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| PGMA's Speech during a Meeting with the Filipino Community (Ballroom, Hotel Mariners Court Tokyo Japan -02 Dec 2002) |
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| MARAMING
SECRETARY BLAS OPLE SA IYONG PAGPAKILALA SA AKIN. AT GUSTO KO RIN IPAKILALA SA ATING MGA KAIBIGAN DITO SA HAPON, MGA PILIPINO SA HAPON ANG INYONG MAYBAHAY, SI MRS. SUSAN OPLE. NANDIYAN SIYA. AT GUSTO KO RIN IPAKILALA SA INYONG LAHAT, ALTHOUGH NAGKASAMA NA TAYO NOONG ISANG TAON, KASAMA KO RIN ANG AKING KABIYAK, SI ATTORNEY MIKE ARROYO; DALA-DALA KO RIN NGAYON ANG AKING ANAK, SI LULI ARROYO; ANG AKING ANAK AT ANG AKING MANUGANG, NA SI MIKEY AT SAKA SI ANGELA ARROYO; SIYEMPRE GUSTO KONG BATIIN 'YUNG ATING AMBASSADOR DITO SA HAPON AT NAGPAPASALAMAT AKO SA MAGANDA NIYANG PAG-ORGANIZE NITONG ATING PAGBISITA DITO, SI AMBASSADOR SIAZON. AT ALAM NIYO NAMAN SI AMBASSADOR SIAZON AY JAPANESE BY HEART DAHIL ANG KANYANG MAYBAHAY AY HAPONESA, SI MRS. KAY SIAZON. NANDITO RIN ANG ILANG AKING CABINET MEMBER. 'YUNG ILAN AY IPAPAKILALA KO SA INYO, SI SECRETARY LITO CAMACHO KASAMA SI MRS. CAMACHO; SI SECRETARY MAR ROXAS NA WALA PANG MRS.; SI SECRETARY DANTE CANLAS; WALA YATA SI GOVERNOR BUENAVENTURA DITO NGAYONG GABI. GUSTO KO RIN BIGYAN NG BATI ANG ATING SENADOR MULA SA MINDANAO, SI NENE PIMENTEL; AT ISA RING CONGRESSWOMAN NA ANG PUSO RIN NIYA AY NASA HAPON DAHIL ANG KANYANG KABIYAK DIN AY HAPON, SI CONGRESSWOMAN NENE RAMIREZ-SATO; NARITO RIN SI CONGRESSMAN JING PARAS; AT SAKA SI CONGRESSMAN ANTONINO ROMAN NG BATAAN; NARITO RIN SI GOVERNOR TOMMY JOSON; AT SAKA SI GOVERNOR CABALLERO AT SAKA SI MRS. CABALLERO NG COMPOSTELA VALLEY; SI GOVERNOR PLAZA AT SAKA 'YUNG KANYANG MATRIARCH NG PLAZA FAMILY, SI MRS. VALENTINA PLAZA NA NAKAUPO DOON, FORMER GOVERNOR; SI MAYOR BOKING MORALES NG MABALACAT; AT SAKA YUNG NAG-AALAGA SA INYO, SI SECRETARY PAT SANTO TOMAS. MERON RIN TAYONG ILAN PANG MGA CABINET OFFICIALS NA NARIRITO, SI SECRETARY TOTING BUNYE, ANG AKING PRESS SECRETARY; ISANG HAPON NA MESTIZO DAHIL KASAMA 'YUNG KANYANG LOLO SA UNANG WAVE NG IMMIGRANTS FROM JAPAN TO THE PHILIPPINES TO BAGUIO, SI SECRETARY YONGYONG HAMADA AFABLE; SI SECRETARY JOEY RUFINO AT SAKA KANYANG MAYBAHAY SI CHING; 'YUNG TUMUTULONG SA ATIN NA AYUSIN 'YUNG MGA RED TAPE SA ODA SI MAI JIMENEZ; INYONG SUGO, INYONG NAGLILINGKOD SA OVERSEAS WORKERS WELFARE ADMINISTRATION SI VER ANGELO. SAAN SIYA? AT SAKA GUSTO KO RIN BATIIN GALING SA OSAKA, SI CONSUL GENERAL ANTONIO VILLAMAYOR. AT SANA HINDI KO NA BABANGGITIN LAHAT NG PANGALAN NILA PERO PAPATINDIGIN KO YUNG KASAPI NG PHILIPPINE BUSINESS DELEGATION, NANDOON SILA SA BANDA ROON. NARIYAN DIN ANG PHILIPPINE MEDIA. KAYA SA INYONG LAHAT, SA KANILA, SA INYONG MGA KABABAYAN MINAMAHAL KO, MERRY CHRISTMAS SA INYONG LAHAT. WELCOME TO THIS CHRISTMAS PARTY. AT CARING MALUGUD KUNG CABALEN CAPANGPANGAN, PASALAMATAN CU PUNG LUBUS ING PAMANYATANG YU NGENING BENGI. MAKARENG CU. KADAKAYO NGA KAKAILIAK TI BANGIR NI MAMANG KO, NAIMBAG NGA RABII YO AMIN, KADWAN TI ABRAEÑON ASSOCIATION IN JAPAN, AGIAMAN KADAKAYO NGA UMAY KAYO TATTA NGA RABII. SA AKONG MGA KAUBANANG TAGA-MINDANAO ASA AKO NIDAKO UG ASA NAGIKAN SI SENADOR NENE PIMENTEL, DAGHANG SALAMAT SA INYONG PAG-ABOT KARONG GABIUNA. SA MGA KASIMANWA SANG AKONG BANA NGA ILONGGO, KAUPOD ANG ORGANIZATION FOR THE DEVELOPMENT AND ADVANCEMENT OF NEGROS IN JAPAN -- NGANO KAMO, ORIENTAL O OCCIDENTAL? OCCIDENTAL. O, SALAMAT GID NGA NAKADTO KAMO SA ATONG PROGRAMA SUBONG. MGA BATANGUEÑO AT 'YUNG MGA KABABAYAN NI TOMMY JOSON, JAPAN ASSOCIATION OF NOVO ECIJANOS. MALAKI ANG ATING NUEVA ECIJA DELEGATION NGAYON AT NANDIYAN DIN SI PRESIDENTIAL ASSISTANT RENE DIAZ AT SAKA MEMBER OF THE BOARD NG SAN MIGUEL, SI RICO FAJARDO. BINABATI KO ANG IBA PANG MGA ASOSASYON AT SAMAHAN NG ATING MGA KABABAYAN NA NARITO NGAYONG GABI. HINDI KO ALAM KUNG KUMPLETO ANG AKING LISTAHAN PERO SA ALAM KO NANDITO ANG SAMAHANG PILIPINO, ISA SA PINAKAMALAKING GRUPO NG FILIPINO SA HAPON. AT YUNG PHILIPPINE MEN'S LEAGUE, 'YUNG ASSOCIATION OF FILIPINO STUDENTS IN JAPAN; 'YUNG SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY ADVISORY COUNCIL NG JAPAN, SALAMAT AT TUMUTULONG KAYO SA PAGBIBIGAY NG "UNLAD KABAYAN AT TULOY ARAL" BUSINESS COURSES SA ATING MGA OFW. NARITO RIN DAW ANG FILIPINO CIRCLE FOR ADVANCEMENT AND PROGRESS; ANG OVERSEAS FILIPINO WORLD NET FOUNDATION -- AH, WALA. AH, NANDIYAN; ANG ASSOCIATION OF FILIPINOS IN TOKYO; ANG CIRCLE OF FRIENDS; ANG PHILIPPINE LADIES ASSOCIATION IN JAPAN; ANG FILIPINO WIVES OF JAPANESE ASSOCIATION. DAPAT GAWIN NIYONG MEMBER SI CONGRESSWOMAN SATO, HA? O, MEMBER SIYA; HAWAK KAMAY SA MAHAL NA INA; OVERSEAS WORKERS ASSOCIATION; PHILIPPINE DEVELOPMENT SOCIETY; 'YUNG KUMANTANG TEATRO KANTO; UNITED FILIPINO GROUP OF YOKOHAMA; UNITED PHILIPPINE-JAPAN ASSOCIATION; PHILIPPINE ASSOCIATION FOR COMMON CAUSE; KABAYAN-YAMATO; FILIPINO MARITIME NETWORK. EL SHADDAI JAPAN CHAPTER; AKABANE SAMPAGUITA; CHRISTIAN DIOCESE OF TRADITIONAL LAYMEN'S EVANGELIZATION; KAPATIRAN; WOW! FILIPINO MISSIONARIES GROUP; MGA KINATAWAN NG FILIPINO COMMUNITY MULA SA KANSAI AT OSAKA AREA. AT SALAMAT ANG AKING IPINAAABOT, I AM THANKING THE ALL-JAPAN SEAMEN'S UNION FOR THEIR BIG HELP ONCE AGAIN TONIGHT IN OUR PARTY HERE. YOU KNOW, IN MANILA WE CONDUCTED THE FIRST INTERNATIONAL EMPLOYERS AWARD JUST A FEW DAYS AGO. THE OUTSTANDING FOREIGN EMPLOYERS OF FILIPINOS WERE HONORED FOR THEIR CONTINUED PREFERENCE FOR FILIPINO WORKERS AND SEAMEN, FOR INSTALLING PROGRAMS THAT RAISED OUR OFWs PRODUCTIVITY AND PERFORMANCE, AND FOR PROVIDING EXTRAORDINARY ACTS OF ASSISTANCE AND AID TO OFWs IN TIMES OF HAZARD OR DISTRESS. NINETY-THREE EMPLOYERS RECEIVED AWARDS. NINETEEN RECEIVED A PRESIDENTIAL AWARD OF DISTINCTION. AND OF THE 19, NINE WERE JAPANESE INCLUDING THE ALL-JAPAN SEAMEN'S UNION. CONGRATULATIONS AT ARIGATO, ALL-JAPAN SEAMEN'S UNION. PERO BINABATI KO RIN HINDI LANG KAYONG LAHAT PATI NA RIN ANG PHILIPPINE EMBASSY LALO NA... LALO NA DAHIL BUKAS SILA NGAYON KAHIT SABADO. NAALAALA NINYO KASI MARAMI KAYO NUNG MINSAN NA NARITO AKO 'YON ANG ISANG IPINAGBILIN KO INOONG HULI AKO'Y NARITO. AT NATUTUWA RIN AKO NA PATULOY ANG SERBISYONG MEDIKAL PARA SA MGA KABABAYAN NATIN DITO SA JAPAN, SA PAKIKIPAGTULUNGAN SA IBA'T-IBANG ASOSASYON AT SAMAHAN. AT NAIS KO RING PASALAMATAN ANG PHILIPPINE ASSISTANCE GROUP NA KAAGAPAY NG ATING EMBAHADA SA PAGBIBIGAY NG REPATRIATION AT MEDICAL SERVICES SA ATING MGA KABABAYAN DITO. MY ADMINISTRATION IS DETERMINED TO BRING GOVERNMENT CLOSER TO OUR PEOPLE, INCLUDING THE OVERSEAS FILIPINOS. EVEN WHEN I WAS A SENATOR I ALREADY FELT THAT WAY. THAT'S WHY WHEN I WAS A SENATOR, I FILED AN OVERSEAS VOTING BILL, OTHER SENATORS DID TOO. SOME FILED BEFORE ME, SOME IN THE SAME SESSION, SOME AFTERWARDS BUT LIKE MANY OTHER OVERSEAS VOTING BILLS BEFORE AND AFTER MINE, AT THAT TIME WHEN I WAS SENATOR, MY BILL DIDN'T EVEN PROGRESS BEYOND THE COMMITTEE LEVEL. SO WHEN I BECAME PRESIDENT, I CERTIFIED AS ONE OF MY FIVE MOST URGENT BILLS, THE OVERSEAS VOTING BILL. NOW, AT LAST, FOR THE FIRST TIME AFTER SO MANY ATTEMPTS, THE OVERSEAS VOTING BILL HAS PASSED BOTH HOUSES OF CONGRESS. SALAMAT SA ATING SENATOR AT MGA CONGRESSMEN. AND LET'S PRAY THAT THE HOUSE AND THE SENATE CAN IRON OUT THEIR CONFLICTING PROVISIONS BECAUSE AS SOON AS THEY DO SO I WILL SIGN IT INTO LAW WITHIN 24 HOURS. AT BAGO KAMI UMALIS NG PILIPINAS, PINAG-ISIPAN NAMIN NILA SECRETARY PAT SANTO TOMAS KUNG ANO ANG MAGANDANG AGINALDONG MABIBIGAY SA INYO NGAYONG PASKO. AT ETO, MAGLULUNSAD TAYO NG MGA PROGRAMA UPANG MAKAPUNDAR SA KINABUKASAN NINYONG MGA PILIPINONG NAGTATRABAHO SA IBAYONG DAGAT HABANG PINAGAGANDA ANG BUHAY NINYO AT NG MGA PAMILYA NINYO SA PILIPINAS. HAYAAN NINYONG IHAYAG KO SA UNANG PAGKAKATAON NA TINALAGA KONG SUGO SA ATING MGA KABABAYANG NASA IBANG BANSA ANG AKING MAHAL NA KABIYAK, SI ATTORNEY JOSE MIGUEL ARROYO. SIYA NGAYON ANG AKING SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVE TO THE OFWs. KAYA LANG, MIKE, WALANG SUWELDO ITO (LAUGHTER) KUNDI ANG AKING PAGMAMAHAL. TUTULUNGAN SI MIKE NG ISANG INTER-AGENCY TEAM NA ANG MANGUNGUNA AY ANG DFA AT KASAMA ANG DOLE, HUDCC -- IYUNG SA HOUSING -- AT SAKA SSS NA MAGDADALA SA ATING MGA BAGONG BAYANI NG PROGRAMANG TINATAWAG NATING "KABAYANIHAN." AT DITO SA HAPON, INILULUNSAD ITONG PROGRAMANG ITO. THE "KABAYANIHAN" SEEKS TO INSTALL AN INTEGRATED DELIVERY OF BASIC SERVICES TO OFWs IN YOUR WORKSITE ABROAD AND ALSO AT HOME IN THE PHILIPPINES. UNDER THIS PROGRAM, YOU WILL BE ABLE TO AVAIL OF THE FOLLOWING SERVICES: OWWA ON-SITE WELFARE SERVICES INCLUDING EXPANDED AND VOLUNTARY MEMBERSHIP WITH OWWA. DOLE/OWWA/POEA ELECTRONIC IDENTIFICATION CARD OR E-CARD SERVICES. THE E-CARD IS THE ULTIMATE IDENTIFICATION CARD OF OFWs. WITH THAT E-CARD, IT WILL NO LONGER BE NECESSARY FOR AN OFW TO FALL IN LINE AT THE POEA TO OBTAIN AN OVERSEAS EMPLOYMENT CERTIFICATE FOR THE PURPOSE OF EXEMPTION FROM THE TRAVEL TAX AND THE AIRPORT TERMINAL FEE. SO, BY SIMPLY PRESENTING THE E-CARD, YOU CAN HAVE IMMEDIATE ACCESS ALSO TO OWWA WELFARE SERVICES, POEA PROCESSING REQUIREMENTS, AND EVEN DUTY FREE SHOP DISCOUNTS. YOU CAN ALSO USE THIS AS A CREDIT CARD AND AS AN ATM CARD FOR PHILIPPINE COMMERCIAL BANKS. ANOTHER SERVICE IS HEALTH MAINTENANCE SERVICE THROUGH THE OWWA MEDICARE PROGRAM.. THE OFW AND MEMBERS OF YOUR FAMILY WILL BE ENTITLED TO BENEFITS OVER AND ABOVE THOSE WHICH ARE GRANTED BY PHILHEALTH. ISA PANG SERBISYO, 'YUNG PAG-IBIG FUND. KANINA MASAYANG-MASAYA 'YUNG MGA PAG-IBIG DESK DOON. DAMI RAW NG NABENTA NILANG HOUSING SERVICES. THE DOLE AND THE PAG-IBIG FUND HAVE ALREADY SIGNED A MEMORANDUM OF AGREEMENT FOR THE JOINT IMPLEMENTATION OF THE PAG-IBIG OVERSEAS HOUSING PROGRAM. THIS PROGRAM AIMS TO EXPAND PAG-IBIG MEMBERSHIP AMONG OFWs AND PROVIDE YOU WITH THE OPPORTUNITY TO BUY YOUR OWN HOMES BACK HOME BUT AT VERY AFFORDABLE MEANS. AND I'D LIKE TO INFORM YOU THAT THE PAG-IBIG FUND HAS REDUCED THE EQUITY REQUIREMENTS OF ITS HOUSING PROGRAM FOR OFWs. KASI NUNG ARAW MALAKI ANG INYONG COUNTERPART. NGAYON, ILILIIT NA RIN NG PAG-IBIG. ISA PANG SERBISYO, 'YUNG SSS PROVIDENT FUND OR FLEXI-FUND SERVICES. ITO AY PARA SA OFWs LAMANG, EXCLUSIVELY. IT WAS DESIGNED TO ENABLE YOU TO SAVE YOUR HARD-EARNED MONEY WHILE WORKING ABROAD. WHEN YOU INVEST IN THE FLEXI-FUND AT A VERY AFFORDABLE COST, YOU ARE GUARANTEED CONTINUED EARNINGS AFTER YOUR RETIREMENT. SO, I ENCOURAGE YOU TO INVEST IN THE FLEXI-FUND. IT'S LIKE A SAVINGS ACCOUNT BUT WITH HIGHER INTEREST RATES. AND MORE IMPORTANTLY, YOU CAN WITHDRAW IT ANYTIME. UMPISA SA ENERO 2003, MAGBUBUKAS NA ANG "KABAYANIHAN" NG SARILING WEBSITE NA MAAARI NINYONG GAMITIN UPANG MAIPAABOT SA AKIN ANG INYONG MGA MUNGKAHI KUNG PAPAANO HIGIT PANG MAPAPABUTI NG PAMAHALAAN ANG MGA SERBISYO PARA SA INYO. BUKOD NAMAN SA "KABAYANIHAN" -- NGUNIT SUPORTADO KO RIN -- AY ANG PROGRAMA KUNG SAAN PUMAYAG SI BISE-PRESIDENTE TEOFISTO GUINGONA NA MANGUNA. ITO AY BINUO NG OVERSEAS FILIPINO INVESTMENT BOND NA MAGBIBIGAY NG SERBISYO MEDIKO AT SEGURO SA OFW, AT PABAHAY SA KATAPUSAN NG BOND. ANG PROGRAMA NIYA AYON DITO SA TAGUIG ITATAYO ANG UNANG PABAHAY SA OFWs AY KASAMA RIN SA PROGRAMA ANG PANUKALANG MAGNA CARTA FOR SEAFARERS. GAYA NANG SABI NI AMBASSADOR SIAZON AKO, SAMPU NG AKING MGA KASAMAHAN AY MULING NARITO THIS TIME SA ISANG STATE VISIT SA PAANYAYA NG EMPERADOR AT EMPERADORA NG BANSANG HAPON. BUT I'M HERE FOR THE SAME REASON I CAME TWO TIMES SINCE BECOMING PRESIDENT: TO FOCUS ON THE ECONOMY AND SECURITY OF THE PHILIPPINES. WHETHER IT'S THE FIGHT AGAINST GLOBAL TERRORISM OR IMPROVING OFFICIAL DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANCE, AT THE END OF THE DAY, IT'S ALWAYS ABOUT THE ECONOMY AND IMPROVING THE LIVES OF OUR PHILIPPINE CITIZENS. IF YOU REMEMBER, WHEN I BECAME PRESIDENT 20 MONTHS AGO, I INHERITED AN ECONOMY WITH 4 MILLION JOBLESS FILIPINOS AND A 40 PERCENT POVERTY INCIDENCE. TODAY, INSPITE OF THE GLOBAL SLOWDOWN, WE ARE AN ECONOMY THAT HAS DELIVERED ONE OF THE HIGHEST GROWTH RATES IN ASIA. IN THE FIRST THREE QUARTERS OF THIS YEAR, PHILIPPINE GDP GREW BY 4.1 PERCENT AND GNP -- WASN'T IT, DANTE -- 5 PERCENT? GDP WAS POWERED BY THE RECOVERY OF INDUSTRY AND CONTINUED STRENGTHENING OF SERVICES. INDUSTRY GREW BY 3.8 PERCENT BECAUSE EXPORTS GREW BY 9.5 PERCENT, AND CONSTRUCTION IS ON THE REBOUND. NCSO SAYS THAT CONSTRUCTION HAS REBOUNDED BY 25 PERCENT GROWTH. SERVICES GREW BY 5.1 PERCENT BECAUSE OF THE EXPANSION OF TELECOMS, TRADE AND PRIVATE SERVICES INCLUDING TOURISM. 'YUNG TURISMO NOONG OCTOBER ANG KANYANG GROWTH RATE COMPARED TO OCTOBER LAST YEAR WAS 39.5 PERCENT OR 40 PERCENT KAHIT NA MAY BALI BOMBING. AT ISA PANG NAGPALAKI SA ATING EKONOMIYA NGAYON YUNG FINANCIAL SECTOR MALIBAN SA BANGKO. IT HAS HOST INCLUDING INSURANCE. IT HAS POSTED THE HIGHEST GROWTH IN FOUR YEARS. PERO KUNG UMANGAT ANG ATING GDP NG 4.1 PERCENT, ANG ATING GNP AY UMANGAT NG 5. THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN OUR GNP AND GDP IS THE CONTRIBUTION OF OUR OVERSEAS FILIPINO WORKERS LIKE YOU. YOUR INCREASING REMITTANCES HAVE BOOSTED CONSUMPTION GROWTH IN THE PHILIPPINES. NANUNUOD AKO SA TV KAGABI, PINAPAKITA NILA 'YUNG MGA TIANGGE, 'YUNG MGA SHOPPING AREAS, PUNUNG-PUNO NG NAMIMILI NG CHRISTMAS SHOPPING AT NOVEMBER 30 PA LAMANG -- AH, NO, NO DECEMBER 1. A LOT OF IT IS BECAUSE OF THE MONEY YOU SENT. LAST YEAR, YOU, THE OVERSEAS FILIPINOS REMITTED SIX BILLION FOR THE WHOLE YEAR. THIS YEAR, FOR THE FIRST HALF OF THE YEAR, YOU ALREADY REMITTED FOUR BILLION. AND FOR THE FIRST THREE QUARTERS, YOU ALREADY REMITTED THE SIX BILLION THAT YOU REMITTED LAST YEAR. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR SUPPORT. SABI KO SA INYO OUR ECONOMIC GROWTH IS ONE OF THE HIGHEST IN ASIA TODAY. IN FACT, IT IS SURPASSED ONLY BY THE INDUSTRIAL GIANTS -- CHINA AND KOREA -- AND BY VIETNAM, WHICH STARTED FROM A MUCH LOWER BASE. OUR INFLATION RATE IS LOW AT 2.7 PERCENT. RICE FOR THE MASSES IS PRICED AT 14 OR 16 PESOS PER KILO. AT PAG MAY NAGSUSUMBONG NA SA ISANG PALENGKE AY WALA 'YUNG 16, AY AKO AY TINATAWAGAN KO AGAD ANG NFA. OUR INTEREST RATES ARE LOW, KAYA PANAHON NGAYON MAGPAG-IBIG KAYO AT BUMILI NG BAHAY. 'YUNG 91-DAY TREASURY BILL HAS BEEN STEADY AT 5 PERCENT. THESE RATES ARE AT THEIR LOWEST IN THE LAST FIFTEEN YEARS. KAYA TALAGA 'YUNG PAG-IBIG DOON DAPAT TALAGANG MASIGASIG ANG KANILANG SALES. WE ARE ALSO TAKING STEPS TO FURTHER STRENGTHEN OUR MACROECONOMIC FUNDAMENTALS. WE WILL CONTINUE TO BE VIGILANT IN OUR EFFORTS TO REDUCE OUR DEFICIT. ANG CUSTOMS, ANG BIR, AT ANG BAGONG TINAYO KONG -- 'YUNG BIR AT SAKA YUNG CUSTOMS -- 'YUNG BAGONG TINAYO KONG IYUNG ANTI-SMUGGLING INTELLIGENCE AND INVESTIGATION COMMISSION, NA NGAYON AY PINUPUNO NG MGA BAGONG COMMISSIONER AY KAILANGANG MAGTRABAHONG MASIGASIG. KASI ANG MENSAHE KO SA ATING MGA KABABAYAN SA PILIPINAS NA UMIIWAS MAGBAYAD NG BUWIS AY GANITO: "WHETHER YOU ARE BIG BUSINESS OR SMALL, FORGET THE ACCOUNTING TRICKS, JUST PAY YOUR TAXES AND DUTIES OR SEE YOU IN COURT." PERO KAYONG MGA OFW INCOME TAX EXEMPT KAYO, 'DI BA? KAYA TULUNGAN NA LANG NINYO AKONG MANAWAGAN SA INYONG MGA KAIBIGAN SA PILIPINAS NA MAGBAYAD NG TAMANG BUWIS. WE ARE SUSTAINING A NO-NONSENSE DRIVE AGAINST CORRUPTION, INSULATING OUR PROCEDURES BETTER FROM GRAFT, AND PUTTING GRAFT BUSTERS IN THE SENSITIVE AGENCIES. 'YUNG PEACE AND ORDER SITUATION NAMAN IT HAS IMPROVED. ANG REPORT NG ATING PULIS BAGO AKO UMALIS AY BUMABA NA NG 35 PERCENT ANG KIDNAPPING, DAHIL ANIM NA SINDIKATO AY NABUWAG NA NATIN. THE ADVERSE GLOBAL ENVIRONMENT HAS PROVIDED OPPORTUNITIES TO ADDRESS OUR NATIONAL SECURITY CONCERNS. NINE-ELEVEN, THE SUBSEQUENT WAR ON TERRORISM, AND THE LOOMING WAR IN IRAQ HAVE ALL COMBINED TO DAMPEN THE WORLD ECONOMY. BUT EVEN BEFORE 9-11, ALAM NAMAN NINYO, IN THE PHILIPPINES, WE WERE ALREADY WAGING A WAR ON TERRORISM. YOU WILL RECALL THAT THE ABU SAYYAF WAS ABLE TO GENERATE AT LEAST 20 MILLION DOLLARS IN RANSOM FROM SIPADAN, LONG BEFORE 9-11, WHICH STRENGTHENED THEIR CAPABILITY FOR TERROR. BUT WITH OUR DECISIVE RESPONSE TO 9-11, WE GAINED FOREIGN ALLIES IN OUR WAR AGAINST TERROR, WHICH HAS ENABLED US TO NEUTRALIZE THE NOTORIOUS ABU SABAYA LAST JUNE AND TO DEGRADE THE ABU SAYYAF STRENGTH FROM THOUSANDS TO HUNDREDS. NANANAWAGAN AKO NA IPAGPATULOY NINYO NA MAGDASAL PARA SA ATING PAMAHALAAN, PARA SA ATING BANSA KAGAYA NG DASAL NI FATHER KANINA. ITULOY NINYO ANG INYONG PAKIKI-ISA SA GOBYERNO UPANG LALONG TUMIBAY ANG ATING PAGKAKAISA SA IISANG PAMBANSANG LAYON NA MAAHON ANG ATING BANSA MULA SA KAHIRAPAN. NO PRESIDENT CAN BUILD A STRONG REPUBLIC SINGLE-HANDEDLY. I CAN DO THIS ONLY IF I CAN COUNT ON THE SUPPORT OF THE MORE THAN 7 MILLION FILIPINOS OVERSEAS. YOU, THE FILIPINOS IN JAPAN, ARE PART OF THE WELLSPRING OF SUPPORT, THE NETWORK OF FILIPINOS ALL OVER THE WORLD THAT I'M COUNTING ON. NAGPAPASALAMAT AKO SA INYONG PAGMAMALASAKIT SA ATING KAPWA PILIPINO AT SA ATING BAYAN. IPAGPATULOY NATIN ANG ATING MAGAGANDANG GAWAIN -- 'YUNG MGA BINANGGIT KO KANINANG GINAGAWA NINYO -- ANG ATING PAGBUBUKLOD-BUKLOD. SALAMAT AT NARITO KAYO KAHIT NA NANDITO NA KAYO NUNG ISANG TAON AT ITULOY NATIN ANG ATING PAGKAKAISA. SA INYONG LAHAT, MGA PILIPINO DITO SA HAPON, CONGRATULATIONS BECAUSE YOU ARE GREAT AMBASSADORS OF THE PHILIPPINES. YOU ARE GREAT FILIPINO WORKERS. MARAMING SALAMAT SA INYONG LAHAT. |
| PGMA's Speech before the Joint Session of the Diet (House of Councillors, National Diet of Japan Tokyo, Japan - 03 Dec 2002) |
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| THANK YOU VERY
MUCH. FIRST OF ALL, I WOULD LIKE TO THANK PRIME MINISTER KOIZUMI FOR BEING HERE TODAY TO LISTEN TO ME. THANK YOU, MR. PRIME MINISTER, YOU HONOR ME. PRESIDENT KURATA, SPEAKER WATANUKI, HONORABLE MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT, MEMBERS OF THE PHILIPPINE DELEGATION, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN. IT'S AN HONOR FOR ME TO BE IN THIS AUGUST ASSEMBLY TO EXPRESS TO THE JAPANESE PEOPLE, THROUGH THEIR DISTINGUISHED REPRESENTATIVES, THE APPRECIATION OF THE FILIPINO PEOPLE FOR WHAT JAPAN HAS BEEN TO US -- A RELIABLE ALLY, A SINCERE PARTNER, A COMPASSIONATE FRIEND. I UNDERTAKE THE FIRST STATE VISIT BETWEEN OUR TWO COUNTRIES IN THE NEW CENTURY. PRESIDENT RAMOS WAS THE LAST STATE VISITOR TO JAPAN FROM MY COUNTRY ALMOST A DECADE AGO. SINCE THEN, IN THE LAST 10 YEARS, SO MUCH HAS TAKEN PLACE WITHIN OUR TWO NATIONS, OUR REGION AND THE WORLD. IN MY COUNTRY, THE PAST DECADE SAW EFFORTS TO DEEPEN THE ROOTS OF DEMOCRACY AND PRIVATE ENTERPRISE, RESTRUCTURE THE ECONOMY AND MAKE PHILIPPINE INDUSTRY MORE GLOBALLY COMPETITIVE. IT ALSO SAW FILIPINOS RISE AS ONE TO MANIFEST THEIR ABHORRENCE OF CORRUPT GOVERNMENT, THEIR YEARNING FOR GENUINE SOCIAL JUSTICE AND FOR FREEDOM FROM THE SHACKLES OF PATRONAGE. AFTER 10 YEARS, EAST ASIA -- OUR COMMON HOME -- IS ALSO A DEEPLY CHANGED PLACE. WITH PEACE REGAINED IN CAMBODIA, STABILITY HAS BEEN RESTORED TO INDOCHINA. THE THREE DECADE-OLD DREAM OF A SOUTHEAST ASIA UNITED UNDER ASEAN HAS BEEN REALIZED. HONG KONG AND MACAO HAVE PEACEFULLY REJOINED THE SOVEREIGNTY OF CHINA. EAST TIMOR HAS BECOME THE NEWEST MEMBER OF THE COMMUNITY OF NATIONS. YET, THE LUSTER AND EXUBERANCE OF THE BOOM YEARS ARE GONE, MUTED BY THE CRISIS FEW THOUGHT COULD HAPPEN. AND JUST AS COUNTRIES IN THE REGION WERE AGAIN GETTING BACK TO THE RHYTHM OF NORMALCY, TERROR STRUCK IN BALI. ON THE GLOBAL SCALE, INTERDEPENDENCE IS SO MUCH TRUER NOW THAN TEN YEARS AGO. MULTILATERALISM IN PURSUIT OF WORLD SECURITY AND ECONOMIC GOALS IS TAKING A FIRMER HOLD. BUT DIFFICULT GLOBAL CHALLENGES HAVE LIKEWISE MULTIPLIED OR DEEPENED. HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS STILL GO HUNGRY AND UNSCHOOLED AGAINST THEIR WILL. AS THE NEW CENTURY ROLED IN, WE AWAKENED TO THE FACT THAT NO COUNTRY, NOT EVEN THE MOST POWERFUL IS IMMUNE TO TRAGEDIES INFLICTED BY AGENTS OF DISCORD AND TERROR. DURING THE LAST TEN YEARS, WE SAW FREEDOM MARCH ON. BUT WE ALSO SAW THE RISE OF NEW FORCES RANGED AGAINST IT. WE SAW PEOPLES YEARNING TO CHART THEIR OWN DESTINY AND ACHIEVE NATIONHOOD. BUT WE ALSO WITNESSED PEOPLE LOSE CONTROL OF THEIR NATIONS TO THE THUGS OF RADICALISM. WE SAW KINDNESS MOBILIZED TO COMFORT THE AFFLICTED. BUT WE ALSO SAW FEAR AND INTOLERANCE CREEP UPON MANY NATIONS. THE CHALLENGES ARE ENORMOUS; THE THREATS ARE MANY. WE JUST HAVE TO KEEP CARRYING ON WITH COURAGE AND A SINGLENESS OF AIM. FOR THE LARGER TRUTH IS THAT FREE PEOPLE HAVE IN THEIR OWN HANDS THE CAPACITY TO OVERCOME ADVERSITY, TO PROSPER AND TO STAY FREE. MY COUNTRY WAS FORTUNATE TO BE SPARED THE FULL BRUNT OF THE ASIAN CRISIS. THOUGH BARELY, THE PHILIPPINE ECONOMY MANAGED TO GROW EVEN WHILE THE FINANCIAL STORM WAS CUTTING A WIDE SWATH OF DEVASTATION IN THE REGION. THIS ENCOURAGED MANY ANALYSTS TO EXPECT OUR ECONOMY TO REBOUND FAST AND STRONGLY AS THE STORM PASSED. BUT REGRETFULLY, IT ALSO ENCOURAGED COMPLACENCY. THUS, MY ADMINISTRATION WAS TO INHERIT AN ECONOMY THAT HAD LOST MOMENTUM, HAD LOST STEAM. WITH CONFIDENCE IN THE PAST LEADERSHIP FAST EBBING, AND CAPITAL FLIGHT AND FIERCE COMPETITION PUMMELING ITS ECONOMY, THE COUNTRY WAS CAST ADRIFT JUST ABOUT WHEN IT NEEDED MOST A FIRM MOORING. WHEN I ASSUMED OFFICE IN JANUARY 2001, LAST YEAR, MY MOST IMMEDIATE TASKS WERE TO RALLY MY NATION OUT OF DESPAIR AND TO RESTORE BUSINESS CONFIDENCE. WE REINED IN THE RISING INTEREST RATES THAT STUNTED BUSINESS. WE STEMMED THE RISING PRICES THAT DENIED THE POOR ACCESS TO MANY OF THEIR BASIC NEEDS. WE RESTORED THE PEOPLE'S TRUST IN THE INTEGRITY OF THE HIGHEST LEADERSHIP OF GOVERNMENT. PRIVATE ANALYSTS FORECASTED PHILIPPINE GROWTH IN 2001 TO BE BELOW THREE PERCENT BUT GDP ACTUALLY GREW BY 3.4 PERCENT AND GNP BY 3.7 PERCENT IN THE FIRST YEAR OF MY ADMINISTRATION. NOW, IN THE FIRST THREE QUARTERS OF THIS YEAR, GDP GREW BY 4.1 PERCENT AND GNP BY 5 PERCENT. GDP WAS POWERED BY THE RECOVERY OF INDUSTRY AND CONTINUED STRENGTHENING OF SERVICES. INDUSTRY GREW BY 3.8 PERCENT BECAUSE EXPORTS GREW BY 9.5 PERCENT. AND PRIVATE CONSTRUCTION IS ON THE REBOUND. SERVICES GREW BY 5.1 PERCENT BECAUSE OF THE EXPANSION IN TELECOMMUNICATIONS, TRADE AND PRIVATE SERVICES INCLUDING TOURISM. AND WITH CONTINUED RESPONSIBLE FISCAL MONETARY AND SUPPLY SIDE POLICIES, INFLATION AND INTEREST RATES ARE THE LOWEST IN MORE THAN A DECADE. GIVEN THE HURDLES THAT THE PHILIPPINE ECONOMY HAD TO OVERCOME, THE ONLY EXPLANATION TO OUR ECONOMIC PERFORMANCE HAS BEEN THE RESOURCEFULNESS AND INDUSTRY OF THE GREAT FILIPINO WORKERS, AS WELL AS THEIR SUPPORT FOR THE POLICIES OF THE NEW GOVERNMENT. MY ECONOMIC TEAM AND I ARE DETERMINED TO FULLY RESTORE THE ECONOMY'S FINANCIAL HEALTH AND TO FURTHER IMPROVE BUSINESS CONDITIONS FOR INVESTMENT. WE HAVE INITIATED A BUDGET DEFICIT REDUCTION PROGRAM TO PREVENT GOVERNMENT FROM CROWDING OUT THE PRIVATE SECTOR FOR INVESTMENT FUNDS. WE ARE ALSO FOCUSED ON CONTINUED PRICE STABILITY. TO FURTHER STRENGTHEN THE FINANCIAL SECTOR, MY URGENT PROPOSAL TO CREATE A SPECIAL ASSET MANAGEMENT COMPANY SECTOR, DESIGNED TO EFFICIENTLY ADDRESS THE NON-PERFORMING LOAN PROBLEMS OF THE BANKING SYSTEM, HAS ALREADY PASSED BOTH HOUSES OF THE PHILIPPINE CONGRESS. OUR OVERRIDING VISION IS TO CONQUER POVERTY WITHIN THE FIRST DECADE OF THIS CENTURY BY BUILDING A STRONG PHILIPPINE REPUBLIC. DEVELOPMENT IS AN ENORMOUS TASK. IN THIS GLOBALIZED WORLD, IT IS ALSO PRACTICALLY IMPOSSIBLE TO GO IT ALONE. WE KNOW THIS WELL: "FORTRESS ECONOMIES WITHER, CLOSED ECONOMIES DIE." THAT IS THE REASON WHY SINCE THE EDSA REVOLUTION THAT REINSTALLED DEMOCRACY IN MY COUNTRY IN 1986, SUCCESSIVE ADMINISTRATIONS HAVE PURSUED A CONTINUOUS PATH OF ENGAGING WITH THE WORLD. WE NEED ASEAN. WE NEED APEC. WE NEED EAST ASIA. WE NEED JAPAN. FOR THE PHILIPPINES, COOPERATION IS BEST ACHIEVED THROUGH ONE EAST ASIA. EAST ASIA'S ECONOMIC MIRACLE IS FIRST AND FOREMOST ABOUT PEOPLE. THE MIRACLE IS THAT, FOR THE FIRST TIME, THE MAJORITY OF CHILDREN IN THE REGION HAVE BECOME BETTER SCHOOLED FOR LIFE IN AN ERA OF FAST, FLEETING AND PROFOUND CHANGE. THIS HAS PERMITTED FAMILIES TO ATTAIN THE HIGHEST SAVINGS RATES IN THE WORLD, NOT SIMPLY, AS IN THE PAST, TO HEDGE AGAINST HARD TIMES, BUT INCREASINGLY TO INVEST IN A BRIGHTER AND MORE BRILLIANT NEXT GENERATION. IT HAS MEANT, FOR THE FIRST TIME IN THE REGION'S HISTORY, THAT A MIDDLE CLASS COULD BE RAISED, NURTURED AND POISED TO BECOME LEADERS IN TRANSFORMING THEIR SOCIETIES. OUR REDEMPTION AND OUR FUTURE ARE ALREADY HERE, ALREADY IN OUR HANDS -- THEY LIE IN OUR PEOPLE. WE MUST NOT WASTE THIS MOST VALUABLE, THIS MOST PRECIOUS RESOURCE. THAT WAS WHY WHEN THE 1997 CRISIS VERY NEARLY DID, TO LAY THE HUMAN RESOURCES TO WASTE WAS TRULY UNFORTUNATE. ALMOST OVERNIGHT, AS GOOD JOBS VANISHED, AS SAVINGS WERE DECIMATED, AS PURCHASING POWER ERODED AND AS CONSUMER AND INVESTOR CONFIDENCE EVAPORATED, THE NASCENT MIDDLE CLASS WAS BESIEGED. FAMILIES WERE BEING SWALLOWED UP AGAIN INTO THE RANKS OF THE POOR. FOR THE FIRST TIME IN TWO OR THREE DECADES, THE WAR AGAINST POVERTY WAS IN DANGER OF BEING LOST IN MANY PARTS OF THE REGION. THE DANGER CAME AND PASSED. WE WERE BRUISED BY IT BUT NOT COMPLETELY MAIMED, BECAUSE WE WERE NOT ALONE. WE HAD FRIENDS AND PARTNERS TO ASSIST US. ONE OF THEM, AND WE WILL ALWAYS REMEMBER THIS -- IS JAPAN. WITH THE COUNSEL OF HINDSIGHT, LET'S LOOK TO THE FUTURE. THE CONTINUING CHALLENGE IS TO BUILD, THROUGH OUR JOINT EFFORTS, THE CAPACITY IN THE REGION TO PREVENT THE RECURRENCE OF ECONOMIC SHOCKS LIKE THE ONE THAT HIT US IN 1997. THE ASEAN+3 CHIANG MAI INITIATIVE IS A LANDMARK AGREEMENT FOR, AMONG OTHER THINGS, HARNESSING REGIONAL COORDINATION OF ECONOMIC AND MONETARY POLICIES TO ENSURE STABILITY OF CURRENCY AND FINANCIAL MARKETS. IN SOUTHEAST ASIA, WE ARE FORGING TOWARDS FULL IMPLEMENTATION OF AFTA. BARELY A MONTH AGO, ASEAN AND CHINA SIGNED THE FRAMEWORK FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE ASEAN-CHINA FREE TRADE AREA, WHILE ASEAN AND JAPAN AGREED ON THE FRAMEWORK FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A COMPREHENSIVE ECONOMIC PARTNERSHIP. EXPECTEDLY, NOT EVERYONE IS AGREED ON THE SIGNIFICANCE OR DESIRABILITY OF THESE REGIONWIDE DEVELOPMENTS. FOR INSTANCE, SOME SEE THE SLIDE OF ASEAN's INTO IRRELEVANCE. SOME WARN THAT SMALLER SOUTHEAST ASIAN NATIONS RISK NEEDING TO DEFER, ONCE AGAIN, TO THE LARGER POWERS. BUT THE FACT THAT ASEAN HAS MANY "SUITORS" SHOWS ITS ATTRACTIVENESS, ITS "RELEVANCE" HERE AND NOW. BUT DOES ONE NECESSARILY BECOME IRRELEVANT BY MARRYING INTO A FAMILY, EVEN A BIGGER FAMILY? I DO NOT BELIEVE SO. THE EMERGENCE OF CHINA AS A MARKET ECONOMY IS INTEGRAL TO THE FURTHER GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT OF EAST ASIA. THE PHILIPPINES REGARDS IT AS A CATALYST FOR MORE RAPID EXPANSION AND GREATER STABILITY IN ASIA. BUT FOR NOW AND THE FORESEEABLE FUTURE, ASEAN's NEED FOR JAPAN AND ITS CONTINUED COOPERATION IS FAR MORE ESSENTIAL. THE REVIVAL OF THE JAPANESE ECONOMY, THE RESUMPTION OF ITS TRADITIONAL ROLE AS A GROWTH ENGINE IS OF UTMOST IMPORTANCE TO THE PHILIPPINES, TO EAST ASIA, TO THE WORLD. ON THE BILATERAL PLANE, THE RECENT ENTRY INTO FORCE OF THE JAPAN-SINGAPORE COMPREHENSIVE PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT INSPIRES OUR EFFORTS TO CONCLUDE AN APPROPRIATE AGREEMENT BETWEEN OUR TWO COUNTRIES -- THE PHILIPPINES AND JAPAN. IN OUR VIEW, AN IDEAL FOR THE PROPOSED AGREEMENT IS TO MAXIMIZE THE MANY AREAS OF COMPLEMENTARITY BETWEEN OUR TWO ECONOMIES. ONE SUCH AREA IS HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT. ONE FACET OF OUR HRD COMPLEMENTARITY INVOLVES THE DEMOGRAPHIC REALITIES IN OUR TWO COUNTRIES. JAPAN HAS AN AGING POPULATION WHILE THE PHILIPPINES HAS A YOUNG POPULATION WHICH SUPPLIES SOME OF THE BEST-TRAINED AND MOST COMPASSIONATE HEALTH CARE WORKERS IN THE WORLD. A GROWING NUMBER OF COUNTRIES IN NORTH AMERICA, EUROPE AND THE MIDDLE EAST NOW HOST THIS FILIPINO HEALTH CARE GIVERS. IN SIMILAR VEIN, JAPAN IS THE ACKNOWLEDGED LEADER IN THE REGION IN THE FIELD OF ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY INCLUDING ICT AND CAPITAL-INTENSIVE INDUSTRY. THE PHILIPPINES, ON THE OTHER HAND, IS WELL-ACKNOWLEDGED INTERNATIONALLY FOR ITS TOP-QUALITY KNOWLEDGE WORKERS. WE CAN DEVISE THE RIGHT ARRANGEMENTS TO TAKE FULLER ADVANTAGE OF THESE REALITIES. BUT ALL THESE PROSPECTS, ALL THE EXCITING POSSIBILITIES FOR ECONOMIC REVIVAL OR ADVANCEMENT IN MY COUNTRY OR IN JAPAN, OR IN THE REGION MAY NOT SEE THE LIGHT OF DAY WITHOUT A PEACEFUL AND STABLE POLITICAL AND SECURITY ENVIRONMENT. SOME PARTS OF OUR REGION ARE A TINDERBOX OF INTER-ETHNIC TENSION, AND LONG BEFORE THIS A BATTLEFIELD OF IDEOLOGICAL RIVALRY AND A FOCAL POINT OF GEO-STRATEGIC COMPETITION IN THE COLD WAR. NO ONE CAN OR SHOULD SAY, TOO THAT THERE IS NO IMMEDIATE DANGER OF HOSTILITIES. BECAUSE, AS SEPTEMBER 11 HAS TAUGHT US, AS BALI HAS TAUGHT US, WE SOMETIMES DO NOT KNOW WHERE THE ENEMY LURKS, MUCH LESS WHERE OR WHEN IT WILL STRIKE NEXT. THERE ARE SERIOUS SECURITY FAULT LINES IN EAST ASIA. WE BOTH KNOW THEM SO WELL. OUR TWO COUNTRIES HAVE BEEN VERY CLOSE ALLIES FOR SO LONG AND, EVEN AS I SPEAK, WE CONTINUE TO WORK TOGETHER IN ADDRESSING SOME OF THESE. BUT WHEN OR HOW ANY OF THESE FAULT LINES WILL SNAP, NO ONE CAN TELL FOR CERTAIN. ALL WE CAN DO IS PREPARE. AND WHERE WE CAN, PROVIDE THE SAFETY NETS, THE SAFETY VENTS TO RELIEVE THE BUILD UP OF PRESSURE AND AVOID SUDDEN, MASSIVE EXPLOSIONS. UNDER CONDITIONS OF UNCERTAINTY, PRUDENCE IS THE BEST POLICY. VENTING PRESSURE IS PRUDENT AND OFTEN VERY EFFECTIVE. OPEN AND ACTIVE DIALOGUE, THROUGH THE ASEAN REGIONAL FORUM, THE ASEAN+3 PROCESSES AND ALL OTHER CHANNELS, MUST BE THE ENDURING MEANS FOR CLARIFYING THE SECURITY CONCERNS AND ASSESSMENTS OF COUNTRIES, FOR EXPLAINING NATIONAL DEFENSE DOCTRINES AND PLANS, AND FOR CONTAINING AND REMOVING TENSION. WE IN EAST ASIA MUST REINFORCE ALL ELEMENTS OF PREDICTABILITY, STABILITY AND BALANCE IN THE SECURITY FIELD. ON CERTAIN FRONTS, WE ARE MAKING TREMENDOUS PROGRESS. THE AGREEMENT SIGNED IN PHNOM PENH ON THE REGIONAL CONDUCT IN THE SOUTH CHINA SEA IS AN IMPORTANT BREAKTHROUGH. NOT ONLY FOR THE PHILIPPINES AND OTHER COUNTRIES IN THE IMMEDIATE VICINITY, BUT ALSO FOR COUNTRIES SERVED BY THAT MARITIME AREA. BUT ON OTHER FRONTS, RECENT DEVELOPMENTS ARE CAUSE FOR CONCERN. THE REVELATIONS ABOUT NUCLEAR WEAPONS DEVELOPMENT IN THE KOREAN PENINSULA ARE A BIG ISSUE. WE OPPOSE NUCLEAR WEAPONS PROLIFERATION AND WE WILL RESIST A NUCLEAR ARMS RACE IN EAST ASIA. APART FROM INTERNATIONAL TERRORISM, NEW TRANSNATIONAL THREATS TO PEACE, FREEDOM AND PROGRESS REQUIRE OUR JOINT ATTENTION AND ACTION. TRANSNATIONAL CRIME, INCLUDING THE ILLICIT TRADE IN NARCOTICS AND WEAPONS, TRAFFICKING IN HUMAN BEINGS, MONEY LAUNDERING, AND PIRACY IN THE HIGH SEAS, AS WELL AS TRANS-BOUNDARY ENVIRONMENTAL THREATS, ARE FIELDS FOR URGENT COOPERATION. ALL COUNTRIES IN OUR REGION, ESPECIALLY THOSE FOR WHOM FREEDOM IS A MATTER OF NATIONAL HONOR ARE WITHOUT A DOUBT DETERMINED TO DO MORE TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE STABILITY, SECURITY AND PEACE IN EAST ASIA. BUT ACTING SINGLY GREATLY LIMITS THEIR OPTIONS FOR POSITIVE ACTION. FOR SO LONG, JAPAN HAS BEEN ABLE TO CONTRIBUTE SO MUCH. YOUR PIVOTAL ROLE IN THE STABILIZATION OF CAMBODIA, IN THE TRANSITION TO NATIONHOOD OF EAST TIMOR, IN PROMOTING PEACEFUL DIALOGUES AS THE MEDIUM FOR SETTLING THE THORNY ISSUES IN THE KOREAN PENINSULA, AND IN SO MANY MORE ARENAS, THESE ACHIEVEMENTS OF JAPAN ARE NOT LOST ON US. AND WE CONGRATULATE YOU. THE LONG HISTORY OF COOPERATION BETWEEN OUR TWO COUNTRIES -- AS PARTNERS, AS FRIENDS, AS ALLIES -- IS SOLID BASIS FOR FURTHER AND MORE INTENSE COLLABORATION. WE BOTH MUST BE READY TO ACT AND OPERATE, WHERE NEEDED AND WHEN NECESSARY, AS ONE FORCE FOR REGIONAL SECURITY. TO FACE THE THREATS JOINTLY AND TO TRIUMPH -- THIS IS OUR COMMON MISSION. TO SHOW THE WORLD WHAT INTERDEPENDENCE MEANS FOR US: TO PRESERVE FREEDOM, TO WIN PROSPERITY IN THE 21st CENTURY AND FOR ALL TIME. THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER, MR. PRESIDENT, MR. PRIME MINISTER. |
| PGMA's Speech during the State Dinner hosted by their Majesties the Emperor and Empress of Japan (Banquet Hall, Imperial Palace Tokyo Japan -03 Dec 2002) |
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| YOUR
EXCELLENCIES, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN. IT'S MY GREAT HONOR AND PRIVILEGE TO BE IN JAPAN UPON YOUR MAJESTIES KIND INVITATION. THIS VISIT MANIFESTS THE DEEP FRIENDSHIP THAT BINDS OUR TWO COUNTRIES AND PEOPLES. AS THE RECENT EVENTS IN OUR REGION AND IN THE WORLD HAVE MADE CLEAR, ONLY THROUGH EARNEST ACTS OF FRIENDSHIP AND COOPERATION ESPECIALLY BETWEEN NEIGHBORS LIKE OURS CAN NATIONS HOPE TO EFFECTIVELY ADDRESS THE COMMON THREATS AND CHALLENGES FACING THEM. THE FRIENDLY RELATIONS BETWEEN THE PHILIPPINES AND JAPAN ARE BLESSED WITH A LONG HISTORY. THIS FRIENDLY TIES COULD BE TRACED AS FAR BACK AS THE EXILE OF LORD OKUN TAKAYAMA, A GREAT CHRISTIAN SAMURAI AND HIS FAMILY TO MANILA IN 1614. THREE CENTURIES AFTER THAT, THE PHILIPPINES BEGAN BENEFITING IMMENSELY FROM THE IMPORTANT CONTRIBUTIONS OF JAPANESE IMMIGRANTS TO OUR COUNTRY. ROAD CONSTRUCTION IN THE PHILIPPINE SUMMER CAPITAL OF BAGUIO, WHICH YOU VISITED, YOUR MAJESTIES RECEIVED A GREAT BOOSTS FROM THE FIRST LARGE WAVE OF JAPANESE MIGRATION TO MY COUNTRY IN 1903. THE CENTENNIAL OF JAPANESE IMMIGRATION TO THE PHILIPPINES NEXT YEAR IS AN IMPORTANT MILESTONE. AND WE ALREADY HAVE LINED UP APPROPRIATE ACTIVITIES TO MARK THE OCCASION. A SUBSEQUENT WAVE IN THE SAME YEAR LED TO THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A SIZABLE COMMUNITY OF JAPANESE DESCENT IN THE PROVINCE OF DAVAO IN THE ISLAND OF MINDANAO. THAT COMMUNITY BECAME A CATALYST FOR AGRICULTURAL DEVELOPMENT IN SOUTHERN PHILIPPINES WHICH TODAY SUPPLIES 90 PERCENT OF THE BANANAS AND THE GREAT BULK OF THE PINEAPPLES ENJOYED IN JAPAN TODAY. ON A MORE PERSONAL NOTE, I STILL VIVIDLY REMEMBER ANOTHER MILESTONE IN JAPAN-PHILIPPINE RELATIONS THAT YOUR MAJESTY TALKED ABOUT EARLIER -- THE VISIT OF YOUR MAJESTIES TO MANILA 40 YEARS AND ONE MONTH AGO. AND I AM VERY PROUD AND HONORED THAT IT WAS MY FATHER, THEN THE PRESIDENT OF THE PHILIPPINES, WHO HOSTED THE THEN VISITING CROWN PRINCE AND CROWN PRINCESS. YOUR VISIT TO MY COUNTRY, YOUR MAJESTIES SIGNAL THE CLOSE OF A DIFFICULT CHAPTER IN OUR COMMON HISTORY AND SIGNAL THE START OF A NEW ONE -- A CHAPTER OF TRUE FRIENDSHIP, A CLOSE ALLIANCE OF GENUINE PARTNERSHIP. THIS PARTNERSHIP HAS SINCE BORN MUTUALLY BENEFICIAL FRUITS FOR BOTH COUNTRIES. JAPAN HAS THROUGH ALL THESE YEARS BEEN A LEADING SUPPORTER OF PHILIPPINE EFFORTS FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT AND NATION-BUILDING. THE ASIAN FLU AND THE ASIAN CRISIS AFFECTED US BOTH. YET, AT THE HEIGHT OF THE FINANCIAL STORM THAT HIT FIVE YEARS AGO, JAPAN SOLIDARITY WAS A STRONG AND HEARTFELT PRESENCE IN MY COUNTRY AS IT WAS IN THE REST OF SOUTHEAST ASIA. YOU MAJESTIES, YOUR EXCELLENCIES, I'M HERE TO BUILD UPON A ROBUST BILATERAL PARTNERSHIP. THIS VISIT OF STATE IS THE FIRST BETWEEN OUR TWO COUNTRIES IN THE NEW CENTURY. AND IT COMES CLOSELY ON THE HEELS OF THE LAUNCH OF NEW COOPERATION PARADIGMS IN EAST ASIA. THE PHILIPPINES AND JAPAN ARE VITAL ALLIES IN BUILDING AND MAINTAINING PEACE AND STABILITY IN THE WHOLE REGION. OUR ALLIANCE CAN BE FURTHER STRENGTHENED. IT CAN BE EXPANDED TO REINFORCE THE MARCH TOWARDS REGIONAL INTEGRATION. JAPAN'S CONTRIBUTIONS TO GREATER EAST ASIAN INTEGRATION IS EXEMPLIFIED IN ITS ACTIVE SUPPORT FOR THE ASEAN+3 AND THE ASEAN REGIONAL FORUM PROCESSES. ITS COMPREHENSIVE ECONOMIC PARTNERSHIP INITIATIVES WITH ASEAN AND OTHER EAST ASIAN COUNTRIES AND ITS ROLE IN BUILDING THE PEACE FOUNDATION FOR STABILITY AND PROGRESS IN COUNTRIES LIKE CAMBODIA AND EAST TIMOR. IN THIS AND OTHER IMPORTANT INITIATIVES SUCH AS ON ISSUES OF IMMEDIATE CONCERN IN NORTHEAST ASIA, JAPAN'S UNFLINCHING ADVOCACY OF DIALOGUE HAS MY COUNTRIES FULL SUPPORT AND COOPERATION. EAST ASIA IS OUR COMMON HOME. IN THIS HOUSE, DIALOGUE PROVIDES THE BEST AVENUE FOR RESOLVING DIFFERENCES. IT CAN BE THE ONLY MEANS TO BRING CLOSURE TO A DIFFICULT TASK. WE HAVE WITNESSED HOW DIALOGUE COULD FACILITATE GREATER UNDERSTANDING AND CHART NEW AVENUES FOR COOPERATION. WE SAW THIS IN 1999 WHEN IN THE COURSE OF THE ASEAN+3 MEETINGS, MANILA HOSTED THE FIRST SUMMIT IN HALF A CENTURY BETWEEN THE LEADERS OF JAPAN, CHINA AND SOUTH KOREA. JAPAN AND THE PHILIPPINES HAVE BOTH LONG RECOGNIZED THAT COMMON STRANDS RUN THROUGH OUR STAKE IN THE DESTINY AND COHESION OF THE REGION. BY WORKING TOGETHER, WE CAN ADVANCE TOGETHER. OUR TWO COUNTRIES HAVE LAID FOUNDATIONS OF AMITY, DEEPER AND MORE SOLID THAN THOSE OF BRIDGES OR FACTORIES. I SAW THIS FIVE YEARS AGO WHEN THEIR MAJESTIES RECEIVED HERE, MY MOTHER, THE FIRST LADY, WHO WELCOMED THEM IN MANILA 40 YEARS AGO. OUR PEOPLE SHALL STRENGTHEN THIS FOUNDATION BY EVERY PASSING YEAR. GREATER THAN FIVE THOUSAND JAPANESE-FILIPINO COUPLES WHO EXCHANGED WEDDING VOWS EACH YEAR. THEY AND THEIR MANY CHILDREN WILL PROVIDE THE STRONGEST BONDS THAT WILL KEEP JAPAN-PHILIPPINE RELATIONS VIBRANT AND STRONG, THE BONDS THAT ONLY FAMILIES CAN BUILD. IN THAT SPIRIT AND IN BEHALF OF A GRATEFUL NATION, LET ME OFFER A TOAST. TO YOUR GOOD HEALTH, YOUR MAJESTY. |
| PGMA's Speech during the Opening Ceremony of the first E-Services Philippines I.T. Exhibition and Interactive Business Investment Seminar (Jetro Business Support Center Tokyo, Japan -03 Dec 2002) |
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| THANK YOU VERY
MUCH SECRETARY ROXAS. MR. WATANABE, CHAIRMAN AND CEO OF JETRO; MR. IZUKA, ALSO OF JETRO; SECRETARY GENERAL TAKASHI ONDA OF THE ASEAN-JAPAN CENTER; MR. SHOICHI KAMEYAMA, THE PRESIDENT OF JCCI-MANILA; MEMBERS OF THE PHILIPPINE DELEGATION -- PHILIPPINE OFFICIALS AND BUSINESS DELEGATION BOTH; SENIOR EXECUTIVES AND OFFICERS OF JETRO; DISTINGUISHED MEMBERS OF THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY IN JAPAN; AND OF COURSE, THE OTHER ORGANIZERS, SPONSORS AND EXHIBITORS OF THE FIRST PHILIPPINE I.T. EXHIBITION & BUSINESS SEMINAR IN JAPAN, GOOD AFTERNOON. IN BEHALF OF THE ENTIRE FILIPINO NATION, I THANK ALL OF YOU FOR PARTICIPATING IN THIS EVENT THAT MARKS A NEW AND EXCITING PHASE IN PHILIPPINE-JAPANESE TRADE AND INVESTMENT RELATIONS. I THANK IN PARTICULAR THE JAPANESE BUSINESSMEN WHO ARE WITH US TO EXPLORE THE MANY POSSIBILITIES OF MUTUALLY REWARDING PARTNERSHIPS. MY THANKS TO THE ORGANIZERS OF THIS EXHIBITION AND SEMINAR: JETRO, METI, THE JAPANESE EMBASSY IN MANILA -- MR. AMBASSADOR -- THE PHILIPPINE DEPARTMENT OF TRADE AND INDUSTRY, THE PHILIPPINE EMBASSY AND OUR EVENT SPONSORS: THE ASEAN-JAPAN CENTER, THE JAPANESE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY OF THE PHILIPPINES AND MEGAWORLD-EASTWOOD CITY CYBERPARK, AND ALL OUR SPEAKERS AND EXHIBITORS FOR PUTTING TOGETHER THIS PHILIPPINES FIRST "E-SERVICES PHILIPPINES: I.T. EXHIBITION AND BUSINESS INVESTMENT SEMINAR IN JAPAN" WE HAVE CHOSEN JAPAN TO BE THE FIRST COUNTRY OUTSIDE THE PHILIPPINES TO STAGE THIS E-SERVICES PHILIPPINES EXHIBITION TO SHOWCASE OUR UNIQUE OUTSOURCING CAPABILITIES WHICH GARTNER RESEARCH CALLS THE "BEST KEPT SECRET." BECAUSE JAPAN HAS A LONG HISTORY OF BUSINESS RELATIONSHIP WITH THE PHILIPPINES AND IT'S A WORLD LEADER IN INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY, AND LIKEWISE IN MANUFACTURING, TRANSPORTATION, CONSTRUCTION, ROBOTICS AND ANIMATION, TO MENTION A FEW, ALL OF WHICH DEPEND UPON INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES. IN THE AREA OF I.T. AND I.T.-ENABLED SERVICES, THERE IS A GROWING NUMBER OF JAPANESE INVESTMENTS AND OUTSOURCING INITIATIVES IN THE PHILIPPINES. THIS IS ESPECIALLY TRUE IN THE FIELDS OF ENGINEERING DESIGN, SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT, DIGITAL ANIMATION AND BACK OFFICE OPERATIONS. THE PHILIPPINES HAS ALSO ESTABLISHED ITSELF AS A PRODUCTION SUPPORT CENTER FOR THE FAMED JAPANESE ANIME'. LIKEWISE, WE FUNCTION REMOTELY AS YOUR BACK OFFICE OPERATIONS IN DOCUMENTATION, ACCOUNTING AND HUMAN RESOURCE MANAGEMENT SERVICES. WE ALSO PROVIDE YOUR BUSINESS' CUSTOMER SERVICES REQUIREMENTS IN ENGLISH AND IN OTHER ASIAN LANGUAGES THROUGH OUR NUMEROUS CALL CENTERS IN THE PHILIPPINES. THE JAPANESE COMPANIES THAT HAVE PARTNERED WITH PHILIPPINE-LOCATED I.T. FIRMS HAVE RECOGNIZED OUR QUALITY HUMAN RESOURCES WHOSE FLEXIBILITY AND CREATIVITY SET THEM APART FROM OTHER I.T. PLAYERS AS CITED BY A JETRO PUBLICATION, DATELINE, IN ITS NOVEMBER TO DECEMBER 2002 ISSUE. JAPANESE COMPANIES ARE SETTING THE TREND OF LOCATING THEIR I.T. AND I.T.-ENABLED OPERATIONS IN OTHER DEVELOPING HUBS IN OUR COUNTRY OUTSIDE METRO MANILA SUCH AS CALABARZON, SUBIC AND CEBU. THESE AREAS HAVE AN ABUNDANCE OF HIGHLY-TRAINABLE I.T. KNOWLEDGE WORKERS SUPPORTED BY THE PRESENCE OF TECHNICALLY COMPETENT SCHOOLS, GOOD TELECOMMUNICATIONS FACILITIES AND OFFER A LIFESTYLE COMPATIBLE WITH JAPANESE PREFERENCES. OUR EXPRESSION OF GRATITUDE WOULD NOT BE COMPLETE IF WE WILL NOT CITE YOUR SUPPORT IN THE PROMOTION OF ACCREDITATION PROGRAMS FOR FILIPINO I.T. PROFESSIONALS VIA THE JAPANESE INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY STANDARD EXAMINATION OR JITSE. LIKEWISE, JETRO HAS HELD SEMINARS FOR LOCAL I.T. INDUSTRIES IN MANILA AND CEBU, BACKED UP BY A BUSINESS MATCHING SYSTEM IN THEIR WEBSITE THAT AIMS TO PROMOTE BUSINESS THROUGH THE INTERNET. I HOPE THAT MY ADMINISTRATION STRONG SUPPORT FOR ICT, WHICH WE RECOGNIZE AS A KEY DRIVER OF OUR ECONOMY, REASSURES THEJAPANESE COMPANIES OF THE CONTINUED GROWTH OF YOUR ICT INTEREST IN OUR COUNTRY. I PERSONALLY HEAD THE I.T. AND E-COMMERCE COUNCIL OF THE PHILIPPINES. THIS IS OUR COUNTRY'S HIGHEST I.T. POLICY-MAKING BODY THAT COUNTS AMONG ITS MEMBERS MOST OF OUR RESPECTED I.T. INDUSTRY AND BUSINESS LEADERS. OUR ECONOMIES' RESPECTIVE STRENGTHS COMPLEMENT EACH OTHER VERY WELL. JAPAN'S LEADERSHIP IN VARIOUS TECHNOLOGICAL FIELDS CAN BE ADEQUATELY SUPPORTED BY THE PHILIPPINES' LARGE POOL OF QUALITY HUMAN RESOURCES WITH HIGH I.T. LITERACY, TO BOOST OUR JOINT I.T. PROSPECTS AND TAKE THEM TO UNCHARTED HEIGHTS. IN THIS REGARD, WE WISH TO FURTHER INTENSIFY OUR MUTUAL INITIATIVES IN E-SERVICES THROUGH THE FOLLOWING: ACCELERATION OF THE PROMOTION OF JAPANESE INVESTMENTS AND OUTSOURCING PROJECTS INVOLVING I.T. AND I.T.-ENABLED SERVICES; INTENSIFICATION OF THE CONDUCT OF TRAINING PROGRAMS RELATED TO ICT INNOVATION AND TECHNOLOGY ADVANCEMENT, WORKER SKILLS UPGRADING, AND PROJECT MANAGEMENT; CONTINUATION AND EXPANSION OF THE EXISTING CERTIFICATION PROGRAMS THAT ATTUNE FILIPINO I.T. WORKERS TO JAPANESE STANDARDS; FAST TRACKING OF INFORMATION EXCHANGE BETWEEN OUR TWO COUNTRIES TO FURTHER DEVELOP OUR RESPECTIVE ICT INDUSTRIES AND MARKET. THE OPPORTUNITIES WE FACE ARE TRULY TREMENDOUS. WITH THIS "E-SERVICES PHILIPPINES: I.T. EXHIBITION AND BUSINESS INVESTMENT SEMINAR," WE ARE TAKING THE FIRST STEP IN REALIZING SUCH PROSPECTS. WE HOPE TOO THAT WITH THIS EVENT, WE COULD ENCOURAGE YOU TO VISIT THE PHILIPPINES AND ATTEND THE THIRD "E-SERVICES PHILIPPINES: I.T. OUTSOURCING AND SUBCON EXHIBITION" WHICH WILL TAKE PLACE FROM FEBRUARY 13th TO 15th 2003 AT THE WORLD TRADE CENTER IN METRO MANILA. OUR PHILIPPINE DEPARTMENT OF TRADE AND INDUSTRY, WHICH IS ORGANIZING THIS EVENT, WILL SET UP THE APPROPRIATE SITE TOURS AND VISITS OUTSIDE OF THE EXHIBITION AND PROVIDE BUSINESS MATCHING SERVICES ESPECIALLY FOR THE JAPANESE DELEGATION. THE PHILIPPINE BOARD OF INVESTMENTS, JAPAN DESK AND THE JETRO, THROUGH THE BUSINESS SUPPORT CENTER THAT HAS JUST BEEN ANNOUNCED TODAY BY MR. WATANABE, WILL PROVIDE THE NECESSARY SUPPORT TO FIRMS INTENDING TO OUTSOURCE TO OR LOCATE IN THE PHILIPPINES. SO WE ENSURE YOU OF THE FULL RANGE OF BUSINESS FACILITATION. IN CLOSING, I INVITE ALL OF YOU TO MAKE I.T. THE PHILIPPINES FOR ALL YOUR I.T. AND I.T.-ENABLED BUSINESS REQUIREMENTS. WE PROUDLY WELCOME YOU TO ASIA'S NEW E-SERVICES HUB, THE PHILIPPINES, AND DISCOVER FOR YOURSELF THE WORLD'S "BEST KEPT SECRET." WITH THIS, I DECLARE THE FIRST-EVER "E-SERVICES PHILIPPINES: I.T. EXHIBITION IN JAPAN" OFFICIALLY OPEN. THANK YOU. |
| PGMA's Speech during the Luncheon hosted by the Heads of the Japanese Economic Organizations (Nippon Keidanren) (Rose Room, Tokyo Kaikan Tokyo, Japan (04 Dec 2002) |
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| THANK YOU,
SECRETARY ROXAS. CHAIRMAN YAMAGUCHI, CHAIRMAN OKUDA, CHAIRMAN KOBAYASHI, VICE CHAIRMAN SASAKI, CHAIRMAN TOLLUMI, CHAIRMAN KANEKO, OTHER DISTINGUISHED REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY, MEMBERS OF THE PHILIPPINE DELEGATION, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN. I'D LIKE TO THANK THE JAPANESE ECONOMIC ORGANIZATIONS FOR INVITING ME TO THIS LUNCHEON VISIT DURING MY STATE VISIT TO YOUR GREAT COUNTRY. IT IS IMPORTANT FOR ME TO MEET YOU OFTEN BECAUSE JAPAN, AS YAMAGUCHI SAN HAS SAID, IS THE SECOND LARGEST TRADE PARTNER OF THE PHILIPPINES, AND JAPAN ACCOUNTS FOR A SIZABLE AMOUNT OF FOREIGN DIRECT INVESTMENTS. YOUR OFFICIAL DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANCE CONSTITUTES MORE THAN 60 PERCENT OF WHAT THE PHILIPPINES RECEIVES FROM ABROAD. JAPAN'S ECONOMY IS THE SECOND LARGEST IN THE WORLD. JAPAN'S GDP IS MORE THAN HALF OF THE ENTIRE REGION. JAPAN HOUSES LEADING EDGE AND WORLD-CLASS COMPANIES LIKE YOURS IN INDUSTRIES SUCH AS AUTOMOBILE, INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY, ROBOTICS AND MACHINE TOOLS, TO NAME A FEW. IT IS THEREFORE IN OUR COLLECTIVE INTERESTS TO SEE JAPAN SUCCEED IN SUSTAINING ITS ECONOMY AS AN ENGINE OF GLOBAL GROWTH. LET ME NOW UPDATE YOU ON DEVELOPMENTS ABOUT THE PHILIPPINE ECONOMY. THE COUNTRY'S GROWTH IN THIS FIRST SEMESTER OF THIS YEAR IS THE HIGHEST SO FAR AMONG THE FIVE LEADING ECONOMIES IN SOUTHEAST ASIA. AND IN THE FIRST THREE QUARTERS OF THIS YEAR, PHILIPPINE GDP GREW BY 4.1 PERCENT. GDP WAS POWERED BY THE RECOVERY OF INDUSTRY AND CONTINUED STRENGTHENING OF SERVICES. INDUSTRY GREW BY 3.8 PERCENT BECAUSE EXPORTS GREW BY 8.9 PERCENT, AND PRIVATE CONSTRUCTION IS ON THE REBOUND. WHILE EXPORT FIGURES TO JAPAN HAVE BEEN SLUGGISH, DEMAND WITHIN OTHER PARTS OF ASIA MORE THAN TOOK UP THE SLACK, WITH EXPORTS TO CHINA ACCOUNTING FOR A LARGE SHARE. SERVICES GREW BY 5.1 PERCENT BECAUSE OF THE EXPANSION OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS, TRADE AND PRIVATE SERVICES, INCLUDING TOURISM. THE STRENGTH OF THE SERVICE SECTOR IS BASED LARGELY ON THE GAINS MADE BY THE LIBERALIZATION AND DEREGULATION MEASURES THAT THE PHILIPPINES HAS PURSUED OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS. THUS, FOLLOWING THE OPENING UP OF LONG DISTANCE SERVICE AND MANDATORY INTERCONNECTIONS, THE COMMUNICATIONS SECTOR CONTINUES TO REGISTER DOUBLE-DIGIT GROWTH RATES. AND WITH CONTINUED RESPONSIBLE MONETARY, FISCAL AND SUPPLY-SIDE POLICIES, INFLATION AND INTEREST RATES ARE THE LOWEST IN MORE THAN A DECADE. WE ARE WELL ON OUR WAY TO MEET THE WORLD BANK FORECAST OF AN OVERALL GDP GROWTH RATE OF AT LEAST 4 PERCENT FOR THE PHILIPPINES THIS YEAR, FROM THE 3.2 PERCENT THAT WAS ACHIEVED LAST YEAR. THE WORLD BANK FORECAST FOR THE PHILIPPINES IS THE HIGHEST AMONG THE FOUR SOUTHEAST ASIAN COUNTRIES THAT THE WORLD BANK RECENTLY REVIEWED. FURTHERMORE, THE WORLD BANK FORECASTS A GROWTH RATE OF 4.3 PERCENT FOR THE YEAR 2003. THE TRANSPORT SECTOR IS BENEFITING FROM THE MOTOR VEHICLE COMPLEMENTATION SCHEME IN SOUTHEAST ASIA, AND FROM THE GROWING TRADE IN SPARE PARTS AND COMPONENTS WITH EAST ASIA. IT IS IN THIS SECTOR THAT JAPAN HAS PROVEN TO BE A VERY IMPORTANT PLAYER, AND WE SHALL CONTINUE TO FOSTER OUR CLOSE PARTNERSHIP IN THIS AREA. IN SEEKING SUSTAINABLE GROWTH, MY ADMINISTRATION CONTINUES TO FOCUS UNSWERVINGLY ON BUILDING A STRONG PHILIPPINE REPUBLIC SIMILAR TO THE STRONG JAPANESE DEMOCRATIC NATION. TWO ESSENTIAL FEATURES MARK OUT A STRONG NATION. THE FIRST IS INDEPENDENCE FROM CLASS AND SECTORAL INTERESTS SO THAT THE NATION STANDS FOR THE INTEREST OF THE PEOPLE RATHER THAN OF A POWERFUL MINORITY. THE SECOND IS THE CAPACITY, REPRESENTED BY STRONG INSTITUTIONS AND A STRONG BUREAUCRACY, TO EXECUTE GOOD POLICY AND DELIVER ESSENTIAL SERVICES. MY ADMINISTRATION CONTINUES TO FOCUS ON THE ESSENTIAL SERVICES THAT CONCERN FIRMS THAT WOULD INVEST IN THE PHILIPPINES. THIS INCLUDES THE FOLLOWING: POWER. AS YAMAGUCHI SAN HAS SAID, OUR PROGRAM TO REFORM THE POWER SECTOR TO ASSURE ADEQUATE AND RELIABLE POWER SUPPLY TO CONSUMERS AND TO INDUSTRY WAS INITIATED WITH THE PASSAGE OF THE ELECTRIC POWER INDUSTRY REFORM ACT LAST YEAR. IT WAS PASSED LAST YEAR AFTER A DELAY OF 10 YEARS. AND I THANK SENATOR PIMENTEL AND THE CONGRESSMEN AND CONGRESSWOMAN WHO ARE PRESENT HERE TODAY BECAUSE THEY WERE THE ONES WHO DID THAT FOR OUR REPUBLIC. SINCE THEN, POWER COST HAVE GONE DOWN. FROM BEING THE ECONOMY WITH THE SECONDMOST EXPENSIVE ELECTRICITY RATES IN THE REGION, THE PHILIPPINES HAS GONE DOWN TO BEING NUMBER SIX. AND WE AIM TO REDUCE POWER COST EVEN MORE THROUGH A COMPREHENSIVE ENERGY LIBERALIZATION PROGRAM THAT COVERS POWER GENERATION, TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION. FOR THE WORK FORCE. THE JAPANESE ARE WITNESSES TO THE CREATIVITY, INDUSTRIOUSNESS AND SKILL OF THE GREAT FILIPINO WORKER. AND NOW WITH ALL OUR EFFORTS, WE HAVE THE LOWEST STRIKE RATE IN THE LAST 20 YEARS. THE COUNTRY'S MAINSTREAM LABOR GROUPS HAVE ANNOUNCED THAT THEY ARE SUSPENDING DEMANDS FOR WAGE INCREASES. THE REPRESENTATIVES OF WORKERS AND EMPLOYERS IN THE AUTOMOTIVE INDUSTRY RECENTLY COMMITTED TO PROMOTE PRO-ACTIVE AND RESPONSIBLE USE OF PLANT LEVEL MECHANISMS IN SETTLING DISPUTES TO PREVENT THEM FROM MATURING INTO ADVERSARIAL ACTIONS. AS FOR THE RULE OF LAW. THE PHILIPPINES HAS A STABLE SYSTEM OF LAW AND GOVERNMENT, AND GREAT TRANSPARENCY IN THE MEDIA THAT FORCES THE OFFICIALS TO BEHAVE. IN THE AREA OF INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS, SIGNIFICANT GAINS ARE BEING MADE NOT ONLY IN TERMS OF CONFORMITY TO GLOBAL RULES, BUT ALSO IN TERMS OF VERY AGGRESSIVE IMPLEMENTATION. COMPARED TO OTHER COUNTRIES, THE PHILIPPINES HAS A COMPETITIVE EDGE IN TERMS OF THE ENVIRONMENT FOR INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY. ON PEACE AND ORDER. MY ADMINISTRATION IS DISMANTLING KIDNAP SYNDICATES AND GETTING RID OF RASCALS IN THE POLICE, ESPECIALLY IN METRO MANILA. ON THE OTHER HAND, THE GLOBAL ENVIRONMENT, THE ADVERSE GLOBAL ENVIRONMENT HAS PROVIDED OPPORTUNITIES TO ADDRESS OUR NATIONAL SECURITY CONCERNS. NINE-ELEVEN, THE SUBSEQUENT WAR ON TERRORISM, AND THE LOOMING WAR IN IRAQ HAVE ALL COMBINED TO DAMPEN THE WORLD ECONOMY. BUT EVEN BEFORE 9-11, WE HAD ALREADY BEEN WAGING A WAR ON TERRORISM. YOU WILL RECALL THAT THE ABU SAYYAF WAS ABLE TO GENERATE AT LEAST 20 MILLION DOLLARS IN RANSOM FROM SIPADAN IN THE YEAR 2000 WHICH STRENGTHENED THEIR CAPABILITY FOR TERROR. BUT WITH OUR DECISIVE RESPONSE TO 9-11, WE HAVE GAINED FOREIGN ALLIES IN OUR WAR AGAINST TERROR, WHICH ENABLED US TO NEUTRALIZE THE NOTORIOUS ABU SABAYA LAST JUNE AND TO DEGRADE THE ABU SAYYAF STRENGTH FROM THOUSANDS TO A COUPLE OF HUNDREDS. THE PHILIPPINES IS POSITIONING ITSELF WITHIN EAST ASIA -- THE REGION OF THE HIGHEST GROWTH IN THIS CENTURY -- AS A REGIONAL HUB. GEOGRAPHICALLY, THE PHILIPPINES IS LOCATED IN THE CENTER OF THE ASIA-PACIFIC, WHICH MEANS ALL MAJOR ASIAN CITIES CAN BE REACHED IN 3 TO 4 HOURS. BUT WE INTEND TO BECOME A REGIONAL HUB NOT ONLY BY VIRTUE OF PROXIMITY, BUT ALSO BY PROVIDING SERVICES TO THE REGION. FIRST, IN INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS SERVICES. THE PHILIPPINES HAS AN INTERNATIONAL REPUTATION FOR ITS EDGE IN EDUCATION, ENGLISH PROFICIENCY, ADAPTABILITY AND EXPERTISE IN E-COMMERCE. THE PHILIPPINES IS HIGHLY COMPETITIVE IN TERMS OF GETTING QUALITY LABOR IN QUANTITY. AS AN ENGLISH-LITERATE COUNTRY, THE PHILIPPINES IS ABLE TO ABSORB HIGH TECHNOLOGY EASILY. THIS IS WHY WORLD-CLASS FIRMS SUCH AS INTEL, TEXAS INSTRUMENTS AND AMKOR ANNAM HAVE A STRONG PRESENCE IN OUR COUNTRY AS WELL AS OTHER JAPANESE FIRMS THAT EXHIBITED IN YESTERDAY'S I.T. EXHIBITION. THE GROWTH OF PRIVATE SERVICES SUCH AS CALL CENTERS, BACKROOM OPERATIONS AND SOFTWARE DESIGN IS ACCELERATING EVEN AS MY GOVERNMENT CONTINUES TO CULTIVATE A DYNAMIC I.T. SECTOR. THE I.T. FAIR BEING HELD IN TOKYO IS A MAJOR VENUE WHERE OUR I.T. FIRMS CAN MERGE THEIR STRENGTHS. AS A REGIONAL HUB, THE PHILIPPINES IS WELL-POSITIONED TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE RAPIDLY EXPANDING MARKET OF CHINA. WITH REGARD CHINA, ESPECIALLY AFTER ITS ACCESSION TO THE WTO, WE SEE THIS AS A LUCRATIVE MARKET FOR OUR LOGISTICS SERVICES, MANUFACTURING AND COMMODITY FIRMS. BEFORE CHINA JOINED THE WTO, WE HAD A TRADE DEFICIT WITH CHINA OF 300 MILLION DOLLARS. AFTER CHINA ENTERED WTO, WE NOW ENJOY A TRADE SURPLUS OF 700 MILLION DOLLARS. WE ARE ALSO WORKING TO MAKE MAKATI, WHOM MANY OF YOU KNOW AS OUR PREMIER COMMERCIAL CENTER, A SPECIFIC URBAN TOURIST DESTINATION. THE BIGGEST SPENDING JAPANESE TOURIST IS THE SINGLE WORKING FEMALE. THEY PREFER URBANIZED DESTINATIONS LIKE HONGKONG AND HONOLULU, WHERE THEY TRAVEL IN SMALL GROUPS OF FRIENDS FOR SHOPPING AND REST AND RECREATION. MAKATI IN THE PHILIPPINES WITH ITS COMPACT, EASY TO SECURE LOCATION, WORLD-CLASS MALLS, ENTERTAINMENT FACILITIES AND CHEAP SHOPPING CAN BE PROMOTED AS AN ATTRACTIVE DESTINATION WITH A SIDE TRIP TO ONE OF OUR MANY BEACH RESORTS AS PART OF THE PACKAGE. I HAVE INSTRUCTED THE DEPARTMENT OF TOURISM TO SPECIFICALLY PROMOTE THIS CONCEPT TO JAPAN'S TOURIST AGENCIES AND BUREAUS BY HOSTING GROUPS OF OFFICIALS OF SUCH AGENCIES AND BUREAUS TO COME TO THE PHILIPPINES TO SEE FOR THEMSELVES. AS WE POSITION OURSELVES TO BE A REGIONAL HUB, WE ALSO TAKE CARE OF ENSURING THE PROPER MACROECONOMIC ENVIRONMENT FOR BUSINESS FIRMS TO THRIVE. WE HAVE PUT TOGETHER A GOOD NEW TEAM TO INCREASE OUR TAX COLLECTIONS. IT IS HEADED BY A NEW COMMISSIONER OF INTERNAL REVENUE WHO IS PRECEDED BY HIS IMPRESSIVE RECORD WHEN HE WAS COMMISSIONER OF CUSTOMS, AND WHO HAS THE PERSONAL INTEGRITY, THE TECHNOLOGICAL COMPETENCE, AND THE PEOPLE'S SKILLS TO MEET THE TARGET SET FOR THE REST OF THE MEDIUM-TERM PLAN PERIOD. HIS WORK WILL BE COMPLEMENTED BY A NEW ANTI-SMUGGLING INTELLIGENCE AND INVESTIGATION COMMISSION. WE ARE COMMITTED TO NOT ONLY SHORT-TERM BUT LONG-TERM STRUCTURAL REFORMS. THE SPECIAL ASSET MANAGEMENT COMPANY BILL, WHICH HAS NOW PASSED BOTH HOUSES OF CONGRESS SHOULD FREE UP MORE BANK RESOURCES FOR EXPORT AND OTHER PROJECTS THAT THE GOVERNMENT IS NOT IN A FISCAL POSITION TO FUND. THE BILL TO MAKE LAND ACCEPTABLE AS BANK COLLATERAL, WHICH PASSED THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES LAST WEEK WILL STIMULATE PRIVATE INVESTMENTS IN AGRICULTURE. IN THE INTERNATIONAL FRONT, THE PHILIPPINES ATTACHES GREAT IMPORTANCE TO ENSURING THAT THE DOHA ROUND OF THE WTO DELIVERS ITS PROMISE TO MAINSTREAM TRADE INTO THE DEVELOPMENT AGENDA SO THAT IT CAN CONTRIBUTE TO ECONOMIC GROWTH, SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT AND POVERTY ALLEVIATION. IN THE REGIONAL FRONT, THE INTEREST OF JAPAN, CHINA AND INDIA, THE DOMINANT ECONOMIES IN ASIA TO JOIN THE ASEAN FREE TRADE AREA INDICATES THE COMFORTING STRENGTH OF THE LARGER, INTEGRATED MARKETS. BY CREATING A POWERFUL TRADE AREA, WE EXPECT BUSINESS FIRMS LIKE YOURS TO DIRECT YOUR INVESTMENTS INTO THE NATURAL STRENGTHS OF THE VARIOUS MEMBER-ECONOMIES. IT MAKES PERFECT SENSE NOT TO LIMIT YOUR INVESTMENTS TO ONLY ONE COUNTRY, SO THAT YOU CAN HEDGE AGAINST POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC RISKS. JAPAN WILL ALWAYS BE AN IMPORTANT PARTNER OF THE PHILIPPINES, AND INDEED OF THE WHOLE EAST ASIA REGION IN OUR COMMON RESOLVE TO BUILD A REGIONAL COMMUNITY WHERE THERE IS ECONOMIC AND HUMAN SECURITY, AND WHERE OUR PEOPLE WOULD BE ABLE TO REALIZE THEIR POTENTIALS IN KEEPING WITH THEIR FUNDAMENTAL VALUES. THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY HAS A LARGE ROLE TO PLAY IN REALIZING THIS VISION. SO I ASK YOU, LEADERS OF THE JAPANESE COMMUNITY, LET US MOVE FORWARD TOGETHER. LET US MAKE ASEAN PROSPEROUS. LET US MAKE THE PHILIPPINES PROSPEROUS BECAUSE THAT IS WHAT WILL MAKE JAPAN PROSPEROUS AND THEREFORE THE REST OF OUR REGION PROSPEROUS. THANK YOU. |
| PGMA's Opening Statement during a Press Conference at the Japan National Press Club (Nippon Press Center, Tokyo, Japan - 04 Dec 2002) |
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| THANK YOU VERY
MUCH, CHAIRMAN SUGITA. MANAGING DIRECTOR NABE; ESTEEMED MEMBERS OF THE JAPAN NATIONAL PRESS CLUB; MY FRIENDS: GOOD AFTERNOON. I AM GRATEFUL FOR THE CHANCE TO ADDRESS THE JAPAN NATIONAL PRESS CLUB AGAIN. SINCE I WAS HERE LAST YEAR, SEVERAL KEY EVENTS HAVE OCCURRED: THE GLOBAL WAR AGAINST TERRORISM, PARTICULARLY GIVEN RECENT ATTACKS IN THE REGION; THE U.N. RESOLUTION AND IMPENDING WAR WITH IRAQ; AND THE EMERGENCE OF CHINA AS A WILLING PLAYER WITH ASEAN. THE FIGHT AGAINST TERRORISM IS A GLOBAL ONE AND NOT THE CHALLENGE OF A SINGLE NATION OR REGION. WE HAVE SEEN FROM TRAGIC EVENTS THAT TERRORISTS KNOW NO GEOGRAPHICAL BOUNDARIES AND ARE NOT GUIDED BY MORAL OR RELIGIOUS CONVICTIONS. THEY ARE NOTHING MORE THAN MURDERERS OF INNOCENT PEOPLE. THEY'RE DRIVEN BY AN IDEOLOGY OF MAYHEM THAT'S WHY WE MUST WORK TOGETHER AS NATIONS AROUND THE WORLD TO FIGHT TERRORISM. WE UNDERSTAND THE CHALLENGE TERRORISM POSES FOR ALL COUNTRIES THAT VALUE PEACE AND ORDER. FROM THE MOMENT I TOOK OFFICE, I DECLARED WAR ON TERRORISM IN THE PHILIPPINES. THAT'S WHY I IMMEDIATELY DECLARED MY SOLIDARITY WITH THE GLOBAL COALITION AND HAVE JOINED THE FAMILY OF NATIONS IN THE FIGHT AGAINST TERRORISM. A FEW OF MY OPPONENTS HAVE CRITICIZED MY DECISION. BUT I HAVE TO TELL YOU: I MAKE NO APOLOGIES FOR AGGRESSIVELY SEEKING TO ROOT OUT TERRORISM IN THE PHILIPPINES AND TO PUTTING CONSIDERABLE EFFORT INTO SEEKING REGIONAL CONSENSUS ON FIGHTING TERRORISM. TERRORISM DRAINS HUMAN CAPITAL AND ECONOMIC RESOURCES, POVERTY FUELS SUPPORT FOR TERRORIST ACTIVITIES, AND RESTORING SECURITY ASSISTS IN ENHANCING THE ENVIRONMENT FOR BUSINESS AND THE PROMOTION OF FOREIGN DIRECT INVESTMENT. THOUGH THE ABU SAYYAF REMAIN A THREAT, THEY ARE A DIMINISHED THREAT. WE HAVE WORKED TO CRUSH THEIR ARMED SOLDIERS AND BREAK UP THEIR INTELLIGENCE CELLS. REMEMBER, THOUGH SOLITARY ACTS OF DESTRUCTION ARE STILL POSSIBLE, WHAT IS INCREASINGLY MORE DIFFICULT FOR ABU SAYYAF IS EXTENSIVE, COORDINATED MILITARY ATTACKS. MY GOVERNMENT IS DOING ITS BEST TO RESTORE LASTING PEACE IN MINDANAO. MY OVERALL PLATFORM LINKS THE GLOBAL WAR AGAINST TERRORISM WITH MY VISION OF ELIMINATING POVERTY. THUS, I APPRECIATE JAPAN'S FIELDING OF AN APPRAISAL MISSION FOR THE SOCIAL FUND PROJECT OF THE AUTONOMOUS REGION OF MUSLIM MINDANAO, WHICH IS A SIGNIFICANT FIRST STEP. I CONSIDER MY STATE VISIT AS AN OPPORTUNITY TO HIGHLIGHT THE IMPORTANCE OF JAPAN AS THE PREEMINENT CONTRIBUTOR TO THE ECONOMIC SECURITY OF THE PHILIPPINES AND THE REGION. JAPAN PLAYS A CENTRAL ROLE IN HELPING THE PHILIPPINES ON BOTH THE ECONOMIC AND MILITARY SECURITY FRONTS. FOR THE PHILIPPINE-JAPANESE BILATERAL RELATIONSHIP, THIS MEANS THAT THE VITAL COMPONENT OF THE POLITICAL SECURITY OF THE PHILIPPINES DEPENDS ON THE ECONOMIC CONTRIBUTION OF JAPAN AS A SOURCE OF AID, TRADE AND INVESTMENT. WE VALUE THE INVESTMENTS THAT THE JAPANESE GOVERNMENT AND JAPAN BUSINESSES HAVE MADE IN THE PHILIPPINES. AS OUR PARTNERS, THE JAPANESE ARE WITNESSES TO THE CREATIVITY, INDUSTRIOUSNESS AND SKILL OF THE GREAT FILIPINO WORKERS WHO ARE MAKING IMPORTANT CONTRIBUTIONS IN JAPANESE BUSINESSES. WE AIM TO CONTINUE TO HARNESS THIS RESOURCE TO BRING CHANGE TO OUR LIVES IN THE PHILIPPINES AND INCREASE PROSPERITY TO THE REGION. FOR EXAMPLE, MARUBENI HAS BUILT THE MAJORITY OF THE POWER PLANTS OWNED BY THE PHILIPPINE NATIONAL POWER CORPORATION AND HAS JUST COMPLETED A 1.4 BILLION-DOLLAR MULTI-PURPOSE DAM. MATSUSHITA IS EXPANDING ITS AIRCONDITIONER PLANT IN THE PHILIPPINES, AND WE ARE ENCOURAGING IT TO RELOCATE ITS ENTIRE WINDOW-TYPE AIR CONDITION BUSINESS TO THE PHILIPPINES. THE PHILIPPINES CONTINUES TO WORK HARD TO STRENGTHEN OUR ECONOMIC ENVIRONMENT THROUGH CONTINUED ENHANCEMENT OF OUR INFRASTRUCTURE AND AN ONGOING REFORM PROCESS AND FOCUS ON GOOD GOVERNANCE. WE ARE MAKING IMPORTANT ECONOMIC PROGRESS. LET'S NOT FORGET THAT WHEN MY ADMINISTRATION TOOK OFFICE, WE HAD AN ECONOMY THAT WAS HEADING TOWARDS BANKRUPTCY, AND ECONOMIC AND POLITICAL CHAOS STRAINED OUR RELATIONS WITH THE INTERNATIONAL FINANCIAL COMMUNITY AND CREATED SIGNIFICANT MARKET INSTABILITY. TODAY, WE STILL FACE MANY CHALLENGES BUT HAVE THE STABILITY AND STRONG RELATIONS WITH OUR GLOBAL FINANCIAL AND ECONOMIC PARTNERS THAT SUPPORT IMPLEMENTATION OF THE PHILIPPINE ECONOMIC PLAN, OUR BLUEPRINT FOR SUSTAINABLE GROWTH AND POVERTY REDUCTION. THE ECONOMY IS ON TRACK TO ACHIEVE A GROWTH THIS YEAR OF FOUR TO FOUR-AND-A-HALF PERCENT GDP AS EVIDENCED BY THE BETTER-THAN-EXPECTED PERFORMANCE OF LEADING INDICATORS IN THE FIRST THREE QUARTERS OF THIS YEAR. INFLATION AND INTEREST RATES ARE STILL AT RECORD LOWS. EXPORT GROWTH IS AT NINE PERCENT VERSUS THE ORIGINAL PROJECTION OF ZERO GROWTH SO THAT INTERNATIONAL RESERVES ARE 1 BILLION DOLLARS MORE THAN THE TARGET. WHILE THE BUDGET DEFICIT REMAINS A CHALLENGE, WE ARE TAKING CONCRETE STEPS TO ADDRESS IT. WE REMAIN FOCUSED ON RESPONSIBLY MANAGING EXPENDITURES AND MAXIMIZING REVENUES. WE ARE SPENDING WITHIN BUDGET BUT DISBURSING IT MORE EFFICIENTLY AND IMPLEMENTING PROJECTS FASTER. SEVERAL ENFORCEMENT MEASURES ARE ALREADY IN PLACE TO INCREASE REVENUE COLLECTIONS. WE HAVE PUT TOGETHER A GOOD TEAM TO INCREASE OUR TAX COLLECTIONS HEADED BY A NEW COMMISSIONER OF INTERNAL REVENUE, WHO IS PRECEDED BY HIS IMPRESSIVE RECORD AS A SUCCESSFUL COMMISSIONER OF CUSTOMS, AND COMPLEMENTED BY A NEW ANTI-SMUGGLING INTELLIGENCE AND INVESTIGATION COMMISSION. THE TEAM HAS BEEN REFORMING THE COLLECTION OF THE VALUE-ADDED TAX, INCLUDING CROSS-CHECKING OF IMPORTATION DATA FROM THE BUREAU OF CUSTOMS WITH THAT REPORTED TO THE BUREAU OF INTERNAL REVENUE. LAST 15th OF NOVEMBER, THEY CLOSED AND PROSECUTED 53 FIRMS FOR UNDERPAYMENT OF THE VALUE-ADDED AND OTHER TAXES. THEY ARE INTENSIFYING AUDIT FOR BOTH CORPORATES AND INDIVIDUALS EVEN AS THEY HAVE MADE THE OPTION TO PAY TAXES ON-LINE WIDELY AVAILABLE. ASIDE FROM THESE IMMEDIATE REFORMS, WE ARE COMMITTED TO LONG-TERM STRUCTURAL REFORMS. WE'VE PROPOSED LEGISLATION TO CORPORITIZE THE INTERNAL REVENUE AGENCY INTO A NATIONAL REVENUE AUTHORITY. MEANWHILE, I ISSUED AN EXECUTIVE ORDER TO RESTRUCTURE THE AGENCY. TO REFORM EXPENDITURE MANAGEMENT, THE PHILIPPINE SENATE HAS BEGUN DELIBERATING THE PROCUREMENT REFORM BILL WHICH WILL BRING ABOUT AN ESTIMATED SAVINGS OF 30 PERCENT ON THE BUDGET. MEANWHILE, I'M IMPLEMENTING E-GOVERNMENT TO ELECTRONICALLY RELEASE FUNDS TO AGENCIES AUTOMATICALLY FOR A MORE EFFICIENT UTILIZATION OF FUNDS. THE POWER SECTOR IS OUR KEY REFORM AREA IN ORDER TO ASSURE ADEQUATE AND RELIABLE POWER SUPPLY TO CONSUMERS AND TO INDUSTRY. THIS PROGRAM WAS INITIATED WITH THE PASSAGE OF THE ELECTRIC POWER INDUSTRY REFORM ACT LAST YEAR AFTER A DELAY OF 10 YEARS. THE ANSWER TO SOURCING THE HUGE CAPITAL REQUIREMENTS OF OUR POWER SECTOR IS PRIVATIZATION. THE FIRST KEY TO PRIVATIZATION IS TO CREATE AN INVESTMENT CLIMATE THAT'S ATTRACTIVE TO BOTH DOMESTIC AND FOREIGN INVESTORS. THE SECOND KEY TO CREATE A SUCCESSFUL PRIVATIZATION PROCESS IS ONE THAT IS TRANSPARENT AND FREE OF CORRUPTION. WITH THE REFORMS WE ARE IMPLEMENTING, AND WHICH WE HOPE CONGRESS WILL ENACT AS SOON AS POSSIBLE, WE ARE CONFIDENT WE WILL ACHIEVE HIGHER GROWTH IN 2003. THERE IS NO MORE IMPORTANT BENCHMARK OF A DEVELOPED NATION THAN ITS ENGAGEMENT IN THE WORLD TRADING SYSTEM. BUT AS DEVELOPED AND DEVELOPING COUNTRIES ALIKE KNOW TO BE TRUE, THE BENEFITS OF GLOBALIZATION AND TRADE ARE NOT ALL APPARENT OR ALL POSITIVE. AS THE PHILIPPINES COMES DOWN ON THE SIDE OF TRADE, WE UNDERSTAND THAT AT THE SAME TIME, WE MUST MANAGE THE TRANSITION WELL WITH OUR POOR IN ORDER TO GAIN THEIR POLITICAL SUPPORT FOR ADDITIONAL POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC REFORMS DOWN THE ROAD. WE ARE COMMITTED TO LIFTING OUR PEOPLE OUT OF POVERTY. WE MUST PUT FOOD NOT PROMISES ON THE TABLE TODAY. OUR ECONOMIC PLAN WILL GET US THERE -- OUR TRADE POLICY IS AN INTEGRAL PART OF OUR GROWTH PLAN. BUT OUR PRICE IN ACHIEVING THIS VISION MUST BE SUSTAINABLE. THUS, WE COMMEND JAPAN'S EFFORTS TO FURTHER DEEPEN ITS TIES IN THE REGION THROUGH ECONOMIC PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENTS. IN OUR VIEW, AN IDEAL FOR THE PROPOSED AGREEMENT IS TO MAXIMIZE THE MANY AREAS OF COMPLEMENTARITY BETWEEN OUR TWO ECONOMIES. ONE SUCH AREA IS HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT. ONE FACET OF OUR HRD COMPLEMENTARITY INVOLVES THE DEMOGRAPHIC REALITIES BETWEEN OUR TWO COUNTRIES. JAPAN HAS AN AGING POPULATION WHILE THE PHILIPPINES HAS A YOUNG POPULATION WHICH SUPPLIES SOME OF THE BEST-TRAINED AND COMPASSIONATE HEALTH CARE WORKERS IN THE WORLD. IN A SIMILAR VEIN, JAPAN IS THE ACKNOWLEDGED LEADER IN THE REGION IN THE FIELD OF ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY INCLUDING ICT AND CAPITAL-INTENSIVE INDUSTRY. THE PHILIPPINES, ON THE OTHER HAND, IS WELL-ACKNOWLEDGED INTERNATIONALLY FOR ITS TOP-QUALITY KNOWLEDGE WORKERS. WE CAN DEVISE THE RIGHT ARRANGEMENTS TO TAKE FULLER ADVANTAGE OF THESE REALITIES. JAPAN'S AID IS IMPORTANT AS A VITAL WEAPON FOR ENSURING REGIONAL STABILITY AND SECURITY. JAPANESE LEADERSHIP TO SUSTAIN AID TO THE PHILIPPINE GOVERNMENT IN MY EFFORTS TO REDUCE POVERTY AND SUSTAIN ECONOMIC RECOVERY IS EVERY BIT AS IMPORTANT AS MILITARY COOPERATION IN ENSURING REGIONAL SECURITY. ECONOMIC SECURITY IS THE GREATEST DEFENSE AGAINST POLITICAL INSTABILITY, POVERTY AND TERRORISM. MAKE NO MISTAKE: "THE YEN IS MIGHTIER THAN THE SWORD." THE ECONOMIC ROLE JAPAN HAS TO PLAY IN THE REGION CANNOT BE OVERSTATED. JAPAN, CHINA AND ASEAN FORM AN ECONOMIC SPHERE TO RIVAL EUROPE AND NORTH AMERICA. IT IS THE DAWN OF A NEW AGE IN ASIA AS JAPAN, CHINA AND ASEAN NEIGHBORS COME TOGETHER SEEKING GREATER ECONOMIC COOPERATION AND INTEGRATION. JAPAN, AS AN IMPORTANT DEVELOPMENT PARTNER AND DONOR FOR THE PHILIPPINES AND ASEAN IS CRUCIAL IN THE REGIONAL FIGHT AGAINST POVERTY, THE RECRUITING GROUND FOR TERRORISM. IT'S ONLY THROUGH ECONOMIC PARTNERSHIP THAT AS A REGION WE WILL CHART THE SECURITY OF ASIA AND THE PROSPERITY OF OUR PEOPLE. WITH JAPAN LEADING THE WAY, I'M CONFIDENT THE REGION WILL FLOURISH. THANK YOU. |
