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Maraming salamat.
Maraming salamat, Secretary Romulo, sa iyong pagpakilala sa akin.
At binabati natin ang ibang mga Cabinet members at national government
officials na narito ngayon sa ating business mission; binabati ko rin ang
ating mga elected officials na narito sa pamumuno ni Deputy Speaker Girlie
Villarosa ng Mindoro Occidental; binabati ko ang ating mga official na
Pilipino na nandito sa Hong Kong at saka sa China sa pamumuno ni Ambassador
Brady at saka ni Consul General Vicente; at binabati ko rin si Jojo, thank
you; at kayong lahat na mga Pilipinong narito, magandang gabi sa inyong
lahat.
Ako ay nagagalak na makasama kayong muli. Linggo ang karaniwang araw ng
pagpapahinga, pero nandito kayo ngayong gabi kaya maraming-maraming salamat
sa inyong lahat.
At narito si Secretary Romulo at saka si Ambassador Brady mula pa sa Beijing
dahil nowhere is foreign policy more important than in protecting and
advancing the interests of our overseas workers -- kayo ang
napaka-importanteng layunin ng ating foreign policy. Eh doon nga sa mas
malayong lugar kay sa Hong Kong -- Bert I'd like to congratulate you all.
The DFA recently reported a seaman released after 14 years in a Bangladeshi
jail. At kung naalala ninyo noong ako ay nagpunta sa Saudi Arabia napalaya
natin ang 700 na mga bilanggo. Ngayon meron namang 150 being freed from
Middle East jails. At napaka-importante yun doon sa Middle East dahil
dalawang milyon ang Pilipino doon.
Pero dito sa Hong Kong, popular na popular din ang Hong Kong bilang
destination ng OFWs. Kayo ay 120,000 na Pilipinong nakatira at nagtatrabaho
dito, at saludo sa inyong lahat ang lahat ng mga tagarito sa Hong Kong.
Congratulations! Dapat naman, hindi matatawaran ang inyong sipag at ang
inyong kalidad ng trabaho, yung inyong mabuting asal, yung inyong katapatan
sa tungkulin. Kaya bagama't si Sonia Brady ay malayo, nandoon sa Beijing,
meron tayong 120,000 Philippine ambassadors here in Hong Kong -- kayo na nga
ang ating overseas Filipino.
At hindi lamang ito, mas lalong matimbang kayo sa ating bansang Pilipinas.
Ikinararangal at binibigyan ng halaga ang inyong sakripisyo at katapatan sa
inyong trabaho, sa inyong pamilya, at sa ating bansa.
Kanina sabi ni Consul General, kumokonti na raw yung mga nag-e-emigrate mula
sa Southern Europe pero kung titingnan natin yung Portugal, medyo
mayaman-yaman na rin, 10 percent pa rin ng population nila ay Overseas
Portuguese Workers kagaya ng Pilipinas, 10 percent.
Doon sa New Zealand, mayaman siya pero 25 percent ng New Zealand population
ay nasa overseas din. Ang kaibahan ng New Zealand, bagama't yung kanyang mga
yuppie ay nagtatrabaho sa ibang bansa, pinapadalhan pa rin ng pera ng mom
and pop iyong anak na nasa ibang bansa. Ang mga Pilipino, kayo ang
nagpapadala sa inyong pamilya ng inyong tulong, hindi the other way around,
kaya nagtutulong kayo sa pamilya ninyo, tumutulong kayo sa ating bansa.
Maraming salamat sa inyong lahat.
Ngunit hinahangad natin ang araw, gaya nang sabi ni Consul General na sana
hindi na kailangang mangibang-bansa pa ang isang masipag na Pilipino upang
makahanap ng desenteng trabaho. We're working for a strong and growing
economy to pave the day when Filipinos no longer need to go abroad for a
job, and being an overseas worker is just another career option, not the
only choice one has to earn a living.
A strong and growing economy is the central pillar that we have labored to
create to help guarantee peace, order and stability in our country. And it
is paying off: 2007 ang pinakamagandang taon para sa ekonomiya ng Pilipinas
sa mahigit tatlumpung taon. Kaya lamang pag malakas ang ekonomiya ay malakas
din ang piso.
Kaya lang hindi rin kaila, talagang hindi kaila, na nakabawas ang paglakas
ng piso sa panggastos ng mga pamilyang OFW. Kaya lang naman, nakinabang din
ang 80 milyong Pilipino dahil hindi gaanong tumama sa kanila ang buong
presyo ng pagtaas ng langis sa mundo. Kasi kung 55 pesos kada dollar ang
palitan, gaya noong araw, mas mataas pa sana nang five pesos bawat litro ng
presyo ng gasolina at diesel. Nabawasan din ang dolyar na utang ng gobyerno
at mga korporasyon, kaya mas nailalaan natin sa budget ang mga proyektong
pangmasa. Bumaba rin ang singil sa pautang ng bansa, kaya mas mababa pa rin
ang interest sa pabahay at pahiram sa negosyo, six percent na lamang yung
Pag-Ibig. Ngayon lang nangyari yun, dahil yun sa malakas na piso. Kung hindi
lumakas ang piso, mas malala pa sana ang pagtaas ng presyo sa bansa.
Ganunpaman, upang hindi maging lubhang mabigat ang paglakas ng piso sa mga
OFW, nakita ninyo kaninang hapon ang mga masigasig na pagkilos ng ating
administrasyon. Inatasan natin ang mga institusyong pinansiyal ng gobyerno
na lumikha ng mga paraan upang lubos-lubusin ang pakinabang ng OFW sa inyong
kinikita. Kung naalala ninyo noong Enero, hindi ba pumunta dito si Bise
Presidente Noli de Castro para ilunsad yung programa sa hedging ng
Development Bank of the Philippines. Kasama niya noon si Mike Arroyo, ang
aking asawa. He was here at that time. Kaya ito ay para proteksiyunan ang
halaga ng kinikita ninyo.
Sa programang hedging, you can already decide, gaya nang sabi ni Jojo, what
exchange rate you can change your U.S. dollars for your pesos in the future.
Or you can get some insurance and have the option to sell your dollars for
pesos in the future either at a certain protected rate or at the prevailing
market rate, whichever is better for you.
Itong DBP Hedging Program -- nandito si President ng DBP. Hindi ba nandiyan
si Rey David, nakita ko. Ayun! nagre-raise pa nga... Rey, nabanggit na ba
niyo kanina yung incentive to the first 100 OFWs? Ang DBP ay magbibigay ng
incentive sa unang 100 OFWs na kukuha ng peso insurance. Bibigyan ng 50
percent discount sa insurance fee ng remittance. Basta lang hindi kayo
lalampas ng HK$30,000 bawat buwan.
Samantala, mayroon naman, binanggit na ni Consul General Vicente yung i-Net
Negosyo Program ng DBP para maka-asenso, makapag-negosyo ang inyong mga
pamilya sa Pilipinas. Mayroon isang bilyong pautang ang DBP para magtayo ng
mga munting istasyon ng internet ang mga OFWs.
Atin ding inilunsad ang mga programa ng Bangko Sentral, nandiyan ang ating
Central Bank of the Philippines Governor, si Say Tetangco. Alam ninyo si
Say, hindi iyan pwedeng mautusan kasi independent yan sa national
government, pero nandito siya kasi itinuturo niya iyong Financial Literacy
Program sa mga OFWs. At nandito yung mga stock exchange para kayo ay mag-invest
sa stock exchange. Mas mabuti yun kaysa doon sa mga pyramid. Yung stock
exchange nakikita ninyo minu-minuto kung ano ang presyo ng inyong stock.
Itong mga ito ay para magbigay ng kaalaman sa pera at mamuhunan ang mga OFWs
para sa inyong mga pamilya. Kasi hangad natin na bigyan ang mga OFWs ng
pagkakataon hindi lang para maging overseas Filipino workers, hindi lang
para maging ambassador to Hong Kong, kung hindi maging Overseas Filipino
Investors o OFI.
Isa pang programa ay yung Tindahang Pinoy. Nung pumasok kayo, meron kayong
nakitang booth, iyon ay Tindahang Pinoy para sa gustong magbenta ng mga
produktong Pinoy sa mga lugar na pinagtatrabahuhan ng mga OFWs.
Pinagsama-sama ng Tindahang Pinoy ang iba’t-ibang produkto na gawa sa atin
gaya ng Cornick o Boy Bawang -- gapo diyay amyanan -- broas at iba pang
kakanin sa Katimugan, sardinas mula sa Saranggani Bay – ang dami yatang mula
sa South Cotabato diyan, magbenta kayo ng sardinas from Saranggani Bay sa
Mindanao at dried mango mula sa Cebu. At hindi lang pagkain. Bahagi din dito
ang pagsasanay sa negosyo para sa uuwing OFWs, na ipinapatupad ng OWWA, na
noong araw ang namumuno ng OWWA ay ang ating bagong Secretary of Labor, si
Nitoy Roque. Congratulations, Nitoy!
Ang DOLE at ang OWWA ay magbubukas ng call center training program para sa
mga OFWs dito sa Hong Kong. Di ba maraming OFWs dito na teachers? Mga
teachers na magaling mag-Ingles. Iyong Ingles ninyo, kapag may call center
training kayo ay lalong lalaki pa ang kita ninyo pagbalik sa Pilipinas. Ang
training cost ay bibigyan ng subsidy ng OWWA sa pamamagitan ng kanilang
scholarships for OWWA members bilang paghahanda sa inyong pagbabalik-trabaho
sa Pilipinas.
Iyong Land Bank yong-Term Negotiable of Deposit naman ay tiyak na ligtas at
abot-kaya basta meron kayong 20,000 pesos na minimum. In fact, itong 20,000
pesos mas maliit pa kaysa sa maraming time deposit, mas mataas ang interest
for five years or ten years na deposito kaysa sa karaniwang pag-iimpok sa
bangko.
Tungkol naman sa singil sa padala ng pera, may OFW Cash Card ang Land Bank
na madaling gamitin at mas mura ang remittance. At nandiyan si Manny
Pangilinan, isang OFW sa Hong Kong, by choice not by necessity. Yung Smart,
hindi ba, Manny, yung Smart ay yun din ay electronic remittance? So, yun ang
serbisyo ni Manny dahil alam niya ang buhay ng OFW bagamat mayaman na
mayaman na OFW si Manny Pangilinan.
Anyway, binabati ko ang mga gumagamit ng mga produktong ito. Congratulations
to those who have availed of these products. Mahikayat nawa ang iba sa
pakinabang ninyo sa mga programa ng gobyerno.
Siyanga pala, speaking of remittances, nandito si Congressman Danny Suarez.
Mayroon siyang panukalang batas, Reducing the Transaction Cost for Money
Remittances from Abroad coursed through the Philippine Banking System and
Remittance Centers para makatulong sa ating OFWs.
Magbalik tayo sa ekonomiya ng Pilipinas. Malakas ang agos ng investment.
We're close to balancing our budget. Pero nung araw, we had to make tough
and unpopular decisions to raise revenues and crack down on tax cheats, so
that we could invest in our physical infrastructure and in our people. Pero
alam natin ang mga problemang humaharap sa ating bansa at kung ano ang
inaasahan ng taong- bayan. And we are delivering the economy, education and
the environment. Gusto natin na pag-uwi ninyo sa Pilipinas maganda ang
uuwian ninyo, na may trabaho kayo hindi lamang dahil sa reintegration
program ngunit dahil marami ang oportunidad sa Pilipinas.
Kaya maraming salamat sa inyong mga sakripisyo dito sa Hong Kong. Sana
pag-uwi ninyo sa Pilipinas, maginhawa ang inyong buhay dahil sa ating
pagsisikap na palakasin ang ekonomiya ng ating bansang Pilipinas.
Maraming salamat sa inyong lahat. |
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“THE PATH TO MODERNIZATION, INVESTING IN THE FUTURE”
2007 was the best year for the Philippine economy in over 30 years. Economic
growth was 7.3 percent; a million new jobs were created; and foreign
investments have been steady and strong. We have been cited by London as the
"offshore destination of the year" and by the International Data Corporation
as the top global outsourcing destination after India.
Our billion-dollar investment club includes Texas Instruments with its new
1.6-billion-dollar wafer fabrication facility under construction and two
shipyards of Hanjin, one up and one coming up costing 3.7-billion-dollar
total which makes us the fourth biggest shipbuilder in the world. In
addition, Marubeni and AES have each invested billions of dollars in our
power sector. They have joined the ranks of Shell and Proctor and Gamble, to
name but a few of our major investors.
We will continue to be increasingly strong in manufacturing, high
technology, services across the board from outsourcing to aircraft
maintenance, as well as tourism and real estate. We see many, many
opportunities for investors; the Philippines is one of the best values in
Asia. We hope you all find out why.
Just this month, the International Monetary Fund lauded our economic growth,
the substantial reduction in our budget deficit, low inflation and the
improvement in investor confidence.
The IMF executive directors highlighted, in particular, our fine central
bank for smoothening foreign exchange fluctuations as the peso touched an
eight-year high against the U.S. dollar in recent months. During this same
time, the country's foreign exchange reserves reached a record high.
2008 holds real promise for a different reason. Not only do we expect
continued strong growth, but as a result of our total economic overhaul, we
are well-positioned to weather a global economic slowdown which,
unfortunately, will affect all of us.
The real story for 2008 is that our macroeconomic fundamentals are stronger
than ever due to tough choices we have made on boosting revenues, cracking
down on tax cheats, bringing reform to our revenue collection and
modernizing our banking and financial sector.
We have reformed our budget to be in balance ahead of the medium- term plan
schedule of 2010.
Last year, our deficit was only P12.4 billion, the lowest in ten years and
far below the ceiling of P63 billion. Revenues were up 16 percent from 2006.
Seven years ago, no one thought we could do it, but we have. There will be
no rest. We are continuing the pace of progress that has succeeded in
strengthening our economy.
Tax revenues in 2008 aren’t stagnant: they are up 17% over 2007. They will
continue to improve with more money for enforcement, modernization and
computerization and closing of loopholes.
This maturity in our economy has brought with it a new confidence that forms
the foundation of sustained economic growth moving forward. We are at a
tipping point. I’m confident that the Philippines will tip forward in
pursuit of reaching the threshold of first-world nation within a generation.
Our strengthened economic fortunes come none too soon, for as we are all
very aware, there are clouds on the economic horizon that we must guard
against. The global economy is facing significant challenges. The slowing of
the economies in North America and Europe is top of mind in our calculations
to protect our own economy. To that end, we have developed a program that
includes: first, to ensure a surge in investments in people and
infrastructure; second, to ensure that we continue to pursue anti-corruption
initiatives and to cut red tape; and third, to blunt the global rise in the
cost of energy and rice by providing targeted relief to the poorest amongst
us who suffer the most from the high global price of energy and food.
These global forces are putting more strain on our working poor as prices
for commodities like rice and fuel increase. We are a price-sensitive
nation. So while our macroeconomics are strong, the benefits are still
working their way down more slowly than we want to lift up our citizens who
live and work paycheck to paycheck. We need a strong middle class is to
become a strong modern nation. Our middle class is made up of the families
of the overseas Filipino workers. We are working to mitigate the impact of
the movement of the peso on them. We are working to soften the blow from the
current global economic challenges to those working hardest to make it into
the middle class.
The best thing we can do in the short term is provide responsible, targeted
relief to those most in need.
The political environment will not force us to do anything we do not think
is in the best interests of the nation. The economic environment, however,
will dictate that we provide a buffer, as much as prudently possible, to the
poorest who suffer most from rapidly rising prices. We will continue on the
path of reform and economic discipline; the near-term pain will provide
long-term gain for our nation. It may not be popular, but it is setting the
nation on a new course. Within our existing budget, we will frontload
investments to stimulate the economy and we will provide additional funds to
help cushion the high price of fuel and food.
The best thing we can do for the remainder of my term until I step down in
2010 is to stay focused on further economic reforms while providing peace,
order and stability. Most importantly, my last two years will be dedicated
to one main objective: to invest, invest and invest some more in our nation.
The national budget which I signed a few weeks ago provides a roadmap for
realizing our priorities in 2008 and for the remainder of my term. It should
provide you with a sense of our priorities.
First, the budget reflects our values and policy priorities for investing in
our people. This budget invests in what we call the three ‘E’s,’ the
essential building blocks of our nation, namely, the economy, education and
the environment. Every Filipino wants a good job, food on the table, sound
education for their children and a healthy environment with clean air, clean
water and clean land.
Second, our budget represents another important step in the economic
development of the Philippines – namely, fiscal discipline. We have the
strongest economy in over thirty years as a result of the tough reforms.
We have been able to strike the appropriate balance since coming to office
between the competing objectives of spending more on much-needed social
programs and public investment and keeping the fiscal deficit low.
`Part of the plan includes a march toward a balanced budget for the first
time in many years.
Lastly, this budget proves once again that members of Congress from both the
House and the Senate and all parties can come together to work with the
Executive branch to get things done for the nation. Political noise need not
interfere with economic progress and reform.
Our budget provides a buffer to mitigate the pain of a deteriorating global
economy and the accompanying rise in prices which affects food and
transportation the most. It is a budget dedicated to investing in the vital
physical and human infrastructure to continue to modernize our nation.
Roads, bridges and ports along with education and healthcare build up the
foundation of the nation and make us more competitive.
Let me also address head-on the issue of corruption. It is an issue we take
seriously. As an economist, I know that first and foremost, a strong economy
is an economy that is transparent and free from corruption. We are freeing
ourselves of the shackles of corruption evidenced by our growing economy –
which is increasingly free of corruption and inefficiency. Our budget
invests more and more to clean up the culture of corruption. It pumps
billions of pesos into the country’s investigative arm to weed out
corruption.
We have called on Congress to pass a comprehensive anti-corruption reform
act in 2008. We will hold officials accountable if they are found to be
corrupt. For our part, any allegations of wrong doing go straight to the
independent Ombudsman. We will let the chips fall where they may as
investigations are concluded and friend and foe alike are brought to account
for their actions.
While we have accomplished much, much more remains to be done. We plan on
working hard the next two years until the day our term ends in 2010 to
fulfill our Philippine reform agenda.
This includes legislative efforts to continue to improve our banking and
finance system; to strengthen our tax collections and to continue to broaden
our tax payer base; and crack down on corruption and reduce red tape. We
will balance needed investments in our people and infrastructure with a
prudent eye toward fiscal discipline. We will invest most where the country
will benefit most: in the economy, education and the environment.
We must and we will press forward with more reforms. We will fight for the
economy, education and the environment. We will fight to feed the poor,
improve job creation and do everything in our power to mitigate the global
forces increasing the price of commodities like oil and rice.
Overall, we remain bullish on our economy, optimistic about our future and
deeply committed to being a force for good in our nation and in our region.
Thank you for your interest in the Philippines and for a strong, united
Asia. |
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Our trip to Hong Kong was
dedicated to meeting with our strong OFW contingent in Hong Kong and to
meeting with business leaders to encourage them to continue to make strong
investments in the Philippines. At a time when the Philippine economy is at
its strongest in over 30 years, it's imperative that we stay focused on
continuing to strengthen our economy through aggressive outreach to
investors in the region like Hong Kong.
One central component of our economic plan
has been steady and consistent investment by our government in strengthening
our regional economic engagement. Taken together, all of these efforts --
our economic plan at home and our foreign engagement abroad -- have helped
prepare us for the global economic forces that are affecting the Philippines
today.
Our trip to Hong Kong is another action we
took to continue to bolster our economy through more investments and to
confer with vital business leaders on cooperative steps we can take to
cushion ourselves in Asia against these global issues. We also took the
opportunity to meet with our precious OFWs and introduce a series of
programs we are taking to mitigate the strengthening of the peso against the
dollar. The fact that I was asked to deliver the keynote address at the
Asia Investment Conference in Hong Kong to over a thousand investors and
fund managers underscores the interest of the outside world in the growing
stability and economic fortunes of the Philippines.
We are proud to once again having carried
the banner of our nation and having led the charge for even more
investments in our great nation.
We are happy that Shimao, one of the biggest
listed companies in Shanghai and in Hong Kong, has authorized us to disclose
their proposal to build a mini-city within Fort Bonifacio to the tune of
two billion dollars made up of commercial, tourism and other real estate
development projects. And also in Fort Bonifacio, I'm also happy that Sri
Robert Kouk of the Shangri-La group has authorized us to dislose that he is
putting up a six-star hotel also in Fort Bonifacio, another Shangri-La.
(applause)
Bahagi rin ng ating pagsisikap na umakit ng
investment at palakasin ang ekonomiya. Magpupulong ngayon ang NEDA Board
upang talakayin ang ASEAN-Japan Economic Partnership Agreement na
kasalukuyang binubuo ng mga ministro ng kalakal sa ASEAN. Gaya nang ginagawa
natin sa Japan-Philippines Economic Partnership Agreement o JPEPA,
sisiguruhin natin na makikinabang ang Pilipinas sa kasunduang binabalangkas
ng ASEAN, lalo na ang mga manggagawa at maralita na umaasa sa investment
para sa dagdag kita at trabaho.
Mag-uulat din sa NEDA Board si Agriculture
Secretary Arthur Yap sa ating mga pagkilos to crack down on price gouging,
increase the supply of rice where necessary, and invest more in planting
and agricultural modernization. Congratulations nga pala doon kaninang umaga,
yung PASG at saka si Vice-President Noli de Castro ay nag-raid ng warehouse
sa Bulacan at nahuli yung mga rice manipulators.
Nagagalak tayo sa ulat ng Department of
Justice din at NBI na malapit na silang maghabla sa mga mangangalakal ng
bigas -- di ba, Raul? -- na negbebenta ng bigas NFA na mahal. At si
Secretary Peter Favila rin sa kanyang sariling pag-imbestiga ay meron ding
mga nahuli at ang kasama niya sa pag-investigate ay yung Philippine National
Police.
Sa ating mga programa para sa abot-kayang
pagkain, kailangan magtulungan ang lahat -- gobyerno, pamahalaang lokal,
pribadong sektor, samahang bayan. Noong isang linggo, pinulong natin ang
mga negosyante sa ilalim ng National Price Coordinating Council at hinirang
muli si Bise Presidente Noli de Castro upang subaybayan ang mga pagkilos
para sa abot-kayang bilihin. Ngayon, nananawagan tayo sa mga pamahalaang
lokal at mga korporasyon at institusyon ng gobyerno.
Inaatasan ko ang DA at DTI na
makipagtulungan sa mga gobyernong lokal sa pagmamatyag sa mga bodega at
palengke, at sa pagpapalakas ng ani ng bigas sa bansa. Dapat siguruhing may
nagbebenta ng bigas NFA malapit sa mga maralitang barangay, at ipaalam sa
tao kung saan sila sa mge sentro ng barangay at simbahan ng parokya.
Inaatasan ko rin ang DA na gumawa ng programa upang makapagtanim ng palay
ang mga LGU at ibenta ito sa NFA. Kasi hindi yan dapat sa labas bumibili ang
NFA, sarili na nating bigas. Maraming lupain ang mga lalawigan at lungsod na
pwede bungkalin. At doon naman sa Local Government Code devolved na ang
Department of Agriculture sa mga local government. Kaya may pera sila upang
pondohan ang pagsasaka. In fact, may 32 billion pesos na surplus noong isang
taon ang kalahatan ng mga local government.
Kanina rin nagpirma ako ng Administrative
Order upang gamitin ng mga korporasyon at institusyon ng gobyerno ang limang
porsiyento ng kanilang surplus na noong 2007 ay mahigit isandaang milyong
piso. Gamitin ito sa pagsasaka ng palay at iba pang programang pangmaralita
alinsunod sa batas. Dapat silang sumangguni sa DA at DSWD sa pagbabalangkas
ng mga proyekto at simulan ang mga ito sa loob ng tatlong buwan. Dapat
magtulungan tayong lahat upang labanan ang kahirapan.
We look forward to key allies among LGU
leaders and we instruct the top GOCCs, GFIs and social service institutions
like PAGCOR, PCSO, SSS, GSIS, NAPOCOR and PNOC to immediately and
prominently respond to this call.
We invite them to present their initial
plans to the cabinet on April 8 and begin implementation within three
months.
Maraming salamat sa
inyong lahat. |
