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Related entry: SONA 2007: Summary

I was getting tons of emails from students all over the Philippines! And look what they have done to my ratings! Guys! You’re wrong! I am not a graduate of an Ivy League school in the United States! Sobra kayo manipsip! But then again, my alma mater, Temple University and George Washington University are both excellent schools, kaya tumigil na kayo dahil I am just one humble First Honorable Never Mentioned. But whatever is my dishonored honor, I am giving in to all your request. Iisa lang ang hinihingi ko, leave me a comment, I don’t care, loving comment, hate comment, violent comment - whatevah, para naman hindi ako magmukhang lukaret dito na kinakausap ko sarili ko, OR ELSE, eye em so gonna write your school at sasabihin kong kinopya ninyo ang utak ko! Hmmpptt!

Essentially, when I prepare a book summary or in this case a Sona 2007 Summary, the first thing that you need to do, is summarized the Sona 2007 raw. I mean, cut out the redundancies and any other wordings that you don’t need. It’s exactly what I have done here.

Next, I try to create some sort of categories as I go along and hoping I to find some sense of organization. This way, if the speech is organized, then it would be easy for you to write your summary. Well, guess what I found out! The speech is ridiculously dis-organized! Now, I hope Glo won’t be upset because my comment is purely on the speech. Content-wise, I don’t care if they’re true or not. It’s up to the Filipino people to judge the content.

Anyway, I think I know the reason, whoever wrote this speech - he or she is just way too excited to flood the speech with all sorts of achievements. The only organizational sense that I saw was the achievements by super-regions. Now, the vision - they’re all over the place. You’ll see it in the 1st paragraph, in the middle with all the achievements and then in the end. What’s interesting at the end was the threat.

And it’s interesting you people asked me to do this, why? I found out that there’s not much government programs in Bicol!!! Hello!!! What happened?! Are we not part of the Philippines?

The last few paragraphs are interesting about her claim that “all that will remain for my successor is to gather the harvest. He or she will have an easier time of it than I did”. Wow, no offense intended to Glo, but this statement is very, very selfish! It’s almost equivalent to saying that former Presidents Ramos and Aquino have not done a single thing for the good of the country! And to claim that whatever progress in the future still belongs to her I believe is too much! Whoever succeeds her have the continuity leadership that is needed for the program to work and for whatever program that she started she would need the teamwork of whoever succeeds her. Therefore, if the program that she initially started indeed gets to be successful in the future, you have to give credit to the successor who made it possible. You cannot take that credit away from whoever succeeds you Glo, unless the successor of course is a total moron.

The other thing I noticed was that each and every single achievement mentioned was because it was requested by A SOMEBODY, let me guess, those are her allies? I’m curious what happened to those Congressmen and Senators who fell out of grace, does that mean the constituency that they serve also fell out of grace and therefore no wishes granted?

The ONE biggest MISSING ITEM ON THE SPEECH is the fact that we, the Overseas Filipino Workers that pumped almost $15 billions to the country that has spawned entrepreneurship and ignited a lot of consumption, a big factor in the GDP (please refer to my GDP explanation) is missing. We were barely mentioned in passing under IT/BPO. That’s it. We we basically reduced to nothing, whereas, during the election, everybody were courting us. Now, how could we be missed when it is a given that our remittances are the very reason why we were not affected by the Asian Financial Crisis? It’s a given fact that our remittances is helping the economy. Big time! Why?! Why Glo? Why?

Here’s another insight… would we be able to assess one’s personality based on the organization of the speech itself? My point is, with the focus on the infrastructure requests by all of her allies, where’s the focus on the need of us Pinoys? It’s just a thought. It’s up to you to think about.

Anyway, back to the speech, if I will re-organize this speech, this is how I will organize this one.

1. Introduction

2. Vision

3. Performance

   1. Past Year

   2. Current Year

   3. Forecast

4. Current Projects (Subdivided into Super Regions if that’s what she wanted)

   1. Health

   2. Education

   3. Economy

   4. Transportation

   5. Foreign relations

   6. Etc.

5. Closing Statement (And I will do away with the threat!)

In any case, I’m not the speech writer, you have to judge this speech for what she is trying to tell. Essentially, she’s telling that she has delivered and she’s narrating all the deliverables. If you judge this speech by that, then indeed, the speech is good for she has delivered.

Now, in order for you to create your own summary, do what I am telling you to do. First, create your own summary. You can use the summary I listed above, then sort and resort this one below.

Remember - this is the 1st run and this is NOT, NOT the summary. Sorry kids, but I guess you’re gonna have to do it yourselves. At least, I provided your some outline. Ok? Now, I did my part - you do yours. After that, aba kelangan ipasa nyo kung ano man ang ipapasa nyo at pagka lumagpak kayo? Weezzz, wag nyo kong sisihin! Ok?!

Introduction.

Why are we gathered here?
To inaugurate the new Congress after having finished the elections.

What are you Congressmen/women and Senators to do?

• maglingkod nang walang damot

• mamuno nang walang pangamba

• govern with wisdom, compassion, vision and patriotism.

What’s my vision:

• Join 1st world in 20 years

 (Read this article: RP needs to grow at China’s pace to become first-world in 20 yrs)

The Philippines will need to grow at the same pace as China’s economy in order to achieve first world status in 20 years, as envisioned by President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, the Asian Development Bank said Tuesday. “The Philippines should emulate China by posting 9.5 percent growth continuously for 25 years. Maybe then, it would become a first world country,” ADB chief economist Ifzal Ali said. The Philippine government has a gross domestic product growth target of between 6.1 percent and 6.7 percent for 2007, and between 6.1 percent and 6.8 percent for 2008. (China’s growth is double digit!)

(Read this article: ADB: Philippines may take 23 years to equal Thailand)

The Philippines ranks in the middle of a list of Asian countries surveyed by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) in terms of cost of living, being neither expensive nor cheap, a report released on Tuesday revealed. The study also revealed that in terms of per capita gross domestic product (GDP) it would take the Philippines about 77 years to catch up with Brunei Darussalam, which leads Asia in per capita GDP, at the present Philippine growth rate of 3.7 percent.  At this rate, it would also take the Philippines 23 years to match the per capita GDP level presently exhibited by Thailand, said ABD chief economist Ifzal Ali.

What’s my proof?

• Tax reforms of the last Congress paved the way

• Turned around our macroeconomic condition through fiscal discipline, toward a balanced budget.
   Binabayaran ang utang
   Pababa ang interes
   Paakyat ang pondo

In general, what have I done? Invested hundreds of billions in human and physical infrastructure.

• First, investments in physical, intellectual, legal and security infrastructure to increase business confidence. Result? Isang milyong trabaho taon-taon.

• Second, investments in a stronger and wider social safety net - murang gamot, abot-kayang pabahay, eskwelang primera klase, mga gurong mas magaling at mas malaki ang kita, mga librong de-kalidad, more scholarships for gifted students, and language instruction to maintain our lead in English proficiency. Intended result? Dunong at kalusugan ang susi sa kasaganaan.

 (Read this article: Health content in schoolbooks flunks committee review)

Filipino high school and elementary students are not getting the proper health education they need before they graduate, a former health secretary told reporters on Friday. Dr. Jaime Galvez-Tan said the inaccuracies about health published in high school and elementary books are so “overwhelming,” it is “condemnable.” Galvez-Tan is the head of a committee from the University of the Philippines (UP) tapped by the Department of Education (DepEd) to review high school and elementary books for its health content.  Galvez-Tan said that they reviewed all textbooks now being used by grade school and high school students in all their subjects in terms of its health content. He said, the books were reviewed in terms of accuracy, appropriateness, and if the contents are up-to-date.

(Read this article: 3 out of 10 Grade 1 pupils won’t finish elementary — Ibon )

For every 10 Grade 1 students enrolled in the current school year, three of them will not finish elementary and four will not graduate from high school, according to studies made by the independent think-tank IBON Foundation. “Worsening economic conditions in the country have denied millions of children the right to a decent education as shown by increasing dropout rates,” Sonny Africa, IBON research head, said in a statement furnished the Inquirer.

(Read this article: East Visayas lacks 1,500 classrooms)

With the increase in enrollment, Eastern Visayas would have a shortage of 1,095 classrooms in public secondary schools and 451 classrooms in public elementary schools, said Rebecca Ragrag, education regional information officer.

(Read this article: Lack of gov’t support for Philippines public education declining)

The 2006 budget of the Department of Education (DepEd), expressed in real terms (2000=100) has fallen by almost 6% from 2001 allocations. This means that, based on school year (SY) 2005-2006 enrolment figures, each public school student is allocated a share of only P5,082 of the DepEd budget, down 11% from P5,726 in 2001.

• Third, investments in bringing peace to Mindanao;

  • Crushing terrorism.

  • Paying tribute to the fearless fourteen who were savagely massacred at Tipo-Tipo..

  • Created a Philippine model for reconciliation built on inter-faith dialogue, expanded public works and more responsive social services.

Infrastructures: Unveiled the Super Regions:

• Mindanao

• Central Philippines

• North Luzon Agribusiness Quadrangle

• Luzon Urban Beltway

• Cyber Corridor Intended result? To spread development away from an inequitable concentration in Metro Manila. 

Mindanao

• Priority in agribusiness investments, DAR moves to Davao and 30% of its budget goes to Mindanao. Result? Latest survey in June shows the hunger rate has sharply gone down nationwide.

• To do: We must reform agrarian reform so it can transform beneficiaries into agribusinessmen and other agribusiness women.
  o Intended result? Dumai pa ang mga tampok na magsasaka.

• Hiling ni Nur Jaafar - Magtatayo tayo ng mariculture o palaisdaan in Sibuto

• P3 billion allocated para sa tatlong libong kilometro ng farm to market roads. Sanlibong kilometro sa Mindanao. Gawa na ang tatlong daan. Result? Cost savings.

  • Road and RORO network has cut the cost of bringing agribusiness products from Mindanao to Luzon.

  • A 10-wheeler used to pay P32 thousand from Dapitan to Batangas. Now it pays P11 thousand. Fresh fish that cost P20 thousand a ton to move, now travels at P14 thousand.

• Construction is criss-crossing Mindanao: for Cely Carreon; Glenda Ecleo; Sim Datumanong

  • Dapitan-Dakak to bring Cely Carreon’s paradise closer to civilization;

  • Sibuco-Siraway-Siocon-Baliguian; Dinagat Island Network, a baptismal gift for Glenda Ecleo’s new province;

  • the 66-kilometer Manay-Mati section of Davao-Surigao; and Maguindanao-Lebak, Sim Datumanong’s brainchild when he headed DPWH.

• Better airports, new bridges and ample energy for Mindanao’s rising economy.

  • Dipolog and Pagadian airports will be improved by year’s end.

  • Cotabato airport, eagerly awaited by Au Cerilles, Rolando Yebes, Digs Dilangalen, Ros Labadlabad and Victor Yu, and Mayors Evelyn Uy and Sammy Co.

  • Inaugurated the P1.7 billion, 900 meter bridge in Butuan, built on the initiative of Mayor Boy Daku Plaza, near the

  • P4 billion second-generation flood control project that we also built. The first was built by my father after the great Butuan flood of the 1960’s.

  • In Agusan del Norte, I hope Edel Amante will be happy with our plans to pilot micro agribusiness in Jabonga.

  • On July 8, Ozamis Airport opened, bankrolled partly by Leo Ocampos, Aldo Parojinog and Hermie Ramiro’s congressional fund. Now, that’s the kind of pork that has good cholesterol.

  • MOU was signed for the Pangil Bay Bridge that will connect Ozamis to Lanao del Norte and Iligan.

  • Urged by Bobby Dimaporo, I declared Mt. Inayawan Range a protected nature park.

  • On Mayor Lawrence Cruz’s recommendation, I instruct DPWH to build the Iligan Circumferential Road.

  • In 2001, we opened a solar plant in Cagayan de Oro. Still, Mindanao faced a 100-megawatt gap by 2009 out now a 210-megawatt clean coal plant in Phividec will fill that gap. We count on Oca Moreno and Tinex Jaraula to continue providing a good investment climate.

  • We thank Miriam Defensor-Santiago and Migz Zubiri for sponsoring the Biofuels Law in the last Congress. We now have 160 thousand hectares of jatropha nurseries in Bukidnon and 30,000 in General Santos. Jatropha is a 100% substitute for diesel, with only 5% of its emission.

  • Mindanao’s energy challenge lies in the protection of power lines since terrorists target transmission towers.
     Apply the Human Security Act. This act was first filed by Johnny Enrile in 1996, 3 years after the first World Trade Center bombing, 4 years before the Rizal Day bombing and 5 years before 9/11. He ably crafted the final Senate version with Senate President Manny Villar and Nene Pimentel.

Central Philippines:

• For Boracay, Kalibo Airport is now international with an instrument landing system as we said last year. Next is an P80 million terminal on request of Joben Miraflores.

• Aklan-Libertad-Pandan Road, waiting for Japan to approve the contractors, will connect Boracay to the nature park we declared in Northwest Panay Peninsula.

• Improving other Panay roads and building the road from the Iloilo Airport which we inaugurated in Santa Barbara to Iloilo and the Metro Radial Road that Mayor Jerry Treñas asked for when we inaugurated the airport, Art Defensor conceived the airport when he was governor, Governor Niel Tupaz midwifed its delivery when we inaugurated the airport, I said …\

• Iloilo connects to Guimaras via Jordan Wharf. We thank Congress for the P900 million oil spill calamity fund to save the environment of Guimaras.

• The other side of the island will connect to Bacolod soon because we started building the Sibunag RORO Port last May on recommendation of Governor, now Congressman, Rahman Nava.

• Bacolod-Silay Airport, near the nature park we declared in Northern Negros, is completed and just awaiting the access road requested by Monico Puentevella.

• Awarded the contract for upgrading the Dumaguete airport as I reported to George Arnaiz last week.

• Boracay investors are expanding in Palawan, whose Tubbataha Reefs we declared a nature park. After the Puerto Princesa-Roxas Road last year, we opened Taytay-El Nido in March. The P1 billion Taytay-Roxas section is ongoing.

• San Vicente airstrip and Busuanga Airport are under construction. And Mayor Hagedorn is reminding us to work on the Puerto Princesa terminal.

• Under construction are airport aprons of the surfing edens: Governor Ben Evardone’s pet project in Guiuan and Lalo Matugas’s home town in Siargao.

• A 100-megawatt energy gap looms in the Visayas in 2009. The Korea Electric plant in Cebu will plug in 200 megawatts only in 2010 so there’s a one year gap.

• Meantime three power barges will supply 100 megawatts and the Panay diesel power plant will increase its run from 70 megawatts to 100.

• In Central Cebu, we proclaimed a nature park. From Cebu, the top destination for foreign tourists, they can easily radiate to other destinations. Optimism is infectious, and opportunity irresistible. Progress follows progress. Someone, even government, just has to get it started.

• Going south, Cebu connects to Tubigon and on to Ubay, Jagna and Panglao through the Bohol Circumferential Road that we inaugurated last May 9. The local government has acquired 85 percent of the land for the international airport on Panglao Island, now a tourism destination of its own.

• Ubay links to Maasin RORO Port which was completed last October. Now I hope there will be more divers for Mian Mercado.

• Jagna RORO Port opened last May 9. It will connect to Loloy Romualdo’s Mambajao in November, and on to Guinsiliban, the gateway to Mindanao.

• Going north from Cebu City, we take the North Coastal Road to Daanbantayan which was recommended to us by Gwen Garcia. Heavy traffic will ease when the P1.2 billion Mandaue-Consolacion Bridge opens. This will be good not only for Malapascua tourism but also for Nitoy Durano’s industrial city of Danao.

• Daanbantayan, Benhur Salimbangon’s home port, connects to Naval, Maripipi, or Esperanza, which started construction last May. We aim to finish all three RORO Ports next year.

• Esperanza will link by road to Aroroy in 2009. I’ll be there with Lina Seachon and Tony Kho for the inauguration.

Bicol

• Last May, I switched on the lights of Masbate in a Palace ceremony. But the long-term solution will come next year when a new power plant will serve half a million customers on the beautiful but isolated island of Masbate.

• From Aroroy we can go to Claveria, whose RORO ramp is under construction.

• On to Pasacao where RORO operations started in 2002. That’s Bong Bravo of Claveria.

• Mt. Isarog feeds the Bicol River. For the next three years we are funding the Bicol River Basin and Watershed with the World Bank at $15 million for irrigation, flood control and water conservation.

• We have given P7 billion for the Bicol Calamity and Rehabilitation Effort, that is the biggest one-time calamity fund release in our history. At last, Bicol is getting its rightful share.

North Luzon Agribusiness Quadrangle:

• We are building 1,000 kilometers of farm-to-market roads; 200 are done. Ngayong tapos na ang election ban, pinapaspasan ang trabaho para sa nalalabing target.

• Halsema Highway from Mount Data to Bontoc and the Tabuk-Tinglayan Road are being built. If you look the chart, there is something incomplete in between.

• So that the Cordillera LGUs can build more of their much-needed roads, I ask Congress to require companies to pay directly to the LGUs their share of the natural wealth. I hope, Governor Dalog hears that.

• Nagtatayo tayo ng mga paliparan para sa mga produkto ng agribusiness.

• Noong 2005 nagka-airport sa Baler. Sunod ang airport sa Casiguran. At kalsada sa pagitan

• There were no takers in the bidding for to upgrade the Batanes runways so ATO will get it done before the end of the year with the support of DPWH and Governor Telesforo Castillejos.

• Joe de Venecia and Mayor Nani Braganza are asking for an airport in Alaminos. Will do.

• The Cagayan Economic Zone Authority and the private sector expanded the San Vicente naval airstrip, so we don’t have need to build Lallo.

• Sa Lallo naman mayroon tayong inaprobahan na agribusiness ecozone. Ang mga agribusiness ecozone ay payo ni Pangulong Ramos. Chief Justice Puno, I am happy to see you here. It is the first time that a Chief Justice attended.

• The Tarlac-La Union Toll Road will be advertised for private sector BOT bidding this August.

• Poro Point’s international terminal started construction early this year.

• Bagabag airport is being lengthened. We are spreading the cheer across the political spectrum from Vic Ortega to Caloy Padilla. Inuuna ang bansa, at itinatabi ang politika.

• Some towns in Nueva Vizcaya, Quirino, and Isabela are included in the geohazard mapping we have done for 700 cities and towns all over the country to protect the environment.

• The Bangui Bay Wind Power Project which was put up when Bongbong Marcos was governor, is now expanding. Sa paggamit ng hangin, nababawasan ang kailangang langis sa enerhiya.

Luzon Urban Beltway, our top magnet for industry and investment:

• This quarter we start the P5 billion Mt. Pinatubo Hazard Urgent Mitigation Project that will protect San Fernando City, Sasmuan, Guagua and my home town Lubao from flooding.

• The Subic-Clark-Tarlac Express Road is in its final stages. This first-world road will cut travel time between Clark and Subic from two hours to 30 minutes.

• Gagawa tayo ng interchange sa Porac, bayan ni Lito Lapid.

• Last Thursday with Dick Gordon we inaugurated the container port that will make Subic together with Clark one of the best international service and logistics centers in the region.

• Clark airport got its approach control radar in April. It now has 50 international flights and 50 cargo flights a week, the second busiest after NAIA. We want more airline service centers there. Now, speaking of NAIA, I’m sure everyone wants to know about NAIA Terminal 3. The ceiling that fell wasn’t the only thing in danger of falling. There are more serious dangers from construction and structural defects. We cannot risk the grim consequences of a major earthquake. But NAIA is accelerating the remediation, completion and opening of the terminal. Public safety comes first.

• Since public safety comes first, I ask Congress to create the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines.\

• Last year, I said we would connect North and South Expressways through C-5. Ginagawa na ang C-5 bandang Katipunan. Kausap na ang UP para sa bagong daan patungong Commonwealth, na kasulukuyang pinapalapad at North Avenue. Sa kabilang dulo ng Mindanao Avenue, binibili na ang lupa para sa bagong daan mula Barangay Talipapa hanggang Malinta at tuloy sa NLEX. Sana bumawas ang trapik pa-North Manila

• We just broke ground to continue the Skyway up to Alabang. In a year the fast train from Caloocan to Alabang will be serving thousands daily. From Alabang to Santo Tomas the South Luzon Expressway is currently being widened. And by March, Vicky Reyes SLEX will reach Batangas Port.

• The Coastal Road to Bong Revilla’s province is finally under construction.

• Our investment in vital infrastructure is already bearing fruit, such as the $1- billion Hanjin shipbuilding facility, said to be the largest in the world, and the $1- billion Texas Instruments microchip plant in Clark. Maging ex-OFW at ex-tambay kapwang nakahanap ng trabaho sa mga malalaking puhunan na ito.

Environment 

• As we build industry, we must ensure people have clean air to breathe. We have closed 88 firms for polluting the environment. Gaya ng sabi ko, una ang kaligatasan ng publiko.

• We proclaimed a critical habitat within the coastal lagoon of Las Pinas and Paranaque.

• Maynilad’s new owners have invested P7 billion to bring clean and, at last, running water to Paranaque, Parola and elsewhere. Manila Water did a similar P2 billion project for Antipolo.

• Gumagawa tayo ng septage tank sa Antipolo sa halagang P600 million na maglilinis ng sewage bago ito dumaloy sa mga estero, gaya ng tinayo ng Manila Water sa Taguig at sa San Mateo.

• Matapos ang maraming taong usapan, ang ating administrasyon ang nakapagsimula ng Flood Control Project sa Kalookan, Malabon, Navotas at Valenzuela (CAMANAVA).

Energy

•  On energy, Luzon needs 150 megawatts more by 2010. This is covered by the 350-megawatt, $350 million expansion of the Pagbilao plant by Marubeni and Tokyo Electric, part of their $4 billion that constitutes the biggest Japanese investment in Philippine history.

• We count on the Governor Raffy Nantes and the people of Quezon to somehow to reduce the cost of electricity. I ask Congress to amend the Electric Power Industry Reform Act for open access and more competition.

IT/BPO

•  The Cyber Corridor encompasses centers of technology and learning running the length of all the super regions, from Baguio to Clark to Metro Manila to Cebu to Davao and neighboring areas.

• The Philippines ranks among top off-shoring hubs in the world because of cost competitiveness and more importantly our highly trainable, English proficient, IT enabled management and manpower. IT ability won for Warren Ambat of Baguio City High the most innovative teacher and leadership award in Cambodia last February, topping contestants from 70 countries, congratulations to our contestants, women.

• Information technology will help the BIR bring in more taxes in the coming months. Its Revenue Watch Dashboard will monitor revenue collections in real time from the national level down to the examiners. The LGU Revenue Assurance shares information between the BIR and the LGUs to uncover fraud and onpayment, before heads would roll per Danny Suarez’s Attrition Law.

• While our strength in contact centers is well-established, we are now focused on growing the higher value-added services, including accounting, legal, humanresources and administrative services.

• And, so that no Taiwan tremor can cut off our cyber services from their global clients, PLDT and Globe are investing P47 billion in new international broadband links through other regional hubs for redundancy in our cyber space.

• The business services sector has become the fastest growing in the economy providing 400,000 jobs compared to 8,000 in 2000. By 2010 the forecast is one million jobs earning $12 billion, the same amount remitted by our overseas Filipinos today.

On Safety Net and Education

• Last year I said that in today’s global economy, knowledge is the greatest creator of wealth. Mahusay na edukasyon ang pinakamabuting pamana natin sa ating mga anak. Yun din ang tanging pamana na ayon sa batas kailangang ibigay sa bawat mamamayan.

• This year, we are investing more for education: P150 billion, P29 billion more than last year. And, last year government and private sector built 15,000 classrooms instead of the usual 6,000. 

• Noon, isang libro bawat limang mag-aaral. Ngayon, tig-isang aklat na bawat grade schooler.

• One third of our public high schools now have Internet access, with private sector support.

• We have a scarcity of public high schools but a surplus of private high schools

• So instead of building more high schools, we give more high school scholarships - 600,000 scholars this year.

• For college, we launched a P4 billion fund for college loans, to increase beneficiaries from 40,000 to 200,000

• And for teachers, we have created more than 50,000 teaching positions. But we have to improve their training.

• Benefits, too. Salamat, dating Senador Tessie Oreta at dating Congressman Dodong Gullas, na di na kailangan ng mga guro maghabol sa Maynila ng sweldo at pension. Pinoproseso na sa rehiyon sa regionalization ng payroll.

• Teachers and all other national government employees get a raise effective end of this month.

• Sa TESDA, bukod sa mga sariling kurso nagbibigay ito ng mga scholarship sa vocational schools: P600 million noong isang taon, P1 billion ngayon. May P1 bilyon pa ang DOLE.We are investing P3 billion in science and engineering research and development technology, including scholarships for masters and doctoral degrees programs in engineering in seven universities. Upgrade know-how and learning, and Filipino talent is unbeatable.

Human capital investment in the past

Why? Because if government of the people and by the people is not for them as well, it is a mockery of democracy. May malaking pag-angat ang kalagayan ng maralita, gaya ng trabaho, pag-aaral at pagamot. Look at the chart on new poor fare.

• 1st time, Philhealth spent over P3 bilyon for the poor. 2001 promise to cut medicine price in half. Done.
  o Paracetamol at P3 is now P1 sa Botika ng Barangay.
  o Antibiotic sold at pharmacy for P20 is now P2
  • Survey says: half says can afford the medicines compared to 11% in 1999.

• Asked Congress to pass the Cheaper Medicines Bill that was almost enacted in June. Almost is not good enough. Let’s help Mar Roxas, Ferge Biron and Teddy Boy Locsin give our people meaningful, affordable choices, from abroad and here in the Philippines.

• Ask Congress to pass legislation that brings improved long term care for our senior citizens.
  o Asahan natin si Ed Angara. Si Noli de Castro na isa pang kampeon ng senior citizens ay namumuno ng ating programa sa pabahay. Congratulations, Noli.

• Low interest rates for housing Naglaan ang Pag-IBIG ng P25 billion na pautang, six times the amount when we started it in 2001. P50 billion pa ang ilalaan hanggang 2010.

On Terrorism and Human Rights:
It is never right and always wrong to fight terror with terror, uphold human rights. Congress to enact laws to transform state response to political violence:

• First, laws to protect witnesses from lawbreakers and law enforcers.

• Second, laws to guarantee swift justice from more empowered special courts.

• Third, laws to impose harsher penalties for political killings.

• Fourth, laws reserving the harshest penalties for the rogue elements in the uniformed services who betray public trust and bring shame to the greater number of their colleagues who are patriotic.

On hunger and poverty:

• Pangunahin pakikibaka pa rin para sa karapatan ang pagpapalaya ng masa sa gutom at kahirapan.

On government

• Election reforms – computerization, modernizing voting, counting and canvassing

On the conduct of democratic elections: To do

• Ask Congress to fund poll watchdogs.

• Enact a stronger law against election-related violence.

On corruption:

• Ombudsman’s conviction rate hit 77% this year, from 6% in 2002

• Implemented lifestyle checks, dormant for half a century

• Taun-taon dosedosenang opisyal ang nasususpinde, napapatalsik o kinakasuhan dahil labis-labis sa suweldo ang gastos at ari-arian nila.

• Firms who were asked for bribes in taxes, permits and licenses dropped from one-third to one-half.

• Contract bribes are also down.

• Graft won’t be eliminated overnight but we are making progress.

Conclusion:

This is the P1.7 trillion Medium Term Public Investment Program.

Source of funds:

• P1 trillion from state revenues, with tax reforms and firm orders to BIR and Customs to hit their targets

• P300 billion from state corporations.

• The balance from government financial institutions, private sector investments, local government equity and our bilateral and multilateral partners.

Confidence and progress imbued our foreign relations. Proof?

• ASEAN Summit last year

• Coming ASEAN Regional Forum, with increased assistance from our allies and with continued support for our peace and security efforts in Mindanao.

Sustaining the economy at my own cost of being unpopular

• Because of the fiscal reforms that we adopted at such great cost to me in public disapproval. But I would rather be right than popular.

Fundamentals are paying off in huge leaps in investment.

• Anim na milyong trabaho ang nalikha sa anim na taon, most in sustainable enterprises.

• Sa lakas ng piso, bumagal ang pagtaas ng bilihin.

The progress is mine and mine alone:

• All that will remain for my successor is to gather the harvest. He or she will have an easier time of it than I did.

Warning:

• I stand in the way of no one’s ambition. I only ask that no one stand in the way of the people’s well being and the nation’s progress. Uulitin ko: Hindi ako sagabal sa ambisyon ninuman.

Grave threat:

• Make no mistake. I will not stand idly when anyone gets in the way of the national interest and tries to block the national vision.

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