PGMA's Speech during the 15th National Convention of the Vice Mayor's League of the Philippines (as delivered by Press Secretary Bunye)

Century Park Sheraton Hotel  (16 March 2005)
I regret not being at your convention to personally thank you for your full support to my administration.

As the second highest elected leader in your respective municipalities or cities, your voice bears great moral weight among your constituents.

It is in this context that I am pleased with your chosen theme, "Converging Towards a Common Agenda for National Development: The 10-Point Legacy -- A Challenge to the Local Legislature."

Convergence of goals and actions would enable us to cross the threshold of poverty and enter an era of economic renaissance.

As presiding officers of your local councils, you must see to it that our national ten-point legacy agenda is mirrored in the ordinances; budget and resolutions that you help create and approve.

We need local initiatives that will stimulate economic activity in the countryside in partnership with national agencies and departments tasked with implementing our anti-poverty agenda.

The challenge before us is on how we can create an "working synergy" between the national government and local legislative councils to grow the economy and make a big dent on poverty. Your theme is excellent because it is right - our convergence will hasten national development.

Convergence requires constructive interaction and cooperation that are mutually beneficial to both sides.
Through this symbiotic relationship, we in the national government will be given the opportunity to respond to your needs and support your development programs.

I have expressed full support for your advocacy of genuine autonomy for local government units and the full implementation of the Local Government Code of 1991.

In my recent speech before the Eastern Visayas Chapter of your organization, I said that we shall derive more gains if full devolution is achieved under the Local Government Code in fulfillment of our political and economic goals. I also said that the 2005 Internal Revenue Allotment (IRA) is proposed to be an automatic appropriation.

We continue to innovate so that your needs can be immediately addressed. Projects directly assisting the LGUs will be transferred to the Municipal Finance Corporation, except for strategic infrastructure, agrarian and social development programs which shall be administered by their respective implementing agencies.

My 10-point pro-poor agenda is the blueprint for solving the ills plaguing the nation. I hope you are familiar with this agenda that goes by the acronym BEAT THE ODDS.

For the next five and a half years, this shall be our main agenda and battle cry:

B - balanced budget; E - education for all; A-automated elections; T-transportation and digital infrastructure.

For THE. T-terminate hostilities with the MILF and NPA; H-heal the wounds of EDSAs I, II and III; E-electricity and water for all.

And finally, ODDS. O - opportunities for livelihood and ten million jobs; D-decongestion of Metro Manila; and DS - develop Subic and Clark.

BEAT THE ODDS is a supreme test of our political will as we commit ourselves to a difficult journey towards economic freedom.

The 2005 budget will jumpstart the enactment of these goals. You will be the vanguard in implementation; our national agencies and local governments must converge to turn these goals into positive realities.

My drive for fiscal reforms is the gateway to more prosperous times.

We need to raise new revenues and generate more savings in order to finance our growth. For too long, we relied on borrowings to prop up our economy and mobilize government resources and services.

To fight poverty, we must make government viable and solvent.

Bilang mga bise-alkalde, batid ninyo ang kahalagahan ng badyet sa pamamalakad ng inyong munisipyo o lungsod. Kung kinakapos kayo sa panggastos, marami ang hindi makaka-suweldo, may mga proyektong hindi matutuloy at mga pangako na hindi nagkaka-totoo.

Ganyan din ang kalagayan ng ating pamahalaan. Walang pinagkaiba yan sa isang magulang. Kung ang magulang ay walang pambili ng bigas, paano pa makakaasa ang kanilang anak na madaragdagan ang kanyang perang pambaon sa araw-araw? Sa ilalim ng aking administrasyon, sama-sama nating hinuhubog ang kinabukasan ng ating mga anak sa pamamagitan ng malawakang pagbabago at reporma.

Ang maigting na kampanya laban sa katiwalian at kriminalidad ay kinakailangan din upang manumbalik ang pagtitiwala sa atin ng sambayanan at pati na mga dayuhang turista at mangangalakal.

Samantala, walang humpay ang pakikipaglaban natin sa mga terorista na gumagamit ng karahasan upang basagin ang katahimikan ng ating lipunan.

Korapsyon, kriminalidad, terorismo at kahirapan - ito ang humahadlang sa ating pag-unlad.

Corruption is an evil that has been sapping the nation's fiscal strength. For decades, we failed to correlate corruption with poverty. Under my administration, the fight against poverty requires no less than an all out war against corruption.

I have instituted reforms in the government procurement system and ordered an intensified lifestyle check on public officials suspected of living beyond their normal means. By the way, lifestyle checks also apply to our local executives.

The problem calls not just for systemic reforms in the handling of government funds. It calls for a re-education of our people on discipline, moral values and civic pride.

Be on guard against terrorists and criminals. Their existence impedes our growth especially in the countryside.

Let us confront terror with the might of our military and police forces. As vice-mayors, I ask you to exercise extraordinary vigilance to ensure that your communities are not infiltrated by terrorists and criminals that cause our people harm.

With our reform agenda now firmly in place, the Philippines is poised for an economic turnaround. The business sector is bullish about our future. Tourism and OFW remittances are up, our crime rate is on the decline.

There is more good news.

The stock market is rising and the peso continues to gain strength. Exports are up, Honda is expanding in Batangas and Timex in Cebu. We are opening the new airport terminal this year and mining ventures are being lined up for implementation.

Tell our people that we are doing our best to diminish the impact of rising prices by creating new high wage jobs, attract foreign investment and bring overall economic stability to the nation.

We are also taking action to protect consumer rights-- expanding spot checks against overpricing, and undertaking strict conservation measures.

I ask you: be the voice of optimism and hope. Believe in our reforms and join me in this historic journey to economic prosperity.

And when you return to your respective towns and cities, tell the people that you received a personal invitation from the President of the Philippines to help her out in this period of difficult yet necessary reforms.

Tell them what "convergence" means. Better yet, show them what it means as we work as one family to finally and decisively, beat the odds.

Thank you and more power.

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