far-fetched to have ten million tourists visiting the Philippines
annually by 2016? And if the Filipino people 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 we will
be able to achieve this. As we have already announced to the entire
world: “It’s more fun in the Philippines.” Secretary Mon Jimenez has
been at his post for less than a year, but we are already reaping the
fruits of the reforms we have laid down. So, when it comes to tourism,
we are confident in saying, “It’s really more fun—to have Secretary Mon
Jimenez with us.”
When it comes to
growth and development, agriculture is at the top of our priorities.
Secretary Alcala has been working nonstop to deliver us good news.
Before, it seemed as though the officials of DA cultivated nothing but
NFA’s debts. The NFA that our predecessors took over had a 12-billion
peso debt; when they left office, they then bequeathed to us a debt of
177 billion pesos.
For so long in the
past, we were led to believe that we were short 1.3 million metric tons
of rice, and that we needed to import 2 million metric tons to address
this shortage. They ordered rice as like it was unlimited—but because we
had exceeded far more than what we needed, imported rice went to rot in
the warehouses.
In just our first
year, we redcued the annual shortage of 1.3 million metric tons to just
860,000 metric tons. This year, it is down to 500,000—including a buffer
stock to dip into in times of calamity. And, if the weather cooperates,
we’ll be able to export rice next year.
Secretary Alcala
has said that key to our success is a feasible irrigation program and
the assiduous implementation of the certified seeds program. What is
galling is that this knowledge is not new—it simply wasn’t applied. If
they had only done their jobs right, where could we have been by now?
Look at our
coconut industry: Coconut water, once treated as a waste product, is now
being utilized by our farmers. From 483,862 liters exported in 2009, to
1,807,583 liters in 2010, to a staggering 16,756,498 liters of
cocowater exported in 2011. And where no one previously paid heed to
coconut coir, we are now experiencing a shortage due to the high demand
of exporters. We are not wasting this opportunity: we are buying the
machines that will process the coco fibers. We have allocated 1.75
billion pesos to invest in, and develop, this sector.
My mother
initiated the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program. It is only just
that this program sees its conclusion during my term.
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.
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.
Let me shed some
light on our advances in the energy sector. In the past, an electrical
wire needed only to reach the barangay hall for an entire barangay to be
deemed energized. This was the pretext for the claim that 99.98 percent
of the country’s barangays had electricity. Even the delivery of so
basic a service was a deception?
We challenged DOE
and NEA, allocating 1.3 billion pesos to light up an initial target of
1,300 sitios, at the cost of one million pesos per sitio. And the
agencies met the challenge—they lit up 1,520 sitios, at a total cost of
814 million pesos. They accomplished this in three months, instead of
the two years it took the people that preceded them. Secretary Rene
Almendras, I give you credit; you never seem to run out of energy. With
public service, you are not only ever-ready, but like an energizer bunny
too—you keep on going, and going, and going.
We have suffused
the nation with light—and it is this light, too, that has exposed the
crimes that occur in the shadowed corners of society. What the Filipino
works so hard for can no longer be pilfered. Crime volume continues to
decline across the country. In 2009, over 500,000 crimes were
recorded—this year, we have cut that number by more than half, to
246,958. Moreover, 2010’s recorded 2,200 cases of carnapping has
likewise been reduced by half—to 966 cases this 2011.
It is these facts
that, we hope, will be bannered in headlines. We do not claim that we
have ended criminality, but I’m sure no one would complain that it has
been reduced. In the span of just a little more than a year, haven’t we
finally put Raymond Dominguez in jail, after years of being in and out
of prison? Charges have been filed against two of his brothers as well,
and they are now serving time, too. Of the two suspects in the Makati
bus bombing of the past year—one is dead, and the other is living in a
jail cell. He shares the same fate as the more than ten thousand
individuals arrested by PDEA in 2011 for charges relating to illegal
drugs.
Pacquiao does not
fight every day, and so we can’t rely on him to bring down the crime
rate. Which is why we’re strengthening our police force. When this
administration began, 45 percent of our police carried no guns and
probably relied on magic charms as they chased criminals. But now we
have completed the bidding—and we are now testing the quality—for an
order of 74,600 guns, which we will provide our police, so that they may
better serve and protect the nation, our communities, and themselves.
Let us now talk
about national defense. Some have described our Air Force as all air and
no force. Lacking the proper equipment, our troops remain vulnerable
even as they are expected to be put in harm’s way. We cannot allow
things to remain this way.
After only one
year and seven months, we have been able to allocate over 28 billion
pesos for the AFP Modernization Program. This will soon match the 33
billion pesos set aside for the program in the past 15 years. And we’re
only getting started: if our proposed AFP modernization bill is passed
in Congress, we will be able to allocate 75 billion pesos for defense
within the next five years.
The 30-million
dollar fund entrusted to us by the United States for the Defense
Capability Upgrade and Sustainment of Equipment Program of the AFP is
now ready as well. This is in addition to their assistance in improving
the way we patrol our shores under the Coast Watch Center of the
Philippines, which will soon be established.
At this moment,
the Armed Forces is likewise canvassing equipment such as cannons,
personnel carriers, and frigates. Before long, the BRP Ramon Alcaraz,
our second Hamilton class cutter, will drop anchor, to partner with the
BRP Gregorio del Pilar. We are not sending paper boats out to sea. Now,
our 36,000 kilometers of coastline will be patrolled by more modern
ships.
And perhaps it is
an apt time for our Armed Forces to clean up their hangars, because we
will be having equipment arriving soon to further fortify our defenses.
Finally, our one and only C-130 that has been roaming our skies for the
past 36 years will have partners: two more C-130s will once again be
operational. Before this year ends, we are hopeful that the twenty-one
refurbished UH-1H Helicopters, the four combat utility helicopters, the
radios and other communication equipment, the rifles, the mortars, the
mobile diagnostic laboratories, and even the station bullet assemblies
we have purchased will be delivered. Come 2013, ten attack helicopters,
two naval helicopters, two light aircraft, one frigate, and air force
protection equipment will also be arriving.
And it is not only
through better equipment that we demonstrate our commitment to help our
police and our soldiers. We have eased their financial burdens through
the 22,000 houses that have been built under the AFP–PNP housing
program.
We are not doing
this because we want to be an aggressor, we are not doing this because
we want escalation. This is about keeping the peace. This is about
protecting ourselves—something that we have long thought impossible.
This is about the life of a soldier who risks his life every day; this
is about his family, who awaits his safe return, despite the challenges
that confront him.
Let’s listen to some of the beneficiaries of these programs tell us in their own words how their lives have been changed.
Now that the
people care for them, the more impassioned our soldiers are in winning
the peace. We consider the 1,772 outlaws whose violence has come to an
end a great triumph. One example is the infamous terrorist, Doctor Abu,
who will never again strike fear in the hearts of our countrymen. We
also celebrate the peace and quiet that has returned to places where our
countrymen were once deafened by gunfire. As a result of our
solidarity: 365 barangays have been liberated from the enemy, 270
buildings and schools have been repaired, and 74 health centers have
been built.
While we are on
the subject of peace, let us talk about a place that has long stood as a
symbol of frustrated hopes. Before our reforms in the ARMM began, what
we had were ghost students walking to ghost schools on ghost roads, to
learn from ghost teachers. Some of the apparitions that haunted OIC
Governor Mujiv Hataman: Four schools found with ghost students; we are
also investigating the teachers whose names do not appear in the list of
the Professional Regulation Commission, as well as the government
workers not listed in the plantilla. Fifty-five ghost entries have been
taken off the payroll. The previous scheme of regraveling roads again
and again just to earn money has been outlawed. To avoid abuse, we have
ended cash advances for agencies. Now, the souls of the ghosts in voters
lists can rest in peace. This is why, to OIC Governor Mujiv Hataman, we
can say to you: you are indeed a certified ghost buster.
What we have
replaced these phantoms with: real housing, bridges, and learning
centers for Badjaos in Basilan. Community-based hatcheries, nets,
materials to grow seaweeds, and seedlings that have benefited 2,588
fishermen. Certified seeds, gabi seedlings, cassava, rubber, and trees
that are bearing fruit for 145,121 farmers. And this is only the
beginning. 183 million pesos has been set aside for the fire stations;
515 million pesos for clean drinking water; 551.9 million pesos for
health-care equipment; 691.9 million pesos for daycare centers; and 2.85
billion pesos for the roads and bridges across the region. These are
just some of the things that will be afforded by the aggregate 8.59
billion pesos the national government has granted the ARMM. Also, allow
me to clarify: this does not include the yearly support that they
receive, which in 2012 reached 11.7 billion pesos.
Even those who
previously wanted to break away are seeing the effects of reform. Over
the past seven months, not even a single encounter has been recorded
between the military and the MILF. We recognize this as a sign of their
trust. With regard to the peace process: talks have been very open; both
sides have shown trust and faith in one another. There may be times
when the process can get a little complicated, but these are merely
signs that we are steadily moving closer to our shared goal: Peace.
We likewise
engaged stakeholders in a level-headed discussion in crafting our
Executive Order on mining. The idea behind our consensus we reached:
that we be able to utilize our natural resources to uplift the living
conditions of the Filipinos not just of today, also of the following
generations. We will not reap the rewards of this industry if the cost
is the destruction of nature.
But this Executive
Order is only the first step. Think about it: In 2010, 145 billion
pesos was the total value derived from mining, but only 13.4 billion or 9
percent went to the national treasury. These natural resources are
yours; it shouldn’t happen that all that’s left to you is a tip after
they’re extracted. We are hoping that Congress will work with us and
pass a law that will ensure that the environment is cared for, and that
the public and private sectors will receive just benefits from this
industry.
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.
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.
Many of those
affected by typhoons Ondoy, Pepeng, and Sendong were just as
defenseless. We lost so many lives to these natural disasters. 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.
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: 600 automated rain gauges and 422 water level sensors. We will
have them installed in 80 primary river basins around the country.
Yet another
change: Before, agencies with shared responsibilities would work
separately, with little coordination or cooperation. Now, the culture of
government is bayanihan—a coming together for the sake of the people.
This is what we call Convergence.
There have always
been tree planting programs in government—but after the trees have been
planted, they were left alone. Communities that needed livelihood would
cut these down and turn them into charcoal.
We have the
solution for this. 128,558 hectares of forest have been planted across
the country; this is only a fraction of the 1.5 million-hectare
farmlands to be laid out before we step down. This covers the
communities under the National Convergence Initiative. The process: When
a tree is planted, the DWSD will coordinate with communities. In
exchange for a conditional cash transfer, communities would take care of
the trees; some would help nurture seeds in a nursery. 335,078
individuals now earn their livelihood from these activities.
The private sector
has likewise taken part in a program that hands out special coffee and
cacao beans to communities, and trains the townsfolk, too, to nurture
those seeds into a bountiful harvest. The coffee is planted in the shade
of the trees that in turn help prevent flooding and protect the people.
The company that hands out the seeds are sure buyers of the yield. It’s
a win-win situation—for the private sector, the communities with their
extra income, and the succeeding generations that will benefit from the
trees.
Illegal logging
has long been a problem. From the time we signed Executive Order No. 23,
Mayor Jun Amante has confiscated lumber amounting to more than six
million pesos. He has our gratitude. This is just in Butuan; what more
if all our LGUs demonstrated the same kind of political will?
The timber
confiscated by DENR are handed over to TESDA, which then gives the
timber to communities they train in carpentry. From this, DepEd gets
chairs for our public schools. Consider this: What was once the product
of destruction has been crafted into an instrument for the realization
of a better future. This was impossible then—impossible so long as the
government turned a blind eye to illegal activities.
To those of you
without a conscience; those of you who repeatedly gamble the lives of
your fellow Filipinos—your days are numbered. We’ve already sanctioned
thirty-four DENR officials, one PNP provincial director, and seven
chiefs of police. We are asking a regional director of the PNP to
explain why he seemed deaf to our directives and blind to the colossal
logs that were being transported before his very eyes. If you do not
shape up, you will be next. Even if you tremble beneath the skirts of
your patrons, we will find you. I suggest that you start doing your
jobs, before it’s too late.
From the womb, to
school, to work, change has touched the Filipino. And should a life of
government service be chosen, our people can expect the same level of
care from the state, until retirement. Our administration will recognize
their contributions to our society as public servants, and will not
withhold from them the pensions they themselves contributed to.
Consider: some
retirees receive less than 500 pesos a month. How does one pay for
water, power, and food, daily? Our response: With the New Year comes our
resolution that all old-age and disability pensioners will receive no
less than five thousand pesos monthly. We are heartened that we can meet
their needs now, without jeopardizing their future benefits.
The face of
government has truly changed. Our compensation levels are at par with
the private sector’s at the entry level. But as you rise through the
ranks, private-sector pay overtakes the government.
We will close that
gap in time; for now, we have good news for government employees:
Performance-Based Incentives. In the past, even poorly performing
agencies would not have any employees with ratings lower than “very
satisfactory.” To maintain smooth interpersonal relations, supervisors
would have a hard time giving appropriate ratings. Exceptional employees
are not recognized: their excellence is de-incentivized, and receive
the same rewards as laziness and indolence.
Here is one of our
steps to respond to this. Starting this year, we will implement a
system in which bonuses are based on their agency’s abilities to meet
their annual targets. Employees now hold the keys to their own
advancement. Incentives may reach up to 35,000 pesos, depending on how
well you do your jobs. This is in addition to your across-the-board
Christmas bonus.
We are doing this
not only to boost morale and to show due appreciation of our public
servants. This is, above all, for the Filipino people, who expect
sincere and efficient service—who expect that they will continue to be
the sole Bosses of our workers in government.
There have always
been people who have questioned our guiding principle, “If there is no
corruption, there is no poverty.” They ask if good governance can put
food on the table. Quite simply: Yes.
Think about it:
Doing business in the Philippines was once considered too risky—the
rules were too opaque and they were constantly changing. A person
shaking your hand one day may pick your pocket the next.
Now, with a level
playing field, and clear and consistent rules, confidence in our economy
is growing. Investments are pouring in, jobs are being created, and a
virtuous cycle has begun—where empowered consumers buy more products,
and businesses hire more people so they can expand to keep up with the
growing demand.
Prudent spending
has allowed us to plug the leaks in the system, and improved tax
collection has increased revenues. Every peso collected is properly
spent on roads, on vaccines, on classrooms and chairs—spent on our
future.
We have fixed the
system by which we build roads, bridges, and buildings—they now go where
they are truly needed. Our roads are properly paved; products,
services, and people reach their destination quickly and with greater
ease.
Because of good
governance in agriculture, food production has increased, prices don’t
fluctuate, wages are stable, and our economy is stronger.
It is true: A
resilient and dynamic economy resting on the foundations of good
governance is the best defense against global uncertainty. We have been
dismantling the obstacles to progress for two years, and now, our
success can only be limited by how hard we are willing to work for it.
We achieved all these things even as countries around the world were surmounting their own challenges.
We exist in this
world with others. And so it is only appropriate that even as we attend
to our own problems, we remain vigilant about some events that affect
us.
The situation in
Bajo de Masinloc has been the source of much discussion. Chinese
fishermen entered out territory. Our patrol boats intercepted some of
their ships, which contain endangered species. As your leader, it is my
duty to uphold the laws of our country. And as I did, tension ensued: on
one hand, the Chinese had their Nine-Dash Line Theory laying claim to
almost the entire West Philippine Sea; on the other, there was the
United Nations Convention on the Laws of the Sea, which recognized the
rights of many countries, including that of China itself.
We demonstrated
utmost forbearance in dealing with this issue. As a sign of our
goodwill, we replaced our navy cutter with a civilian boat as soon as we
could. We chose not to respond to their media’s harangues. I do not
think it excessive to ask that our rights be respected, just as we
respect their rights as a fellow nation in a world we need to share.
There are those
who say that we should let Bajo de Masinloc go; we should avoid the
trouble. But if someone entered your yard and told you he owned it,
would you agree? Would it be right to give away that which is rightfully
ours?
And so I ask for
solidarity from our people regarding this issue. Let us speak with one
voice. Help me relay to the other side the logic of our stand.
This is not a
simple situation, and there can be no simple solutions. Rest assured: we
are consulting experts, every leader of our nation, our allies—even
those on the other side—to find a resolution that is acceptable to all.
With every step on
the straight and righteous path, we plant the seeds of change. But
there are still some who are commited to uprooting our work. Even as I
speak, there are those who have gathered in a room, whispering to each
other, dissecting each word I utter, looking for any pretext to attack
me with tomorrow. These are also the ones who say, “Let go of the past.
Unite. Forgive and forget so we can move forward as a people.”
I find this
unacceptable. Shall we simply forgive and forget the ten years that were
taken from us? Do we simply forgive and forget the farmers who piled up
massive debts because of a government that insisted on importing rice,
while we could have reinvested in them and their farmlands instead?
Shall we forgive and forget the family of the police officer who died
while trying to defend himself against guns with nothing but a
nightstick?
Shall we forgive
and forget the orphans of the 57 victims of the massacre in Maguindanao?
Will their loved ones be brought back to life by forgiving and
forgetting? Do we forgive and forget everything that was ever done to
us, to sink us into a rotten state? Do we forgive and forget to return
to the former status quo? My response: Forgiveness is possible;
forgetting is not. If offenders go unpunished, society’s future
suffering is guaranteed.
True unity and
reconciliation can only emanate from genuine justice. Justice is the
plunder case leveled against our former president; justice that she
receives her day in court and can defend herself against the accusations
leveled against her. Justice is what we witnessed on the 29th of May.
On that day, we proved that justice can prevail, even when confronted
with an opponent in a position of power. On that day, a woman named
Delsa Flores, in Panabo, Davao del Norte, said “It is actually possible:
a single law governing both a simple court reporter like me, and the
Chief Justice.” It is possible for the scales to be set right, and for
even the rich and powerful to be held accountable.
This is why, to
the next Chief Justice, much will be demanded of you by our people. We
have proven the impossible possible; now, our task is reform towards
true justice that continues even after our administration. There are
still many flaws in the system, and repairing these will not be easy. I
am aware of the weight of your mandate. But this is what our people
tasked us to do; this is the duty we have sworn to do; and this what we
must do.
Our objectives are
simple: If you are innocent, you will appear in court with confidence,
because you will be found not guilty. But if you are guilty, you will be
made to pay for your sins, no matter who you are.
I would also like
to thank Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales, for accepting the challenges
that came with the position. She could have turned down the
responsibility, citing her retirement and volunteering others for the
job—but her desire to serve the nation won out. This generosity was met
with a grenade in her home. Ma’am, more challenges will come; in time,
perhaps, they’ll give you the same monikers they’ve given me—a greedy
capitalist who is also a communist headed towards dictatorship because
of the reforms we have been working so hard to achieve.
I thank you for
your work, and I thank you for being an instrument of true
justice—especially at the height of the impeachment trial. I thank, too,
the two institutions that form our Congress—the Senate and the House of
Representatives—which were weighed and measured by the Filipino people,
and were not found wanting.
To everyone that
ensured that our justice system worked well: You weathered many
challenges and criticism, and even misgivings; couple that with the
anxiety over possible failure, of having to face the ire of those you
went up against, after a mission lost. But you did not falter. The
Filipino people were relying on you, and you proved that their faith was
rightly placed. You did not fail the nation; you further brightened our
futures.
Let me remind you
that our fight does not end with the ousting of one corrupt official,
with the suspension of an anomalous contract, or the systemic
overhauling of a government office. I call upon Congress to pass our
amendments to the Anti-Money Laundering Act, that we may strengthen our
measures to hold the corrupt accountable.
Every town that
has and will be lighted; the highways, bridges, airports, trains, and
ports we have built; fair contracts; the peace in our cities and our
rural areas; every classroom, desk, and book assigned to a child; every
Filipino granted a future—all of these, we have achieved in just two
years. We have advanced an agenda of reform in these last two years, a
marked contrast to our suffering in the decade that came before.
If we share the
same ideals and work for the same goals, then we are bound by a shared
agenda. But if you are against us, it only follows that you are against
what we are doing. Whoever stands against the agenda for genuine
change—can the people really count them as being on their side?
Elections are fast
approaching. You, our Bosses, will be our compass. I ask you, “Boss,
what direction will we take? Do we continue treading the straight and
righteous path, or do we double-back—towards the crooked road that leads
to a dead end?”
I remember well
those early days when we first started working. I was keenly aware of
the heavy burdens we would face. And I was among those who wondered: Is
it possible to fix a system this broken?
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. It isn’t impossible for the Philippines to become the first
country in Southeast Asia to provide free vaccines for the rotavirus. It
isn’t impossible for the Philippines to stand strong and say, “The
Philippines is for Filipinos—and we are ready to defend it.” It is not
impossible for the Filipino who for so long had kept his head bowed upon
meeting a foreigner—it is not impossible for the Filipino, today, to
stand with his head held high and bask in the admiration of the world.
In these times—is it not great to be a Filipino?
Last year, I asked
the Filipino people: Thank those who have done their share in bringing
about positive change in society. The obstacles we encountered were no
laughing matter, and I believe it is only right that we thank those who
shouldered the burdens with us, in righting the wrongs brought about by
bad governance.
To all the members
of my Cabinet: my sincerest thanks. The Filipino people are lucky that
there are those of you ready to sacrifice your private and much quieter
lives in order to serve the public, even if you know that you will
receive smaller salaries, dangers, and constant criticism in return.
And I hope that
they will not mind if I take this opportunity to thank them today: to
Father Catalino Arevalo and Sister Agnes Guillen, who have nurtured and
allowed my spiritual life to flourish, especially in times of greatest
difficulty: my deepest gratitude.
This is my third
SONA; only three remain. We are entering the midpoint of our
administration. Last year, I challenged you to fully turn your back on
the culture of negativism; to take every chance to uplift your fellow
Filipinos.
From what we are experiencing today, it is clear: you succeeded. You are the wellspring of change. You said: it is possible.
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.
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.
So whenever I come
face to face with a mother who tells me, “Thank you, my child has been
vaccinated,” I respond: You made this happen.
Whenever I come
face to face with a child who tells me, “Thank you for the paper, for
the pencils, for the chance to study,” I respond: You made this happen.
Whenever I come
face to face with an OFW who tells me, “Thank you, because I can once
again dream of growing old in the Philippines,” I respond: You made this
happen.
Whenever I come
face to face with a Filipino who says, “Thank you, I thought that we
would never have electricity in our sitio. I never imagined living to
see the light,” I respond: You made this happen.
Whenever I come
face to face with any farmer, teacher, pilot, engineer, driver, call
center agent, or any normal Filipino; to every Juan and Juana dela Cruz
who says, ”Thank you for this change,” I respond: You made this happen.
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. Thank you.
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