2010 sona president benigno s. aquino iii

8/9/2019 2010 SONA President Benigno S. Aquino III

1/28

State of the Nation Address

of His Excellency

Benigno S. Aquino III

President of the Philippinesto the Congress of the Philippines

Session Hall of the House of Representatives

July 26, 2010

[Batasan Pambansa Complex, Quezon City]


2/28

Speaker Feliciano Belmonte; Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile; Vice

President Jejomar Binay; Chief Justice Renato Corona; Former Presidents

Fidel Valdez Ramos and Joseph Ejercito Estrada; members of the House

of Representatives and the Senate; distinguished members of the

diplomatic corps; my fellow workers in government;

Mga minamahal kong kababayan:

Sa bawat sandali po ng pamamahala ay nahaharap tayo sa isang

sangandaan.

Sa isang banda po ay ang pagpili para sa ikabubuti ng taumbayan. Ang

pagtanaw sa interes ng nakakarami; ang pagkapit sa prinsipyo; at ang

pagiging tapat sa sinumpaan nating tungkulin bilang lingkod-bayan. Ito po

ang tuwid na daan.

Sa kabilang banda ay ang pag-una sa pansariling interes. Ang

pagpapaalipin sa pulitikal na konsiderasyon, at pagsasakripisyo ng

kapakanan ng taumbayan. Ito po ang baluktot na daan.

Matagal pong naligaw ang pamahalaan sa daang baluktot. Araw-araw po,

lalong lumilinaw sa akin ang lawak ng problemang ating namana. Damang-

dama ko ang bigat ng aking responsibilidad.

Sa unang tatlong linggo ng aming panunungkulan, marami po kaming

natuklasan. Nais ko pong ipahayag sa inyo ang iilan lamang sa mga

namana nating suliranin at ang ginagawa naming hakbang para lutasin ang

mga ito.

Sulyap lamang po ito; hindi pa ito ang lahat ng problemang haharapin

natin. Inilihim at sadyang iniligaw ang sambayanan sa totoong kalagayan

ng ating bansa.

Sa unang anim na buwan ng taon, mas malaki ang ginastos ng gobyerno

kaysa sa pumasok na kita. Lalong lumaki ang deficit natin, na umakyat na

sa 196.7 billion pesos. Sa target na kuleksyon, kinapos tayo ng 23.8 billion

pesos; ang tinataya namang gastos, nalagpasan natin ng 45.1 billion

pesos.


3/28

Ang budget po sa 2010 ay 1.54 trillion pesos.

Nasa isandaang bilyong piso o anim at kalahating porsyento na lang ng

kabuuan ang malaya nating magagamit para sa nalalabing anim na buwan

ng taong ito.Halos isang porsyento na lang po ng kabuuang budget ang natitira para sa

bawat buwan.

Saan naman po dinala ang pera?

Naglaan ng dalawang bilyong piso na Calamity Fund bilang paghahanda

para sa mga kalamidad na hindi pa nangyayari. Napakaliit na nga po ng

pondong ito, ngunit kapapasok pa lang natin sa panahon ng baha at bagyo,

1.4 billion pesos o sitenta porsyento na ang nagastos.

Sa kabuuan ng 108 million pesos para sa lalawigan ng Pampanga, 105

million pesos nito ay napunta sa iisang distrito lamang. Samantala, ang

lalawigan ng Pangasinan na sinalanta ng Pepeng ay nakatanggap ng

limang milyong piso lamang para sa pinsalang idinulot ng bagyong Cosme,

na nangyari noong 2008 pa.

Ibinigay po ang pondo ng Pampanga sa buwan ng eleksyon, pitong buwan

pagkatapos ng Ondoy at Pepeng. Paano kung bumagyo bukas? Inubos naang pondo nito para sa bagyong nangyari noong isang taon pa.

Pagbabayaran ng kinabukasan ang kasakiman ng nakaraan.

Ganyan din po ang nangyari sa pondo ng MWSS. Kamakailan lamang,

pumipila ang mga tao para lang makakuha ng tubig. Sa kabila nito,

minabuti pa ng liderato ng MWSS na magbigay ng gantimpala sa sarili

kahit hindi pa nababayaran ang pensyon ng mga retiradong empleyado.

Noong 2009, ang buong payroll ng MWSS ay 51.4 million pesos. Pero hindilang naman po ito ang sahod nila; may mga additional allowances at

benefits pa sila na aabot sa 160.1 million pesos. Sa madaling sabi,

nakatanggap sila ng 211.5 million pesos noong nakaraang taon. Beinte-

kuwatro porsyento lang nito ang normal na sahod, at sitentay sais

porsyento ang dagdag.


4/28

Ang karaniwang manggagawa hanggang 13th month pay plus cash gift lang

ang nakukuha. Sa MWSS, aabot sa katumbas ng mahigit sa tatlumpung

buwan ang sahod kasama na ang lahat ng mga bonuses at allowances na

nakuha nila.

Mas matindi po ang natuklasan natin sa pasahod ng kanilang Board of

Trustees. Tingnan po natin ang mga allowances na tinatanggap nila:

Umupo ka lang sa Board of Trustees at Board Committee meeting, katorse

mil na. Aabot ng nobentay otso mil ito kada buwan. May grocery incentive

pa sila na otsenta mil kada taon.

Hindi lang iyon: may mid-year bonus, productivity bonus, anniversary

bonus, year-end bonus, at Financial Assistance. May Christmas bonus na,

may Additional Christmas Package pa. Kada isa sa mga ito, nobentay otso

mil.

Sa suma total po, aabot ang lahat ng dalawat kalahating milyong piso kada

taon sa bawat miyembro ng Board maliban sa pakotse, technical

assistance, at pautang. Uulitin ko po. Lahat ng ito ay ibinibigay nila sa

kanilang mga sarili habang hindi pa nababayaran ang mga pensyon ng

kanilang mga retirees.

Pati po ang La Mesa Watershed ay hindi nila pinatawad. Para magkaroon

ng tamang supply ng tubig, kailangang alagaan ang mga watershed. Sa

watershed, puno ang kailangan. Pati po iyon na dapat puno ang nakatayo,

tinayuan nila ng bahay para sa matataas na opisyal ng MWSS.

Hindi naman sila agad maaalis sa puwesto dahil kabilang sila sa mga

Midnight Appointees ni dating Pangulong Arroyo. Iniimbestigahan na natin

ang lahat nang ito. Kung mayroon pa silang kahit kaunting hiya na natitira

sana kusa na lang silang magbitiw sa puwesto.

Pag-usapan naman po natin ang pondo para sa imprastruktura. Tumukoy

ang DPWH ng dalawandaan apatnaput anim na priority safety projects na

popondohan ng Motor Vehicle Users Charge. Mangangailangan po ito ng

budget na 425 million pesos.


5/28

Ang pinondohan po, dalawamput walong proyekto lang. Kinalimutan po

ang dalawandaan at labing walong proyekto at pinalitan ng pitumpung

proyekto na wala naman sa plano. Ang hininging 425 million pesos, naging

480 million pesos pa, lumaki lalo dahil sa mga proyektong sa piling-piling

mga benepisyaryo lang napunta.

Mga proyekto po itong walang saysay, hindi pinag-aralan at hindi

pinaghandaan, kaya parang kabuteng sumusulpot.

Tapos na po ang panahon para dito. Sa administrasyon po natin, walang

kota-kota, walang tongpats, ang pera ng taumbayan ay gagastusin para sa

taumbayan lamang.

Meron pa po tayong natuklasan. Limang araw bago matapos ang termino

ng nakaraang administrasyon, nagpautos silang maglabas ng 3.5 billion

pesos para sa rehabilitasyon ng mga nasalanta nina Ondoy at Pepeng.

Walumput anim na proyekto ang paglalaanan dapat nito na hindi na sana

idadaan sa public bidding. Labingsiyam sa mga ito na nagkakahalaga ng

981 million pesos ang muntik nang makalusot. Hindi pa nailalabas ang

Special Allotment Release Order ay pirmado na ang mga kontrata.

Buti na lang po ay natuklasan at pinigilan ito ni Secretary Rogelio Singson

ng DPWH. Ngayon po ay dadaan na ang kabuuan ng 3.5 billion pesos sa

tapat na bidding, at magagamit na ang pondo na ito sa pagbibigay ng

lingap sa mga nawalan ng tahanan dahil kina Ondoy at Pepeng.

Pag-usapan naman natin ang nangyari sa NAPOCOR. Noong 2001

hanggang 2004, pinilit ng gobyerno ang NAPOCOR na magbenta ng

kuryente nang palugi para hindi tumaas ang presyo. Tila ang dahilan:

pinaghahandaan na nila ang eleksyon.

Dahil dito, noong 2004, sumagad ang pagkakabaon sa utang ngNAPOCOR. Napilitan ang pambansang gobyerno na sagutin ang

dalawandaang bilyong pisong utang nito.


6/28

Ang inakala ng taumbayan na natipid nila sa kuryente ay binabayaran din

natin mula sa kaban ng bayan. May gastos na tayo sa kuryente,

binabayaran pa natin ang dagdag na pagkakautang ng gobyerno.

Kung naging matino ang pag-utang, sanay nadagdagan ang atingkasiguruhan sa supply ng kuryente. Pero ang desisyon ay ibinatay sa

maling pulitika, at hindi sa pangangailangan ng taumbayan. Ang

taumbayan, matapos pinagsakripisyo ay lalo pang pinahirapan.

Ganito rin po ang nangyari sa MRT. Sinubukan na namang bilhin ang ating

pagmamahal. Pinilit ang operator na panatilihing mababa ang pamasahe.

Hindi tuloy nagampanan ang garantiyang ibinigay sa operator namababawi nila ang kanilang puhunan. Dahil dito, inutusan ang Landbank at

Development Bank of the Philippines na bilhin ang MRT.

Ang pera ng taumbayan, ipinagpalit sa isang naluluging operasyon.

Dumako naman po tayo sa pondo ng NFA.

Noong 2004: 117,000 metric tons ang pagkukulang ng supply ng Pilipinas.

Ang binili nila, 900,000 metric tons. Kahit ulitin mo pa ng mahigit pitong

beses ang pagkukulang, sobra pa rin ang binili nila.

Noong 2007: 589,000 metric tons ang pagkukulang ng supply sa Pilipinas.Ang binili nila, 1.827 million metric tons. Kahit ulitin mo pa ng mahigit

tatlong beses ang pagkukulang, sobra na naman ang binili nila.

Ang masakit nito, dahil sobra-sobra ang binibili nila taun-taon, nabubulok

lang pala sa mga kamalig ang bigas, kagaya ng nangyari noong 2008.

Hindi po ba krimen ito, na hinahayaan nilang mabulok ang bigas, sa kabila

ng apat na milyong Pilipinong hindi kumakain ng tatlong beses sa isang

araw?

Ang resulta nito, umabot na sa 171.6 billion pesos ang utang ng NFA

noong Mayo ng taong ito.

Ang tinapon na ito, halos puwede na sanang pondohan ang mga

sumusunod:


7/28

Ang budget ng buong Hudikatura, na 12.7 billion pesos sa taong ito.

Ang Conditional Cash Transfers para sa susunod na taon, na

nagkakahalaga ng 29.6 billion pesos.

Ang lahat ng classroom na kailangan ng ating bansa, na nagkakahalaga ng130 billion pesos.

Kasuklam-suklam ang kalakarang ito. Pera na, naging bato pa.

Narinig po ninyo kung paano nilustay ang kaban ng bayan. Ang malinaw po

sa ngayon: ang anumang pagbabago ay magmumula sa pagsiguro natin

na magwawakas na ang pagiging maluho at pagwawaldas.

Kaya nga po mula ngayon: ititigil na natin ang paglulustay sa salapi ng

bayan. Tatanggalin natin ang mga proyektong mali.

Ito po ang punto ng tinatawag nating zero-based approach sa ating budget.

Ang naging kalakaran po, taun-taon ay inuulit lamang ang budget na puno

ng tagas. Dadagdagan lang nang konti, puwede na.

Sa susunod na buwan ay maghahain tayo ng budget na kumikilala nang

tama sa mga problema, at magtutuon din ng pansin sa tamang solusyon.

Ilan lang ito sa mga natuklasan nating problema. Heto naman po ang ilanghalimbawa ng mga hakbang na ginagawa natin.

Nandiyan po ang kaso ng isang may-ari ng sanglaan. Bumili siya ng

sasakyang tinatayang nasa dalawamput anim na milyong piso ang halaga.

Kung kaya mong bumili ng Lamborghini, bakit hindi mo kayang magbayad

ng buwis?

Nasampahan na po ito ng kaso. Sa pangunguna nina Finance Secretary

Cesar Purisima, Justice Secretary Leila de Lima, BIR Commissioner Kim

Henares at Customs Commissioner Lito Alvarez, bawat linggo po ay may

bago tayong kasong isinasampa kontra sa mga smuggler at sa mga hindi

nagbabayad ng tamang buwis.


8/28

Natukoy na rin po ang salarin sa mga kaso nina Francisco Baldomero,

Jose Daguio at Miguel Belen, tatlo sa anim na insidente ng extralegal

killings mula nang umupo tayo.

Singkuwenta porsyento po ng mga insidente ng extralegal killings angpatungo na sa kanilang resolusyon.

Ang natitira pong kalahati ay hindi natin tatantanan ang pag-usig hanggang

makamit ang katarungan.

Pananagutin natin ang mga mamamatay-tao. Pananagutin din natin ang

mga corrupt sa gobyerno.

Nagsimula nang mabuo ang ating Truth Commission, sa pangunguna ni

dating Chief Justice Hilario Davide. Hahanapin natin ang katotohanan samga nangyari diumanong katiwalian noong nakaraang siyam na taon.

Sa loob ng linggong ito, pipirmahan ko ang kauna-unahang Executive

Order na nagtatalaga sa pagbuo nitong Truth Commission.

Kung ang sagot sa kawalan ng katarungan ay pananagutan, ang sagot

naman sa kakulangan natin sa pondo ay mga makabago at malikhaing

paraan para tugunan ang mga pagkatagal-tagal nang problema.

Napakarami po ng ating pangangailangan: mula sa edukasyon,

imprastruktura, pangkalusugan, pangangailangan ng militar at kapulisan, at

marami pang iba. Hindi kakasya ang pondo para mapunan ang lahat ng ito.

Kahit gaano po kalaki ang kakulangan para mapunan ang mga listahan ng

ating pangangailangan, ganado pa rin ako dahil marami nang nagpakita ng

panibagong interes at kumpyansa sa Pilipinas.

Ito ang magiging solusyon: mga Public-Private Partnerships. Kahit wala pa

pong pirmahang nangyayari dito, masasabi kong maganda ang magigingbunga ng maraming usapin ukol dito.

May mga nagpakita na po ng interes, gustong magtayo ng expressway na

mula Maynila, tatahak ng Bulacan, Nueva Ecija, Nueva Vizcaya, hanggang

sa dulo ng Cagayan Valley nang hindi gugugol ang estado kahit na po piso.


9/28

Sa larangan ng ating Sandatahang Lakas:

Mayroon po tayong 36,000 nautical miles ng baybayin. Ang mayroon

lamang tayo: tatlumput dalawang barko. Itong mga barkong ito, panahon

pa ni MacArthur.May nagmungkahi sa atin, ito ang proposisyon: uupahan po nila ang

headquarters ng Navy sa Roxas Boulevard at ang Naval Station sa Fort

Bonifacio.

Sagot po nila ang paglipat ng Navy Headquarters sa Camp Aguinaldo.

Agaran, bibigyan tayo ng isandaang milyong dolyar. At dagdag pa sa lahat

nang iyan, magsusubi pa sila sa atin ng kita mula sa mga negosyong

itatayo nila sa uupahan nilang lupa.

Sa madali pong sabi: Makukuha natin ang kailangan natin, hindi tatayo

gagastos, kikita pa tayo.

Marami na pong nag-alok at nagmungkahi sa atin, mula lokal hanggang

dayuhang negosyante, na magpuno ng ibat ibang pangangailangan.

Mula sa mga public-private partnerships na ito, lalago ang ating

ekonomiya, at bawat Pilipino makikinabang. Napakaraming sektor na

matutulungan nito.

Maipapatayo na po ang imprastrukturang kailangan natin para palaguin

ang turismo.

Sa agrikultura, makapagtatayo na tayo ng mga grains terminals,

refrigeration facilities, maayos na road networks at post-harvest facilities.

Kung maisasaayos natin ang ating food supply chain sa tulong ng

pribadong sektor, sa halip na mag-angkat tayo ay maari na sana tayong

mangarap na mag-supply sa pandaigdigang merkado.

Kung maitatayo ang minumungkahi sa ating railway system, bababa ang

presyo ng bilihin. Mas mura, mas mabilis, mas maginhawa, at makakaiwas

pa sa kotong cops at mga kumokotong na rebelde ang mga bumibiyahe.


10/28

Paalala lang po: una sa ating plataporma ang paglikha ng mga trabaho, at

nanggagaling ang trabaho sa paglago ng industriya. Lalago lamang ang

industriya kung gagawin nating mas malinis, mas mabilis, at mas

maginhawa ang proseso para sa mga gustong magnegosyo.

Pabibilisin natin ang proseso ng mga proyektong sumasailalim sa Build-

Operate-Transfer. Sa tulong ng lahat ng sangay ng gobyerno at ng mga

mamamayan, pabababain natin sa anim na buwan ang proseso na noon ay

inaabot ng taon kung hindi dekada.

May mga hakbang na rin pong sinisimulan ang DTI, sa pamumuno ni

Secretary Gregory Domingo:

Ang walang-katapusang pabalik-balik sa proseso ng pagrehistro ng

pangalan ng kumpanya, na kada dalaw ay umaabot ng apat hanggang

walong oras, ibababa na natin sa labinlimang minuto.

Ang dating listahan ng tatlumput anim na dokumento, ibababa natin sa

anim. Ang dating walong pahinang application form, ibababa natin sa isang

pahina.

Nananawagan ako sa ating mga LGUs. Habang naghahanap tayo ng

paraan para gawing mas mabilis ang pagbubukas ng mga negosyo, pag-

aralan din sana nila ang kanilang mga proseso. Kailangan itong gawing

mas mabilis, at kailangan itong itugma sa mga sinisumulan nating reporma.

Negosyante, sundalo, rebelde, at karaniwang Pilipino, lahat po

makikinabang dito. Basta po hindi dehado ang Pilipino, papasukin po natin

lahat iyan. Kailangan na po nating simulan ang pagtutulungan para

makamit ito. Huwag nating pahirapan ang isat isa.

Parating na po ang panahon na hindi na natin kailangang mamili sa pagitan

ng seguridad ng ating mamamayan o sa kinabukasan ng inyong mga anak.

Oras na maipatupad ang public-private partnerships na ito, mapopondohan

ang mga serbisyong panlipunan, alinsunod sa ating plataporma.

Magkakapondo na po para maipatupad ang mga plano natin sa

edukasyon.


11/28

Mapapalawak natin ang basic education cycle mula sa napakaikling

sampung taon tungo sa global standard na labindalawang taon.

Madadagdagan natin ang mga classroom. Mapopondohan natin ang

service contracting sa ilalim ng GASTPE.Pati ang conditional cash transfers, na magbabawas ng pabigat sa bulsa

ng mga pamilya, madadagdan na rin ng pondo.

Maipapatupad ang plano natin sa PhilHealth.

Una, tutukuyin natin ang tunay na bilang ng mga nangangailangan nito. Sa

ngayon, hindi magkakatugma ang datos. Sabi ng PhilHealth sa isang bibig,

walumput pitong porsyento na raw ang merong coverage. Sa kabilang

bibig naman, singkuwentay tres porsyento naman. Ayon naman saNational Statistics Office, tatlumput walong porsyento ang may coverage.

Ngayon pa lang, kumikilos na si Secretary Dinky Soliman at ang DSWD

upang ipatupad ang National Household Targetting System, na magtutukoy

sa mga pamilyang higit na nagangailangan ng tulong. Tinatayang siyam na

bilyon ang kailangan para mabigyan ng PhilHealth ang limang milyong

pinakamaralitang pamilyang Pilipino.

Napakaganda po ng hinaharap natin. Kasama na po natin ang pribadongsektor, at kasama na rin natin ang League of Provinces, sa pangunguna

nina Governor Alfonso Umali kasama sina Governor L-Ray Villafuerte at

Governor Icot Petilla. Handa na pong makipagtulungan para makibahagi sa

pagtustos ng mga gastusin. Alam ko rin pong hindi magpapahuli ang

League of Cities sa pangunguna ni Mayor Oscar Rodriguez.

Kung ang mga gobyernong lokal ay nakikiramay na sa ating mga adhikain,

ang Kongreso namang pinanggalingan ko, siguro naman maasahan ko din.

Nagpakitang-gilas na po ang gabinete sa pagtukoy ng ating mga problema

at sa paglulunsad ng mga solusyon sa loob lamang ng tatlong linggo.

Nang bagyo pong Basyang, ang sabi sa atin ng mga may prangkisa sa

kuryente, apat na araw na walang kuryente. Dahil sa mabilis na pagkilos ni


12/28

Secretary Rene Almendras at ng Department of Energy, naibalik ang

kuryente sa halos lahat sa loob lamang ng beinte-kwatro oras.

Ito pong sinasabing kakulangan sa tubig sa Metro Manila, kinilusan agad ni

Secretary Rogelio Singson at ng DPWH. Hindi na siya naghintay ng utos,kaya nabawasan ang perwisyo.

Nakita na rin natin ang gilas ng mga hinirang nating makatulong sa

Gabinete. Makatuwiran naman po sigurong umasa na hindi na sila

padadaanin sa butas ng karayom para makumpirma ng Commission on

Appointments. Kung mangyayari po ito, marami pa sa mga mahuhusay na

Pilipino ang maeengganyong magsilbi sa gobyerno.

Sa lalong madaling panahon po, uupo na tayo sa LEDAC at pag-uusapan

ang mga mahahalagang batas na kailangan nating ipasa. Makakaasa kayo

na mananatiling bukas ang aking isipan, at ang ating ugnayan ay

mananatiling tapat.

Isinusulong po natin ang Fiscal Responsibility Bill, kung saan hindi tayo

magpapasa ng batas na mangangailangan ng pondo kung hindi pa natukoy

ang panggagalingan nito. May 104.1 billion pesos tayong kailangan para

pondohan ang mga batas na naipasa na, ngunit hindi maipatupad.

Kailangan din nating isaayos ang mga insentibong piskal na ibinigay

noong nakaraan. Ngayong naghihigpit tayo ng sinturon, kailangang balikan

kung alin sa mga ito ang dapat manatili at kung ano ang dapat nang itigil.

Huwag po tayong pumayag na magkaroon ng isa pang NBN-ZTE. Sa lokal

man o dayuhan manggagaling ang pondo, dapat dumaan ito sa tamang

proseso. Hinihingi ko po ang tulong ninyo upang amiyendahan ang ating

Procurement Law.

Ayon po sa Saligang Batas, tungkulin ng estado ang siguruhing walanglamangan sa merkado. Bawal ang monopolya, bawal ang mga cartel na

sasakal sa kumpetisyon. Kailangan po natin ng isang Anti-Trust Law na

magbibigay-buhay sa mga prinsipyong ito. Ito ang magbibigay ng

pagkakataon sa mga Small- at Medium-scale Enterprises na makilahok at

tumulong sa paglago ng ating ekonomiya.


13/28

Ipasa na po natin ang National Land Use Bill.

Una rin pong naging batas ng Commonwealth ang National Defense Act,

na ipinasa noon pang 1935. Kailangan nang palitan ito ng batas na tutugon

sa pangangailangan ng pambansang seguridad sa kasalukuyan.Nakikiusap po akong isulong ang Whistleblowers Bill upang patuloy

nang iwaksi ang kultura ng takot at pananahimik.

Palalakasin pa lalo ang Witness Protection Program. Alalahanin po natin

na noong taong 2009 hanggang 2010, may nahatulan sa 95% ng mga kaso

kung saan may witness na sumailalim sa programang ito.

Kailangang repasuhin ang ating mga batas. Nanawagan po akong

umpisahan na ang rekodipikasyon ng ating mga batas, upangsiguruhing magkakatugma sila at hindi salu-salungat.

Ito pong mga batas na ito ang batayan ng kaayusan, ngunit ang pundasyon

ng lahat ng ginagawa natin ay ang prinsipyong wala tayong mararating

kung walang kapayapaan at katahimikan.

Dalawa ang hinaharap nating suliranin sa usapin ng kapayapaan: ang

situwasyon sa Mindanao, at ang patuloy na pag-aaklas ng CPP-NPA-NDF.

Tungkol sa situwasyon sa Mindanao: Hindi po nagbabago ang ating

pananaw. Mararating lamang ang kapayapaan at katahimikan kung mag-

uusap ang lahat ng apektado: Moro, Lumad, at Kristiyano. Inatasan na

natin si Dean Marvic Leonen na mangasiwa sa ginagawa nating pakikipag-

usap sa MILF.

Iiwasan natin ang mga pagkakamaling nangyari sa nakaraang

administrasyon, kung saan binulaga na lang ang mga mamamayan ng

Mindanao. Hindi tayo puwedeng magbulag-bulagan sa mga dudang maykulay ng pulitika ang proseso, at hindi ang kapakanan ng taumbayan ang

tanging interes.

Kinikilala natin ang mga hakbang na ginagawa ng MILF sa pamamagitan

ng pagdidisplina sa kanilang hanay. Inaasahan natin na muling

magsisimula ang negosasyon pagkatapos ng Ramadan.


14/28

Tungkol naman po sa CPP-NPA-NDF: handa na ba kayong maglaan ng

kongkretong mungkahi, sa halip na pawang batikos lamang?

Kung kapayapaan din ang hangad ninyo, handa po kami sa malawakang

tigil-putukan. Mag-usap tayo.Mahirap magsimula ang usapan habang mayroon pang amoy ng pulbura

sa hangin. Nananawagan ako: huwag po natin hayaang masayang ang

napakagandang pagkakataong ito upang magtipon sa ilalim ng iisang

adhikain.

Kapayapaan at katahimikan po ang pundasyon ng kaunlaran. Habang

nagpapatuloy ang barilan, patuloy din ang pagkakagapos natin sa

kahirapan.

Dapat din po nating mabatid: ito ay panahon ng sakripisyo. At ang

sakripisyong ito ay magiging puhunan para sa ating kinabukasan. Kaakibat

ng ating mga karapatan at kalayaan ay ang tungkulin natin sa kapwa at sa

bayan.

Inaasahan ko po ang ating mga kaibigan sa media, lalo na sa radyo at sa

print, sa mga nagbablock-time, at sa community newspapers, kayo na po

mismo ang magbantay sa inyong hanay.

Mabigyang-buhay sana ang mga batayang prinsipyo ng inyong bokasyon:

ang magbigay-linaw sa mahahalagang isyu; ang maging patas at

makatotohanan, at ang itaas ang antas ng pampublikong diskurso.

Tungkulin po ng bawat Pilipino na tutukan ang mga pinunong tayo rin

naman ang nagluklok sa puwesto. Humakbang mula sa pakikialam tungo

sa pakikilahok. Dahil ang nakikialam, walang-hanggan ang reklamo. Ang

nakikilahok, nakikibahagi sa solusyon.

Napakatagal na pong namamayani ang pananaw na ang susi sa asenso ay

ang intindihin ang sarili kaysa intindihin ang kapwa. Malinaw po sa akin:

paano tayo aasenso habang nilalamangan ang kapwa?


15/28

Ang hindi nabigyan ng pagkakataong mag-aral, paanong makakakuha ng

trabaho? Kung walang trabaho, paanong magiging konsumer? Paanong

mag-iimpok sa bangko?

Ngunit kung babaliktarin natin ang pananawkung iisipin natingDadagdagan ko ang kakayahan ng aking kapwamagbubunga po ito, at

ang lahat ay magkakaroon ng pagkakataon.

Maganda na po ang nasimulan natin. At mas lalong maganda po ang

mararating natin. Ngunit huwag nating kalimutan na mayroong mga

nagnanasang hindi tayo magtagumpay. Dahil kapag hindi tayo

nagtagumpay, makakabalik na naman sila sa kapangyarihan, at sa

pagsasamantala sa taumbayan.

Akin pong paniwala na Diyos at taumbayan ang nagdala sa ating

kinalalagyan ngayon. Habang nakatutok tayo sa kapakanan ng ating

kapwa, bendisyon at patnubay ay tiyak na maaasahan natin sa Poong

Maykapal. At kapag nanalig tayo na ang kasangga natin ay ang Diyos,

mayroon ba tayong hindi kakayanin?

Ang mandato nating nakuha sa huling eleksyon ay patunay na umaasa pa

rin ang Pilipino sa pagbabago. Iba na talaga ang situwasyon. Puwede na

muling mangarap. Tayo nang tumungo sa katuparan ng ating mgapinangarap.

Maraming salamat po.

ENGLISH TRANSLATION:

Speaker Feliciano Belmonte; Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile; VicePresident Jejomar Binay, Chief Justice Renato Corona, Former PresidentsFidel Valdez Ramos and Joseph Ejercito Estrada; Members of the Houseof Representatives and the Senate; distinguished members of thediplomatic corps;

My beloved countrymen:


16/28

Our administration is facing a forked road. On one direction, decisions aremade to protect the welfare of our people; to look after the interest of themajority; to have a firm grip on principles; and to be faithful to the publicservants sworn oath to serve the country honestly.

This is the straight path.

On the other side, personal interest is the priority, and where one becomesa slave to political considerations to the detriment of our nation.

This is the crooked path.

For a long time, our country lost its way in the crooked path. As days go by(since I became President), the massive scope of the problems we haveinherited becomes much clearer. I could almost feel the weight of myresponsibilities.

In the first three weeks of our administration, we discovered many things,and I will report to you some of the problems we have uncovered, and thesteps we are taking to solve them.

This report is merely a glimpse of our situation. It is not the entire picture ofthe crises we are facing. The reality was hidden from our people, whoseem to have been deliberately obfuscated on the real state of our nation.

In the first six years of this year, government expenditure exceeded our

revenues. Our deficit further increased to PhP196.7 billion. Our collectiontargets, which lack PhP23.8 billion, were not fully met, while we wentbeyond our spending by PhP45.1 billion.

Our budget for 2010 is PhP1.54 trillion. Of this, only PhP100 billion - or6.5% of the total budget can be used for the remaining six months of thecurrent year. Roughly 1% of the total budget is left for each of theremaining month.

Where did the funds go?

A calamity fund worth PhP2 billion was reserved in preparation foranticipated calamities. Of this already miniscule amount, at a time when therainy season has yet to set in, PhP1.4 billion or 70% was already spent.

The entire province of Pampanga received PhP108 million. Of this, PhP105million went to only one district. On the other hand, the province ofPangasinan, which was severely affected by Typhoon Pepeng, received a


17/28

mere PhP5 million, which had to be used to fix damages inflicted not evenby Pepeng, but by a previous typhoon, Cosme.

The funds were released on election month, which was seven months afterthe typhoon. What will happen if a typhoon arrives tomorrow? The fund has

been used up to repair damage from typhoons that hit us last year. Ourfuture will pay for the greed of yesterday.

This is also what happened to the funds of the MWSS. Just recently,people lined up for water while the leadership of the MWSS rewarded itselfeven though the pensions of retired employees remain unpaid.

The entire payroll of the MWSS amounts to 51.4 million pesos annually.But this isnt the full extent of what they receive: they receive additionalallowances and benefits amounting to 81.1 million pesos. In short, they

receive 211.5 million pesos annually. Twenty four percent of this is fornormal salaries, and sixty six percent is added on.

The average worker receives up to 13th month pay plus a cash gift. In theMWSS, they receive the equivalent of over thirty months pay if you includeall their additional bonuses and allowances.

What we discovered in the case of the salaries of their board of trustees iseven more shocking. Lets take a look at the allowances they receive:

Attending board of trustees and board committee meetings, and you get

fourteen thousands pesos. This totals ninety eight thousand pesos amonth. They also get an annual grocery incentive of eighty thousandpesos.

And thats not all. They get a mid-year bonus, productivity bonus,anniversary bonus, year-end bonus, and financial assistance. They not onlyget a Christmas bonus, but an additional Christmas package as well. Eachof these amounts to eighty thousand pesos. All in all, each member of theboard receives two and a half million pesos a year exclusive of car service,technical assistance, and loans. Let me repeat. They award themselves allof these while being in arrears for the pensions of their retired employees.

Even the La Mesa watershed wasnt spared. In order to ensure anadequate supply of water, we need to protect our watersheds. Inwatersheds, trees are needed. Where there should be trees, they builthomes for the top officials of the MWSS.


18/28

We cannot remove them from their positions quickly because they areamong the midnight appointees of former president Arroyo. We areinvestigating all of these things. But if they have any shame left, theyshould voluntarily relinquish their positions.

Now lets discuss funds for infrastructure. The DPWH identified twohundred forty six priority safety projects to be funded by the motor vehicleusers charge. This needs a budget of 425 million pesos. What they endedup funding were only 28 projects. They disregarded 218 projects andreplaced these with seventy projects that werent in the plans. The 425million pesos originally asked for became 480 million pesos, increasingbecause of projects allocated for a favored few.

These projects make no sense: unstudied and unprepared for, sproutinglike mushrooms.

The era of such projects is at an end. Under our administration, there willbe no quotas, there will be no overpricing, the funds of the people will bespent for the people.

Theres more. Five days before the term of the previous administrationended, they ordered 3.5 billion pesos to be released for the rehabilitation ofthose affected by typhoons Ondoy and Pepeng. This was supposed to fundeighty-nine projects. But nineteen of these projects amounting to 981million pesos didnt go through public bidding. Special Allotment Release

Orders hadnt even been released and yet the contracts were alreadysigned. Its a good thing Secretary Rogelio Singson spotted and stoppedthem. Instead, they will all go through the proper bidding, and the funds willbe used to provide relief to those who lost their homes due to typhoonsOndoy and Pepeng.

Lets discuss what happened in Napocor. From 2001 to 2004, thegovernment forced Napocor to sell electricity at a loss to prevent increasesin electricity rates. The real motivation for this is that they were preparingfor the election.

As a result, in 2004, NAPOCOR slumped deeply in debt. The governmentwas obligated to shoulder the 200 billion pesos it owed.

What the public thought they saved from electricity, we are now paying forusing public coffers. Not only are we paying for the cost of electricity; weare also paying for the interest arising from the debt.


19/28

If the money we borrowed was used properly, then there would be addedassurance that constant supply of electricity is available. However, thisdecision was based on bad politics, not on the true needs of the people.The people, after having to sacrifice, suffered even more.

This is also what happened to the MRT. The government tried again to buythe peoples love. The operator was forced to keep the rates low.

In effect, the guarantee given to the operator that he will still be able torecoup his investment was not fulfilled. Because of this, Landbank and theDevelopment Bank of the Philippines were ordered to purchase the MRT.

The money of the people was used in exchange for an operation that waslosing money.

Let us now move on to the funds of the National Food Authority (NFA).

In 2004: 117,000 metric tons (of rice) was the shortage in the supply of thePhilippines. What they (the government) bought were 900,000 metric tons.Even if you multiply for more than seven times the amount of shortage,they still bought more than what was needed.

In 2007: 589,000 metric tons was the shortage in the supply of thePhilippines. What they bought were 1.827 million metric tons. Even if youmultiply for more than three times the amount of shortage, they againbought more than what was needed.

What hurts is, because they keep purchasing more than what they needyear after year, the excess rice that had to be stored in warehouses endedup rotting, just like what happened in 2008.

Is this not a crime, letting rice rot, despite the fact that there are 4 millionFilipinos who do not eat three times a day?

The result is NFAs current debt of 177 billion pesos.

This money that was wasted could have funded the following:

- The budget of the entire judiciary, which is at 12.7 billion pesos thisyear.

- The Conditional Cash Transfers for the following year, which cost29.6 billion pesos.

- All the classrooms that our country needs, which cost 130 billionpesos.


20/28

This way of doing things is revolting. Money was there only to be wasted.

You have heard how the public coffers were squandered. This is what isclear to me now: change can only come from our determination to stampout this extravagance and profligacy.

That is why starting now: we will stop the wasteful use of governmentfunds. We will eradicate projects that are wrong.

This is the point of what we call the zero-based approach in our budget.What used to be the norm was every year, the budget merely gets re-enacted without plugging the holes.

Next month we will be submitting a budget that accurately identifies theproblem and gives much attention on the right solution.

Those that I have mentioned were only some of the problems we havediscovered. Here now are examples of the steps we are undertaking tosolve them.

There is a case of one pawnshop owner. He purchased a vehicle at anestimated cost of 26 million pesos.

If he can afford to buy a Lamborghini, why cant he pay his taxes?

A case has already been filed against him. Through the leadership ofFinance Secretary Cesar Purisima, BIR Commissioner Kim Henares,Customs Commissioner Lito Alvarez, and Justice Secretary Leila de Lima,every week we have new cases filed against smugglers and against thosewho do not pay the right taxes.

We have also already identified the suspects of the cases of FranciscoBaldomero, Jose Daguio and Miguel Belen, 3 of the 6 incidents ofextralegal killings since we assumed the Presidency.

Fifty percent (50%) of these incidents of extralegal killings are now on theirway to being resolved.

We will not stop the pursuit of the remaining half of these killings untiljustice has been achieved.

We will hold murderers accountable. We will also hold those who arecorrupt that work in government accountable for their actions.


21/28

We have begun forming our Truth Commission, through the leadership offormer Chief Justice Hilario Davide. We will search for the truth on thealleged wrongdoing committed in the last nine years.

This week, I will sign the first ever Executive Order on the formation of this

Truth Commission.

If the answer to justice is accountability, the answer to the dearth in funds isa new and creative approach to our long-standing problems.

We have so many needs: from education, infrastructure, health, military,police and more. Our funds will not be enough to meet them.

No matter how massive the deficit is that may keep us from paying for thislist of needs, I am heartened because many have already expressedrenewed interest and confidence in the Philippines.

Our solution: public-private partnerships. Although no contract has beensigned yet, I can say that ongoing talks with interested investors will yieldfruitful outcomes.

There are some who have already shown interest and want to build anexpressway from Manila that will pass through Bulacan, Nueva Ecija,Nueva Vizcaya, until the end of Cagayan Valley, without the governmenthaving to spend a single peso.

On national defense:

We have 36,000 nautical miles of shoreline, but we only have 32 boats.These boats are as old as the time of (US General Douglas) MacArthur.

Some had this proposition: they will rent the Navy headquarters on RoxasBoulevard and the Naval Station in Fort Bonifacio.

They will take care of the funding necessary to transfer the NavyHeadquarters to Camp Aguinaldo. Immediately, we will be given 100 milliondollars. Furthermore, they will give us a portion of their profits from their

businesses that would occupy the land they will rent.

In short, we will meet our needs without spending, and we will also earn.

There have already been many proposals from local to foreign investors toprovide for our various needs.


22/28

From these public-private partnerships, our economy will grow and everyFilipino will be the beneficiary. There are so many sectors that could benefitfrom this.

We will be able to construct the needed infrastructure in order to help

tourism grow.

In agriculture, we will be able to have access to grains terminals,refrigeration facilities, orderly road networks and post-harvest facilities.

If we can fix out food supply chain with the help of the private sector,instead of importing, we will hopefully be able to supply for the needs of theglobal market.

The prices of commodities will go down if we are able to make this efficient

railway system a reality. It will be cheaper and faster, and it will be easierfor travelers to avoid crooked cops and rebels.

A reminder to all: creating jobs is foremost on our agenda, and the creation

of jobs will come from the growth of our industries. Growth will only be

possible if we streamline processes to make them predictable, reliable and

efficient for those who want to invest.

We make sure that the Build-Operate-and-Transfer projects will undergoquick and efficient processes. With the help of all government agencies

concerned and the people, a process that used to take as short as a year

and as long as a decade will now only take six months.

The Department of Trade and Industry has already taken steps to effect

this change, under the leadership of Secretary Gregory Domingo:

The never-ending horror story of registering business names, which used

to take a minimum of four to eight hours depending on the day, will be cutdown drastically to fifteen minutes.

What used to be a check list of thirty-six documents will be shortened to a

list of six, and the old eight-page application form will be whittled down to

one page.


23/28

I call on our local government units to review its own procedures. While we

look for more ways to streamline our processes to make business start-ups

easier, I hope the LGUs can also find ways to implement reforms that will

be consistent with the ones we have already started.

All will certainly benefit from this streamlining -- be it businessmen, soldiers,

rebels and ordinary Filipinos. As long as the interests of Filipinos will not be

jeopardized, we will explore all available avenues to make this a reality. We

must start now, and we should all help achieve this and not stand in each

others way.

The time when we will no longer be made to choose between our peoples

security and the future of our children is upon us now.

Once we implement these public-private partnerships, we will be able to

fund public service in accordance with our platform.

This will enable us to fund our plans for education.

We will be able to expand our basic education cycle from seven years to

the global standard of twelve years.

We can build more classrooms, and we will fund service contracting under

the Government Assistance to Students and Teachers in Private EducationProgram (GASTPE).

Conditional cash transfers that aim to lessen the burden of education on

parents will also be funded if this partnership becomes a reality.

Our plans for improving PhilHealth can now be within reach.

First, we will identify the correct number of Filipinos who sorely need

PhilHealth coverage, as current data is conflicting on this matter. On one

hand, PhilHealth says that eighty-seven percent (87%) of Filipinos are

covered, then lowers the number to only fifty-three percent (53%). On the

other hand, the National Statistics Office says that only thirty-eight percent

(38%) of Filipinos are covered by Philhealth.


24/28

Even as we speak, Secretary Dinky Soliman and the Department of Social

Welfare and Development are moving to implement the National

Household Targeting System that will identify the families that most

urgently need assistance. An estimated 9 billion pesos is needed in order

to provide coverage for five million poor Filipinos.

Our country is beginning to see better days ahead. The private sector, the

League of Provinces headed by Governor Alfonso Umali, together with

Governors L-Ray Villafuerte and Icot Petilla, are now ready to do their

share when it comes to shouldering the financial burden. I know that the

League of Cities under the leadership of Mayor Oscar Rodriguez will not be

far behind.

If the local governments share in our goals, I know that I can surely counton Congress, the institution where I began public service, to push for our

agenda for change.

Our Cabinet has already showed it skill by identifying not just problems but

also proposing solutions in a matter of three weeks.

In the aftermath of Typhoon Basyang, we were told by those in the power

sector that we would be without electricity for four days. The quick action of

Secretary Rene Almendras and the Department of Energy resulted in therestoration of power to almost all those affected within twenty-four hours.

The so-called water shortage in Metro Manila was quickly attended to by

Secretary Rogelio Singson and the Department of Public Works and

Highways. Secretary Singson did it without prodding, which alleviated the

suffering of those affected.

We also witnessed the competence and initiative of those we appointed to

be part of our Cabinet. It is but just that they not be forced to go through the

eye of a needle to be confirmed by the Commission on Appointments.

Should this happen, competent Filipinos will be encouraged to help our

country by becoming public servants.

In the soonest possible time, we will convene the Legislative Executive

Development Advisory Council (LEDAC) to discuss the important bills that


25/28

need to be addressed. Rest assured that I will keep an open mind and treat

you honorably.

We will push for the Fiscal Responsibility Bill, which will limit spending

bills only for appropriations that have identified a source of funding. Weneed 104.1 billion pesos to fund those laws already passed but whose

implementation remains pending because of lack of funds.

We will re-evaluate fiscal incentives given in the past. Now that we are

tightening our purse strings, we need to identify those incentives that will

remain and those that need to be done away with.

We will not allow another NBN-ZTE scandal to happen again. Whether

from local or foreign sources, all proposed contracts must undergo the

scrutiny of correct procedures. I now ask for your help with amending our

Procurement Law.

According to our Constitution, it is the governments duty to ensure that the

market is fair for all. No monopolies, no cartels that kill competition. We

need an Anti-Trust Law that will give life to these principles, to afford

Small- and Medium-Scale Enterprises the opportunity to participate in the

growth of our economy.

Let us pass into law the National Land Use Bill.

It was in 1935, during the Commonwealth, that the National Defense Act

was passed. There is a need to amend for a new law that is more

responsive to the current needs of national security.

I appeal to our legislators to pass the Whistleblowers Bill to eradicate the

prevalent culture of fear and silence that has hounded our system.

We will strengthen the Witness Protection Program. We must rememberthat from 2009 to 2010 alone, cases which involved the participation of

witnesses under the program resulted in a ninety-five percent conviction.

There is a need to review our laws. I call on our lawmakers to begin a re-

codification of our laws to ensure harmony in legislation and eliminate

contradictions.


26/28

These laws serve as the basis of order in our land, but the foundation of all

rests on the principle that we cannot grow without peace and order.

We face two obstacles on our road to peace: the situation in Mindanao and

the continued revolt of the CPP-NPA-NDF.

Our view has not changed when it comes to the situation in Mindanao. We

will only achieve lasting peace if all stakeholders engage in an honest

dialogue: may they be Moro, Lumad, or Christian. We have asked Dean

Marvic Leonen to head our efforts to talk to the MILF.

We will learn from the mistakes of the past administration, that suddenly

announced an agreement reached without consultations from all

concerned. We are not blind to the fact that it was done with political

motivation, and that the interest behind it was not that of the people.

We recognize the efforts of the MILF to discipline those within its ranks. We

are hopeful that the negotiations will begin after Ramadan.

To the CPP-NPA-NDF: are you prepared to put forth concrete solutions

rather than pure criticism and finger-pointing?

If it is peace you truly desire, then we are ready for an immediate cease-

fire. Let us go back to the table and begin talking again.

It is difficult to begin discussions in earnest if the smell of gun powder still

hangs in the air. I call on everyone concerned not to waste a good

opportunity to rally behind our common aspiration for peace.

Our foundation for growth is peace. We will continue to be shackled by

poverty if the crossfire persists.

We must understand that now is a time for sacrifice. It is this sacrifice that

will pave the way for a better future. With our freedom comes ourresponsibility to do good unto our fellows and to our country.

To our friends in media, especially those in radio and print, to the block-

timers and those in our community newspapers, I trust that you will take up

the cudgels to police your own ranks.


27/28

May you give new meaning to the principles of your vocation: to provide

clarity to pressing issues; to be fair and truthful in your reporting, and to

raise the level of public discourse.

It is every Filipinos duty to closely watch the leaders that you have elected.I encourage everyone to take a step towards participation rather than fault-

finding. The former takes part in finding a solution; from the latter, never-

ending complaints.

We have always known that the key to growth is putting the interest of

others beyond ones own. One thing is clear: how do we move forward if

we keep putting others down?

How will those without education secure quality jobs? How will the

unemployed become consumers? How will they save money for their future

needs?

If we change all this, if we prioritize enabling others, we will open a world of

opportunities not just for ourselves but for those who direly need it.

We have already begun the process of change, and we are now able to

dream of better things for our country. Let us not forget that there are those

who wish us to fail, so that they will once again reclaim power to do as they

please at the expense of our people.

My firm belief is that our fate is in the hands of God and our people. While

we focus on uplifting the lives of our fellow men, I have an unshakeable

faith that Almighty God will give us His blessings and support. If we remain

firm in our belief that God is on our side, is there anything impossible for us

to achieve?

The mandate we received last May 10 is testament to the fact that the

Filipino continues to hope for true change. The situation is not what it wasbefore; we can all dream again. Let us all become one in achieving a

fulfilment of our hopes and aspirations for our country.

Maraming Salamat Po!


28/28

***

2010 sona president benigno s. aquino iii

Documents