 |
||
| 13 FEBRUARY 2008 | . | |
|
|
||
| 13 FEBRUARY 2008 | . | |
|
|
|
Speech of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo
During the 2nd General Assembly of the
League of Provinces Villa Del Ray, Pili, Camarines Sur February 13, 2008 |
|
• Thank you for your support. Thank you for working together with me toward
a first world Philippines in 20 years. • Together we are making real progress in alleviating poverty. The rate of poverty is down, employment is up. Our education and healthcare services to the poor are vastly improved. We have a long way to go, but only through a strong economy can we improve the plight of the poor together. To that end, together we have turned the corner on our economy. This allows us to invest together in job creation, better healthcare and more educational opportunities. These are the keys to lifting up the poor. • Our economy has reached a new level of stability with some of the strongest macroeconomic fundamentals in three decades. Together we have aimed high. We have met the challenge. Seven years ago, no one thought we could get more revenues, cut down on tax cheats, strengthen the peso and move the stock market. No one thought we could bring our budget close to balance, lower our national debt and raise employment. But we have. • The 2007 national government deficit was P9.4 billion, versus the deficit target ceiling of P63 billion. Total revenues amounted to P1.13 trillion, P15.9 billion more than target. Interest payments declined 14 percent and posted P36.5 billion in savings. We could have had a surplus or balanced budget if we wanted but we decided to take the opportunity of our good fiscal position to provide for higher spending especially for infrastructure to sustain a high growth in 2008. Funds were disbursed to government owned and controlled corporations and government financial institutions for pump priming activities and to allow additional contributions from them in 2008 including dividends. • I have always supported the LGUs' right to receive your IRA (Internal Revenue Allotment) in full. When I became President I waived the President's prerogative to retain part of the IRA as the Local Government Social Equalization Fund. We have provided automatice appropriation for your IRA. We have even paid debts of previous administrations. I have asked Nonoy Andaya to study how to securitize the IRA shortfalls from the years when we had re-enacted budgets. • But while the fiscal numbers are better than expected, we need to work harder and more effectively in improving the tax effort together. I ask our governors to join the BIR’s LGU Assurance Program which will result in better collections of both national and local taxes, as illustrated by the experience of Calbayog City. • We have secured a new loan from the Asian Development Bank in the yen equivalent to $300 million for Local Government Financing and Budget Reform. • We will support the DOF’s efforts to help the LGUs improve your capacities to plan and budget, as well as deliver better services for the general welfare of your constituent communities. The program will support reforms in (i) intergovernmental fiscal relations; (ii) fiscal management, planning and public expenditure at the LGU level; (iii) LGU performance measurement and service; (iv) credit financing; (v) local-own source revenue. • We have ordered a surge in infrastructure spending as a firewall against the economic slowdown in the United States and as a springboard for further growth. • The global economic situation is clearly a key issue for us. The more interconnected the world becomes, the more we need to manage the ups and downs of other nations’ economic bubbles. This is certainly true with any further volatility in the U.S. economy. The good news for the Philippines is that we have matured and diversified our economy so much the last few years that we are confident our economic turnaround is permanent and our economy resilient to major economic disruptions. • We can afford to and should spend more for infrastructure – hopefully, P200 billion between the national government, the GOCCs, and you, the local governments. • Investing in vital infrastructure includes building up our environment as a reflection of our commitment to our quality of life. People need to breathe clean air and swim in clean water while we build manufacturing and bridges. • These programs and activities mirror how you have operationalized your theme - "Enhancing National and Local Government Partnerships in Improving Environmental Governance and Natural Resources Stewardship.” • From rising tides, to changing weather to deforestation and pollution of air, sea and land, the challenges of climate change are great. As a nation made up of 7,000 islands, rising seas due to global warming takes on a whole new meaning. Florida may lose some coastline, we lose a nation. Our response to this grave challenge may sound humorous, but our intent is deadly serious: we must work together to solve this problem. If we do, it will be one of the great achievements of our partnership. • We must assume the mantle of leadership and work to address the challenge of climate change. Each and every person bears some measure of responsibility for what we have done today and throughout history to diminish our global environment. Our nation has been more responsible than others. But all that apportionment of blame does nothing against a rising tide of global warming that will swamp our nation if we do not act with decisiveness and solidarity. • We have begun the Green Philippines plan, a blueprint for mapping our environment and economic policies that will allow for sustainable development that doesn’t fall on the backs of the poor or erode our environment. There is a cost to make the Green Philippines come to life. But the cost is greater without the investment people and environment. • We aim to make our economic reforms permanent so that our nation is on a sustained path of economic growth and stability. We have turned the economy around and for the first time in a generation, we are investing hundreds of billions of pesos in human and physical infrastructure. Roads, bridges and airports as well as new schoolbuildings and scholarships are the central building blocks that are necessary for the long term prospects of our citizens. • Moody’s upgraded the Philippines to positive last month for very good reasons. We have the fastest growth in a generation – 7.3% for 2007. And we have a surge in foreign reserves at a time our budget is almost in balance. • An aggressive foreign policy is essential to the lifeblood of the Philippines. Nowhere is it more important than protecting and advancing the interests of our overseas workers. That is why we include a governors’ representative in my trips abroad. • I want to spend more time with your more often. Let us stay united and continue to work together for a Philippines that will be ready to be in the First World in 20 years. |
|
|
| Palace shrugs off as recycled political propaganda call for President to resign |
|
Here we go again! This was the reaction today of Malacanang to the call of opposition leaders and critics of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo for her resignation . In his weekly press conference this afternoon at the New Executive Building (NEB) in the Malacanang complex, Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita shrugged off the demand that the President step down as a recycled political propaganda that is being recycled yet again in the wake of the testimony of Rodolfo Lozada before the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee on the National Broadband Network-ZTE controversy. “Sa palagay ko political propaganda iyan na inuulit na lamang nila. At pinagsasamantalahan nila ang mga isiniwalat ni Lozada na inaakala nila na makakapag-iba ng environment ngayon. So there’s nothing new,” Ermita said. He said the President will continue to perform her duties as elected President, and nothing can stop her from running the affairs of government as mandated by the Constitution. Ermita also stressed that the entire Cabinet stands behind the President and they will not allow anybody to force her to step down because she’s not guilty of any wrongdoing. “We stand by our President, who is our legitimate President,” Ermita said, as he cautioned the people not to believe stories planted by government critics designed to undermine unity in the President’s official family. The President is doing her job, and there are conditions and procedures under the Constitution governing changes in the country’s leadership, he added. Ermita also assured the people that “everything is under control and the situation is normal.” The Cabinet, he said, is moving as one to help the President succeed in her mandate to improve the economy and the lives of the majority of the Filipino people, especially the poor. |
|
|
| PGMA projects Pili to the world as Asia’s water sports destination |
|
PILI, Camarines Sur—President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo took a respite from
her busy schedule here today by visiting the water skiing hub of the
province, said to be the only one of its kind in the whole country. The President gamely posed for souvenir photos with some 100 foreign guests and tourists, mostly from Europe, billeted at the Camarines Sur Watersports Complex (CSWC) at Cadlan, this town. "Good morning! Welcome! I am glad that you came to the Philippines. I hope you enjoy your skiing and stay here," the President told them. Camarines Sur Gov. Luis Raymund Villafuerte Jr. informed the President that most of the European tourists are Austrians, Hungarians and Germans. The President's visit here also aimed to project Camarines Sur province as the next tourist hub in Asia. The CSWC is a six-hectare complex with a six-point cable ski system where one can learn to wakeboard, wake skate, water ski or knee board. In July 2008, the CWC shall host the World Wakeboarding Championship. As the first local government unit (LGU)-operated world-class sports facility in the Philippines and in Asia, the complex boosted the tourism industry that created employment opportunities and generated $3 billion plus revenue in 2007. The President was joined in her visit by Education Secretary Jesli Lapus and Budget Secretary Rolando Andaya Jr. |
|
|
| PGMA: Balanced budget possible, but . . . |
|
President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo said today that her administration could
have notched a balanced budget, possibly even a budget surplus, last year. But she said “we decided to take the opportunity of our good fiscal position to provide for a higher spending especially for infrastructure to sustain a high growth in 2008” to cushion the impact of the expected slowdown of the global economy this year. The national government deficit last year was P9.4 billion, the lowest yearly deficit for the country since 1986 when recording of the country’s annual fiscal position began. The 2007 deficit of P9.4 billon was far below the government’s deficit target ceiling for the year of P63 billion. “We could have had a surplus or a balanced budget if we wanted but we decided to take the opportunity of our good fiscal position to provide for higher spending especially for infrastructure to sustain a high growth in 2008,” the President said in her message during the 2nd GeneraL Assembly of the League of Provinces held this morning at Villa del Ray in Pili, Camarines Sur. She pointed out that seven years ago, no one thought a balanced budget was attainable, or cut down on revenue cheats, strengthen the peso and move the stock market. “No one thought we could bring our budget close to balance, lower our national debt and raise employment. But we have,” she said. The deficit accounted for 0.1 percent of the country's gross domestic product compared to the government’s target ceiling of 0 0.9 percent of GDP or P63 billion. The President added that the P9.4 billion budget deficit posted last year was the lowest in 10 years and equivalent to just 15 percent of the programmed deficit for the year. “Funds were disbursed to government owned-and-controlled corporations and government financial institutions for pump-priming activities and to allow additional contributions from them in 2008, including dividends,” she said. The President had earlier said that for the Philippine economy to ride out the adverse effects of the weakening US economy in developing economies, the government’s continuing priority is to generate the resources necessary to support higher levels of investments in infrastructure and essential social services. The Arroyo administration aims to balance the budget in 2008, two years
before the President’s term expires. |
|
|
| Malacanang stops DOJ’s ZTE probe to give way to Ombudsman |
|
Malacanang said today it will stop the Department of Justice (DOJ) from
pursuing its investigation of the cancelled national broadband network (NBN)-ZTE
project since the Office of the Ombudsman is already conducting a probe of
the matter. Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita said during his regular Wednesday press conference at the New Executive Building (NEB) in Malacañang that as early as last week, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo directed the Department of Justice (DOJ) to conduct an investigation into the cancelled NBN-ZTE deal to pinpoint those who may be held liable for violation of procurement and anti-graft laws. But he pointed out that since the Ombudsman is an independent body, “the DOJ should not pursue” its investigation of the case and instead “ipaubaya na” (give way) to the Ombudsman. Before the President’s directive to the DOJ, Press Secretary and Presidential Spokesman Ignacio R. Bunye said that “if there is any clear evidence of wrongdoing, the appropriate forum would be the courts, particularly the Sandiganbayan or the Ombudsman.” Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez was reported to have created a panel to investigate several cases filed with her office concerning the NBN-ZTE deal that was scrapped by the President last year. Gutierrez was quoted to have said that the panel she created will begin holding public hearings on the ZTE contract next week. |
|
|
| Nothing new in moral revolution battle cry of the opposition—Palace |
|
Malacañang said today the call for a moral revolution is quite a worn out
cliche that has to be retired as President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has
instituted morally upright reforms since the start of her administration. In his weekly media briefing in Malacañang this afternoon, Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita said that the President, since the start of her administration, has directed the implementation of reforms that revolutionized and strengthened transparency and accountability in governance. “This moral revolution is nothing new,” Ermita said. “Ginagawa lang battle cry nang iba as though the President is not doing about it when all along since Day One of her administration she has been doing this.” Ermita said the President has pushed for the creation of the transparency group that monitors public biddings; the conduct of automated counting and anti-dynasty bill as part of several political reforms, and the Executive branch has been strongly supporting the independent function of the Office of the Ombudsman and the Commission on Human Rights (CHR). Ermita said it has been the duty of every leader to pursue a program on moral revolution to provide a better future for the people. “It can come out in any other term, any other form, but definitely the stability of our country, the welfare of our people, and the moral stability of our country is paramount in the mind of every leader, every President, and that includes definitely President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo,” Ermita said. |
|
|
| Provincial governors vow full support for PGMA amid renewed destab moves |
|
PILI, Camarines Sur - The League of Provinces/Governors of the Philippines
expressed today their full support for President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo
amid renewed moves to destabilize the government. In a Manifesto of Support for the Chief Executive, the provincial chief executives also called for an end to the agitations by her detractors to unseat the President through unconstitutional means and to stop political bickerings for the sake of the country. The manifesto was issued at the end of the 2nd General Assembly of the League of Provinces of the Philippines (LPP) held at the Villa Del Rey Convention Center in Cadlan, Pili, Camarines Sur. LPP President and Misamis Occidental Governor Loreto Leo Ocampos said the manifesto expressed the governors’ unwavering and wholehearted support to the Arroyo administration. Camarines Sur Governor and LPP national chairman Luis Raymund Villafuerte Jr. echoed the statement of Ocampos’ expressing in no uncertain terms their full support to the President and her administration. "We are happy to be working with you and we are humbled to see a hardworking President who come here to be with us. Again, we would like to express in no uncertain terms that you have our collective commitment. Our unilateral support and our unquestionable loyalty," Villafuerte said in his welcome remarks. Villafuerte also thanked the President for her consistent, unrelenting determination to put the Philippines in the tourism and investment map of the world. “You are pushing the image of our region so that we maybe at par with the world's best,” Villafuerte told the President. The President had lunch with the about 50 provincial governors at the Villa del Rey. Thanking them for their support, the President said that together, the national and local governments are “making real progress in alleviating poverty.” “The rate of poverty is down, employment is up. Our education and healthcare services to the poor are vastly improved. We have a long way to go, but only through a strong economy can we improve the plight of the poor together,” she said. The President added that “we have turned the corner on our economy. This allows us to invest together in job creation, better healthcare and more educational opportunities. These are the keys in lifting up the poor.” The League of Provinces of the Philippines (LPP), which has 80 members, aims to ventilate, articulate and crystallize issues affecting provincial and metropolitan government administration. It likewise serves to secure, through proper and legal means, solutions to problems confronting the localities. |
|
|
| Fast and safe alternate route to Maharlika Highway eyed |
|
CABUSAO, Camarines Sur--President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo lowered today the
ceremonial time capsule signaling the start of the P61- million
Sipocot-Cabusao road improvement project in this province. The President during the brief groundbreaking rites lowered the capsule containing the road project master plan with several coins as good luck. She also poured the coconut oil on the capsule hole with the help of Camarines Sur Rep. Dato Arroyo, Gov. Luis Raymund Villafuerte Jr., Cabusao Mayor Norberto Genova, Pandan Barangay Chair Purisima Ubaldo and Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Regional Director Orlando Roces. "This is better instead of the traditional pouring of champagne wine,” the President said. DPWH Regional Director Roces promised the President that this road project would be completed within the target period of construction and informed her that the people of Cabusao were very happy as they expressed their gratitude to her for the realization of their dream road. The Sipocot-Cabusao road project has a total length of 16.927 kilometers with an existing concrete road of 11.257 kms; existing asphalt road of 1.765 kms. and gravel road of 3.905 kms. The remaining part of the Sipocot-Cabusao road that needs improvement has a length of 3.905 kms. The road project implementors are the DPWH and the Camarines Sur I District Engineering Office. The road project shall serve as an alternate route in case of traffic impairment along the Maharlika Highway. The project will also provide a road that is safe for road users, reduce travel time and vehicle maintenance cost and spur economic development in the surrounding areas, thereby promoting the agriculture and fishing industry. |
|
|
| Revival of Charter Change campaign coincidence, not diversionary tactic – Ermita |
|
Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita denied today speculations that the
campaign to amend the Constitution was revived to draw attention away from
the investigation being undertaken by the Senate on the controversial
National Broadband Network (NBN) project. In his weekly press conference at the New Executive Building in Malacañang this afternoon, Ermita described the timing of the two issues as coincidental that was never meant as a “diversionary tactic.” “Nagkataon lamang na tuwi-tuwinang merong lalabas na bagay tungkol sa Charter Change ay merong ganitong mga hearing na nangyayari kaya akala ng iba, it is intended to divert their attention,” Ermita said. He pointed out that the campaign was undertaken by local government executives and not under the instruction of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. “President Arroyo has not yet mentioned her position or spoken on the issue of Charter Change and we are not encouraging any (further) talk about this upang sa ganon maiwasan natin ang ina-akala ng iba na ito ay sinasadya para ma-divert ang atensyon nila,” Ermita said. |
|
|
| Bicol school buildings construction under way as part of PGMA’s commitment in her SONA |
|
CABUSAO, Camarines Sur - President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo inaugurated here
today two newly-built government school buildings and broke the ground for
the construction of another school house. The two school buildings the President inaugurated are intended for the grade school pupils of the Castillo Elementary School here. The first of the two-classroom school houses was built by the Department of Education (DepEd) and was funded by the Bicol Calamity Assistance and Rehabilitation Efforts (CARE) Fund with P878,000. The second, a one-storey, two-classroom school building adjacent to the two-classroom UNICEF school building, was funded under Phase 1 of the UNICEF Netherlands School Building program. It was built at cost of P1.193 million. The two school buildings will replace the school houses destroyed by typhoons and floods and will sustain the achievement level of pupils and the performance indicators in terms of enrollment, promotion, retention and graduation rates. The President then broke the ground and lowered a capsule containing coins and school building plan for the construction of another two-storey, four-classroom school building also located inside the premises of the school. The proposed building will replace the still existing dilapidated school house that has been already condemned and up for demolition. With a P4 million budget, the proposed two-storey school building is funded by the Department of Education and will start its construction in March 2008. It is a joint project of Camarines Sur Rep. Dato Arroyo, Camarines Sur Gov. Luis Raymund Villafuerte Jr. and Cabusao Mayor Norberto Genova. Over a merienda at the school compound, the President exchanged pleasantries and had photo opportunities with the school teachers led by school principal Evelyn Salcedo. Teachers of the Castillo Elementary School thanked the President for their brand new school building and requested her to provide them with computer and television sets. "Madam President, we are very happy for this Valentine's gift. Sana po matugunan ninyo ang aming kahilingan," the teachers told the President. |
|
|
