By JANE MAREN DASAL
(Photos by Mario Ignacio IV and Mario Espinosa)
As the rains poured on Monday, sentiments of discontent from the protesters also poured when President Benigno Simeon Aquino III delivered his fifth State of the Nation Address (SONA) at the House of Representatives.
“If we were his ‘boss,’ then he’s fired,” 18-year-old Yurie Leigh Lim said.
Lim, a first-time protester in SONA, said he did not feel Aquino’s efforts to address the basic needs of the citizens, pushing him to join about 8,000 others at the “People’s SONA.”
“I did not see his ‘tuwid na daan (straight path).’ This is evident in the slow rehabilitation efforts after typhoon Yolanda hit. In day-to-day situations, we can feel this when prices of basic commodities increase,” he said.
According to Lim, also a member of the youth group Anakbayan, he sees joining the SONA as an avenue to let the government hear the demands of the masses.
“Being a member of the youth is not an excuse not to see that nothing has been done. We to oust Aquino because he only worsens the problem of the people,” he said.
Some first-time protesters like Lim added to the contingent of militant groups that march every year along Commonwealth toward the Batasan Complex where the annual SONA is delivered.
Amiel De Vera, 40, said he joined the SONA protest to call for judiciary independence and oppose the abolition of the Judiciary Development Fund (JDF) and the imposition of tax on the benefits of court employees.
According to law, 80 percent of the JDF must be earmarked for living cost allowance of court employees while 20 percent will be allotted for office equipment.
“The investigation regarding the JDF is a form of bullying,” he said.
The Senate Justice Committee started conducting the investigation on the Judiciary Development Fund after Iloilo Rep. Neil Tupas recently endorsed a bill to abolish JDF.
Mar Aguilar, vice president of the Judiciary Employees Association, said aside from the JDF, they are entitled to additional compensation allowance which was not given them.
Evangeline Mendoza, 53, a member of party-list Anakpawis, said she finally joined this year’s People’s SONA as a protest to the demolition of their houses on Road 10 in Vitas, Tondo.
“Our call for him this year is to address the issue of housing for informal settlers. The National Housing Authority (NHA) has not been able to do anything regarding our relocation. We have to fight for our houses because it is our right to do so,” she said.
In last year’s SONA, Aquino promised to increase the 28,398 informal settler families which were relocated and given housing units.
Vengie Boller, also a victim of demolition in Tondo and a member of Anakpawis, said they now live on the roadside after having their homes demolished.
“We did not have a choice. The Department of Public Works and Highways said they do not have the funds so they will endorse us to the National Housing Authority. But we were ignored by the NHA because according to them, we were not part of the census,” she said.
Boller also protested against the human rights violations inflicted by the police and the demolition team.
“Bottles of tear gas were thrown at us by the police. Even the children were not spared. At an early age, they are already aware of violence because of the demolitions,” Boller said.
Former Bayan Muna partylist Rep. Satur Ocampo said the issues by the protesters in this year’s SONA have been raised in the previous four addresses of Aquino.
“The situation of poverty, unemployment and human rights violations is still in a dismal state. The discrepancy between his administration’s performance and the satisfactory rating he got was large,” he said.
In his SONA, Aquino said the poverty rate in the country decreased from 27.9 to 24.9 percent, with 2.5 million Filipinos crossing the poverty line.
Aquino also said 1.65 million jobs were created from April 2013 to April 2014.
According to Ocampo, the thrust of the Aquino to counter corruption and to follow “daang matuwid” was “shattered” by the controversies created by the mishandling of the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) and the unconstitutionality of the Disbursement Acceleration Program (DAP).
“The relationship between the population and the government is more confrontational this year because of the issues raised. But in our part, we are responsible and we avoid physical engagement,” Ocampo said.
Despite this, the People’s SONA ended with protesters being dispersed by water cannons after they attempted to march past the razor wire barriers to go toward the Batasan Complex.
Full text of Aquino’s SONA:
FILIPINO
Bise Presidente Jejomar Binay; dating Pangulong Fidel Valdez Ramos; Senate President Franklin M. Drilon at mga miyembro ng Senado; Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. at mga miyembro ng Kamara de Representante; Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno at ang ating mga mahistrado ng Korte Suprema; mga kagalang-galang na kagawad ng kalipunang diplomatiko; mga miyembro ng Gabinete; mga opisyal ng lokal na pamahalaan; mga kasapi ng militar, pulis, at iba pang kawani mula sa ating unipormadong hanay; mga kapwa ko nagseserbisyo sa taumbayan; at sa aking mga Boss, ang mga minamahal kong kababayan:
Magandang hapon po sa inyong lahat.
Ito po ang aking ikalimang SONA, isa na lamang ang natitira. May kasabihan po tayo: Ang hindi lumingon sa pinanggalingan, hindi makararating sa paroroonan. Kaya marapat lang po siguro tayong magbalik-tanaw:
Noon, sa sitwasyon natin: Para bang kahibangan ang mangarap. May burukrasyang walang saysay, patong-patong ang tongpats, at bumubukol ang korupsyon sa sistema. Naturingan tayong “Sick Man of Asia.” Ang ekonomiya natin, matamlay; ang industriya, manipis. Walang kumpiyansang mamuhunan sa atin pong bansa. Ang resulta: kakarampot ang trabahong nalilikha. Dinatnan nating tigang sa pag-asa ang mamamayang Pilipino. Marami sa atin ang sumuko at napilitang makipagsapalaran sa ibang bansa. Nakayuko na lamang nating tinanggap: Talagang wala tayong maaasahan sa ating pamahalaan at lipunan.
Nalugmok nga po ang Pilipinas dahil sa labis na pamumulitika. Naglaho ang pananalig natin sa isa’t isa, humina ang kumpiyansa sa atin ng mundo, at ang pinakamasakit: Nawalan tayo ng tiwala sa ating mga sarili.
Sa puntong ito natin sinimulan ang pagtahak sa tuwid na daan.
Bilang ama ng bayan, nakaatang sa aking balikat, hindi lang ang mga suliraning ating dinatnan at mga lumilitaw sa kasalukuyan—obligasyon ko ring paghandaan ang kinabukasan. Sa bawat sandali, kailangan kong isaalang-alang ang interes at punto-de-bista ng lahat. Isipin na lang po ninyo: Para kang nanonood ng 200 channel sa telebisyon nang sabay-sabay. Kailangan, alam mo, hindi lang ang kasalukuyang nagaganap, kundi ang pinanggalingan at paroroonan ng nilalaman ng bawat channel. Bawal malito, at kailangan, may tugon ka sa anumang tanong, suhestiyon, at kritisismo—at dapat sagutin mo ito, bago pa iharap sa iyo.Hindi po madali ang trabahong ito, at tao lang po ako, na kung minsan, nagkakaroon din ng agam-agam.
Ngunit buo ang aking loob dahil malinaw ang aking pangunahing layunin: Ang ibalik ang gobyerno sa dapat nitong tuon—ang paglingkuran ang taumbayan sa lahat ng panahon. [Palakpakan]
‘Di po ba’t may kasabihan tayo: Bigyan mo ng isda ang tao, at mapapakain mo siya ng isang araw. Turuan mo siyang mangisda, at habambuhay niyang mapapakain ang sarili niya. Halimbawa nito ay ang TESDA. Sa Training-for-Work Scholarship Program, nag-ambag ang DAP ng 1.6 billion pesos. Nakapagpatapos po ito ng 223,615 benepisyaryo. 66 percent po nito—o katumbas ng 146,731 graduates—ang nagtatrabaho na ngayon. Iyon naman pong 34 percent na natitira, tinutulungan na rin ng TESDA na makahanap ng trabaho. Tingnan po ninyo: Lahat po ng mga TESDA scholar, nakalista ang pangalan at iba pang datos, na puwede ninyong kumpirmahin. [Palakpakan]
Kung hahatiin natin sa bilang ng graduates ang naipagkaloob na pondo, pumapatak ng 7,155 pesos ang naipuhunan ng pamahalaan para sa training ng bawat scholar. Sa BPO sector, mababa na ang kitang 18,000 piso kada buwan. Kada taon, kikita siya ng 234,000 pesos. Ibigay man ang maximum tax deduction, ang magiging income tax niya kada taon: 7,900 pesos. Ibig-sabihin, ang pinuhunan ng estadong 7,155 pesos, sa unang taon pa lang, nabawi na, may sobra pa. Ito, at ang lahat ng ibubuwis ng ating scholar hanggang magretiro siya, ay magbibigay naman sa kanyang kababayan ng parehong pagkakataon. Ito po ang mabuting pamamahala [Palakpakan]: May tama pong intensyon, pamamaraan, at resulta. Lahat panalo.
Pakinggan po natin ang kuwento ng dalawang TESDA graduate:
“‘Pag naabot mo na ‘yong pangarap mo—success, hindi naman stable ‘yon e. You need to work hard for it.
“Ako po si Marc Joseph Escora. Ako po ay isang high school graduate. And through TESDA’s help, I have my career in the BPO [business process outsourcing] industry right now.
“I stayed in Libertad public market for seven years. Nagba-barker po ako. Hindi kaya ng pamilya ko na pag-aralin kami nang sabay, so I need to find another way para makapagtapos ako.
“Most important thing na natutunan ko is ‘yung confidence to interact with other people. ‘Pag nakita ka ng tao na may kapansanan ka, hindi na nila ni-look forward ‘yung ability mo ba. Kailangan lang natin ng tiwala sa sarili.
“If TESDA is not there to help out, siguro wala rin ako ngayon kung nasaan man ako ngayon. ‘Yung way of living namin, masasabi kong mas okay siya compared noong dati.”
– Marc Joseph Escora, TESDA beneficiary
“Dahil sa TESDA, napabilis ‘yung pag-aaral ko, paghahanap ko ng trabaho, at ang pagtulong ko sa pamilya ko.
“Ako po si Jonnalyn Navarossa, Technical Trainer ng Toyota Motor Philippines. Ako po ‘yung naging overall topnotcher ng batch 1 sa automotive servicing sa TESDA Region 4-A. Napili ko po ‘yung automotive servicing kasi po pangarap kong maging isang mechanical engineer. So para makapagtrabaho’t magkapag-ipon, nag-TESDA po ako.
“Nakasanayan na po natin na ang auto mechanic ay trabahong panlalaki lang. Pero napatunayan ko na basta masipag at determinado, magkakaroon tayo ng dekalidad na produkto. Dahil sa TESDA, tumatak po sa akin ang kahalagahan ng dekalidad at mahusay na pagtatrabaho. Mas tumaas ‘yung tiwala ko sa aking sarili, at mas masarap nang mangarap nang malaki.”
– Jonnalyn Navarossa, TESDA beneficiary
[Palakpakan]
Nasimulan na rin po natin ang Expanded Conditional Cash Transfer Program nitong Hunyo 2014, na may pondong 12.3 billion pesos. Ngayon, suportado na rin ng estado hanggang umabot ng 18 taong gulang ang benepisyaryo. May magtatanong, “Bakit?” Batay po kasi sa pag-aaral ng Philippine Institute for Development Studies, 40 percent ang dagdag na sinasahod ng high school graduate, kumpara sa grade school lang ang natapos.
Namumuhunan po tayo sa pinakamahalagang yaman ng bansa: ang taumbayan. Pinapatunayan ito ng datos ng NEDA. Ayon sa kanila, ang 27.9 percent na poverty incidence natin sa unang semester ng 2012, bumaba patungong 24.9 percent sa kaparehong panahon noong 2013. Ang three percentage points pong ito ay katumbas ng halos 2.5 milyon na Pilipinong nakaalpas na sa poverty line. [Palakpakan] Totoo namang dapat pagtuunan ng masusing pansin ang pinakamahihirap sa lipunan. Pero hindi tayo titigil diyan: Ngayong nadagdagan ang kakayahan natin, sinisikap nating hindi na manumbalik sa ilalim ng poverty line ang lahat ng nakaalpas na. [Palakpakan]
Dumating po tayo sa lipunang parang isang sirang bahay na hindi natin malisan. Ang malala pa dito, halos wala tayong kagamitan at materyales para ayusin ang sira. Nitong mga nakaraang taon, sa pakikiambag ng bawat mapagkapwang Pilipino, nabubuo na natin ang mga kagamitan at materyales na ito—tulad po ng budget na tanging nakatuon sa pangangailangan ng mamamayan, at apat na sunud-sunod na taon na nating naipapasa sa tamang oras. Kasama nito ang mga batas na nagpapabilis ng pagdating ng pakinabang sa atin pong mga Boss.
Dito po—sa isang patas na sistema—nagsimula ang panunumbalik ng sigla ng ating ekonomiya. Nakatipid tayo dahil sa maayos na pangangasiwa ng pondo. Napapalawak natin ang saklaw ng mga serbisyo nang hindi nagtataas ng buwis, maliban sa Sin Tax Reform na layuning ibsan ang bisyo sa lipunan. [Palakpakan]
Nagtrabaho tayo para magkaroon ng kakayahang tustusan ang mga proyektong ipinatupad, ipinatutupad, at ipatutupad pa natin. Pinaigting natin ang pangongolekta ng buwis: mula sa koleksyong 1.094 trillion pesos noong 2010, naitaas na natin ito sa 1.536 trillion noong 2013. [Palakpakan] Inayos natin ang pamamahala ng ating mga utang. Ang resulta: Bumaba ang ating debt to GDP ratio; ang perang dating dapat ibabayad sa interes, napupunta na sa social services. Pati ang mga obligasyong karamihan ay minana lang, natugunan din natin. Halimbawa po nito: 1993 pa po o panahon pa ni Pangulong Ramos nang itinakda ang obligasyong i-recapitalize ang Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas sa halagang 50 bilyong piso para magawa niya ang kanyang tungkulin. Ang napondohan ni Presidente Ramos, 10 bilyong piso, at hindi na nadagdagan pagkatapos noon. 40 bilyon ang kakulangang iniwan sa atin; nabayaran na po natin ito. [Palakpakan]
Pinaghirapan natin ang pondong mayrooon tayo ngayon, kaya’t hindi po natin maaatim na waldasin lang ito. Kung pipili nga ng tamang pinuno ang ating mga Boss, malalagpasan pa ng susunod ang ating mga nagawa, dahil malaki na ang naibawas natin sa problema, at mas matayog na ang kanilang pagmumulan.
Bakit po mas matayog? Nitong 2013, sa unang pagkakataon, nagkamit tayo ng investment grade status mula sa Moody’s, sa Fitch, at Standard and Poor’s—ang tatlong pinakatanyag na credit ratings agency sa mundo. Sa pagsusuri nila ng ating macroenomic fundamentals at governance, nabawasan ang riskong itinatala, kaya tumingkad ang kumpiyansa ng mga namumuhunan. Hindi pa nga po nakuntento ang Standard and Poor’s: Nitong Mayo lang, panibagong upgrade na naman ang ibinigay nila sa atin. Ang hatid po nito: Dahil nga investment grade na tayo, mas murang mahihiram ng gobyerno ang pondo para sa mga programa at proyekto, mas maraming naaakit na mamumuhunan sa ating bansa, at mas mabilis na natatamasa ng Pilipino ang benepisyo. [Palakpakan]
Kung susumahin naman po ang lahat ng puhunang pumasok sa Philippine Economic Zone Authority simula nang itatag ito noong 1995, makikitang 42 porsyento ang pumasok sa apat na taon ng ating panunungkulan. Ang natitirang 58 percent, inabot ng 15 taon ang ibang mga administrasyon para bunuin. Kumpiyansa po tayo: bago tayo bumaba sa puwesto, papantayan o hihigitan pa natin ang halagang ito. Kay Director General Lilia de Lima: Salamat sa nagawa mo na, at gagawin pa, sa pagkamit ng tagumpay na ito. [Palakpakan]
Talagang pa-take-off na ang ating ekonomiya at bansa, at inaabot na natin ang mas matatayog pang mithiin. Minana natin ang tila grounded na aviation industry: napatawan tayo ng significant safety concerns ng International Civil Aviation Organization, o ICAO, nabigyan ng downgrade ng United States Federal Aviation Administration, at nilagyan ng restriction ng European Union ang ating mga local carriers.
Nitong 2013, inalis na nga po ng ICAO ang significant safety concerns sa Pilipinas. Sa parehong taon, sinundan ito ng pagpayag ng European Union na muling lumipad ang Philippine Airlines patungong Europa, kaya direkta nang makakabiyahe ang Pilipino [Palakpakan] mula Maynila po hanggang London. Malamang nga po, pasunod na ang Cebu Pacific dahil nabigyan na rin sila ng pahintulot ng EU ngayong 2014. Ngayong taon din, in-upgrade ng United States Federal Aviation Administration ang Pilipinas balik sa Category 1. Dahil dito, maaari nang dumagdag ang mga ruta papunta sa Estados Unidos. Sa larangan ng turismo at pangangalakal, malaki ang itinulong ng pagdami ng flights ng ating airlines tungo sa mga bansa kasapi ng EU at Estados Unidos .
Dumarating sa atin ang mga ulat na sa dami ng gustong bumisitang negosyante at turista sa ating bansa, dumarating ang mga panahong kulang na ang mga biyahe papunta rito. Magandang balita nga po ang mga upgrade: Dadami ang biyahe, kaya’t matutugunan ang suliraning ito. At sa patuloy na pagtutulungan ng CAAP at ng ating mga local carrier, pihadong mas marami pa tayong maaakit na turista at negosyante sa mga susunod na taon. Panalo ang mga umaasa sa sektor ng turismo, panalo ang sambayanang Pilipino. Mabuting pamamahala po ang ugat ng mga tagumpay na ito. Nagpapasalamat nga tayo kina Director General William Hotchkiss, sa CAAP, at sa ating mga local carriers para sa inyong pagsusumikap. [Palakpakan]
Talagang nasa sentro ng pandaigdigang entablado ang Pilipinas. Nito lang pong nakaraang Mayo, nagpakitang-gilas tayo sa tagumpay ng pagdaraos ng World Economic Forum on East Asia sa ating bansa. Ihahayag natin sa gaganaping APEC Summit dito sa susunod na taon ang kaunlarang nakakamit natin at ang pagkakataong hatid nito para sa lahat. Wala pong duda: More open for business na nga po ang Pilipinas. [Palakpakan]
Bukod po sa maaliwalas na pagnenegosyo, isinusulong din natin ang maayos na relasyon ng ating mga manggagawa at mga kompanya.
Isipin po ninyo: Mula 2010, nananatiling mababa sa sampu ang bilang ng mga strike kada taon ayon sa National Conciliation and Mediation Board. Isa po itong positibong bunga ng itinataguyod nating Single Entry Approach, o SEnA, ng DOLE, kung saan dumadaan sa 30-day conciliation-mediation ang mga nakahaing labor cases. Ang maganda nga po: sa 115 notices of strike and lockout noong 2013, isa lang ang natuloy na welga. Ito ang pinakamababa sa kasaysayan ng DOLE. Maraming salamat po kay Secretary Linda Baldoz, sa pamilya ng DOLE [palakpakan] at siyempre po sa labor at management sectors. Minsan po ay nagkabiruan kami ni Secretary Baldoz, noong 2012 ho yata’y may dalawang strike, noong 2013, isa na lang, so nangangalahati nang nangangalahati. Sabi ko: Linda, sa 2014, hindi tagumpay ‘yung may kalahating strike. Baka puwede, wala nang strike? [Tawanan at palakpakan]
Batid rin natin: Para magpatuloy ang pag-angat ng ekonomiya at pagbukas ng pagkakataon, kailangan ng imprastruktura. Ito ang aakit sa mga negosyante, magpapabilis sa daloy ng produkto at serbisyo, at sisigurong kaya nating makipagsabayan sa iba pang merkado sa daigdig.
Napakalaki po talaga ng pagbabago: Lampas doble na ang budget para sa imprastruktura, mula 200.3 billion pesos noong 2011, naging 404.3 billion pesos ngayong 2014. [Palakpakan] Paalala ko lang po: Hindi tayo nagdagdag ng buwis maliban sa Sin Tax Reform na nakatugon sa kalusugan, habang napanatili din ang ating allowable deficit, at patuloy na bumababa ang ating debt-to-GDP ratio. Malaki po ang epekto nito, dahil hindi lang lumaki ang pondo: binawasan pa natin ang mga tagas sa sistema, kaya natitiyak nating mas sulit ang bawat pisong ginagastos ng estado.
Sa pamumuno ni Secretary Babes Singson ng DPWH: Bawal ang tongpats, bawal ang bukol. Tinapalan na ang mga butas sa lumang sistema, at pinatag ang proseso sa ahensya. Isang simpleng halimbawa po nito ang pagtatanggal ng Letter of Intent sa bidding process. Noon po kasi, ginagamit ito bilang kasangkapan sa kuntsabahan—kapag nalaman kung sino-sino ang bidders ng proyekto, binibigyan ng puwang ang sabwatan. Isa pa po: Ang mga dokumentong hinihiling mula sa bidders: lima na lang, mula sa dating 20. Mas mabilis ang proseso, at mas kaunti ang pagkakataong manghingi ng pampadulas o suhol. Ang resulta: Halos 28 bilyong piso ang naisalbang pondo, at napapaaga ang pagpapatupad ng mga susunod na proyekto. [Palakpakan] Kaya naman kay Sec. Babes at sa bumubuo ng DPWH: muli, maraming salamat po sa inyong lahat. [Palakpakan]
Hanep po talaga: Kasabay ng mga natipid ng DPWH, ang nailatag, napapaayos, napalawak, o naipagawa nilang kalsada mula nang maupo tayo, umabot na sa 12,184 kilometro. [Palakpakan] Nung nakita ko po itong numerong ‘to, napag-isip rin ako: Paano ko ba maipapaliwanag ‘yung labindalawang libo? Sabi po sa atin: katumbas ito ng apat na kalsadang nag-uugnay sa Laoag hanggang Zamboanga City. National roads lang po ito; wala pa rito ang mga local farm-to-market roads o tourism roads. [Palakpakan]
Sa Public-Private Partnership program naman po: Mula Disyembre 2011 hanggang nitong Hunyo, nakapag-award at nakalagda na ng pitong PPP projects ang inyong pamahalaan; ang halaga nito: tinatayang 62.6 billion pesos. Sa apat na taon natin sa tuwid na daan, nalampasan na natin ang pinagsamang anim lamang na aprubadong solicited PPP projects mula sa nakaraang tatlong administrasyon. [Palakpakan]
Ang laki na po talaga ng pinagkaiba ng noon sa ngayon. Sabi nga ni Secretary Cesar Purisima: Dati, hindi makaakit ang Pilipinas ng mga mamumuhunan. Noon, gobyerno pa mismo ang nag-aalay ng kaliwa’t kanang insentibo, tulad ng pagbibigay ng commercial development rights, subsidy, at iba pang garantiya. Ngayon, baliktad na ang sitwasyon. Matindi ang kompetisyon ng mga nag-uunahang kompanya; handa silang magbayad para makuha ang pribilehiyong itayo ang imprastrukturang kailangan natin. Halimbawa po: Sa Mactan-Cebu International Airport Passenger Terminal Building, may premium ang gobyerno na umaabot sa mahigit 14 bilyong piso; sa NAIA Expressway Project Phase 2, nakakuha ang gobyerno ng prima na 11 bilyong piso. Muli: Mabuting pamamahala ang ugat ng lahat ng ito. [Palakpakan]
Tingnan naman natin ang TPLEX. Dahil sa kalsadang ito, maginhawa na ang biyaheng Tarlac hanggang Rosales sa Pangasinan. Ayon po sa kanila, ang bahagi hanggang Urdaneta, makukumpleto na bago matapos ang 2014. Sa susunod na taon, aabot na raw ang daang ito hanggang sa dulo sa Rosario, La Union. [Palakpakan]
Ang mga imprastrukturang matagal nang ipinako sa pangako, atin na rin pong isinasakongkreto. Ang Aluling Bridge, na 1978 pa po binuo ang konsepto, bukas na sa publiko. Ang Metro Manila Skyway Stage 3, na bahagi ng Metro Manila Expressway na proyekto pa noong dekada sitenta, inilunsad na natin noong Enero. Sa mga dumadaan ng Osmeña Highway, nakikita naman po ninyo kung gaano kabilis itayo ang mga haligi para dito. Ang Ternate-Nasugbu Road, na noon pang 1994 sinimulang ilatag ang plano—100 percent complete na rin ngayon. [Palakpakan] Ang Basilan Circumferential Road, na year 2000 pang under construction, malapit na rin pong matapos. Hindi ko na ho sasabihin ‘yung eksaktong petsa baka mausog pa. Pero ‘pag hindi ho natupad, ‘yung ipinangako sa atin ni Governor Hataman, sasamahan ko siya araw-araw hanggang matapos ito.
Ilan lang po ito sa mga imprastrukturang wala tayong planong ipamana bilang problema; sa halip, ngayon, nagsisimula na itong mapakinabangan ng ating mga Boss.
Muli, dahil sa mabuting pamamahala, mas may kakayahan na tayong tugunan, maging ang mga problemang paparating pa lang. Halimbawa: sa tubig. Alam nating habang lumalago ang populasyon at umaangat ang ekonomiya, mas maraming tubig ang kakailanganin sa mga susunod na taon. Ayon nga po sa pag-aaral, maaaring magkaroon ng kakulangan ng tubig sa Metro Manila pagdating ng 2021. Hindi na po natin hihintayin ang tagtuyot: Ang mga solusyong talagang pinag-aralan ng mga dalubhasa, inaprubahan na po natin—ang Kaliwa Dam Project sa Quezon, at ang pag-aayos ng mga linya ng Angat Dam. Magandang solusyon po ito kaysa kumuha ng tubig mula sa mga aquifer sa ilalim ng lupa, na mas madaling pasukin o magbibigay-daan para mas madaling pasukan ng tubig-alat. Isa pa, kung sa mga aquifer lang tayo nakasalalay, mas mapapabilis ang paglubog ng lupa—na siya namang nagiging dahilan ng pagbaha.
Kasabay po ng mga dam para sa Metro Manila at mga karatig-bayan ang suporta natin sa mga tagalalawigan. Aprubado na rin ang Water District Development Sector Project, sa ilalim ng LWUA o Local Water Utilities Administration. [Palakpakan]
Siguro po, narinig na rin ninyo ang pinakamalaki nating PPP project—ang Laguna Lakeshore Expressway Dike—bubuksan na rin ang bidding bago matapos ang 2014. [Palakpakan] Napakaraming benepisyong maidudulot nito. Una, mababawasan ang pagbaha. Ngayon po, ‘pag pumalo ng 12.5 meters ang taas ng tubig sa lawa, tiyak, babahain na ang mga komunidad sa paligid nito. Ang solusyon: dikeng may taas na higit sa 15 metro. Ikalawa pong pakinabang: Malilinis ang tubig sa Laguna Lake. Ang ikatlo po: Bawas ang trapiko. Sa ibabaw ng dike, magkakaroon ng expressway, na babagtas sa Los Baños hanggang Taguig. ‘Pag natapos ang C-6 road na kokonekta sa San Jose del Monte, may isa na naman tayong paraan upang makatawid ng Kamaynilaan nang hindi na kakailanganing dumaan sa EDSA. [Palakpakan] Sa pakikituwang ngpribadong sektor, ang obligasyon natin dito ay right of way lang; porsyento ng lupang mare-reclaim ang ipapambayad sa mananalong bidder. Dahil dito, makukuha natin ang ating mga pangangailangan, habang mababawasan din ang ating gastusin.
Ilang halimbawa lang po iyan ng mga proyektong nakapila na para magdala ng benepisyo sa ating mga Boss. Marami pang iba: Aprubado na rin ng NEDA Board ang Laoag City Bypass Link Road Project; ang Cebu Bus Rapid Transit Project; at ang LRT Line 1 South Extension and Line 2 East Extension. Sa mga taga-Palawan naman: Maliban sa mga proyekto sa Puerto Princesa Airport, abangan na rin ninyo ang Busuanga Airport. Naka-go signal na rin po ang pagpapatayo ng phase one ng modernong Clark Green City sa Capas, Tarlac, pihado pong magsisilbing sentro ng komersyo at industriya, hindi lang sa Gitnang Luzon, kundi sa kalakhang bansa. [Palakpakan] Sa dulo po, ang ambisyon natin sa Clark Green City—maging di-hamak itong mas malawak na Bonifacio Global City. Ang dating liblib, magiging hitik sa oportunidad.
Sa mabuting pamamahala, nanunumbalik ang tiwala ng merkado, ng mundo, at ng taumbayan sa ating gobyerno. Nagbubunsod ito ng isang siklo: Dahil nakikita ang resulta ng agenda ng reporma, nakikiambag ang bawat isa sa ating mga Boss. Talagang hindi nag-iisa ang gobyerno sa pagsusulong ng malawakan at makabuluhang reporma. Totoo nga po: Kayo ang aming lakas. [Palakpakan]
Kaya nga po, mga Boss: Salamat sa inyong tiwala at pakikiisa, na lalong nagiging mahalaga sa mga panahong sinalubong tayo ng sunud-sunod na trahedya.
Noong Setyembre 2013, sinugod ng masasamang elemento ang Zamboanga: Ginawang human shield ang mga kababayan nating namumuhay nang mapayapa, at sinunog pa ang kanilang mga tahanan. Nasubukan ang galing ng ating unipormadong hanay. Pinakamasalimuot sa larangan ng bakbakan ang tinatawag na urban combat—ngunit 195 ang nailigtas natin, sa 197 kataong naipit sa putukan. Saludo tayo sa ating mga kapatid sa unipormadong hanay: Nagtagumpay ang sambayanan dahil sa inyong sakripisyo. [Palakpakan]
Inatasan po natin si Secretary Singson na pangasiwaan ang rehabilitasyon ng imprastrukturang nasira sa Zamboanga. Pangunahin sa mga pangangailangan: mabigyan ng tahanan ang mga kababayan nating nasunugan. Ito po mismo ang isinasagawa natin sa ilalim ng Zamboanga City Roadmap to Recovery and Reconstruction. Pagpasok nga po ng Agosto, magsisimula nang lumipat ang mga apektadong pamilya sa mga permanenteng bahay sa Martha Drive Subdivision. Kabuuang 7,176 na kabahayan sa iba’t ibang lugar ang target nating makumpleto sa Hunyo ng susunod na taon. Humihingi po kami ng pang-unawa. Maraming problemang kinailangan munang lutasin ukol sa pagkuha ng lupang lilipatan. Tinitiyak din nating ang mga tahanang ito ay sumasang-ayon sa pangangailangan ng kanilang relihiyon at kultura, kaya’t hindi pangkaraniwan ang mga ito. Sa 1,661 pamilya namang gustong sila mismo ang magkumpuni ng sariling tahanan, 30,000 pisong halaga ng Home Materials Assistance ang ipinapamahagi na.
3.5 billion pesos po ang nakahanda para sa pagpapaayos ng imprastruktura, pagbili ng mga lote, pagpapatayo ng mga permanenteng tahanan, at iba pang suporta sa Zamboanga. 2.57 billion pesos dito, nai-release na sa NHA at DPWH.
Ilang linggo naman po matapos ang krisis sa Zamboanga, niyanig ng lindol ang Central Visayas; pinakamalaki ang pinsala sa Bohol. Dito natin nakita ang maaaring maabot ng sambayanang nagkakaisa sa pagresponde sa sakuna. Isang linggo matapos ang lindol, may kuryente na sa Tagbilaran at sa lahat ng munisipalidad ng Bohol. [Palakpakan]
Ngayon nga po, bawat isa sa 25 na kritikal na tulay at kalsadang nasira ng lindol, nadadaanan na. May kabuuang 3.583 billion pesos nang nai-release para sa rehabilitasyon ng Bohol at Cebu. [Palakpakan] Kasama na rito ang 2.49 billion pesos na ipinagkaloob ng DILG sa lokal na gobyerno, para sa pagpapagawa ng mga palengke, civic center, tulay, water systems, munisipyo at ibang pang istrukturang pampamahalaan.
Bago naman po matapos ang 2013, dumating naman si Yolanda— ang pinakamalakas na bagyo sa kasaysayan. 1.47milyongpamilya ang talagang naapektuhan, at 44 sa ating 81 probinsya ang tinamaan. Sa Eastern Visayas, kung saan pinakamalakas ang pinsalang nadulot, napakaraming kinailangan na agarang lingap.
Sa sobrang lakas ng bagyo, naparalisa ang maraming LGU dahil sila mismo ang tinamaan.Natangay po pati ang ating prepositioned relief goods, kaya’t talagang kinailangang manggaling sa ibang lugar ang tulong. Lalo pang naging mabigat ang pagdadala ng ayuda, dahil bagsak ang imprastruktura: Walang kuryente, hindi madaanan ang kalsada, at halos lahat ng truck at heavy equipment na kailangan ng ating first responders ay nasira sa pinakaapektadong mga lugar. Wala ring gasolina, at walang komunikasyon.
Kinailangan po talaga ng pambihirang pagkakaisa para ipaabot ang tulong sa mga apektadong pamilya, kalingahin ang mga naulila’t sugatan, siguruhing walang mangyayaring outbreak ng sakit, at marami pang ibang tungkulin. Halimbawa lang po: Sa pagkain, hindi lang bigas at delata ang kinailangang intindihin. Kailangan din ng mga repacking center, ng maraming truck, pati na ang mga barkong magtatawid ng ayuda sa mga apektadong probinsya. Pagdating doon ng relief goods, kailangang malinis na ang kalsadang dadaanan, at mapagasolinahan ang mga truck nang makabalik sila sa pinanggalingan, upang muling makapagkarga ng ating mga food pack.
Hindi nagpatumpik-tumpik sa pagresponde ang inyong gobyerno. Nagmadali tayong linisin, unang-una, ang airport, kaya sa loob ng 24 oras pagkatapos ng bagyo, nakapasok na ang tatlo nating C130 na may dalang ayuda. Sa mismong araw ding iyon, nakapagtayo tayo ng communications hub para maging mas mabilis ang daloy ng impormasyon. Sa ikalawang araw, dumating na ang Rapid Health Assessment teams ng DOH; ang dagdag na sundalo, pulis, at BFP personnel mula sa ibang probinsya; pati na mga kawani ng DSWD na nanguna sa relief operations— sa distribution centers man sa Eastern Visayas, o sa maraming repacking centers na agad na nagbukas sa buong bansa.
Sa loob lang ng dalawang araw, napagana na ang Leyte water district; sa ikatlong araw naman, bumukas ang unang gasolinahan. Agad na nilinis ang pangunahing mga kalsada. Pagsapit ng ika-22 ng Nobyembre o dalawang linggo matapos ang bagyo, naipamahagi na ang ikaisang milyong food pack sa mga nasalanta; na-clear na ang 35,162 cubic meters ng debris sa mga kalsadang pagdadaanan nitong mga relief; at nalinis at nadaanan na ring muli ang 3,426 kilometers ng National Roads—kasalukuyan naman po nating kinukumpuni ang 108.8 kilometrong napinsalang daanan, tulay, approaches, at landslide-prone areas. Pagsapit nga po ng Pasko noong lumipas ang 2013, may kuryente na sa lahat ng munisipalidad na tinamaan ng sakuna. [Palakpakan]
Kumbaga nga po sa Emergency Room, ibinuhos ng estado ang lahat ng kanyang kapangyarihan upang agad na mai-stabilize ang pasyente. Nagpapasalamat tayo sa mga kasapi sa ating Gabinete, na talaga naman pong nanguna sa pagresponde sa mga apektadong komunidad. Sina Sec. Cesar Purisima at Sec. Joel Villanueva ng TESDA, na namuno sa logistics at nag-organisa sa mga repacking center, nagmistulan po silang dalawang warehouse operator. [Palakpakan] Si Sec. Greg Domingo ng DTI, naging head purchasing agent ng bansa, habang si Sec. Linda Baldoz naman ng DOLE ay minabuting maging call center operator para sa lahat ng gusto o nag-aalok ng tulong. [Palakpakan] Salamat din kina Sec. Jun Abaya ng DOTC, na naging dispatcher ng ating transportasyon; kay Sec. Dinky Soliman na talagang pinatunayan ang pagiging punong relief worker ng bansa; at kina Sec. Mar Roxas ng DILG at Sec. Volts Gazmin ng DND, na nagbigay ng marching orders sa ating unipormadong hanay mula sa frontline ng sakuna. [Palakpakan] Muli po, salamat sa ating Gabinete.
To our friends and neighbors around the world: Your outpouring of solidarity will never be forgotten by a grateful Filipino people. Again, on their behalf, we thank you. [Palakpakan]
Marahil nga po, sa kahandaan nating makiambag sa abot ng ating makakaya, na siyang ipinapamalas ng ating OFWs, peacekeepers, at iba pang Pilipino sa labas ng bansa, nang tayo naman ang nangailangan, nakita ng mundong karapat-dapat din tayong tulungan. Salamat sa inyo, at sa lahat ng Pilipinong nag-alay ng dalangin at suporta, dito man o sa ibang panig ng mundo. [Palakpakan]
Hindi po natigil ang trabaho natin. Nagsagawa tayo ng livelihood interventions, upang maging mas mabilis ang pagbangon ng mga nasalanta nating kababayan. Ngayong Hulyo nga po, 221,897 trabaho na ang nalikha matapos tayong magkaloob ng bangka, kagamitan sa pangingisda at pagtatanim, mga binhi, at livestock. Kasama na rin po dito ang mga sinuwelduhan nating naging kabahagi ng cash for work program.
Tanggap naman po siguro ng lahat na malaki ang problemang dala ni Yolanda. Pero ayon nga po sa international standards, kapag nangyari ang ganitong klaseng sakuna, isang taon ang inaabot bago matapos ang relief at mag-umpisa ang rehabilitasyon ng isang bansa. Pero sa loob lang ng walong buwan, idineklara na ng United Nations mismo na nasa yugto na tayo ng rehabilitation. Si Ginoong Yuri Afanasiev ng United Nations Development Programme na nga po ang nagsabi: “We have never seen a recovery happen so quickly. And many of us have been in many different disasters.” [Palakpakan]
Mahabang panahon ang bubunuin para tuluyang makabangon sa mabibigat na sakuna. Sa Haiti, dalawang taon ang nakalipas mula ng lindol, marami pa rin ang nasa evacuation centers. Ang mga kapatid natin sa Indonesia, inabot ng walong taon para maka-recover sa tsunami sa Aceh. Mismong sa Amerika nga po, sinasabing walong taon ang inabot para makabalik sa dati matapos humagupit si Hurricane Katrina.
Hindi pa po tapos ang ating trabaho. Marami pang bahay na kailangang ipatayo; marami pang mga kababayan natin ang kailangang ibangong muli; patuloy pa rin ang pag-build back better para sa mga hinagupit ni Yolanda.
Kaya nga po: Ngayong Hulyo, isinumite na sa atin, at nilagdaan na rin natin, ang LGU Rehabilitation and Recovery Plan para sa Cebu, Iloilo, Samar, Eastern Samar, Leyte, at Tacloban City. [Palakpakan] Pumasa po ito sa masusing pagsusuri ng mga cluster ng Gabinete; laman nito ang mga pangangailangan ng ating mga kababayan, ayon na rin sa isinasagawang malawakang post-disaster needs assessment. Nabuo po ang planong ito sa maigting na pagsisikap ni Secretary Ping Lacson, na inatasan nga nating tumutok sa mga hamong iniwan ni Yolanda. [Palakpakan] Umaasa po ako sa pakikiisa ng Kongreso, dahil malaking halaga ang kailangan, upang tuluyan nang maibangon ang ating mga kababayan.
Alalahanin po natin: Nasa Diyos ang awa; nasa tao ang gawa. Ito rin ang parehong ideya sa likod ng ating mga hakbang para sa disaster preparedness. Binigyang-lakas natin ang mga LGU na siyang mga frontliner tuwing bagyo at iba pang sakuna, gamit ang moderno at malawakang forecasting system.
Sa DREAM-LiDAR project sa ilalim ng Project NOAH, halimbawa, napapadali ang pagtukoy kung saan ang mga lugar na pinakababahain. Nakamapa na po ang 19 sa target nating 20 river systems para matukoy kung ano ang mga lugar na agad naaapektuhan tuwing bumubuhos ang ulan.
Dahil mas eksakto na ang pagtukoy natin kung kailan at saan tatama ang epekto ng bagyo, ngayon po, napapaaga ang paghahanda at pagbibigay-babala ng ating mga LGUs. Maaga na ring naililikas ang kanilang mamamayan. Kung ang maayos na forecasting, tatambalan pa natin ng mahusay na LGU, talaga naman pong maraming buhay ang maililigtas. Sa Albay na hinagupit kamakailan lang ng bagyong Glenda, walang naitalang pumanaw dahil sa bagyo, salamat sa mabuting pamamahala ni Governor Joey Salceda. [Palakpakan] At kung kaya itong gawin ng isang probinsya na siya ngang parang natawag na nga pong highway ng mga bagyo, bakit naman tayo magdududa na kakayanin ng iba pang hindi highway ng bagyo?
Pag-usapan naman natin ang seguridad. Mulat po tayo sa mga hamon sa bansa, at alam din nating mahal ang kailangan nating mga kagamitan. Ngayon po, ikinalulugod kong iulat sa inyo: Tuloy-tuloy ang modernisasyon ng AFP. Nakuha na natin ang brand new na 8 Sokol Combat Utility Helicopters, tatlong AgustaWestland-109 helicopters, at ang kauna-unahang landing craft utility ship na ginawa dito mismo sa ating bansa, ang BRP Tagbanua. Dumating na rin po ang apat na refurbished UH-1 helicopters at 2 navy cutters. Nito namang nakaraang Mayo, pinasinayaan na rin natin ang state-of-the-art Command Center ng Naval Forces West sa Palawan.
Sa susunod na taon, lalapag na ang 2 sa 12 na FA-50 lead-in fighter trainer jets na binili natin. [Palakpakan] Ang natitira naman po, inaasahan nating maide-deliver bago matapos ang 2017. Target din nating makuha ang karagdagang brand new na 8 Bell combat utility helicopters, 2 anti-submarine helicopters, 10 pang AgustaWestland-109 helicopters, 2 light-lift aircraft, 3 medium-lift aircraft, mga radar system at iba pang kagamitang magpapaunlad sa kakayahan ng ating Sandatahang Lakas. [Palakpakan] Samantala po, sa Setyembre ng taong ito, inaasahan ang pagdating ng karagdagang 17 refurbished UH-1 helicopters.
Dumating na rin ang paunang mga M4 assault rifles na binili natin para sa kasundaluhan. Sa mga susunod na buwan, ang kabuuang bilang ng baril na mapapasakamay ng ating mga kawal: 50,629 units ng M4. Ang bonus pa: dahil sa maayos na proseso ng procurement at tapat na pangangasiwa sa pondo, may savings tayo na mahigit 1.2 billion pesos; itong savings ay ipinambibili na natin ng mas marami pang baril. [Palakpakan]
Ididiin ko lang po: Brand new at dekalidad ang lahat ng ripleng ito na nagmumula sa manufacturer na daang taon na pong gumagawa ng sandata. ‘Di po ba noong araw: naubos na nga ang pondo, hindi pa alinsunod sa ispesipikasyong kailangan natin, tulad po ng biniling Kevlar Helmets. Sabi po ng ispesipikasyon, dapat sa U.S. Pero noong ibinili, sa ibang bansa. May na-convict na po dahil dito. Pati ang isang hukom na diumano’y sangkot dito, natapos na ang imbestigasyong inutos ng Korte Suprema, at hinihintay natin ang kanilang pasya.
Tuloy ang pagtugis natin sa kalaban ng estado at masasamang elemento para sa mga krimeng ginawa nila. Halimbawa nga po: Nahuli na ang Chairman at Secretary General ng NPA nitong Marso. Nanunumbalik na rin po ang normalidad at kaayusan sa 31 probinsyang dating ginambala ng NPA.
Nagbabago na rin nga po ang mukha ng ating kapulisan. Patunay po rito ang 30 pulis, sa pangunguna ni Inspector Charity Galvez, na tumalo sa tinatayang 250 NPA na sumugod sa kanilang presinto noong 2011. [Palakpakan] Nitong Marso naman po, 4 na bagitong pulis ang buong-tapang na sumagupa laban sa Martilyo Gang sa Mall of Asia. Mabuti nga po’t naabot na ang 1:1 police to pistol ratio, kaya’t naisyuhan na rin ng bagong baril ang ating mga rookie policewomen. Dati, nakakaligtaan ang kapulisan; ngayon, kinakalinga na sila ng estado, at talaga namang tinutumbasan nila ito ng wagas at masigasig na serbisyo. [Palakpakan]
Pakinggan po natin ang tinig magigiting nating pulis:
“PO1 Juliet Macababbad: May narinig po kaming, ano, nagbasag ng salamin. Naging alerto kami ng buddy ko.
PO1 Marcelina Bantiyag: Ah ‘yong unang pumasok po ng isip ko ‘yung bumunot na po ako ng baril kasi alam ko na ano po sila—na ready po silang magpaputok sa amin; nakauniporme po kami.
PO1 Maricel Rueco: Sinabi po ng aking ka-buddy na si PO1 Bantiyag na “Ko-cover-an kita, ikaw ang tumawag sa ating PCP [Police Community Precinct]!”
PO1 Marcelina Bantiyag: Meron po kaming nahuli na isang miyembro po nila.
PO1 Delia Langpawen: Pang-apat na araw namin ditong duty—doon mismo sa post na ‘yon. Tapos, biglang ganoon po ang nangyari.
PO1 Juliet Macababbad: Kailangan po talaga may baril ‘yung bawat pulis. Mabuti na lang po, may in-issue po sa amin na Glock 17 Generation 4 po.
PO1 Marcelina Bantiyag: Malaking tulong po ‘yung baril sa amin kasi kapag nagpapatrolya ka may confidence ka na kahit may mangyari puwede kang maki-engage.
PO1 Juliet Macababbad: Masarap po sa pakiramdam ‘yung ikaw ay makatulong sa iyong mga kababayan. Kung ano po ‘yung nagagawa ng mga lalaki, nagagawa din po naming mga babae. [Palakpakan]
PO1 Delia Langpawen: Kahit kinabahan po kami dahil first encounter po namin, ang inisip po namin ay ang kapakanan ng mga tao na nandoon.”
– PO1 Juliet Macababbad, PO1 Marcelina Bantiyag, PO1 Maricel Rueco, and PO1 Delia Langpawen—policewomen who arrested members of the Martilyo Gang
Nito naman pong Hunyo, naging sunod-sunod ang high-profile na pamamaslang. Arestado na ang ilangmga sangkot sa pagpatay kina Mayor Ernesto Balolong, sa negosyanteng si Richard King, at may sinusundan na ring magandang lead ang ating kapulisan sa pagpatay sa race car driver na si Ferdinand Pastor. Huwag po kayong mag-alala: hahabulin natin ang hustisya sa kabuuan, hindi ang bahagi lamang. Kaya bukod sa mga ginawa nating pag-aresto, patuloy tayo sa paglikom ng ebidensya laban sa iba pang suspect. Pananagutin natin ang lahat ng may-sala. [Palakpakan]
Pinapaigting pa natin ang pangangalaga sa seguridad ng taumbayan. Simula ng ika-16 ng Hunyo ngayong taon, ipinapatupad natin sa National Capital Region ang Operation Lambat. Matapos nating gawing triple ang dami ng checkpoints at magsagawa ng iba’t ibang operasyon, ang resulta: 862 sasakyan at 29 mga baril ang nakumpiska natin. Nakapag-serve tayo ng 587 warrants of arrest, na nagresulta sa pagkakaaresto ng 410 suspect. Ibinalik din natin ang Oplan Katok para matiyak na ang may tangan ng lisensyadong baril ay ang karapat-dapat lamang. 28,714 na bahay sa NCR ang kinatok ng mga pulis para sa operasyong ito.
Bago natin ipatupad ang Oplan Lambat, mula Enero hanggang ikalawang linggo ng Hunyo, ang murder at homicide sa National Capital Region, umaabot sa 31 kaso kada linggo. Sa limang linggo pa lang ng operasyon, ang murder at homicide rate: Bumaba sa 22 kaso na lamang kada linggo. 29 porsyentong pagbaba ang naitala—katumbas ng 9 na pagpatay ang napigilan natin kada linggo. At sa NCR pa lang po ito. Kung maisasabatas natin ang pension reform, at makakakalap nga tayo ng sapat na pondo para sa dagdag na pulis at para matuloy ang planong pagbili ng kagamitan, lalong mapapalawak ni Sec. Mar Roxas ang Operation Lambat, upang gawing mas ligtas ang buong bansa. [Palakpakan] Nasa ilalim nga po sana ng DAP ang pondong pangkagamitan, pero dahil hindi ito na-obligate bago bumaba ang desisyon ng Korte Suprema, kailangan po nating maghanap ng pagkukunan ng karagdagang pondo.
Tunay nga po: Tiwala ang pundasyon ng mabuting pamamahala. Tiwalang maaasikaso ang lahat ng tinamaan o tatamaan ng bagyo; tiwalang sa bawat araw ng trabaho, ligtas mong mauuwian ang pamilya mo. Tiwala na hindi kayo lalamangan ng inyong mga pinuno; tiwalang nariyan ang inyong gobyerno, kakampi ninyo, lalo na kung kayo ang nadedehado. Tiwala na mananagot ang mga nang-abuso, at maitatama ang mga proseso at institusyong ginagamit para nakawan kayo. Tiwala na kung sumunod ka sa tama, makukuha mo kung ano ang dapat sa iyo. Ang pagbabalik ng tiwala ninyo: Iyan po ang ibig-sabihin ng reporma. [Palakpakan]
Halimbawa po: Sa Customs, na talaga naman pong sinubok ang ating pasensya noong nakaraang mga taon. Naging malinaw sa atin: Reset button ang solusyon. Bumuo po tayo ng mga bagong tanggapan para suriin at gawing epektibo ang mga patakaran sa Customs. Nagtalaga tayo ng bagong commissioner, anim na bagong deputy commissioner, kasabay na rin ang 40 iba pang maaasahang indibidwal para ipatupad ang ating mga reporma sa Customs. Ibinalik din natin sa tamang posisyon ang mga empleyado. Totohanang ipinagbawal ang mga guwardiyang umaastang kahera, o warehouseman na ginagawang examiner.
Marami nga po ang nagsasakripisyo para ayusin ang Customs. Kabilang dito ang mga kawani mula sa ibang departamento at ahensya ng gobyerno, na hiniling nating lumipat sa Customs dahil tiwala tayo sa kanilang integridad. Isipin po ninyo: Sino nga ba naman ang naghahanap ng sakit ng ulo, lalo pa’t walang garantiya ng tagumpay? May mga ipinagpaliban ang kanilang promotion. May mga nagpahiwatig din ng agam-agam dahil sa takot na balikan sila ng mga sindikato. Pero sa huli, tumugon sila sa ating panawagang maglingkod. Marapat lang na personal kong pasalamatan ang lahat ng kawaning ito, sa pangunguna na nga ni Commissioner Sunny Sevilla. [Palakpakan]
Pinapatunayan po natin: Sa paninindigan at pagkakaisa, kayang linisin kahit pa ang isang institusyong napakahabang panahon nang dinungisan ng katiwalian. Patunay po rito ang good news na natanggap natin: Mula Enero hanggang Abril 2014, umangat ng 22 porsyento ang cash collections ng Customs kumpara sa parehong panahon noong nakalipas na taon. Ang kabuuan nilang koleksyon sa unang apat na buwan ng taon: 117 billion pesos. [Palakpakan]
Ang masasabi ko naman sa mga patuloy na rumaraket: Alam kong hindi na kayo tinatablan ng takot at kahihiyan. Nasa inyo kung makukunsensya kayo—o maaawa kayo sa mga nalululong sa drogang pinapapasok o pinahihintulutan ninyong pumasok, o sa mga magsasakang napagkakaitan ng tamang kita. Ang sa akin lang: Kapag sumapat na ang nililikom na ebidensya laban sa inyo, sa Bilibid ang susunod ninyong destino. [Palakpakan]
Kung pag-uusapan natin ang mga repormang nagsisimula nang magbunsod ng malawakang kaunlaran, marapat din pong ibalita ko sa inyo ang mga pangyayari ukol sa repormang agraryo.
Alam naman po natin, at malinaw sa batas: kailangan munang tukuyin ang maaari at hindi maaaring ipamahaging lupain. Pero ang masaklap, ipinamana sa atin ang bungi-bunging datos. Bakit ‘ka niyo? Taong 1913 pa sinimulan ang Cadastral Survey ng ating bansa, na tutukoy ng hangganan ng mga lupaing saklaw ng bawat lungsod, bayan, at lalawigan sa Pilipinas.
Isa pang problema: Inuna ng mga nakaraang administrasyon ang distribusyon ng mga lupaing madaling ipamahagi tulad ng mga government-owned land, at lupaing napagkasunduan na ng may-ari at magsasaka. Ang naiwan sa atin ay mga lupaing maraming kumplikasyon, at ugat pa ng mahabang debate at demandahan.
Dagdag din nga pong suliranin ang masalimuot na sitwasyon sa ARMM. Ang lupa ng ARMM ay tinatayang 1.5 milyong ektarya. Pero ang lupang nakatala na dinatnan natin, ngayon ay nasa 2.9 million hectares na dahil sa patung-patong na pag-angkin ng lupa. Nagtataka nga po si Governor Mujiv Hataman ng ARMM at tinanong niya sa akin minsan, “Boss, paano kaya nanganganak ang lupa?”
Wala po tayong balak na ipasa ang mga suliraning ito sa susunod sa atin, para pag-ugatan lang ng panibagong mga problema at ng lalong pagkaudlot ng repormang agraryo.
Sa 2015, makalipas ng 102 taon, matatapos na rin ang Cadastral Survey.[Palakpakan] Ngayong taon,ihahain din nating muli sa Kongreso ang panukalang batas para i-extend ang paghahain ng Notice of Coverage, na hindi agad natapos nang husto dahil nga sa mga problemang kinailangan muna nating solusyonan. [Palakpakan] Oras na maihain ang panukalang batas, umaasa tayong maipapasa ito sa lalong madaling panahon.
Kung tiwala nga po ang pag-uusapan, dapat ding isama ang Bangsamoro. Matapos ang mahabang panahon ng hidwaan at napupurnadang negosasyon, naibalik na natin ang tiwala. Pruweba ponito: Noong nakaraang Marso, nilagdaan na ang Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro. [Palakpakan]
Pero simula pa lang ito ng ating pag-usad sa landas ng malawakang pag-unlad sa Mindanao. Wala pong nakakatangging napag-iwanan ang ARMM. Gusto po nating bigyan ng pantay na pagkakataon ang lahat ng Pilipino, kaya nga dapat may boost up, para naman maka-catch up ang ating mga kababayang nasa laylayan. Halimbawa, sa budget na iminumungkahi natin para sa 2015, 5.17 billion pesos mula sa budget ng DPWH ay nakalaan para sa imprastraktura ng ARMM. [Palakpakan]
Kasalukuyan na po nating pinapanday ang panukalang Bangsamoro Basic Law. Humihingi po tayo ng pang-unawa sa ating Kongreso ukol rito. Mahalaga pong maging masusi ang paghimay natin ng bawat probisyong ilalatag. Sa abot ng ating makakaya, isusulong natin ang isang panukalang batas na makatwiran, makatarungan, at katanggap-tanggap sa lahat. [Palakpakan]
Kung maisasabatas nga po ang Bangsamoro Basic Law bago matapos ang taon at maisasagawa ang kinakailangang plebesito, mabibigyan ng isa’t kalahating taon ang Bangsamoro Transition Authority para ipakita ang positibong pagbabago. Kung maaantala naman ito, natural pong iikli rin ang panahon para mapatunayan na tama nga ang landas ng kapayapaang tinatahak natin.
Napakarami na nga po nating nararating dahil sa tiwala—at wala tayong balak basagin ang tiwalang ito. Ang gobyerno ninyo ngayon: mayroong isang salita. Hindi ko na po iisa-isahin ang mga natupad nating panata sa tuwid na daan; baka masabihan lang tayong nagbubuhat ng sariling bangko. Pero mahirap din namang hindi tayo magbanggit, dahil malamang nag-aabang na ang mga magsasabing wala tayong ginawa. Kaya samahan niyo na lang akong magbigay ng ilang halimbawa: Trabaho’t pagkakataon para sa napakaraming Pilipino, nalikha at patuloy pang nililikha. Sa katunayan, mula Abril 2013 hanggang Abril 2014: nasa 1.65 million ang nadagdag sa bilang ng mga Pilipinong nagtatrabaho. [Palakpakan] Minanang kakulangan sa aklat, upuan, at silid-aralan, napuno na; habang ang mga panibagong pangangailangan dahil sa K to 12, pinupunuan na rin. 1:1 police-to-pistol ratio, meron na rin po. Modernisasyon ng Sandatahang Lakas, nangyayari na. Pangmatagalang kapayapaan sa Mindanao, sumusulong na. Pag-angat ng ating ekonomiya, tuloy-tuloy pa rin. [Palakpakan]
Sabay-sabay nating natutupad ang ating mga pangarap: kalusugang pangkalahatan, silid-aralan, trabaho, daungan, kalsada, paliparan, kaligtasan, kapayapaan. Ang nabawi nating pambansang dangal, sinamahan pa ng pagkilala ng mundo sa bagong anyo ng Pilipinas. Ang kaban ng bayang mula sa pawis ng mamamayan, ginugugol para lamang sa kanilang kapakanan.
Pakinggan po nating muli ang isa pa sa ating mga Boss:
“Ako po si Gina Lastrado, 47 years old. Galing po ako sa Isla 1 Barangay 180, Maricaban, Pasay City.
Ang trabaho ko po doon sa may pinanggalingan namin sa Pasay, ako po ‘yong businesswoman. Ngayon po, pinagpatuloy ko pa rin, ma’am, ‘yong pagtitinda ko. Kailangan po dito tiyaga. Ni-relocate po kami dahil sa aming lugar po ay nasasabing “danger zone.” Karamihan po kasi nasa tabi ng ilog.
‘Yung Ondoy, grabe po talaga. Sabi ko nga hindi mo aakalain na masasabi mong mabubuhay pa kami.
“Kung ikukumpara ‘yung buhay namin doon sa Pasay saka dito, umulan man, bumagyo kumbaga nakakatulog ka nang mahimbing. Wala kang pangamba na ayan na ang baha, hindi ka nakakatulog, ‘di tulad doon sa pinanggalingan namin. Kaya nga sabi ko doon sa mga kasama ko, sa mga natira pa doon, lumipat na kayo kasi wala na kayong pangamba, wala na tayong baha.”
“Pagdating namin dito binigyan po kami ng grocery, saka binigay sa amin ‘yung susi. Hinatid po kami dito sa bahay namin, at iyon pong eighteen thousand, ‘yun ang panimula ng buhay namin dito. Binigyan niya kami ng dignidad ang lahat ng mga taga-squatter area doon sa lugar namin. Napakaganda ng buhay namin dito rin, ma’am. Masasabi mong amin na talaga ‘tong lugar na’to.” [Palakpakan]
– Gina Lastrado, relocated member of an informal-settler family (ISF)
Ngayon nga po: Ang problemang dinatnan, nasolusyonan. Ang nandiyan, tinutugunan. At ang problemang parating pa lang, pinaghahandaan na rin. Naniniwala ako: Kung mananatili ang inyong tiwala, masosolusyonan natin ang mga ito.
Tingnan po natin ang sitwasyon sa enerhiya. Ginagawa na po natin ang lahat para siguruhing natutugunan ang lumalagong pangangailangan ng bansa. Sa kabila nito, meron pong mga pangyayaring talagang hindi natin inaasahan, na maaaring magbunsod ng problema sa susunod na taon. Halimbawa po: Kailangan nating bunuin ang mga kakulangan dahil sa outages para sa maintenance ng mga lumang planta, ng mga biglaang paghinto ng operasyon dahil sa pagkasira, at ng delay sa implementation o sa pagsasatayo ng mga bagong planta.
Huwag po nating kalimutan, may banta din ng El Niño na makakaapekto sa kapasidad ng mga hydro powerplants, at magpapataas pa ng demand sa kuryente. Kung sa ating mga kabahayan nga, lalakas ang gamit natin ng electric fan o aircon dahil sa init ng panahon, lalo naman po sa mga industriya at negosyo. Hindi ito kasingsimple ng pagpunta sa tindahan at pagsabing, “Pabili nga po ng 600 megawatt generator, at paki-install na rin bukas.”
Ang habol natin: kumpletong paghahanda para hindi tayo maparalisa sakaling mangyari ang worst-case scenario. Dapat, kahit sa susunod na taon pa uusbong ang problema, meron na tayong pinaplanong solusyon para dito. Kaya nga po inatasan ko si Secretary Icot Petilla ng DOE: Makipag-ugnayan ka na sa Joint Congressional Power Commission, sa Energy Regulatory Commission, sa industriya, at ang pinakaimportante, sa mga consumer, upang madagdagan ang kakayahan nating tugunan ang problema sa enerhiya.
Batid ko rin po na apektado ang mga Boss natin sa pabugso-bugsong pagtaas ng presyo ng bigas. Mukhang totoo nga po ang mga ulat: May ilang mga halang ang bitukang hoarder na itinatago lang ang bigas, para kapag tumaas ang presyo, ibebenta nila ang stock para kumita nang di-makatwiran.
Hindi puwede ito. Kung sa tingin nila wais sila, mas mahusay ang ginagawang diskarte ng inyong gobyerno. Ang agarang solusyon: mag-import pa ng bigas, i-supply sa merkado, pababain ang presyo, at panatilihin ito sa risonableng antas, para malugi ang mga nagsasamantala sa Pilipino. [Palakpakan]
Noong Nobyembre ng nakaraang taon, nagsimula na tayong mag-import ng 500,000 metriko tonelada para magsilbing ayuda sa supply na pinanipis ng nagdaang mga bagyo. Dumating na lahat ito nitong Marso. Nito ding Pebrero, inaprubahan ng NFA Council ang pag-angkat natin ng karagdagang 800,000 metriko tonelada bilang pagpuno sa ating buffer stock requirement, at 360,750 metric tons na nito ang dumating ngayong Hulyo; pagdating ng Setyembre, makakarating na ang kabuuan. Naaprubahan na rin ngayong Hulyo ang agarang importasyon ng 500,000 metriko tonelada ng bigas sa pamamagitan ng open bidding. May standby authority rin ang NFA na mag-angkat ng karagdagan pang 500,000 metriko tonelada, bilang paghahanda sa magiging epekto ng kalamidad sa ani at sa presyo ng bigas.
Kapag dumating ang karagdagan nating inaangkat, mapupuwersa na ngayong magbenta ang mga hoarder ng bigas na nakatago sa kanilang mga kamalig. Sa mga hoarder na ito: Kung gusto ninyong makipagmatigasan, okay lang, subukan ninyo ang estado. Tandaan lang ninyo: Anim na buwan lang ang itatagal bago mabulok ang stock sa mga warehouse ninyo. Siguradong malulugi kayo kapag nalunod na ang merkado sa dagdag na bigas. Kumikilos kayo kontra sa mga Pilipino; kami naman, isinusulong ang interes ng bawat Pilipino. Tingnan natin kung sino ang mananalo. [Palakpakan]
Bukod po sa pag-iimbestiga sa mga diumano’y nagtago ng NFA rice, sinisiyasat na rin natin ang lahat ng mga puwedeng nagkuntsabahan sa mga ahensya. Iniimbestigahan na ang mga empleyadong pinagdududahan upang makasuhan at mapakulong ang mga may-sala sa lalong madaling panahon.
Sabay ng pagtugis sa mga mapang-abuso, patuloy rin ang mga proyekto natin para alagaan ang mga nasa sektor ng agrikultura. Ginagawa nating kaakit-akit na kabuhayan ang pagtatanim ng palay. Alam naman po natin na tumatanda na ang ating mga magsasaka, kaya malaki ang maitutulong sa food security kung mahihikayat natin ang mga kabataan na pasukin ang ganitong hanapbuhay.
Nagkakaloob po tayo ng mga makabagong kagamitan sa pagsasaka para sa episyenteng pagtatanim at pag-aani. Mula 2011 hanggang Mayo ng 2014, naipamahagi na natin ang kabuuang 4,628 production machineries, 11,362 post-production machineries, at 105 rice mills sa iba’t ibang farmer’s associations. Sa tulong po nito, nabawasan ang nasasayang sa ani ng ating mga magsasaka. Bukod rito, pinapaunlad natin ang mga patubig, nagpapagawa tayo ng farm-to-market roads, at nagsusulong ng training programs upang masagad ang kanilang kita.
Pag-usapan naman po natin ang budget. Ang Ehekutibo, nagmumungkahi ng mga proyekto at programa; inaaprubahan naman ito ng Kongreso. Kailangan nga lang po nating itigil ang ilan, para makasiguradong sumusunod tayo sa naging desisyon ng Korte Suprema ukol sa Disbursement Acceleration Program o DAP. Alam ko pong kaisa kayong mga nasa bulwagang ito sa paniniwalang hindi dapat ipagkait ang benepisyo sa ating mamamayan, at dapat nga itong makarating sa kanila sa lalong madaling panahon.
Kaya nga po: Ipinapanukala namin ang pagpasa ng supplemental budget para sa 2014, upang hindi naman maantala ang ating mga programa at proyekto. [Palakpakan] Kasabay po nito, nananawagan din tayo sa pakikiisa ng Kongreso, upang maipasa ang isang Joint Resolution na maglilinaw sa mga depinisyon at kaisipang tila pinagtatalunan pa—at iba pang mga usaping kayo lang sa lehislatura, bilang mga nagsulat ng batas, ang makakapaglinaw. [Palakpakan]
Sa unang araw po ng trabaho matapos ang SONA, ihahain natin sa Kongreso ang panukalang 2.606 trillion pesos na 2015 National Budget. Gaya ng lagi, binuo ito kasama ang mamamayan, gamit ang istratehiyang naglalaan ng pondo kung saan lamang ito tunay na maghahatid ng benepisyo. Umaasa po tayo sa pakikiisa ng ating mga mambabatas na pagtibayin ito, bilang pangunahing instrumento sa paglikha ng pagkakataon para sa sambayanang Pilipino.
Pakinggan naman po natin ngayon ang isang benepisyaryo ng Alternative Learning System program po ng DepEd.
“Ako po si Maria Cecilla Fruelda.”
“Bale nabalitaan ko po sa mga kasamahan kong taga-Zambales din po, na naririto na sa Rosario, na maganda daw po ang hanapbuhay dito sa Puting Kahoy kaya kami po ay napalipat dito.”
“Prayoridad nga po naming mga tribo ang maghanap ng pagkain kaysa pong pagtuunan ng pansin ang pag-aaral. Sobra pong mahalaga sa akin ang pag-aaral lalo na po’t noong nakapasa ako ng ALS [Alternative Learning System] dahil kung saan ito na po ang naging simula na matupad ko iyong aking pangarap na maging isang titser.”
“Sa tingin ko po, gaganda ang buhay ng mga kabataang Aeta sa amin kapag nakapag-aral. Hindi po ako nakapasok sa ALS kung saan ay ‘di ko po malalaman iyong mga karapatan namin bilang katutubo at hindi rin po namin maipapaglaban ang aming tinatawag na lupaing-ninuno na ngayon po sa awa ng Diyos ay nilalakad na po ng NCIP para matituluhan ang lupa at mai-award na sa amin.”
“‘Pag ako po ay nakatapos ng kursong Edukasyon, gusto ko po makapagturo sa aming komunidad at gusto ko rin pong maipamahagi kung ano man iyong mga nalalaman ko at higit na kaalaman na dapat ibigay sa mga katutubong Aeta.”
“Napakalaki po ng naitulong ng ALS dahil bukod po nga sa ngayon po ako po’y estudyante ng Luansing, kung saan po’y mas lalo pang nakilala iyong aming komunidad. Marami pa po ang tumulong lalo na po iyong mga kabataan namin, kung saan parang sinundan nila ang yapak ko, mas higit na pong marami ang nag-aaral ngayon kaysa dati.” [Palakpakan]
– Maria Cecilla Fruelda, Aeta tribal leader, ALS learner, and college student
Mga kababayan, siya po, at ang marami pang benepisyaryong tulad niya, ang natatabunan sa tuwing umiingay ang orkestra ng negatibismo sa balita. Itong maiingay na ito, sadyang isinasara ang isip at namumuhay sa sariling mundo at realidad. Habang nakikita ang pagbabago sa lipunan, nangyayari na nga ang ating inasahan: lalong dumadalas, lalong umiinit, at lalong tumitindi ang pag-atake nila sa atin. Habang lumilinaw ang benepisyo ng reporma, pahirap nang pahirap ang pag-asang magtagumpay ang panlilinlang nila, kaya’t nagtatanim sila ng duda. Desperado na po sila.
Bakit nga po ba sila galit na galit? Tingnan po natin ang kanilang motibasyon. Para sa mga ginawa nang negosyo ang kanilang posisyon: kung maayos natin ang mga sistema, nawawalan sila ng pagkakataong mansamantala. Natural lang na kontrahin nila tayo. Ito namang mga walang ibang layunin kundi ibagsak ang gobyerno: Puwede lang madagdagan ang kanilang hanay kung maraming nagdurusa, at nawalan ng tiwala sa sistema. Ngayong nakukumpuni na ang sistema at natutugunan ang pagdurusa, nababawasan na ang puwede nilang i-recruit, kaya pakaunti nang pakaunti ang kanilang bilang. Natural lang din na kontrahin nila tayo. Ang pinakamaingay na kumokontra sa atin ay ang ayaw ng transpormasyon, dahil nagsamantala at nakinabang sila sa lumang kalakaran.
Ganito ko nga po naiisip ang ating sitwasyon: Para tayong mga mamamayang matagal na naipit sa isang isla kung saan may nag-iisang tindahan. Dahil walang pagpipilian, nagpapataas sila ng presyo kung kailan nila gusto, at talaga nga naman pong inaabuso tayo. Inatasan po ninyo akong itimon ang bangka ng estado tungo sa kabilang isla, kung saan mas maraming tindahan, mas maraming pagpipilian, mas maayos ang buhay, at mas malawak ang pagkakataon. Siyempre po, ang nagpapatakbo ng tindahan sa ating islang nilisan, ayaw tayong pumalaot, dahil mawawalan sila ng inaabuso. Lahat, gagawin nila para pigilan ang ating pagtawid sa kabilang pampang. Sasabihin nilang: Pareho lang naman doon; wala naman talagang pagbabago doon. Itatali nila tayo sa daungan, bubutasan ang ating bangka, makikipagkuntsabahan para iligaw ang ating biyahe.
Ang totoo po, hindi naman ako ang kinokontra ng mga ito, kundi ang taumbayang nakikinabang sa tuwid na daan. Kontra sila sa magsasaka sa Iloilo, na mahigit limampung taong nangarap ng maayos na irigasyon, at ngayon ay nakikita nang ginagawa ang Jalaur Multi-purpose River Project. [Palakpakan] Kontra sila sa napakaraming estudyanteng hindi na kailangang magsiksikan sa mga classroom. Kontra sila sa nagkatrabaho dahil nasanay ng TESDA; kontra sa mga maagang naililikas sa panahon ng bagyo dahil sa pinahusay na PAGASA; kontra sa mga informal settler na nailayo sa panganib dahil sa programang pabahay; kontra sa mga maralitang libre nang nakakapagpagamot sa pampublikong ospital; kontra sa mga sundalong may modernong kagamitan kaya mas may kumpiyansa nang ipagtanggol ang bansa; kontra sa mga Moro at katutubong abot-tanaw na ang kapayapaan. Mga Boss, kontra po sila sa inyo. [Palakpakan]
Ang totoo po niyan, wala pa tayo sa puwesto, inaatake na tayo. Sanay na tayong sinasalubong ng negatibong komentarista sa almusal, pang-aalipusta sa tanghalian, insulto sa hapunan, at may intriga pa bilang midnight snack. [Tawanan] Ngayon nga pong Pangulo ako, tuloy pa rin ang mga kontra sa pagbabago. Sa tingin ko, maski sa pagbaba ko sa puwesto, hindi pa rin sila titigil.
Naalala ko po ang isang matandang babaeng nakausap ko dati sa kampanya. Ang sabi niya sa akin, “Noy, mag-iingat ka. Marami kang makakabangga.” Totoo ang kanyang babala. Pero buo ang loob kong kaharapin ang mga nakakabanggang ito, dahil alam ko: iilan lamang sila, at di-hamak na napakarami natin. [Palakpakan] Mas malakas po tayong mga handang makisagwan tungo sa pagbabago. Magtatagumpay tayo sa labang ito, dahil tayo ang nasa tama.Nangarap tayo, nagsimula tayo, nagsikap tayo, nakabuwelo tayo, at ngayon, umaarangkada na nga po ang Pilipino. [Palakpakan] Lalong magiging sulit ang pagod at sakripisyo natin kung itong nasimulan natin ay itutuloy po ninyo.
Kayo ang haharap sa sangandaan; kayo ang magpapasya kung magtutuloy ang pagbabago. Tandaan lang po natin, ito ang aking ikalimang SONA; isa na lamang ang natitira. Sa 2016, pipili kayo ng bagong pinuno ng ating bayan. Ang sa akin lang po: Para ipagpatuloy at mas mapabilis pa ang pagbabagong tinatamasa na ng ating lipunan, iisa lang ang batayan sa pagpili ng papalit sa akin: Sino ang wala ni katiting na dudang magpapatuloy sa transpormasyong ating isinakatuparan? [Palakpakan]
Kayo po ang Boss, kayo ang lakas, kayo ang gumagawa ng pagbabago—kaya kayo rin ang magpapatuloy nito. Nasasainyo kung paanong isusulat sa kasaysayan ang mga panahong ito. Maaari itong maalala bilang tuktok ng ating tagumpay, bilang magandang simulaing nasayang lang. Pero mas maganda pong di-hamak kung maalala ang mga nagawa natin bilang simula pa lang ng ating mahabang paglalakbay tungo sa katuparan ng mas matatayog pang pangarap.
Noong minungkahi po ng ilang mga grupo na ako’y tumakbo, ang sabi nila sa akin, hindi namin inaasahan na lutasin mo lahat ng problema ng ating bansa sa loob ng anim na taon. Pero simulan mo na sana.Nakita naman ninyo kung saan tayo nanggaling, at nakita naman ninyong lampas-lampas pa sa ating mga pinangarap noong simula ang tinatamasa natin ngayon.
Pinapanday na natin ang sistema kung saan talagang patas ang laban; kung saan ang sumusunod sa patakaran ay nakakarating sa nais niyang paroonan; kung saan may tunay na kumpetisyong nagbubukal ng pagkakataon at malawakang kaunlaran; kung saan ang lahat ay may kakahayang panghawakan ang sariling kapalaran. [Palakpakan]
Abot-kamay na ang isang lipunang kayang sumalo, umaruga sa mga nasa laylayan; kung saan ang bawat isa ay kumikilala sa kanyang tungkulin sa kapwa at sa bayan; kung saan tuloy-tuloy at walang hanggan ang pakikiambag at sama-samang pag-angat ng sambayanan.
Papalapit na po talaga tayo sa minimithi nating kinabukasan, kung saan naghahari ang katarungan, at tunay pong walang maiiwan.
Ito ang resulta ng reporma, at ito ang ipinaglalaban natin, at patuloy pang ipinaglalaban: Hindi ang pagpapanatili ng nakasanayan, kundi ang pagbabago ng sistema para makinabang ang lahat. [Palakpakan]
Mga Boss: Binigyan ninyo ako ng pagkakataong pamunuan ang transpormasyon. Kung hinindian ko ang hamon na iniharap niyo sa akin, para ko na ring sinabi na tutulong akong pahabain ang inyong pagdurusa, at hindi maaatim ng konsensya ko iyon. Kung tinalikuran ko ang pagkakataon, parang tinalikuran ko na rin ang aking ama’t ina, at ang lahat ng inialay nila para sa atin; hindi po po mangyayari iyon. Sa paghakbang sa tuwid na daan, pinili ninyo ang mabuti at ang tama; tumotoo kayo sa akin—at ako naman po ay tumototoo sa inyo. [Palakpakan]
Ang transpormasyong tinatamasa natin ngayon, ay magagawa nating permanente sa gabay ng Panginoon. Hangga’t buo ang ating pananalig at tiwala, at hangga’t nagsisilbi tayong lakas ng isa’t isa, patuloy nating mapapatunayan na, “the Filipino is worth dying for” [Palakpakan], “the Filipino is worth living for,” at idadagdag ko naman po: “The Filipino is definitely worth fighting for.” [Palakpakan]
Alam po ni Vice President na noong 1987 magkasama kami. May kudeta, na-ambush po tayo doon, at tapos noon eh pangalawang buhay ko na po ito. Hindi natin maiiwasan mag-isip sa mga binubunggo natin, may araw kayang ‘pag sasampa ka sa entablado, may trabaho ring araw–may magtatagumpay bang maglagay ng bomba? Magtatagumpay ba ‘yung mga maiitim na balak ng atin pong mga katunggaling gusto tayong ibalik sa maling kalakaran? At kung dumating nga ang panahong pong iyon, at natapos na po ang ating pangalawang buhay, masasabi ko ho bang, okay na rin? At sasabihin ko po sa inyo, mata sa mata, sa lahat po ng inabot natin, ako po’y masasabing kontento na ako. [Palakpakan]
Kontento na po ako dahil panatag ang kalooban ko, na kung ako po’y mawala na dito, marami po ang magpapatuloy ng ating tinahak na. Baka iyon lang po talaga ang papel ko–umpisahan ito.
Nandiyan po ang mga taong tulad ni Cardinal Chito Tagle, at Ka Eduardo Manalo, at tulad ni Brother Eddie Villanueva, Father Catalino Arevalo, at Father Jett Villarin, at ni Bishop Jonel Milan, at si Sister Agnes Guillen, and Mae Salvatierra. Sila po sa sektor relihiyoso, tuloy, itutuloy nila ang ating pong sinimulan. [Palakpakan]
Meron pong Aris Alip ng CARD na magtutuloy sa kanyang ambag sa pamamagitan ng microfinance. Nandiyan po ang isang Alice Murphy at ang kanyang mga kasamahan sa urban poor associates na talagang tutuluyan ang pangangalaga sa atin pong informal settlers. [Palakpakan]
Nandiyan po ang ating mga sundalo at kapulisan–talagang araw-araw naman pong pinipililt gawin ang tama, tulad ng ating bagong Chief of Staff, ating mga Service Commanders, mga sundalo ng Light Reaction Battalion, at ng JSOG.
Nandiyan rin po, siyempre, hanay niyong pinanggalingan kong mga pulitiko. May duda ba na dadalhin tayo ni Senate President Franklin Drilon at Speaker Belmonte sa tamang landas? [Palakpakan]
Naging pribilehiyo ko rin ho makipagtrabaho at makipag-ugnayan sa isang governor, Alfredo Marañon ng Negros Occidental [palakpakan]. Hindi ko kapartido, pero palagay ko naman po kasama na niya ako sa fans club sa tama niyang pamamalakad sa Negros.
Mayroon rin tayong mga umaangat na bagong o mas bata sa aking pulitiko. Ayoko naman ho sabihin na napakaluma ko nang pulitiko sa pagtukoy sa mga mas bata.
Mga taong tulad ni Mayor Jed Mabilog at ni Mayor Len Alonte [palakpakan].
Meron naman sa sektor, sabihin na nating mga culture tulad nina Noel Cabangon at ni Ogie Alcasid na hindi pansarili lang ang iniintindi. [Palakpakan]
Gabi-gabi po, bago ako matulog, thank you at nakalampas pa ako ng isang araw. Kung, sabi nga noong bata kami, “finish or not finish, pass your paper” eh dumating na sa akin, palagay ko naman, naramdaman na ninyo kung anong pagbabagong karapatan ng bawat Pilipinong mangyari. At bahala na kayong ituloy ito. [Palakpakan]
Mga Boss, kayo ang gumawa ng transpormasyong ating tinatamasa. Kayo ang susi ng pagpapatuloy ng lahat ng positibong pagbabagong naabot natin. Buong-buo ang tiwala ko, nasa eksena man ako o wala, tutungo ang Pilipino sa tama niyang kalalagyan.
Kaya, hanggang dito na lang po ako. Magandang hapon po sa lahat. Maraming salamat sa inyo. [Palakpakan]
ENGLISH
Vice President Jejomar Binay; President Fidel Valdez Ramos; Senate President Franklin M. Drilon and members of the Senate; Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. and members of the House of Representatives; Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno and our Justices of the Supreme Court; distinguished members of the diplomatic corps; members of the Cabinet; officials in local government; members of the military, police, and other uniformed services; my fellow public servants; and, to my Bosses, the Filipino people:
Good afternoon.
This is my fifth SONA; only one remains. We have a saying: Those who do not look back to the past, will never get to where they wish to go. Therefore, today it is only right for us to reflect on what we have gone through.
This was our situation in the past: To dream was an absurdity. We had a senseless bureaucracy; padded contracts had become the norm; and corruption was endemic to the system. We were known as the “Sick Man of Asia.” The economy was weak; industry was sparse. We failed to gain the confidence of investors. The result: very few jobs were created. We found a people deprived of hope. Many of us had already given up, and were forced to take their chances in other countries. With heads bowed, we had come to accept that we would never be able to rely on our government or our society.
The Philippines sank deep into despair because of dirty politics.Our trust in each other disappeared; the confidence of the world in the Philippines ebbed, and worst of all: we lost faith in ourselves.
It was at this juncture that we began our journey on the straight and righteous path.
As the father of our nation, on my shoulders rest not only the problems that we inherited and the problems that arise today—it is also my duty to prepare for the future. At every moment, I must be mindful of the concerns and perspectives of all. Think about it this way: it is as if you are watching two hundred TV channels at the same time. You need to understand not just what is unfolding before you—you also need to know what happened before, and where it could all lead. Confusion is not an option, and you must have a response for every question, suggestion, and criticism—and you must have all the answers even before the questions are asked. This is not an easy job, and I am only human, one who at times is also capable of feeling apprehension.
In spite of this, my resolve is firm because my primary goal is clear: To return government to its rightful mandate—to serve the Filipino people always. [Applause]
Is it not true that we have a saying: Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime. An example of this is the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA). The Disbursement Acceleration Program contributed 1.6 billion pesos to TESDA’s Training for Work Scholarship Program. This amount enabled the graduation of 223,615 beneficiaries. 66 percent of these—or, 146,731 graduates—now have jobs. As for the remaining 34 percent, TESDA is helping them find employment. Just take a look: All of these scholars have their names and other pertinent data listed down, should you wish to confirm them. [Applause]
If we divide the allocated funding by the number of graduates, we will see that government invested around 7,155 pesos in every scholar. In the BPO sector, a monthly salary of 18,000 is already considered at the low end. Every year, he will earn 234,000 pesos. If he is given the maximum tax deduction, his annual income tax will be: 7,900 pesos. This means that in the first year alone the 7,155 pesos that the government invested in him would have been paid back—and there will even be a profit. This and all the taxes he will be paying the government until he retires will, in turn, provide his countrymen with the same opportunities he was given. This is good governance: [Applause]
The right intentions, practices, and results. Everyone wins.
Let us listen to the stories of two TESDA graduates:
Translated transcript of Testimonial of Marc Joseph Escora, TESDA beneficiary
Even when you’ve realized your dreams, you should know that success, it’s still not stable. You still need to work hard for it.
I am Marc Joseph Escora. I am a high school graduate. Through the help of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority [TESDA], I have my career in the business process outsourcing (BPO) industry right now.
I was based in the Libertad public market for seven years. I worked as a barker forpublic transportation vehicles. My family couldn’t afford to put all of us through school, so I needed to find a way to support myself, so I could graduate.
The most important thing I’ve learned is to have the confidence to interact with other people. When people see that you have a disability, they usually won’t be able to see past it, to your abilities. So you need to trust yourself.
If TESDA wasn’t there to help me, I probably wouldn’t be where I am now. Our way of living now is much better than how we lived back then.
___________________
Translated transcript of Testimonial of Jonnalyn Navarossa, TESDA beneficiary
TESDA helped me finish my studies, find a job, and support my family.
I am Jonnalyn Navarossa, Technical Trainer at Toyota Motor Philippines. I graduated top of Batch 1 of automotive servicing training class at TESDA Region 4-A. I chose to study automotive servicing because I’ve always dreamed of being a mechanical engineer. In order for me to both earn a living and save up, I enrolled at TESDA.
We’re used to thinking that being an auto mechanic is a man’s job. But I’ve proven that as long you work hard, as long as you’re determined, we can ensure quality products. TESDA taught me the value of good, clean, and quality work.
Now, I’m more confident in myself. And it’s much easier to dream bigger.
[Applause]
We launched the Expanded Conditional Cash Transfer Program in June of 2014, with a budget of 12.3 billion pesos. Now, the government will also support the beneficiaries until they are 18 years old. Some will ask, “Why?” According to a study conducted by the Philippine Institute for Development Studies, a high school graduate earns 40 percent more than someone who was only able to finish grade school.
We are investing in our most valuable resource: The Filipino people. Data from the National Economic Development Authority attests to our success. According to them, the 27.9 percent poverty rate during the first semester of 2012 went down to 24.9 percent for the same period in 2013. These three percentage points are equivalent to 2.5 million Filipinos who have crossed the poverty line. [Applause]
Of course, it is only right that we focus on the needs of the poorest in our society. But we will not stop there. Now that we have greater resources, we are striving to ensure that all those who crossed the poverty line will never go back below it. [Applause]
When we came into office, we found a society that was like a derelict house in which we had no choice but to live. What was even worse: we had virtually no tools and materials with which to repair the damage. Over the past few years, with the help of every Filipino who cared for the well-being of his fellowmen, we have been acquiring the tools and materials we need. One of these tools is a budget focused solely on the needs of the citizenry—a budget we have passed on-time four years in a row. These tools include the laws that have accelerated the bringing of benefits to our bosses.
This is where—under a fair system—the resurgence of our economy began. We were able to save because of prudent fiscal management. We were able to expand the coverage of essential services without raising taxes, apart from Sin Tax reform, whose goal is to reduce vice in society. [Applause]
We worked to have the ability to fund the projects that we implemented, are implementing, and will be implementing. We strengthened tax collections: from 1.094 trillion pesos in collections in 2010, we increased this to 1.536 trillion pesos in 2013. [Applause]
We improved the management of our debt. The result: a decrease in our debt to GDP ratio; money that once went to paying interest, we were able to channel into social services. We were even able to fulfill the obligations of government that we inherited from past administrations. For example: In 1993, or during the administration of President Ramos, the government was required to recapitalize the Central Bank of the Philippines with 50 billion pesos, so that it could fulfill its mandate. President Ramos was able to fund 10 billion pesos and nothing was added since then. 40 billion pesos was the obligation left to us, and we have paid this in full. [Applause]
We worked hard to accumulate the funds government has today, which is why we will not tolerate wasting it. If our Bosses choose the right leaders, succeeding administrations will be able to surpass what we have done because our administration has greatly reduced the number of problems remaining, giving them a stronger foundation from which to begin.
Why do we say a stronger foundation? Just this past 2013, for the first time in history, the Philippines was upgraded to investment grade status by Moody’s, Fitch, and Standard and Poor’s—the three major credit ratings agencies in the world. Through their study of our macroeconomic fundamentals and governance, they determined that there was less risk, which led to a vast increase in confidence on the part of investors. Just this May, they upgraded the Philippines yet again. What this means: Because the Philippines is now investment grade, government will be able to borrow funds for programs and projects at lower interest rates, more businesses will be attracted to invest in our country, and Filipinos will be able to feel the benefits of our economic resurgence more quickly. [Applause]
If anyone were to add up all the investmentsthat came in through the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) since its inception in 1995, they would see that 42 percent of total investments in PEZA came in during the four years of our administration. The remaining 58 percent took 15 years for past administrations to accumulate.We are confident that, before we step down from office, we will be able to match or even surpass this amount. To Director General Lilia de Lima: thank you for all you have done and for all that you will do to achieve this success.
[Applause]
Our economy and our country are indeed taking off, and we are already realizing even greater aspirations. For instance, we inherited a seemingly grounded aviation industry: significant safety concerns had been issued on the Philippines by the International Civil Aviation Organization, or ICAO; we were downgraded by the United States Federal Aviation Administration; and the European Union implemented restrictions against our local carriers.
In 2013, ICAO lifted the significant safety concerns it had previously issued for the Philippines. This was followed, in the same year, by the European Union lifting the ban on Philippine Airlines, allowing it to fly once again to Europe—which means that Filipinos will be
able to fly directly from Manila to London.
[Applause]
Naturally, Cebu Pacific will soon follow suit, since they have also received the go signal from the EU in 2014. In this year, as well, the United States Federal Aviation Administration upgraded the Philippines back to Category 1. Because of this upgrade, it is likely that there will also be an increase in routes going to the United States. The increase in flights of our local airlines to the United States and participating countries in the EU is a big help to both tourism and business.
Today, we continue to receive news that, because of all the tourists and businessmen who wish to visit the Philippines, there is actually a shortage of flights to our country. So, all of the upgrades we have received in aviation are indeed good news: The number of flights will rise, thus providing a solution to the problem. And, through the continued cooperation of the CAAP and our local carriers, we will certainly be able to attract more businessmen and tourists in the coming years. This is a win for all those in the tourism sector; this is a win for the Filipino people. Good governance is the source of these upgrades, and we thank Director General William Hotchkiss, the CAAP, and our local carriers for their hard work. [Applause]
Indeed, the Philippines is in the limelight on the global stage. Just this May, when we successfully hosted the World Economic Forum on East Asia, we showed the world just what we were capable of. And with the APEC Summit the Philippines will be hosting next year, we will be able to inform even more people of our progress, and the opportunities that this has opened up for all. There is no doubt: the Philippines is indeed more open for business. [Applause]
Apart from fostering an improved busines climate, we are also pursuing better relations between labor and managment.
Consider this: According to the National Concilation and Mediation Board, since 2010, the number of strikes per year has been limited to less than ten. This is the positive result of the Department of Labor and Employment’s Single entry Approach, or SEnA, through which filed labor cases go through a 30-day conciliation-mediation period. The good news: out of 115 notices of strike and lockout in 2013, only one pushed through. This is the lowest number of strikes in the history of DOLE.
For these achievements, I extend my gratitude to Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz, the DOLE family, and the labor and management sectors.
Secretary Baldoz and I were joking in around 2012 that there were two strikes, and in 2013 there was just one. I said, “Linda, in 2014, a half-strike won’t do. Maybe we can strive for no strikes?” [Laughter and applause]
We are well aware that we need infrastructure in order to sustain the momentum of our economy and to continue creating opportunities in the country. Infrastructure will entice businessmen—it will speed up the transport of goods and services, and will help us ensure that we can go head to head with overseas markets.
This sector has seen massive changes: Our budget for infrastructure has more than doubled from the 200.3 billion pesos of 2011 to 404.3 billion pesos this 2014. [Applause]
I remind everyone: we did this without adding any new taxes, apart from the Sin Tax Reform, which is focused on health, while we maintained our allowable deficit, and with our debt-to-GDP ratio continually declining. This has had a profound effect, because we have not only increased the infrastructure budget, we have also plugged leaks in the system, which has ensured that the citizenry is getting more value for its money.
Under the leadership of Secretary Babes Singson of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH): Neither kickbacks nor overpricing is condoned. The loopholes in the old system were plugged, the agency’s processes were streamlined. A simple example would be the removal of Letters of Intent from the bidding process. In the past, these bred a culture of collusion—knowing who was bidding on the same project only created a space for collusion. Another example: The requisite documents from bidders were trimmed to five, from 20. Processes are faster, and there are now fewer opportunities for the unscrupulous to ask for bribes. This allowed the Department to save 28 billion pesos and allowed them to accelerate the implementation of the next projects. [Applause]
To Secretary Babes and the DPWH: Again, thank you very much. [Applause]
It is truly awe-inspiring: In addition to what the DPWH has saved, the roads that they have laid out, fixed, widened, or constructed have amounted to a total of 12,184 kilometers. [Applause]
When I saw these figures, I thought: How can I visualize 12,000 kilometers?
Think of it this way: This is equivalent to four roads that connect Laoag to Zamboanga City. And this just only accounts for the national roads; that number doesn’t include local farm-to-market roads or tourism roads. [Applause]
Now, regarding the Public-Private Partnership program: From December 2011 to just this June, your government has awarded and signed off on seven PPP projects, with a total value of 62.6 billion pesos. In just our four years on the straight path, we have surpassed the combined six approved solicited PPP projects of the past three administrations. [Applause]
The difference between then and now is massive. As Secretary Cesar Purisima said: In the past, the Philippines could not entice investors; then, the government had to roll out incentives like commercial development rights, subsidies, and other guarantees for profit just to attract bidders. Now, the situation has reversed. Companies are now in close competition, trying to outdo each other; they are ready and willing to pay for the privilege to build the infrastructure we need. For example, with the Mactan-Cebu International Airport Passenger Terminal Building, the government has a premium that amounts to more than 14 billion pesos; with the NAIA Expressway Project Phase 2, the government received a premium of 11 billion pesos. Again: Good economics is borne of good governance. [Applause]
Let us take a look at the TPLEX. Because of this road, the journey from Tarlac to Rosales in Pangasinan has become easier. According to the proponents of the project, the segment of the road that reaches Urdaneta will be completed before the year ends. And by next year, the TPLEX will have extended to the end of Rosario, La Union. [Applause]
Infrastructure projects that long ago had been promised by other administrations, we have been able to turn into concrete reality. The Aluling Bridge, which was conceived in 1978, is finally open to the public. Metro Manila Skyway Stage 3, part of the Metro Manila Expressway project from the 1970s, was launched this January. Those who traverse Osmeña Highway can attest to how speedily its columns are being constructed. The Ternate-Nasugbu Road, the plans for which started to be laid out in 1994, is now 100% complete. [Applause]
The Basilan Circumferential Road, which has been under construction since 2000, will soon be completed. These are but a few of the infrastructure projects that we do not intend to pass on as problems to succeeding administrations; instead, our Bosses have already begun to make use of them.
Again, because of good governance, we now have a greater capacity to find solutions to problems that are on the horizon. For example: water. We all know that as our population grows and as our economy continues on its upward trajectory, the country will need a greater water supply in the coming years. According to some studies, there may be a shortage of water in Metro Manila by 2021. We will not wait for a drought: The solutions that experts have studied assiduously, we have already approved—the Kaliwa Dam Project in Quezon, and the repair of the lines of Angat Dam. These solutions are significantly better than sourcing water from underground aquifers, which are more easily penetrated by saltwater. On top of this, if we were to rely solely on aquifers, then we would only hasten the sinking of land—which would contribute to flooding.
Together with the dams for Metro Manila and its outlying cities, we are providing support to those in the provinces. We have also approved the Water District Development Sector Project, under the Local Water Utilities Administration. [Applause]
You may have already heard of our largest PPP project—the Laguna Lakeshore Expressway Dike. [Applause]
—for which bidding will open before the end of 2014. This is a project that will yield numerous benefits. First: flooding in nearby areas will lessen. Today, when water levels of the Laguna Lake reach 12.5 meters, surrounding communities will be flooded. The solution: a dike with a height of more than 15 meters. Second: the water of Laguna Lake will be cleaner. Third: Less traffic. An expressway will be built on top of the dike, which will extend from Los Baños to Taguig. When the C-6 road that will connect to San Jose Del Monte is completed, we will have another route that will allow us to travel through Metro Manila without passing through EDSA. [Applause]
With the cooperation of the private sector, the only obligations we have in this project are for the right-of-way; and a portion of the reclaimed land will serve as payment for the highest bidder. Because of this,we will get what we need, while spending less in the process
These are only a few examples of the projects that are in the pipeline, and that will soon bring benefits to our Bosses. Might I add—there are many more: the NEDA Board has likewise approved the Laoag City Bypass Link Road Project; the Cebu Bus Rapid Transit Project; and the LRT Line 1 South Extension and Line 2 East Extension. For those of our countrymen from Palawan: Apart from the projects for the Puerto Princesa Airport, there is also the Busuanga Airport to look forward to. We have likewise given the go signal for the construction of phase one of the modern Clark Green City in Capas, Tarlac, that will certainly serve as a center for commerce and industry, not only of Central Luzon, but also of the entire country. At the end of the day, our vision for Clark Green City is that it becomes even bigger than the Bonifacio Global City. Formerly isolated places will now become areas teeming with opportunity.
Through good governance, we have been regaining the trust of the market, of the world, and of our own people, in government. This is creating a virtuous cycle: Seeing the results of our reform agenda has spurred the active participation of each and every one of our Bosses. Indeed: today the government is not alone in pushing for widespread and meaningful reform. It is true that you are our strength. [Applause]
This is why, Boss: We thank you for your trust and your solidarity, both of which have become even more significant in the times when we were faced with tragedies that came to us, one after the other.
In September of 2013, lawless elements attacked Zamboanga; our countrymen who had been living peaceful lives there were used as human shields, their homes were burned down. This crisis tested the caliber of our uniformed services. Urban combat is considered the most complex kind of combat; in spite of this, our troops were able to save 195 of the 197 Filipinos caught in the conflict. We salute our countrymen in the uniformed services: Your sacrifice paved way for the victory of the Filipino people. [Applause]
Following the incident, we gave Secretary Singson the responsibility of overseeing the rehabilitation of damaged infrastructure in Zamboanga. The first priority: to provide shelter to our countrymen who lost their homes to fire. This is exactly what we are doing under the Zamboanga City Roadmap to Recovery and Reconstruction. By this coming August, affected families can begin to move into permanent housing units in Martha Drive Subdivision. We also aim to complete the construction of 7,176 housing units in other areas by June of next year. I must ask for your understanding. There were many problems surrounding the land for resettlement—problems we had to address. On top of this: We also had to make sure that the houses that would be built would be in accordance to the beliefs and culture of the beneficiaries; these will not be ordinary houses. On the other hand, to the 1,661 families that wish to build back or repair their own homes, 30,000 pesos worth of Home Materials Assistance is now being distributed.
We have set aside 3.5 billion pesos for the rehabilitation of infrastructure, the purchasing of lots, the construction of permanent houses, and other types of assistance for Zamboanga. 2.57 billion pesos from this fund has already been released to the NHA and DPWH.
A few weeks after the crisis in Zamboanga, Central Visayas was rocked by an earthquake, which left Bohol the most devastated. In the midst of a calamity, we witnessed just what could be achieved when our people come together to respond to the challenges brought by a disaster. For instance, just one week after the earthquake, electricity was restored in Tagbilaran and in all the municipalities of Bohol. [Applause]
Now, each of the 25 critical roads and bridges destroyed by the earthquake are passable. 3.583 billion pesos has already been released for the rehabilitation of Bohol and Cebu. [Applause]
Part of this is the 2.49 billion pesos that the DILG provided to the local government for the reconstruction of markets, civic centers, bridges, water systems, municipal halls, and other government facilities.
Before the end of 2013, Yolanda made landfall. It was the strongest typhoon in history, affecting 1.47million families and 44 out of our 81 provinces. In Eastern Visayas, where the damage was most severe, so many issues required immediate attention.
The immense strength of the storm paralyzed many LGUs that were hit directly. The relief goods we prepositioned were swept away, which is why relief had to come from areas farther away. The delivery of aid was made all the more difficult by the destruction of infrastructure. There was no electricity, roads were impassable, and almost all of the trucks and heavy equipment that our first responders needed had been destroyed in the areas most affected by Yolanda.There was no gasoline, and there was no communication.
It required an enormous amount of solidarity to assist affected families, take care of the wounded and of those who lost loved ones, and make certain that there would be no outbreak of disease, among many other responsibilities. Let us look at the delivery of food as an example: It was not just a matter of buying rice and canned goods. We needed repacking centers, several trucks, and boats that would bring aid to affected provinces. When the relief goods arrived, we had to be sure that the roads to the affected areas were cleared, and that the trucks had enough gas to return home, and load even more of our food packs.
Your government wasted no time in responding. We immediately cleared the airport, which is why, within 24 hours after the storm, three C130s were able to bring in aid. On that same day, we were also able to set up a communications hub to hasten the flow of information. On the second day, the Department of Health’s Rapid Health Assessment teams arrived, as well as additional soldiers, policemen, and BFP personnel from other provinces. Likewise, workers from DSWD lead relief operations—in the distribution centers in Eastern Visayas or in repacking centers all around the country.
In a span of two days, the Leyte water district resumed operations; on the third day, the first gas station opened. The main roads were immediately cleared. By the 22nd of November, which was two weeks after the storm, the one millionth food pack was distributed to the victims; we had cleared 35,162 cubic meters of debris from these roads through which the relief will be transported; and 3,426 kilometers of National Roads had already been cleared and were passable. At present, we are repairing the 108.8 kilometers of destroyed roads, bridges, approaches, and landslide prone areas. By Christmas Day of 2013, all municipalities affected by the calamity had been electrified. [Applause]
We took an emergency room mindset; the state utilized its full strength to stabilize the patient in the soonest possible time. I extend my gratitude to the members of the Cabinet, who led the government response in the affected communities. Secretary Cesar Purisima, along with Secretary Joel Villanueva of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority, organized the logistics in the repacking center, taking on the role of warehouse operator. [Applause]
Secretary Greg Domingo of the Department of Trade and Industry became the country’s head purchasing agent, while Secretary Linda Baldoz of the Department of Labor and Employment served as a call center operator for all those who wished to help. [Applause]
I also thank Secretary Jun Abaya of the Department of Transportation and Communications, who dispatched our transportation; Secretary Dinky Soliman, who proved that she was worthy of being the country’s chief relief worker; and Secretaries Mar Roxas of the Department of Interior and Local Government and Secretary Volts Gazmin of the Department of National Defense, who were on the disaster frontline, giving marching orders to our uniformed services. [Applause]
To the members of our Cabinet, thank you.
To our friends and neighbors around the world: Your outpouring of solidarity will never be forgotten by a grateful Filipino people. Again, on their behalf, we thank you. [Applause]
Perhaps, given the Filipino people’s readiness to render assistance to the best of our abilities—a characteristic embodied by our OFWs, peacekeepers, and all our other countrymen abroad—when the world saw that we were in need, they saw fit to come to our aid. Today, we express once more our gratitude to all of you, and to all the Filipinos who have offered their prayers and their support, whether here, or in other parts of the world. [Applause]
Our work did not end there. We implemented livelihood interventions, to ensure that those of our countrymen who survived the typhoon could recover at the soonest possible time. This July, 221,897 jobs were created after we turned over boats, fishing and farming equipment, seeds, and livestock to our countrymen. This includes those Filipinos to whom we paid salaries for participating in the cash for work program.
Perhaps everyone can agree that Yolanda left in its wake a massive problem. According to international standards, whenever a calamity of this scale takes place, it normally takes a country one year before it transitions from relief to rehabilitation. However, in just a span of eight months, the United Nations declared the Philippines to be in the rehabilitation state. In fact, Mr. Yuri Afanasiev of the United Nations Development Program said, “We have never seen a recovery happen so quickly. And many of us have been in many different disasters.” [Applause]
It will indeed take a long time for any country to recover and rise from massive calamities. In Haiti, two years after the earthquake, there are still many who live in evacuation centers. For our brothers and sisters in Indonesia, it took eight years before they recovered from the tsunami in Aceh. And even in America, it is said that it took eight years for things to return to normal after the devastation of Hurricane Katrina.
Our work is not done. There are still many houses that need to be constructed; many more of our countrymen need to be assisted in getting back on their own two feet; the work to build back better for all those affected by Yolanda continues.
This is why this July, the LGU Rehabilitation and Recovery Plan for Cebu, Iloilo, Eastern Samar, Leyte, and Tacloban City was submitted to me, and I have signed it. [Applause]
It passed the scrutiny of our cabinet clusters; according to the holistic post-disaster needs assessment that was conducted, the plan encapsulates the needs of our countrymen. This plan was formulated as a result of the dedication of Secretary Ping Lacson, whom we tasked with focusing on the challenges left by Yolanda. [Applause]
I am hoping for the cooperation of Congress, because a large sum is necessary in order to help our countrymen make a full recovery.
Let us remember: God proposes, but man disposes. This is likewise the idea behind our efforts for disaster preparedness. We are strengthening the capabilities of our LGUs, who are the frontliners in times of disasters, through a modern and comprehensive forecasting system.
Through the DREAM-LiDAR project under Project NOAH, for instance, we can more efficiently pinpoint areas that are prone to flooding. 19 out of our targeted 20 river systems have already been mapped, to determine which areas immediately suffer from the effects of torrential rain.
Because we can more efficiently determine when and where typhoons will affect us, today, we are able to give our LGUs sufficient warning—and thus give them ample time to prepare, and to evacuate their constituents. If we were to add the efficiency of LGUs to our already-efficient forecasting system, then, without a doubt, countless lives can be saved. In Albay, which recently had to endure the wrath of Typhoon Glenda, there were no recorded casualties attributed to the storm, thanks to the effective leadership of Governor Joey Salceda. [Applause]
And if a province that is considered a highway for storms can achieve this, is there any doubt that any and all other LGUs can achieve the same?
Let us now talk about security. We are aware of the challenges our country faces, and we also know the high cost of the equipment we need. Today, I am glad to report to you the ongoing modernization of the AFP. We have acquired brand new assets, including 8 Sokol Combat Utility Helicopters, 3 AgustaWestland-109 helicopters, and the first landing craft utility ship built right here in the country: the BRP Tagbanua. 4 refurbished UH-1 helicopters and 2 navy cutters have also arrived.This past May, we also inaugurated the Naval Forces West’s state-of-the-art Command Center in Palawan.
Next year, 2 out of the 12 FA-50 lead-in fighter jets we procured will arrive in the country. [Applause]
We expect the rest to be delivered in 2017. We are also targeting the acquisition of an additional 8 Bell combat utility helicopters, 2 anti-submarine helicopters, 10 more AgustaWestland-109 helicopters, 2 light-lift aircraft, 3 medium-lift aircrafts, radar systems, all of which are brand new. These, along with other new equipment, will boost the capacity of our Armed Forces.[Applause]
Meanwhile, we are expecting the delivery of 17 additional refurbished UH-1 helicopters by September of this year.
The M4 assault rifles we bought for our soldiers have likewise arrived. In the next few months, the total number of rifles that will be in the hands of our soldiers: 50,629 units. On top of this, through a correct and transparent procurement process and the honest management of funds, we were able to save more than 1.2 billion pesos. [Applause]
which we will use to purchase even more rifles.
I must emphasize: all these rifles are brand new and of good quality from a veteran manufacturer. Was it not true that, before, our funds were depleted in the purchase of Kevlar Helmets that were not even according to specification? Instead of buying them from the U.S., these helmets were purchased from another country. There has already been a conviction over this matter. The investigation of a judge who was allegedly involved, which was ordered by the Supreme Court, has been concluded as well, and we are awaiting their verdict.
We are continuing our pursuit of enemies of the state and lawless elements for the crimes they have committed. For example: We apprehended the Chairman and Secretary General of the NPA this March. Normality and order are now returning to the 31 provinces previously troubled by the NPA.
The image of our police has changed. Proof of this are the 30 policemen, led by Inspector Charity Galvez, who repelled an estimated 250 NPA members who stormed their precinct in 2011. [Applause]
Just last March, four rookie policewomen bravely exchanged fire with the Martilyo Gang in the Mall of Asia. It is indeed fortunate that we have already reached a 1:1 police-to-pistol ratio, which is why these rookie policewomen were issued brand new guns. Before, the needs of our police force went ignored; today, the state is taking care of them, and indeed, they are matching this support with efficient and upright service. [Applause]
Let us listen to our brave policewomen:
Testimonials of Juliet Macababbad, Marcelina Bantiyag, Maricel Rueco, and Delia Langpawen—policewomen who arrested members of the Martilyo Gang
PO1 Juliet Macababbad: We heard glass breaking, and my partner and I immediately went on alert.
PO1 Marcelina Bantiyag: The first thing that came to my mind was to draw my gun, because I knew that they would be ready to shoot at us—we were in uniform.
PO1 Maricel Rueco: My partner, PO1 Bantiyag said, “I’ll cover you. Call our Police Community Precinct.”
PO1 Marcelina Bantiyag: We caught one of the gang members.
PO1 Delia Langpawen: It was only our fourth day on the job, at that post. And then that happened.
PO1 Juliet Macababbad: Every police officer needs a gun. Thankfully, they issued us a Glock 17 Generation 4.
PO1 Marcelina Bantiyag: Guns are essential to us. If something bad happens when you’re on patrol, you’re confident that you can engage.
PO1 Juliet Macababbad: It feels good when you know you’re able to help your fellow citizens. Whatever a man can do, a woman can do just as well.
PO1 Delia Langpawen: Even if we were nervous, because it was our first encounter, we were thinking of the safety of all the people that were there.
[Applause]
This past June, we had a succession of high-profile killings. We have already arrested some of thoseinvolved in the murders of Mayor Ernesto Balolong and businessman Richard King, and are currently following a strong lead in the murder case of race car driver Ferdinand Pastor. Rest assured: we are seeking justice for all, and not just for a few. This is why, on top of the arrests we have already made, we continue to gather evidence against other suspects. We will hold to account all those who have committed wrongdoing. [Applause]
We are further strengthening ways to ensure the security of our citizens. Beginning June 16 of this year, we implemented Operation Lambat in the National Capital Region. After tripling the number of checkpoints and conducting various operations, we were able to confiscate 862 vehicles and 29 firearms. We have served 587 warrants of arrest, which have resulted in the arrest of 410 suspects. We also reinstated Oplan Katok, to ensure that the licensing of guns is limited to responsible owners. Our policemen knocked on 28,714 doors for this operation.
Before we implemented Operation Lambat, from January to the second week of June, the rate of murder and homicide cases in Metro Manila reached up to 31 cases a week. During the five weeks of Operation Lambat, murder and homicide cases decreased to only 22 cases per week. This is a 29 percent decrease, equivalent to nine murders prevented per week. And this is only in Metro Manila. If we are able to pass pension reform, which would enable us to gather even more funds to continue our planned purchases of equipment, then Secretary Mar Roxas will certainly be able to expand Operation Lambat, and thus make the whole country more secure. [Applause]
These equipment purchases were supposed to be funded by DAP, but since they were not obligated before the Supreme Court made its decision, we now have to look for other sources of funds.
Indeed, trust is the foundation of good governance: the trust that all those who were affected—or who will be affected—by typhoons will be cared for; the trust that, after each day of work, you will be able to return home safely to your families; the trust that your leaders will not take advantage of you; the trust that government will always be by your side, especially when you find yourselves at a disadvantage. The trust that those who abuse their power will be held accountable, and the trust that the institutions and processes that were once abused and used to steal from the nation’s coffers will be reformed. The trust that, if you do what is right, you, in turn, will receive what you deserve. The restoration of your trust in government: this is the meaning of reform. [Applause]
Let me give you an example: Customs, which had been sorely testing our patience these past years. It became clear to us that the solution to the problem this agency represented was a reset button. Thus, we created a new agency to look into the processes at Customs, with an eye towards making them more efficient. We appointed a new commissioner, five new deputy commissioners, as well as 40 trustworthy individuals to implement our reforms. We ensured that employees were recalled to their original positions—we put a stop to guards who acted like cashiers, or warehousemen who acted as examiners.
Many have made sacrifices just so we can fix Customs. Among them are officials from other departments and government agencies, who we asked to transfer to Customs because we were certain of their integrity. Who would have said yes to taking on these seemingly insurmountable challenges, and without the guarantee of success? Some passed on promotions. Some expressed fears of being targeted by syndicates, in retaliation for the reforms. But, ultimately, they heeded our call to serve. It is only right that I take this opportunity to personally thank these officials, under the leadership of Commissioner Sunny Sevilla. [Applause]
We are proving that, with righteousness and with solidarity, we can clean up an institution that has, for the longest time, been besmirched by corruption. Recent good news is testament to this—from January to April of 2014, Customs’ cash collections increased by 22 percent, compared to the same period last year. Their collections total in the first four months of the year: 117 billion pesos.
[Applause]
All I can say to those who continue with their selfish, illegal practices: I already know that you are impervious to both fear and shame. I will leave you to your conscience—if you feel any remorse for your fellowmen who have become addicted to the illegal drugs you have helped to smuggle in, or for the farmers who are being deprived of fair profit from doing honest work. As far as I am concerned: After we have gathered enough evidence against you, the Bilibid Prison is your next destination. [Applause]
If we are talking about reforms that have already begun to give rise to sweeping progress, we have to touch on recent developments in agrarian reform.
We know—and the law is very clear about this—that we must first determine which tracts of land can be distributed and which cannot. The trouble is, we were provided with data too insufficient to be of any help in this regard. The Cadastral Survey—which was supposed to accurately delineate the territory, and, thus, the land holdings, of every town, city, and province of the Philippines—was launched way back in 1913.
Another problem is that the previous administration had distributed land that was easy enough to distribute—like government-owned land, or land already settled between the farmers and the deed-holders. We were left with land that came with too many complications—that only spawned endless debates and legal disputes.
The complicated situation in ARMM proved to be another challenge. The land in ARMM is estimated to be at 1.5 million hectares, but the recorded number of hectares we found when we came into office was at 2.9 million, thanks to overlapping claims. ARMM Governor Mujiv Hataman must be wondering—as he has sometimes asked me: How does land multiply like that?
I have no intention of passing on these problems to my successor, which will cause even greater complications and a standstill in agrarian reform.
In 2015, after 102 years, the Cadastral Survey will finally be completed. [Applause]
This year, we will once again submit to Congress a bill extending the filing of Notices of Coverage, which could not be completed precisely because of these problems that we first needed to solve. [Applause]
We are hopeful that, the moment we file that bill, Congress will pass it in the soonest possible time.
If we are to speak of trust, then we cannot forget about the Bangsamoro. After a lengthy period of conflict and derailed negotiations, we were able to put trust back to the table. Proof of this: This past March, the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro was signed. [Applause]
But this is only the beginning of the path toward widespread progress in Mindanao. Nobody can deny that the ARMM has been left behind in terms of development. We want to give equal opportunities to all Filipinos; this is why there is a need for a boost-up, so that our countrymen in the margins can catch up. For example, in the budget we are submitting for 2015, 5.17 billion pesos of the overall budget for DPWH has been allocated for infrastructure in ARMM. [Applause]
We are currently forging the proposal for the Bangsamoro Basic Law. We ask for the Congress’ understanding regarding this. It is important to scrutinize each provision we lay down. To the best of our ability, we aim to advance a bill that is fair, just, and acceptable to all. [Applause]
If we are able to legislate the Bangsamoro Basic Law before the end of the year and conduct the necessary plebiscite, we will be able to give the Bangsamoro Transition Authority one and a half years to show positive change. Should this be delayed, however, the period for proving that it was right to choose the path of peace will naturally be shortened.
We have achieved a lot through trust—and we have no intention of breaking this trust. Your current government keeps its word. I will no longer list each of the promises we have fulfilled by treading the straight path; if I do that, we might be accused of bragging. But of course, it would not be right for us to avoid mentioning anything, because our critics are always waiting for an opportunity to say that we have done nothing. Join me, then, in recounting some of the examples of these promises we have fulfilled: Jobs and opportunities that continue to be created for so many Filipinos. In truth, from April 2013 to April 2014, around 1.65 million jobs were created. [Applause]
The inherited backlog in books, chairs, and classrooms: erased; while we are working to fulfill the new needs brought about by the implementation of K to 12. The 1:1 police-to-pistol ratio has already reached. The modernization of the Armed Forces, currently ongoing. A just and lasting peace in Mindanao, already advancing. Growth of the economy, progressing continuously. [Applause]
Truly, our ambitions are now being fulfilled one by one: universal healthcare, classrooms, jobs, harbors, roads, airports, security, peace. In addition to the national integrity we have restored is the world’s recognition of a new Philippines. The nation’s coffers, which come from the sweat of our citizens, are being spent only for their benefit.
Let us again listen to one of our Bosses:
Testimonial of Gina Lastrado, relocated member of an informal-settler family
I am Gina Lastrado, 47 years old. I used to live at Isla 1 Barangay 180, in Maricaban, Pasay City. I was a businesswoman back in Pasay. Currently, I still make a living selling goods; it’s a job that demands hard work.
We were relocated here because the place we used to live was tagged a “danger zone”—most of the houses were right beside a river.
When typhoon Ondoy [international name, Ketsana] hit, it was terrible. You wouldn’t have believed that we would survive.
If you compare our lives back in Pasay to our lives now—here, it rains, it storms, but you can sleep through a night. There’s no lying awake, worrying about the coming flood—not like where we used to live. Which is why I told my friends, those who stayed behind, to relocate, too. Here: There’s no fear, there’s no flood.
When we got here, they gave us groceries, they gave us the key to the house, then they brought us to our house. And the eighteen thousand pesos they gave us, that helped us start a new life. This gave us back our dignity, all of us who were living in the squatters’ area back in Pasay. Our lives are much better here. You can say that this is really our home now.
Now: the problems we inherited, we have solved. The problems that are here today, we are solving. And the problems that are still on the horizon, we are preparing for. I believe; with your continued trust, we can solve all of these.
Let us turn to the energy situation. We are doing everything in our power to ensure that the growing energy demand in our country is met. In spite of this, there have been some unforeseen events, that may lead to problems in the next year. For instance, we need to make up for the shortages caused by the scheduled maintenance outages of old plants, the sudden halting of plant operations due to breakdowns, and delays in the progress of new plants.
Let us not forget that the coming El Niño season also threatens to affect the capacities of our hydro power plants, and to raise energy demand even further. If our use of electric fans and air conditioners in our own homes will increase due to the warm temperature, then imagine the spike in the usage of businesses and whole industries. And it is not as if we can just go to the store and ask to buy a 600 megawatt generator, to be installed the following day.
We want to be completely ready so that we can avoid paralysis if the worst-case scenario arises. The goal: to have planned solutions for problems that will not arise until next year. This is precisely why I have tasked Secretary Icot Petilla of the DOE to coordinate with the Joint Congressional Power Commission, the Energy Regulatory Commission, members of industry, and, most importantly, the consumers, in order to increase our capacity to respond to this problem.
I am also aware that many of our Bosses are affected by the staggering increase in rice prices. It seems that the reports are true: that some greedy rice hoarders are stockpiling their supplies in order to sell them when prices eventually rise, making an unjust profit in the process.
We will not let this pass. Perhaps they think they are being clever, but the government’s plan of action will prove the opposite. Our immediate solution: import more rice, supply it to the markets, reduce the prices and keep them at a reasonable level, and ultimately drive those who took advantage of the Filipino people into financial ruin. [Applause]
Last November, we imported 500,000 metric tons of rice to supplement decreased supply due to the typhoons that battered our country, and all of this had arrived by March of this year. This February, the NFA Council approved the importation of an additional 800,000 metric tons, in fulfillment of our buffer stocking requirement, and as of this July, 360,750 of this amount had arrived. This July as well, we approved the immediate importation of 500,000 metric tons of rice through open bidding. The NFA also has the standby authority to import an additional 500,000 metric tons to prepare for the effects of calamities on harvests and rice prices.
When the additional rice we have imported arrives in the country, hoarders will be forced to sell the rice that they have stockpiled in their warehouses. To these hoarders: If a showdown is what you want, by all means, take on the government. Just remember: it only takes six months before the stock you have hoarded in your warehouses begins to rot. When we flood the market with this imported rice, you will surely go bust. You are acting against the Filipino people, while we are acting for the interest of each Filipino. Let us see who will prevail. [Applause]
Apart from investigating those who have allegedly hoarded NFA rice, we are also probing all those in concerned agencies who may have conspired with these hoarders. Employees suspected of wrongdoing are already under scrutiny, so that we may file charges, and eventually, imprison those who must be held to account.
While we are in pursuit of those abusive few, we have also continued to implement projects to uplift Filipinos in the sector of agriculture. We are ensuring that rice farming remains a viable and attractive livelihood. After all, we know that our farmers are advancing in age, which is why it will help our pursuit of food security to encourage the youth to enter this kind of work.
We are providing our farmers with modern equipment to ensure the efficiency of planting and harvest. From 2011 to May 2014, we have already turned over 4,628 units of production machinery, 11,362 units of post-production machinery, and 105 rice mills to a number of farmers’ associations. This has allowed us to lessen waste in what our farmers are able to harvest. On top of this: we are also enhancing irrigation systems, constructing farm-to-market roads, and implementing training programs to ensure that they make the maximum profit.
Now, let us turn to the budget. The Executive Branch proposes projects, which are approved by Congress. However, we have had to suspend a number of projects to make certain that we remain in accordance with the Supreme Court’s decision on the Disbursement Acceleration Program, or DAP. I know that those of you in this hall are one with me in believing that we must not deprive our countrymen of benefits, and that these should reach them in the soonest possible time.
This is why: We are proposing the passage of a supplemental budget for 2014, so that the implementation of our programs and projects need not be compromised. [Applause]
Together with this, we are calling on the cooperation of Congress for the passage of a Joint Resolution that will bring clarity to the definitions and ideas still being debated upon, and to the other issues that only you in the legislature—as the authors of our laws—can shed light on. [Applause]
On the first working day after the SONA, we will submit to Congress the proposed 2.606 trillion peso National Budget of 2015. As always, this budget was created together with our countrymen, using strategies that will ensure that funds are only allocated to projects and programs that will truly benefit the public. We are counting on the cooperation of our lawmakers to strengthen our Budget, as the primary instrument in creating opportunities for the Filipino people.
Let us now listen to one of the beneficiaries of our Alternative Learning System, A program of the Department of Education.
Testimonial of Maria Cecilla Fruelda—Aeta tribal leader, Alternative Learning System learner, and college student
I am Maria Cecilla Fruelda. I heard from my friends who also came from Zambales, and who are now living here in Rosario, that there are good jobs to be found in Puting Kahoy. That’s why we moved here.
Our first priority as tribespeople has always been to look for food, rather than to invest time in our education. But education is very important to me. Passing the Alternative Learning System (ALS) was the first step in realizing my dream of becoming a teacher.
I think that young Aetas in my community would have much better lives if only they could study.
If I hadn’t gotten into ALS, I wouldn’t have learned about our rights as indigenous peoples. We wouldn’t be able to fight for our ancestral land. Right now, thank God, the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples is processing land titles to be awarded to us.
Once I graduate with a degree in Education, I want to teach in our community. I want to share with the Aeta community everything I’ve learned and more.
The ALS has been such a great help. My being a student of Teodoro M. Luansing College of Rosario has helped bring more attention to our community. A lot of people have offered to help. I see our community’s children following in my footsteps. A lot of them are in school now.
Fellow citizens, It is her story—and the stories of many other beneficiaries like her—that is drowned out by the din of the orchestra of negativism in the news. These noisy individuals willfully close off their minds and choose to live in their own world and reality. As the transformation of society becomes even more apparent, these people are acting just how we expect them to: their attacks on us are becoming more frequent, more venomous, and more intense. As the benefits of reform become clearer, it becomes more and more difficult for them to succeed in fooling the people, which is why they are sowing doubt and uncertainty. They have become desperate.
Why are they so angry? Let us examine their motivations. For those who turned public service into a business: if we are able to fix our systems, they lose the opportunity to subvert these systems for their own gain. It is only natural that they oppose us. On the other hand, for those who have no other goal than to overthrow government: They can only recruit members when agreat number of people are suffering and losing faith in the system. This is why, with a reformed system that has ended the people’s suffering, the number of potential recruits has dwindled, which explains why their group is getting smaller and smaller. It is only natural that they oppose us. The noisiest and loudest of those who oppose us are not in favor of the transformation of our country, precisely because they manipulated and benefited from the old and broken systems.
It was as if we were citizens who had been long trapped in an island with only one store. Since there were no other choices, the store owners abused their advantage, raising prices whenever they wanted. The task you gave me was to steer our ship of state to another island, where there were more stores, more choices, better lives, and more opportunities. Of course, those running the solitary store in the island did not want us to set sail, because they will run out of people to abuse. They would do everything in their power to prevent us from reaching other shores. They would say that it is no different there, and that nothing would change. They would detain us at the port, punch holes in our ship, and conspire to steer us astray.
The truth is that I am not the one these people oppose, but the entire Filipino people who are now reaping the benefits of the straight path. They oppose the farmers in Iloilo, who have hoped for efficient irrigation systems for more than fifty years, and today are witnessing the construction of the Jalaur Multi-purpose River Project. [Applause]
They oppose the countless students who no longer have to study in overcrowded classrooms. They oppose the Filipinos who have found jobs because of training received from TESDA; the Filipinos who have been safely evacuated before typhoons strike because PAGASA is now more efficient; they oppose the informal settlers who have been removed from danger because of housing resettlement programs; they oppose the poor who can receive treatment from public hospitals free of charge; they oppose the soldiers who, because their equipment has been modernized, can now protect our nation with greater confidence; they oppose the Moros and indigenous peoples who, today, see a just and lasting peace on the horizon. My Bosses, they are against you. [Applause]
In fact, their attacks began even before we came into office. We have grown used to being greeted by negative commentators for breakfast, personal attacks for lunch, insults for dinner, and intrigue for a midnight snack. [Laughter]
And even now that I am President, those opposed to change have not changed their ways. To be frank, I do not think that they will stop even when I have stepped down from public office.
I recall an old woman who I spoke to during the campaign. She told me: “Noy, you must take care of yourself. You will be up against many people.” Her warning proved to be true. But my resolve is unshakeable when it comes to facing them down, because I know: they are but a few, and there are so many of us. [Applause]
Those of us who are ready to fulfill our part in achieving positive transformation are, without doubt, stronger. We will triumph because we are in the right.
We dared to dream, we began pursuing those dreams, we worked hard, we gained the momentum, and today, the Filipino people are moving even faster along the straight path to lasting and inclusive growth. [Applause]
Our fatigue and sacrifices will be all the more worthwhile if you are able to continue what we started together.
It is you who will face a fork in the road; it is you who will decide if change will continue. Let us remember: This my fifth SONA; only one remains. In 2016, you will be choosing new leaders of our country. What I can tell you is this: if you wish continue and even accelerate the transformation of society, there can only be one basis for choosing my successor: Who will, without a shred of doubt, continue the transformation we are achieving? [Applause]
You are our bosses, you are our strength, you are bringing about change –and so it is you, too, who will continue the task. It is entirely up to you how history will remember this era. They may recall it as the very peak of our triumphs, as a promising start that went to waste. But it would be infinitely better if they remember our achievements as the beginning of a long journey towards the fulfillment of even more ambitious hopes.
When some groups appealed to me to run for President, they told me that they did not expect to solve all the country’s problems in a span of six years. They simply asked me to begin the change. You saw where we came from, and you are seeing how we have far surpassed the aspirations with which we began.
We are forging a system of fairness; where, as long as you follow the rules, you can get to where you want to go; where true competition leads to opportunity and widespread progress; where each and every person can take control of their own destinies. [Applause]
A society where the least fortunate are cared for is within reach; where each person recognizes his responsibilities to his fellowmen; where there is an unceasing, untiring, ever-active participation in collectively increasing the prosperity of society.
The future we desire is on the horizon: one where justice reigns supreme, and where no one will be left behind.
These are the results of reform. This is what we have fought for, and this is what we will continue fighting for: not the prevalence of the old ways, but a new system that will benefit all. [Applause]
To my Bosses: You gave me an opportunity to lead our efforts to transform society. If I had said “no” when you asked me to take on this challenge, then I could just as well have said that I would help prolong your suffering. I cannot do that in good conscience. If I had turned my back on the opportunity, then I might as well have turned my back on my father and mother, and all the sacrifices they made for all of us; that will not happen. On our journey along the straight path, you have always chosen what is right and just; you have been true to your promise, and I have been true to all of you. [Applause]
The transformation we are experiencing now, we can make permanent with the guidance of God. As long as your faith remains strong—as long as we continue serving as each other’s strength—we will continue proving that “the Filipino is worth dying for,” “the Filipino is worth living for,” and if I might add: “The Filipino is worth fighting for.”
The Vice President knows this—we were together in 1987. There was a coup de etat, and I was ambushed. Everything after that I consider my second life.
It’s hard not to think about these things, considering the people we’ve been going up against. Will there be a day when I go onstage, for work, and—will someone manage to plant a bomb? Will the dark schemes of those who want to bring us back to the wrong way of doing things finally succeed?
When that day comes, and my second life comes to an end, will I be able to say things will be ok? I will tell you this, straight in eye: after everything we’ve achieved, I can say that I am content.
I am content because I am sure that when I’m gone, many will take my place and continue what we have started.
Maybe this is what I’m meant to do: to start this.
There are people like Cardinal Chito Tagle, Ka Eduardo Manalo, Brother Eddie Villanueva, Father Catalino Arevalo, and Father Jett Villarin, Bishop Jonel Milan, Sister Agnes Guillen, and Mae Salvatierra. These are individuals from the religious sector, who will continue what we’ve started. [Applause]
There is Aris Alip of CARD, who will do his part through microfinance. There is an Alice Murphy and her urban poor associates who will truly continue to take care of our informal settlers. [Applause]
There are our soldiers and police officers, who try every day to do what is right—just like our new Chief of Staff, our Service Commanders, our soldiers in the Light Reaction Battalion, and the JSOG.
There are, of course, my fellow politicians. Is there any doubt that Senate President Franklin Drilon and Speaker Belmonte will lead us along the right path? [Applause]
It has also been my privilege to work with and interact with a certain governor, Alfredo Maranon of Negros Occidental: [Applause]
He is not a party mate, but I think I am part of his fan club because of his good governance in Negros.
There are up and coming young politicians. Or at least they’re younger than I am—I don’t want to seem too much like an old politico by referring to my colleagues as young.
These are the likes of Mayor Jed Mabilog and Mayor Len Alonte [Applause].
There is also those in the cultural sector—such as Noel Cabangon and Ogie Alcasid-—who are not self-centered. [Applause]
Every night, before I go to bed, I am thankful that I was able to get through another day. Just as it was said when we were kids, “finished or not finished, pass your paper.” It seems to me, you have felt the true extent of the change that is every Filipino’s right to aspire to. It will be up to you to carry this forward. [Applause]
To my Bosses: You are behind the transformation we are enjoying. You are the key to continuing all the positive changes we have achieved. I fully believe that, whether I am here or not, the Filipino is headed towards the rightful destination.
And so, I will leave it here. Good afternoon to all of you. Thank you very much. [Applause]
