President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo's departure statement (On her State Visit of the Republic of Singapore and attendance to the World Economic Forum for East Asia, June 23-26, 2007) |
| Our State Visit to Singapore and participation in the World
Economic Forum for East Asia comes at a time when investments are at an all-time high, and
the mid-term elections reflected the people’s will.
A few months ago, we announced that Texas Instruments would make a billion-dollar investment in the Philippines. Recently, Tokyo Electric and Marubeni declared that they are also making a four-billion dollar investment, making it the largest Japanese investment in Philippine history. These big investments signify that the Philippines is back and open for business. Our democracy is a proven fact; our economic growth is a work in progress. On both counts, the Filipino has shown the ability to stay the course by working hard and believing in the country’s future. On this trip to Singapore, we will be meeting with
President Nathan and Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong. We will personally thank them for
Singapore’s hospitality to more than a hundred thousand overseas Filipino workers. We
shall also meet business and financial leaders from around the region to share the
Philippine story and assure them that our stronger peso, stable financial markets, and
vibrant democracy make us the best value in Asia. In both agendas, the voice of the Philippines shall be heard not as a passive bystander but as a fierce and relentless competitor in the global and regional markets, with clear competitive advantages in the IT/BPO sector, in tourism, and human resource development. For the ASEAN’s 40th anniversary, the political agenda will center on its evolving regional architecture and relationships with strategic partners such as India, Russia, and the United States. We shall also have our usual interaction with members of the Filipino community. They will learn first-hand about the legacy that my administration intends to build and offer at the altar of history. From Singapore, we will proceed to Equatorial Guinea. Friendship between the two countries grew with the state visit to the Philippines of President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo in May 2006. We shall engage Equatorial Guinea bilaterally and multilaterally through mutual support of each other’s initiatives in the international community. Our countries have a shared agenda of defeating poverty through the New Asia-Africa Strategic Partnership (NAASP) and the UN. Equatorial Guinea hosts some 2,500 overseas Filipino workers stationed in its oil fields and construction sites as well as other workplaces. This will be a good occasion to visit them and ensure that they are treated well by their employers. From Singapore to Equatorial Guinea, we shall leave behind a message of hope, of the story of a progressive Philippines, a nation striving to be free -- from debt, from poverty, and from the debilitating politics of discord and disunity. |
PGMA's
Speech during the Dinner with Co-Chairs of the World Economic
Forum (WEF) on East Asia |
| Thank you very much,
Hans. Thank you for your very kind words of welcome. We are all very happy to be here, Philippine officials who are here with us tonight, to be here with all of you in Singapore. Tomorrow, we will be at the World Economic Forum to discuss Asia's leadership role in the years ahead. And the day after, I will be having my bilateral state visit here in Singapore. And as Hans said, the Philippines is the current head of ASEAN, before we turn over to Singapore in August. And I am happy to be in the World Economic Forum not only as President of the Philippines then but as the current chair of ASEAN especially because the subject matter of course is that it is leadership in Asia. So, let me say a few words first in my very brief remarks about ASEAN. We're very bullish on Asia. We're very happy with what we have accomplished in ASEAN in the last 20 years. And we're also bullish about what we will be able to achieve in the next 20 years. We believe that our time has come and we believe that ASEAN will be up to the task of leading our people and our region into a more dominant role in world economic and political affairs. But we will talk about that more tomorrow. Tonight, I think I have the privilege, as the highest ranking official in this dinner, to speak about the Philippines instead. I will speak very briefly because I think what we should do is to talk about this over dinner. But let me just say that the Philippines is on a path to permanent economic growth and stability. Investments are pouring in, the peso is strong, our stock market has reached all-time highs, and we have created six million jobs in six years. And it seems to be, and I think a lot of you who are around this table will agree, that the world is taking notice. In fact, we believe the Philippines offers one of the best values in Asia both for our Philippine investors as well as for foreign investors. Just to name a few investments recently. Texas Instruments recently announced plans to invest a billion dollars to build new facilities for a chip plant in the Philippines. But the surge in investments is not only anchored by Texas Instruments but others as well. For instance, yesterday, I visited the Hanjin plant -- Hanjin of Korea -- I visited its ship building plant to celebrate the 650 million dollars they've put in the fourth largest shipyard in the world. And yesterday, they told me that on top of the 650 million dollars, they are putting another billion dollars because they have orders up to year 2016 including what will become the biggest ship in the world. And they're very happy doing it in the Philippines. I'd like also to say that two days ago, Marubeni and Tokyo electric bought 3.4 billion dollars worth of electric power plants in the Philippines and announced expansion plans of half a billion dollars. So this is happening across the board in a number of industries. And of course, we are happy that Coca Cola... About Coca Cola Philippines and is strengthening the organization and the business in the Philippines. So, we are working to ensure that all these will be sustained. One of the reasons why we are where we are now is because of the difficult reforms we have had to make especially the value-added tax. Speaker De Venecia led the Congress to enact the value-added tax. Very politically unpopular but, on the other hand, it has brought us out of the vicious cycle of economic lethargy. And we are working to ensure that this will be sustained. The value-added tax in one bold stroke raised enormous amounts on new revenue. And now we are committed to consolidating the gains in this new revenue by making long overdue investments in human and physical capital. This includes billions of pesos in education, health care and training along with billions of pesos in new bridges, roads and ports to upgrade the competitiveness of the Philippines. So, I would like to say that I'm here today with great pride in the discipline of our administration to focus on the economy and our overall economic health. We are proud of the fact that we are prepaying our external debt, and we are optimistic that we will balance the budget next year, two years ahead of schedule. And most of all, we are proud that we're making sure to use the gains to invest in vital social and economic needs because we don't want to sacrifice long-term gains for short-term political expediency. In sum, we are a good business environment getting better. And I hope that the gentlemen and ladies around this table will agree with me and for those of you who are the movers and shakers of the world's business community, please come and be a part of a profitable part of the Philippines' new economic surge. Thank you. |
PGMA's
Opening Statement during the 16th World Economic Forum on East
Asia |
| Thank you very much. I am thankful to be in Singapore to attend the World Economic Forum and discuss Asia's leadership in the years ahead. I am glad to be here because we have made international relations a centerpiece of our government's political and economic reform agenda. When we think ahead and ponder the next 40 years, we see increasing integration and prosperity and at the same time the likelihood of greater income disparity. We see a more peaceful world, yet more countries with nuclear capability. We see a cleaner environment, yet in achieving that we must first address the challenge of global warming. Balancing these contradictions will be the test of leadership in the region. But I believe the issue isn't about a leadership deficit. The region has any number of able leaders of strong nations, as well as institutions like ASEAN to provide individual, regional and multilateral global leadership. The real issue is the rapid economic rise of the region at a time when the global order has undergone enormous swings. One swing was caused by the rise of China and India to add to the power of Japan in the region. Another was the global war on terrorism which has influenced America's role in the world and in Asia. The U.S. is the major political and military player. But it has been preoccupied in the Middle East, in Iraq and other crisis areas. I believe this has led to the perception of a leadership deficit in Asia. It has left the impression that there is a political "opening" for others such as China and Japan to fill. And indeed China and Japan have stepped up their game, notably in coming together to facilitate peace on the Korean peninsula. Yet this is an interim game: the real issue is how the region will handle the next 20 or 40 years. As the region's largest source of official development assistance, Japan will provide leadership to the important arena of sustainable development. But we would also like to see Japan playing a leading role in contributing to integration in the region, and maintaining and pursuing international peace and security as we try to forge the East Asia community. And China and India as they become true political and economic giants, their leadership obligations to their neighbors also increase, separate from their obligations to their own citizens. China, Japan and India are active participants in the East Asia Summit, which has however ASEAN in the driver's seat. And I must point out that it is through ASEAN 's leadership that the vision of an East Asia community, once unthinkable and believed unattainable in this lifetime, is gradually taking shape. I'm glad to be here because the Philippines is currently chair of ASEAN until we turnover to Singapore in August. During our summit in January, ASEAN exercised leadership in integration by taking several important steps to create a regional community by 2015. The most notable was the declaration on the ASEAN Charter. At a time of uncertainty in the world, we are proud that ASEAN took a bold step forward and not a timid step back. The theme of our summit was "One Caring and Sharing Community." We want to advance the sense of community and our shared interests. We want to look after each other in terms of social justice, economic development and common security. In sum, I'm bullish on Asia, what we have accomplished and what we will achieve in the next 20 years. Our time has come. Asia will be up to the task of leading our people and our region into a more dominant role in world economic and political affairs. Thank you. |
PGMA's
Speech during a Meeting with the Filipino Community |
| Maraming salamat. Maraming salamat, Belen sa iyong pagpakilala sa akin. At gusto ko lang malaman ng inyong mga constituents dito sa Singapore na nung ikaw ay ambassador to Israel at kapanahunan ng baka maatake ang bayan na kung nasaan ka dahil sa giyera ng Iraq meron kang kit anti... Parang anti-terrorism kit para malaman nang lahat ano'ng gagawin kung sakali magkaroon ng problema kaya naalala ko na kung gaano ka efficient si Belen. Eh dito sa Singapore efficiency is the name of the game kaya dito natin ipinadala si Belen. Napakilala na sa inyo kanina yung iba't-ibang mga kasapi ng ating delegasyon ngunit papakilala ko muli yung ilan dahil hindi lahat ay nabanggit. Nabanggit na kanina si Speaker and Mrs. Joe De Venecia. Napag-usapan ni Father Angel kanina si Gwen Aguilar nung araw merong Flor Contemplacion. Si speaker ay nagpaaral ng mga anak ni Flor Contemplacion. At narito siyempre ang boss ni Belen, ang ating Secretary of Foreign Affairs, si Bert Romulo. At dahil ang Singapore ay isang napakaimportanteng kabalikat ng Ppilipinas sa pangangalakal at sa mga investments, siyempre pag ako ay narito kailangan kasama ang ating Secretary of Trade and Industry, si Peter Favila. At dahil sa higit isandaang libong Pilipino na tungkulin natin ay siguraduhin na maganda ang kalagayan dito, narito rin yung inyong tagapag-alaga, ang namumuno ng OWWA, si Nitoy Roque. Gusto kong batiin ang iba't-ibang mga Pilipinong nabanggit kanina at talagang napakaganda ang kalagayan, ang ginagawa ng mga Pilipino dito. At kasama sa ating mesa isang kasamahan ko -- ay! Well, hindi ko kasamahan sa gobyerno pero kabalikat noon pang 2001 -- nung sinimulan natin yung Bayanihan Foundation dito, si Dng De Guzman, isang dalubhasang bangkero na nandito na sa Singapore ngayon. At sa inyong lahat mga minamahal na kababayan, maraming salamat sa mainit na pagsalubong sa inyong lingkod at sa aking delegasyon. Yung kanta kanina ay composed pala ni Martin especially for this occasion, maraming salamat. At salamat din doon sa painting na hinandog sa akin. Ang ganda-ganda, yon bang typical na ginagawa ng mga taga-Singapore pag nandoon sa mga bulwagan kapag Linggo, nagkekwentuhan. Pero salamat na itong araw na ito kahit na Linggo, sa halip ng kayo ay nagpapasyal sa mga tindahan at iba pang mga ginagawa ninyo, mga park, ay narito kayo para makipag sama-sama sa ating lahat. Inyong lingkod at ang aking mga kasamahan ay nandito dahil sa tatlong dahilan: una, we are in Singapore to attend the World Economic Forum and discuss Asia's leadership roles in the year ahead; pangalawa, bukas magkakaroon tayo ng state visit. Kung naalala ng ilan sa inyo, nag state visit na ako noon nung si Goh Chok Tong ang Prime Minister. Ngayon dahil si Lee Hsien Loong ang Prime Minister panibagong state visit na naman; at pangatlo, ay siyempre para makipag kamusta sa ating mga minamahal na Pilipino dito sa Singapore. Alam niyo yung sinabi nung ating emcee na kayo ay number one sa hospitality and services, totoong-totoo yun. At hindi lamang doon, tuwing may opisyal ng Singapore ang ating kaugnay, bukang-bibig ang pagpuri sa Pilipino. Marami tayong mga Pilipinong pinuri itong araw na ito pero gusto kong ipaalala na nung panahunan ng SARS, talagang yung mga tiga Singapore ay walang pigil na nagpapasalamat sa ating bansang Pilipino dahil yung mga nurse natin na nagmalasakit nung panahon ng SARS. Kaya taas-noo tayo kapag naririnig natin ang magagandang sinasabi tungkol sa mga Pilipinong nagtatrabaho dito sa Singapore. At sinisikap nating lalo pang mapabuti ang inyong kalagayan. Siyempre yung mga professionals, mga CEO gaya ni Ding walang masyadong problema, pero marami sa mga manggagawang karaniwan ay nagiging biktima ng iba't-ibang mga problema. Halimbawa, doon pa lang sa Pilipinas, yung irregularity sa documentation, yung escort system sa airport, maraming Pilipinong nagdadaing sa akin doon. At para sa inyo at para yung mga minamahal niyo para kung kayo ay umuwi at babalik na naman ay hindi na magkaroon ng ganung mga istorbo naglalagay ang Bureau of Immigration ng bagong sistema na iniiwasan yung pre-identification ng mga immigration officer na nag-aasikaso sa mga palabas na mga pasahero. At nagkakaroon din ng random rotation ang mga immigration officer na nagdu-duty sa mga pangunahing points of exit, sa ganun maginhawa ang inyong paglabas, walang favoritism, walang nakakalusot sa batas. Naglalagay din ang pamahalaan ng computerized shared government information system upang malaman kung sinu-sino at saang panig ng mundo nagpupunta ang mga mamamayan ng Pilipinas. Ipiprisenta ng bawat umaalis o dumarating na OFW ang E-card para ma-record nang mabuti ang inyong pag-alis o pagpasok at may computer na magta-track ng inyong destinasyon ng trabaho at ang pagdating ninyo na aabot sa sistemang impormasyon na may regular na imbentaryo ang ating mga mamamayang pilipinong nagtatrabaho para sa ibayong dagat sa ganun ay mas madali habulin ang inyong kapakanan. Pinapayuhan naman natin yung mga manggagawang walang dokumento na nasa Singapore, dahil kayo'y mga lider ng iba't-ibang mga community at iba't-ibang mga asosasyon, sana ipa-abot sa inyong mga kasapi, kasi baka meron pa diyang mga walang mga dokumentasyon ay pumunta kaagad sa ating embahada ng Pilipinas para maasikaso ang kanilang sitwasyon. At isa pa, napag-usapan natin si Flor, napag-usapan natin si Gwen, naaawa tayo sa mga manggagawang hindi kayang ipahayag ang sarili lalo na kung nasasangkot sa kaso. So, sa ibabaw ng nilalakad natin ng husto ang mga kaso, at ako ay nagpapasalamat sa gobyerno ng Singapore dahil sa abot ng kakayahan ng kanilang sistema, napagbigyan naman tayo na iwasan ang death penalty ni Gwen. Pero isa rin sana, dahil hindi naman lahat ay umaabot ng ganung klaseng mga kaso, merong ibang mga maliliit na kaso. At kung kayo ay nakakapahayag ng inyong sarili, mas naiiwasan ninyo ang magkaroon ng problema. At ayon sa ilan sa inyo, isang problema ninyo ay hindi kayo... Meron sa inyong hindi nakaka-express ng sarili at ito ang isang dahilan kung bakit ibinabalik sa pilipinas ang pagtuturo ng ingles sa mga eskwela. Itong mga bagay na ito ay ginagawa natin ayon na rin sa mga suggestions mula sa Filipino community mismo. At alam ko na merong mga serbisyo sa inyo, yung SSS, yung pag-ibig, yung OWWA, inaatasan ko rin, inatasan ko noong mayo uno na maglikha ang OWWA ng isang grupo na pag-aaralan kung papano magtayo ng pension fund para sa ating mga OFW at kung anu-ano ang mga kailangan para dito. Ang mga manggagawang Pilipino sa ibayong dagat ay ginagalang ng pamahalaan at ng taong-bayang Pilipino dahil sa inyong sakripisyo at inyong malasakit sa inyong trabaho, sa inyong pamilya, sa inyong bansa. Tinatanggap natin ng lubusan ang inyong kontribusyon. At ngunit gaya ng mga binanggit kanina na sana darating ang araw na hindi na pangangailangan ang lalabas pa ng bansa para maghanapbuhay. At tayo ay nasisiyahan at pinagmamalaki na yung mga ganansiya ng ating ekonomiya ay patungo doon. At siguro hindi na tatagal makikita natin ang araw, naka-aabot na tayo sa panahon na yung mga Pilipino ay hindi na kailangan mag abroad para sa trabaho, at sana darating ang araw... At sana darating ang araw when overseas work is just another option and not the only choice you have to earn a living. Halimbawa, palagay ko si Dng De Guzman kahit na darating yung araw na yun mag-aabroad pa rin siya o yung ating mga U.P. alumni na napakalaki ang demand sa inyong mga profession palagay ko mag-aabroad pa rin kayo kanya lamang it will be a career choice and not a necessity, yon ang ating hangarin. At ang ating mga ambisyosong reporma sa ating ekonomiya ay tumutulong na buwagin na itong tinatawag nating offshore cycle na para lang magkaroon ng hanapbuhay kailangan mag-abroad. Itong nakaraang anim na taon nakalikha tayo ng anim na milyong bagong trabaho. At kung tutuloy tayo sa landas na ito higit na higit we will be increasingly keeping our best and brightest right in the Philippines. Mas malapit sa mga kaibigan, mas malapit sa mga pamilya, tumutulong itayo ang ating mga pamayanan at nagbibigay ng susunod na henerasyon ng liderato. Ang Pilipinas ay nasa landas ng permanenteng pagsusulong at katatagan. At ang pinakamalaking ginawa na nagpa-abot sa pag-angat ng ating ekonomiya ay yung pagpasa nung ating value-added tax. Dinig ko kay Belen na dito sa singapore malapit na rin tataas ang inyong gross sales tax, ganun din ang sakripisyong ginawa sa Pilipinas. Sa isang kilos na matapang, dahil ito ay hindi popular, ay nakabuo tayo ng malaking kita ng pamahalaan. At yung kilos na yan, yung ginawang yan ay nagpadala rin ng senyas na di mapapagkamalian na tayo ay seryoso tungo sa pagsulong sa ating ekonomiya. Ngunit hindi lamang yon, yung ating buong-buong pagtukoy sa ekonomiya, yung disiplina sa kaban ng bansa, yung sinisikap na mabalanse ang ating budget at yung pangangailangan na matagal na dapat tinayo na human at physical infrastructure ito ay mga tumulong para mabuo ang ating mga ganansiya sa ekonomiya. At ang ating mga pagsisikap ay nagsisimula nang magkaroon ng bunga. Pag pinag-uusapan natin ang bunga nauunawaan ko na bagamat doon sa Pilipinas ay pinupuri ito at yung mga ibang mga bansa ay pinupuri ito, nauunawaan ko naman na mula sa pananaw ng isang simpleng OFW na regular na nagpapadala nang sweldo sa kanyang pamilya sa Pilipinas. Ang ibig sabihin ng lumalakas na piso na bunga ng lumalakas na ekonomiya ay kailangan higit pang magtrabaho sa ibayong dagat upang palakihin ang kita at magpadala ng higit pang dolyar para suportahan ang halaga ng ginagastos na piso ng inyong mga pamilya, yan ay nauunawaan ko. Ngunit sana maunawaan din ninyo na ito naman ang dahilan kung bakit napapabagal ang pagtaas ng bilihin, kahit na tumataas ang presyo ng langis, gatas, arena at karne sa ibayong dagat. At dahil na rin sa malakas na piso, bumababa ang interest rate. Pati ang pag-ibig ay binababaan ang interest rate, kaya ang mga ofw ay higit na maginhawang makakahiram upang dagdagan ang kapital sa pagbili ng mga tahanan sa Pilipinas. At dahil rin sa bumaba ang interest rate pang sagot sa lumakas ang piso nae-engganyo ang mga negosyante, maging malaki o maliit, pati na rin yung inyong mga kamag-anak, na pinapadalhan niyo ng puhunan na mamuhunan at maglikha ng higit na trabaho. It is not only our stock market that has reached historic heights. Our poverty rate is the lowest as well in a generation, and the world is taking notice. Investments are pouring in. Yung pagtaas ng investments isang malaking nabalita sa buong mundo ay yung anunsiyo ng Texas Instruments na sila ay maglalagay ng isang bilyong dolyar para magtayo ng chip plant sa Pilipinas. Ngunit hindi lamang sila, yung Hanjin ng Korea ay naglalagay rin ng 1.65 billion dollars para itayo ang pang-apat na pinakamalaking shipyard sa Pilipinas. Noong makalawa nagbisita nga ako sa Hanjin, at meron silang pitong libong nagtatrabaho doon ngayon, in three years time ay magiging tatlumpung libo. At tinanong ko anu-anong ginagawa niyo dati. Yung iba magsasaka, yung iba mangingisda, yung iba ay housewife, yung iba tambay, yung iba disk jockey sa mga night clubs sa Olongapo, yung iba ay OFW na bumalik sa Pilipinas dahil meron nang magandang trabaho, magandang sweldo sa Pilipinas. Dalawang araw rin nakaraan, yung Marubeni at saka yung Tokyo Electric bumili ng 3.4 billion pesos worth ng power plant, electric power plant sa Pilipinas ang nag-anunsiyo na mag-eexpand pa sila ng half a billion dollars. At inaasahan natin na kung mangyayari ito ay yung binabayarang mataas na kuryente ay darating ang araw ay bababa at ito ay makakatulong din sa ginhawa ng inyong mga pamilya. Itong mga investments na kinekwento ko, kinekwento ko lang yung ilang mga bilyung-bilyong dollars pero nangyayari ito across the board sa ilang mga klaseng industriya. At dahil marami ang namumuhunan nakadagdag tayo ng higit isang milyong trabaho nitong nakaraang taon lamang. Our unemployment rate is the lowest in a long time. And when i became president in 2001, apat na milyong tao ang walang trabaho. Ngayon ito ay bumaba na sa 2.8 million at nagsisikap pa tayo na bumaba pa rin itong numerong ito. Ganumpaman, bagamat itong mga ito ay mga bunga ng lumakas na piso dahil nauunawaan ko na kayo ay dobleng nagsakripisyo dahil kumonti ang pisong napapadala ninyo, sa dolyar na pinapadala ninyo. Kanina kausap ko si Secretary Romy Neri, ang ating economic planner, sabi ko, "Romy, tinutulungan natin ang mga exporters natin dahil yung dollars din na tinatanggap nila ay mas maliit pag hinahalaga sa piso, pero yung ating mga overseas Filipino workers ganun din ang kanilang kalagayan." kaya sabi ko kay Romy Neri, pag-aralan din natin kung paano bibigyan ng ginhawa ang ating mga OFW dahil sa lumalakas na piso. Ito raw ay pag-aaralan niya kasama nang gobernador ng Central Bank ng Pilipinas. Pero isang paraan -- at sana naman hindi naman mawala ang hanapbuhay ng ating mga remittance office dahil ito ang ganda-ganda sila ang gumawa pala nito -- isang paraan ay gamitin ang post office system natin sa Pilipinas upang mabawasan ang gastos ng remittances. At iba pang pag-aaralan nila para sa ganun kung gaano tayo tumutulong sa mga exporters dahil sa lumalakas na piso ganun din dapat tulungan natin ang overseas Filipino workers. Samantala, dahil tayo ay maraming nakuhang mga revenue sa ating mga reporma, we are committed to consolidating the gains in new revenue sa pamamagitan nang gagawa ng matagal nang dapat ginawang mga investments sa human at physical infrastructure. Kasama dito ang bilyung-bilyong piso na ilalagay natin sa edukasyon, sa health care, at saka sa training. Kasama na rin sa bilyung-bilyong piso na nilalagay sa mga bagong tulay, kalsada at pantalan para umangat ang competitiveness ng Pilipinas. Tayo pinagmamalaki natin ang disiplina ng ating administrasyon na makatukoy... Nakatukoy parati sa ekonomiya at ang ating pangkalahatang kalusugan ng ekonomiya. Pinagmamalaki natin na yung mga utang natin na minana kahit na hindi pa due and demandable binabayaran na natin. Alam niyo kung bakit isang dahilan? Kasi kung napakaraming dolyar sa Pilipinas lalo pang lalakas ang piso at lalo kayong magka-doble ng sakripisyo. Kaya para bawasan natin or hinaan natin ang pagpapalakas ng piso sa Pilipinas eh binabayaran natin ang utang kahit na hindi pa due. Kasi para bumayad ng utang ang Pilipinas bibili ang gobyerno ng dolyar para mabayaran ang utang para sa ganun medyo mag slowdown yung pag-angat ng ating piso. Kaya talagang gusto kong malaman ninyo na hindi natin kinakalimutan na kahit na yung magandang piso ay pinupuri ng lahat merong nagsasakripisyo at yun ang ating overseas Filipino workers. Dahil binabayaran natin ang ating utang kahit hindi pa due and demandable, inaasahan natin na sa darating na taon mababalansyado na natin ang ating budget. At sinisiguro natin na gamitin yung ganansiya para mamuhunan sa mga pinaka-kailangang mga pangangailangan ng lipunan at nang pangkabuhayan. Hindi tayo magsasakripisyo ng ating mga pangmatagalang ganansiya para sa pansamantalang ginhawa sa mga bagay ng pulitika. Nakita ko doon sa inyong presentation yung halaga na binibigay ninyo sa karapatang magboto. Yung nakaraang mga halalan ay pinakita ang buhay na buhay na sistema ng demokrasya ng ating bansa. Pinayagan, hinayaan ang paglahok ng lahat sa iba't-ibang mga paniniwala pero lahat ay nagkakaisa sa aspirasyon ng kapayapaan at kaunlaran para sa buong bansa. Kaya ito'y masasabi nating ay isang victory para sa reporma sa ekonomiya, para sa katatagan sa pulitika, at para sa kapayapaan at katiwasayan na naririnig ko kanina parating pinagdadasal ninyo. Inaasahan natin na yung senado at saka yung kongreso ay makikipagtrabaho kasama natin para isiguradong masustento natin ang ating ganansiya sa ekonomiya. At tayo ay inaasahan natin magkaroon ng constructive dialogue and collaboration sa mga gumagawa ng ating mga patakaran para isigurado na tuloy-tuloy natin na magsulong sa reporma ng ekonomiya. Kasi nabaligtad na natin ang ekonomiya. We have turned the corner on the economy. Maraming mga nagawang mga success pero marami pang pwedeng magawa at marami pang gagawin. Kasi sa unang pagkakataon sa isang henerasyon -- at marami sa inyo rito ay nandito na nang isang henerasyon -- ang ating mga ganansiya sa ekonomiya at sa kaban ng bayan ay hinahayaan tayong gumawa nang mga malalakas na pamumuhunan sa ating bansa at sa ating taong-bayan. At patungo doon tayo ay gumawa nang estratihiya ng pamumuhunan o investment na nakatukoy sa apat na pangunahing inisyatiba: Una, pag-ibayuhin ang ating imprastraktura para makalikha ng environment kung saan ang mga negosyo ay may kumpiyansa na magpalawak ng sarili at magbigay nang mas maraming trabaho sa mas maraming taong-bayan. Dahil kung mas maraming trabaho, mas konti ang kahirapan. Pangalawa, pag-ibayuhin ang social services gaya ng health insurance subsidies para sa mga mahihirap na pamilya at yung mga nutrition program na nandoon nakabase sa eskwelahan. Alam niyo ang ginagawa natin sa ilang mga eskwelahan doon kung saan marami ang kagutuman, bawa't araw na pumapasok ang mga bata, isang bata bawa't pamilya binibigyan ng isang kilo ng... Isang kilo ba yon? Twenty pesos worth of rice para maiuwi niya para mapakain ang buong pamilya. Iyan ang isang malaking pinagkakagastusan ng ating bansa. Pangatlo, pinapalawak natin ang suporta sa edukasyon sa ating pagsisikap na bawasan ang kahirapan sa pamamagitan nang namumuhunan sa mas maayos na school building, mga bagong paaralan at teaching materials, at pag-eensayo sa mga teacher at school administrators, At pang-apat, putulin ang red tape at ituloy ang pagsisikap na matanggal ang katiwalian sa ating sistema. Ito ang ating mga hamon sa mga darating na panahon, sa mga darating na tatlong taon at least, at ng aking nananatiling panahon bilang pangulo at inaasahan ko na kaakibat kayo at ang buong sambayanang Pilipino. At kung ito ay magagawa natin lahat-lahat maisusulong natin ang ating layunin. Ito ang ganda, "Sambayanang Pilipino sa Singapore, kasama tungo sa pag- asenso." kasama kayo sa pag-asenso ng Singapore dahil mahalagang-mahalaga kayong bahagi ng lipunan ng Singapore. Kasama kayo sa pag-aasenso ng inyong mga pamilya dahil ang kustombreng Pilipino ay nagpapadala ng remittances sa ating bansa. Alam niyo yung New Zealand mayroon din silang overseas New Zealand workers. Pero ang kuwento sa akin, sa New Zealand, ang mga magulang na nasa New Zealand sila pa ang nagpapadala ng dagdag na pera sa kanilang mga anak na nagtatrabaho sa ibayong dagat. Pero kayo ay talagang nagmamalasakit sa ating bansa. Ang mga overseas Filipino nung ako ay unang naging pangulo ay eight million. Ngayon ay eight million pa rin kasi habang may lumalabas may umuuwi. Ngunit bagamat hindi lumaki ang kabuuang bilang ng pilipinong nasa abroad, dumoble ang remittances. Noong 2001, seven billion ang pinauwi in dollars. Noong 2006, 13 billion ang pinauwi ng Pilipino sa ating bansa. Kaya bahagi kayo sa pag-asenso ng inyong mga pamilya na pinapadalhan hindi lamang para sa kanilang pangangailangan na ang batayan, ngunit nagpapadala kayo ng pag-aaral nila, ng bagay sa kanilang kalusugan, bumibili kayo ng tahanan para sa kanila. In fact, 40 percent ng ating real estate boom -- tayo ay may real estate boom sa Pilipinas gaya nang nangyayari sa singapore -- 40 percent ay dahil sa overseas Filipinos buying property. At kayo rin ay namumuhunan, pinapadala ninyo ng salapi ang inyong mga kamag-anak na gustong magtayo ng mga negosyo, at meron din akong mga nakilalang mga OFW na naglalagay pati ng pera sa ating stock market na napaka-masigasig mga araw na ito. Kaya kayo ay kasama sa pag-asenso ng inyong mga pamilya, pag-asenso ng inyong mga pamayanan, pag-asenso ng inyong bansa. Kaya ako'y nagpapasalamat sa huwarang Pilipinong nandito sa Singapore. Ang ganda-ganda ng inyong pagkaputi, ang ganda-ganda ng inyong pagkakaisa, at salamat sa mga pagpahayag niyo ng pagkakaisa rin sa mga sinisikap na gawin ng inyong pamahalaan para mas gumanda ang buhay sa ating bansa at meron kayong mauuwian na maganda ang buhay din pagdating ng panahon. Maraming salamat sa inyong lahat. |
PGMA's
Speech during the Philippines-Singapore Business Council (PSBC)
Business Dialogue |
| Thank you very much. Thank you, Guiller. It was a very nice speech that you made about why Singaporean should do business in the Philippines. I would also like to greet the... Madame Lim and Madame Goh, and all the other officials and members of the Singapore-Philippines Business Council. And I'd like to greet also the members of the Philippine delegation headed by Speaker De Venecia and Secretary Romulo and Secretary Favila. And to all of you, it's very good to be with you again. I'd like to thank you for this opportunity to meet with you again after we met in 2001 when I was just newly-inducted as president. As you know, we're in Singapore for a state visit, and also to attend the World Economic Forum and discuss Asia's leadership role in the years ahead. Right now we are Chair of ASEAN. We will be turning over the chair to Singapore in August. So that's also a good time for us to be here now. As chair of ASEAN let me say that we're bullish on Asia. We're bullish on what we've done and what we will be able to achieve in the next 20 years. Asia's time has come and Asia will be up to the task of leading our people and our region into a more dominant role in world economic and political affairs. And that's why its important for us to be together today. Asia is the world of economic giants. China, India, Japan and ASEAN can be an equal partner only if we are together and integrated. During my visit to Singapore in 2001, the Philippines-Singapore Business Council very kindly hosted a conference on the Philippine economy. At that time having just assumed the Office of President, I spoke of economic reforms we intended to implement as we committed our administration to an economic plan that would lay the foundation for building prosperity for the greatest number of our people. And I'm glad to be here six years later when as Guiller has said, the world is recognizing that those reforms have yielded positive results. The Philippines is on a path to what Guiller called sustainable, but I call permanent economic growth and stability. We have turned the corner on the economy -- and Guiller also talked about why -- the biggest single act that led to the surge in our economy was the passage of our value-added tax. And I'm glad that Lito Camacho is here, who used to be my Secretary of Finance, because at least he can also feel the fruits of the heartaches that he suffered when he worked on those very difficult economic reforms. In one bold stroke the value-added tax raised enormous amounts of new revenue. It also set an unmistakable signal, which was what Guiller mentioned earlier, that we're serious about moving the nation forward. But that isn't all. Our complete focus on the economy, on fiscal discipline, on balancing our budget, and on the need for long overdue human and physical infrastructure improvements helped round out our economic gains. We take great pride in the discipline of our administration to focus on the economy and our overall economic health. We're proud of the fact that we are prepaying our external debt. If we were not prepaying our external debt, our peso would even be stronger that what it is today. We're optimistic that we will balance the budget in 2008, two years ahead of schedule. So we're not just ahead of schedule in paying our debts, we're going to be ahead of schedule in balancing our budget. As a result investments are pouring in rapidly. And as I said earlier, the peso is strong, inflation is low. And as for our stock market, which Guiller talked about, it has reached all-time highs. It's the highest in the entire history of our stock exchange. But more fundamentally, we have created six million jobs in the last six years. Our unemployment rate is the lowest in my generation, and our poverty rate is the lowest as well. The world is taking notice. We believe that the Philippines offers one of the best values in Asia for investors. We offer a strategic location. Yes, Singapore is strategically located, but in its own way the Philippines is also strategically located. We are about three hours flight away from all of the major capitals in the region, in the very fast growing region. Our workforce is well-educated, productive and English-speaking. And Singporean's know that because we have so many of them here working in your companies to the great satisfaction of your CEOs. We are cutting red tape to simplify the requirements for investing in the Philippines. And I know that Singaporean businessmen are very sensitive to red tape. Guiller mentioned the anchor in this strategic investments, the recent announcement by Texas Instruments that they will put a billion dollars to build new facilities for a chip plant in the Philippines which they chose over other locations including China. Hanjin of Korea is also investing 1.65 billion U.S. dollars to build the world's fourth largest shipyard in the Philippines. And Guiller talked about Marubeni and Tokyo electric. Three days ago, they bought and paid for 3.4 billion dollars worth of power plants in the Philippines and announced a further expansion of half a billion dollars. This is happening across the board in a number of industries. We have become an increasingly competitive location for manufacturing, services and high-skilled jobs along with our booming call center business which Singaporean companies are quite familiar with and have in fact invested in that sector. We are certainly a leader in the outsourcing space but we are not underestimating the contribution of other sectors of our economy. For instance, manufacturing, technology, mining -- which Guiller mentioned because we're the fifth best endowed... Best minerals endowed country in the world -- energy. And we are inviting Singaporean business to invest in our power sector and our energy sector including our renewable energy sector like windmills. And then there is tourism. We're very happy that a number of Singaporean firms had invested or are about to invest or negotiating to invest in the tourism sector in the Philippines. And then there is the other important investment opportunity which is infrastructure. Our reforms are succeeding in attracting more foreign investment. These reforms will ensure that these industries that I have just mentioned will grow as drivers of our economy in addition to the call center business. The decision of Texas Instruments, Hanjin, Marubeni and other world famous companies to invest in the Philippines are a big validation that our strategy is working. We're working to ensure that these... All these will be sustained. How? The short answer to continuing the economic growth is summed in three words: invest, invest, invest. We're following up the pain of tax raising measures with the gain that come from significant investment in people and projects. That way we will truly ensure that the progress cannot be reversed. We're committed to consolidating the gains in new revenue by making investment in human and physical infrastructure. This includes billions of pesos in education, health care and training along with billions in new bridges, roads and ports to upgrade the competitiveness of the Philippines. We're making sure, in other words, to use the gains to invest in vital social and economic needs. And as Guiller said, what we have demonstrated is that we will not sacrifice long-term gains for short-term political expediency. We've just had elections in the Philippines for the mid-term. And in those elections the Philippines demonstrated the vibrant democratic system of the country. It allowed for the participation of everyone of different convictions but sharing the same aspirations of peace and development for the whole country. That is why we can say that the election was a victory for economic reform. It was a victory for political stability. It was a victory for peace and order. We have high hopes that the Philippine Senate and House will work together with us to ensure that we can sustain our economic gains. We look forward to constructive dialogue and collaboration with our policy makers to ensure we continue to move forward with economic reform. There had been notable successes but much more can and will be done. Because for the first time in a generation, our economic and fiscal gains are enabling us to make investments in our country and our people. It's essential to bring the benefits of our strong macroeconomic gains to the people. To that end, we have created an investments strategy focused on four main initiatives: First, improving the infrastructure to create an environment in which businesses feel confident to expand and employing our people because more jobs means less poverty. Second, improving social services such as health insurance subsidies for indigent families and school-based nutrition programs. Third, boosting education support in our efforts to reduce poverty by investing in better school buildings, new textbooks and teaching materials, and training programs for teachers and school administrators. And fourth, cutting red tape and continuing to eliminate corruption from the system. These are the keys to lifting the poor up. And we are doing that for the first time in a generation. We would like to be like Singapore someday, maybe 20 years from now, a first world country. Wherein by that time, we have been able to have drastically reduced poverty, created a robust middle-class, and a call of hallmarks of a modern society in strong and stable institutions. One of the characteristics from which Singapore is famous aside from having large amounts of capital and a very high level of technology is the standard of transparency in this government and in this society. And this is also another characteristic that we've seen to emulate. Our anti-corruption adviser Tony Kwok, the former anti-corruption czar in Hong Kong who was a key player in efforts to clean up corruption there, believes the perceptions cloud the reality of our progress in the Philippines concerning governance and corruption. The fact is we have undertaken a strong and steady effort to curb graft and corruption through criminal justice system, through the administrative controls and through procedural reforms. This effort is focused, first of all, on revenue agencies -- that's why we were able... And we are able now to collect more taxes -- these revenue agencies have improved their performance in recent years, is also focused on agencies that are in the front line of day-to-day public services. And it is focused on local governments where businesses have to go to get their licenses and clearances after they take up shop. We take this issue seriously. We believe perception will match reality in a few short years. But because this is a problem that has plagued the Philippines and other countries for that matter outside of Singapore for generations. As experience has shown, it may not be eliminated overnight but we are pleased that progress is being made and we are serious about accelerating that progress. In sum, we are a good business environment getting better. And many international investors agree with this. And so we hope that to the Philippines-Singapore Business Council, Singapore business will also agree with this. And I hope to see you all in Manila as visitors and as investors. Thank you very much. Mabuhay! |
PGMA's
Speech during a State Dinner hosted by Singapore President S R Nathan |
| His Excellency President Nathan and
Madame; Mr. Chief Justice; Mr. Speaker, speakers of our two houses of our two countries;
excellencies of the diplomatic corps; members of the cabinet of Singapore and of the
Philippines; leaders of the business community of Singapore and the Philippines; His Grace
Archbishop Kia and the other members of the diplomatic corps; ladies and gentlemen. We're very honored to be here once again in Singapore that we raise our glasses anew so soon after we exchanged toasts in Manila during His Excellency's state visit attest to the ties and friendship between our two nations. We remain committed to seizing every opportunity to deepen our engagement and to further build on our multi-faceted partnership. Yesterday at the World Economic Forum, we discussed Asia's leadership role in the years ahead. As we pass on ASEAN's chair to Singapore this August, we are particularly bullish on Asia, what we have accomplished and what we will achieve in the next 20 years. And it is but fitting that Singapore should be hosting ASEAN during its 40th anniversary and that Singapore should be hosting the signing of the ASEAN Summit because the last remaining leader in active public service among the founders of ASEAN 40 years ago is none other than the president of Singapore, His Excellency President Nathan. And I'm sure you'll be proud, your Excellency, you are proud I'm sure of what ASEAN has become and what Asia has become with ASEAN in the driver's seat. We can say that our time has come and that Asia will be up to the task of leading our people and our region into a more dominant role in world economic and political affairs. Like Singapore, the Philippines has made international relations a centerpiece of our government's political and economic reform agenda. That starts right here in the region. Our relations have never been stronger at every single level, from bilateral relations between Singapore and the Philippines to multilateral relations in ASEAN and in the other permutations of ASEAN such as the ASEAN plus one, ASEAN plus three and the East Asia Summit. And between the two of us, there are powerful complementarities that can lead us indeed to forge and develop strong strategic partnership. Singapore is a first-world country rich in capital and advanced in technology. The Philippines is a middle-income country rich in human resources that love education, that are productive and that are English-speaking like Singapore. Singapore benefits from this world class Filipino workers, from the Filipino technical, professional and management skills as well as caregiving skills. Singapore has 13,000 of our I.T. professionals; 7,000 of our nurses -- who were your heroes during the SARS epidemic many years ago -- and other health care providers; 6,000 of our engineers and 5,000 of our architects. And as an investment destination, I'm glad to hear from you, your excellency, that we are back in Singapore's radar screen. Singapore businesses have been growing investments in Philippine BPO facilities. No less than Your Excellency brokeground for Ascendas net quad during your state visit with us last February. And I'm glad to hear that Ascendas, Ascot and other important Singaporean firms are moving forward in the properties investment. We are looking forward also to Singaporean investment in tourism. And I'm very happy that there are indeed a number of Singaporean firms that are already either building or negotiating to build tourism facilities in our country. And speaking of tourism, we welcome the growing budget airline links between our countries. Thanks to Jet Star and Tiger Airways. And just today, in our talks with Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, we agreed to start anew new air talks so that we can increase travel between our two countries. We're also looking forward to Singaporean investment in the electric power sector as well as in the renewable energy sector like wind power and also biofuels. And we continue to work together bilaterally, at the same time, we also pursue with zeal our dream of forging an ASEAN regional community. During the ASEAN summit in January -- which we hosted in Cebu, and I thank Your Excellency for the kind words you said about our hosting of that summit -- we took several important steps toward putting us squarely on the path to create a regional community by 2015. At a time of uncertainty in the world, we're proud that ASEAN took a bold step forward and not a timid step back. And that ASEAN can bring so many leaders of nations and leaders of East Asia, not just of ASEAN, together to discuss peace, security, social justice and economic growth is a testament, a further testament to the desire of leaders and their people for greater collaboration between nations. And we are very proud that ASEAN has been in the driver's seat in bringing all these nations together. This year, as we turn over the chairmanship of ASEAN to Singapore in preparation for the 40th anniversary summit of ASEAN, we look forward to the signing of the ASEAN charter. When we were discussing the ASEAN charter with the eminent persons in Cebu, there were so many areas of contention, and it is indeed a tribute to Singapore's leadership that I hear during my visit here that many of those differences among the nations of ASEAN have become narrower and narrower and the prospects for signing a meaningful charter have become indeed very real for the 40th anniversary of ASEAN. It will be a tribute not only to the leadership of Singapore, it will be a tribute to the founding fathers of ASEAN including no less than our very respected and beloved statesman of Singapore, His Excellency President Nathan. On this note, may I ask all of you to join me in a toast to the good health and continued success of His Excellency President Nathan and Madame Nathan, and to the further expansion and growth of Philippine-Singapore relations. Mabuhay! |
RP, Equatorial Guinea share a common history
and culture |
Su Excelencia Salomon Nguema Owono Distinguidos miembros de la Camara de Representantes del Pueblo Colleagues in the Philippine delegation, Seņoras y seņores, Buenos dias. Muchas gracias a la Camara de Representantes del Pueblo de Guinea Ecuatorial por esta sesion especial en mi honor. La legislatura es la voz del pueblo, en Africa asi mismo en Asia. We are proud to say that in Asia, the Philippine Congress has been a beacon of freedom for one hundred years now. Our two countries share a legacy and a similar culture though we are located far away from each other, you in the western edge of Africa and we in the eastern edge of Asia, and the color of our skin is different from each other. Equatorial Guinea is the only hispanic country in Africa and the Philippines is the only hispanic country in Asia. At the Asia-Africa Summit held in Bandung, Indonesia in April 2005, the leaders of Asian and African countries signed a Declaration on the New Asian-African Strategic Partnership, which identified concrete measures for partnership. Asimismo, los lederes trataron de fortalecer los lazos tanto multilaterales como bilaterales. Por eso nos alegriamos much cuando el Presidente Obiang realiz una visita de estado en Filipinas en Mayo del aņo pasado. Se fue el para realizar los lazos bilaterales entre Filipinas y Guinea Ecuatorial, y explorar las maneras para la cooperacion y una mayor interaccion entre los pueblos de los dos pases. Exploramos las nuevas areas de cooperacion y hablamos de las oportunidades que cada pais ofrece. Durante su visita, el Presidente Obiang expres interes en las oportunidades para la formacion y un mayor conocimiento tecnico, en particular en los sectores agricola, pesquero, financiero, mientras que nosotros por nuestra parte expresamos interes en las concesiones en el petroleo. Nosotros presenciamos la firma del Acuerdo General en la Cooperacion Economica, Cultura, Ciencia y Tecnologia, y un Acuerdo sobre la Promocion y Protecion Reciproca de Inversiones - los dos primeros acuerdos bilaterales entre Filipinas y Guinea Ecuatorial. Agredecemos la oportunidad de reunirse de Nuevo con el Presidente Obiang para renovar las relaciones bilaterales entre Filipinas y Guinea Ecuatorial. Esta es mi primera visita de estado a un pais Africano desde que asumi la presidencia en 2001. He venido a Guinea Ecuatorial para fortalecer aun mas los lazos entre nuestros dos pases y continuar las iniciativas que nuestros pases han empezado durante la visita a Filipinas de su Presidente el aņo pasado. Nuestra visita de estado aqui es una buena ocasion para fomentar estas formas de cooperacion y fortalecer aun mas los lazos bilaterales y, basandonos en nuestros lazos historicos, a un mayor desarrollo y progreso. We are proud of the contribution of Filipino workers to the development of this country, particularly the 2,500 Filipino professionals employed in the banking, finance and oil sectors of Equatorial Guinea. Estamos muy dispuestos a ayudar a Guinea Ecuatorial en el desarrollo de su capacitacion humana y la infraestructura. El Gobierno Filipino esta dispuesto a forjar colaboraciones con Guinea Ecuatorial. We reiterate the Philippines' readiness to enter into arrangements for joint ventures in petroleum upstream activities on the basis of equitable sharing and mutual benefit. Distinguidos miembros de la Camara, trabajemos juntos para cerrar la brecha entre Asia y Africa y para acercar aun mas a nuestros pueblos. |
We
have turned the corner on our economy |
Mga mahal kong kababayan, maraming salamat sa mainit na pagsalubong sa inyong lingkod. I have come here to build on our commitment to enhance the bilateral relations between the Philippines and Equatorial Guinea. President Obiang undertook a state visit to the Philippines in May last year to enhance Philippine-Equatorial Guinea bilateral ties, seek avenues for cooperation and greater interaction between the two countries' peoples. Given our shared history and common past, dahil kapwa tayong dumaan sa pamamahala ng Espana, Equatoguineans and Filipinos can learn from each others' experiences and build on these for greater peace and prosperity. We agreed that it would be of strategic importance for the Philippines and Equatorial Guinea to strengthen ties and increase cooperation in all forms, despite the geographical distance between our two countries. All of this is for the benefit of our people, including you, those of you who live and work here. We are proud of the contribution of Filipino workers to the development of this country, particularly the 2,500 Filipinos employed in the banking, finance and oil sectors of Equatorial Guinea. Sinisikap nating lalo pang mapabuti ang inyong kalagayan. Pinararangalan ng pamahalaan at taumbayan ang mga Pilipinong manggagawa sa ibayong dagat sa inyong sakripisyo at malasakit sa inyong trabaho, inyong pamilya at inyong bansa. Tinatanggap nang buong loob ang inyong kontribusyon. Nguni't karangalan din nating sabihin na ang mga ganansya sa ekonomiya na nakikita natin ngayon sa Pilipinas ay inihahanda ang araw kung kailan hindi na kailangang mag-abroad pa ang mga Pilipino para sa trabaho, and the day when overseas work is just another option and not the only choice you have to earn a living. Nasa landas ng permanenteng pagsulong at katatagan ng ekonomiya ang Pilipinas. Ang pagpasa ng ating value added tax ang siyang pinakamalaking kilos na naghatid ng pag-angat ng ating ekonomiya. Sa isang matapang na kilos, nakaangat ito ng napakalaking kita ng bansa. Nagpadala rin siya ng di- mapag-kakamaliang senyas na seryoso tayo tungkol sa pagsulong ng ekonomiya. Nguni't hindi lamang iyon. Tumutulong ito na mabuo ang mga ganansya ng ating ekonomiya ng buo nating pagtukoy sa ekonomiya, sa disiplina ng kaban ng bansa, sa pagbalanse ng budget at sa pangangailangan ng napakatagal nang dapat ginawang pag-ibayo ng human at physical infrastructure. Nagbubunga ang ating mga pagsisikap. Bumubuhos ang investments, pinakamataas sa buong kasaysayan ang ating stock market. Nakalikha tayo ng anim na milyong bagong trabaho sa nakaraang anim na taon. Pinakamababa ang ating unemployment rate sa loob ng isang henerasyon. Pinakamababa rin ang ating poverty rate. Nakakahalata ang mundo: Isa sa mga best values sa Asia ang Pilipinas para sa mga Pilipino at dahuyang namumuhunan. Naka-angkla ang pag-angat ng mga pamumuhunan sa pag-ulat ng Texas Instruments na ito ay mamumuhunan ng isang bilyong dolyar upang magtayo ng electronic chip plant sa Pilipinas. Namumuhunan rin ang Hanjin ng Korea ng $1.65 billion upang magtayo sa Pilipinas ng pang-apat na pinakamalaking shipyard sa buong mundo. Noong isang linggo, bumili ang Marubeni at Tokyo Electric ng mga power plant sa Pilipinas sa halagang $3.4 billion at magdadagdag pa ng half a billion dollars. Ito ay nangyayari sa iba't ibang industriya. Nagtatrabaho tayo upang masostento ito. Tumutulong ang ating mga ambisyosong reporma na mabuwag na iyong offshore cycle. Sa pagtutuloy sa landas na ito, we will increasingly be keeping our best and brightest right in the Philippines, higit na malapit sa mga kaibigan at mga pamilya, tumutulong sa pagtayo ng ating mga pamayanan, at binibigay ang susunod na henerasyon ng liderato. Desidido tayong ibuo ang mga ganansya ng mga bagong kita ng pamahalaan sa matagal nang dapat ginawang pamumuhunan sa human at physical infrastructure. Kasama dito ang bilyon-bilyon piso para sa edukasyon, kalinga sa kalusugan at training kasama ng bilyun-bilyon sa mga bagong tulay, kalsada at pantalan upang umangat ang kakayahang makipag- kumpetensya ang Pilipinas. Ipinagmamalaki natin ang disiplina ng ating administrasyong tukuyin ang ekonomiya at ang ating pangkalahatang kalusugan sa pangkabuhayan. Ipinagmamalaki natin na binabayaran natin ang ating mga utang kahit na hindi pa nagkokobra ang nagpautang sa atin. Malaki ang ating pag-asa na mababalanse natin ang budget sa 2008. Sinisigurado nating gamitin ang mga ganansya upang mamuhunan sa mga napaka-importanteng social and economic needs. Hindi natin isasakripisyo ang pangmatagalang biyaya para sa pansamantalang political expendiency. Ipinakita ng nakaraang halalan ang buhay na buhay na system ng demokrasya ng bansa. Pinayagang sumali ang lahat na may iba-ibang paniniwala nguni't nagkakaisa sa mga parehong aspirasyon ng kapayapaan at kaunlaran para sa buong bansa. Tagumpay siya para sa reporma sa ekonomiya, katatagan ng pulitika at kapayapaan at katiwasayan. Inaasahan natin na magtatrabaho ang Senado at Kamara ng Pilipinas kasama nating siguraduhing isosostento natin ang ating mga biyaya sa ekonomiya. Nakalingon tayo sa makabuluhang pag-uusap at pagtutulungan sa ating mga gumagawa ng mga patakarang masiguradong tuloy tayong sumulong sa reporma sa ekonomiya. We have turned the corner on our economy. Mayroon nang mga kapansin-pansin na tagumpay. Nguni't di-hamak na may higit pang magagawa at gagawin. Sa unang pagkakataon sa isang henerasyon, binibigyan tayo ng kakayahan ng ating mga biyaya sa ekonomiya at kaban ng bayang gumawa ng malalakas na pamumuhunan sa ating bayan at ating taumbayan. Patungo doon, naglikha tayo ng estratehiyang pamumuhunang nakatukoy sa apat na pinaka-inisyatibo: 1) pag-ibayuhin ang ating imprastraktura upang lumikha ng kapaligiran kung saan may kumpyansa ang mga negosyong mag-expand at mag-employ ng higit pang tao, dahil kahulugan ng higit na trabaho ay bawas sa kahirapan; 2) pag-ibayuhin ang social services gaya ng health insurance subsidies para sa mga dukhang pamilya at nutrition programs para sa mga mag-aaral at kanilang mga pamilya; 3) pagpapalakas ng suporta sa edukasyon sa ating pagsisikap na bawasan ang kahirapan sa pamamagitan ng pamumuhunan sa mas mabuting school buildings, mga bagong libro at teaching materials, at training programs para sa mga guro at school administrators; at 4) pagputol ng red tape at pagpapatuloy na tanggalin ang katiwalian sa sistema. Ito ang mga paraan upang mai-ahon ang mga mahihirap. Ginagawa natin ito sa unang pagkakataon sa isang henerasyon. Kaakibat kayo at ang buong pamilyang Pilipino, maisusulong natin ang ating layunin. Together, we will push forward and fulfill our common dreams of peace and prosperity. Mabuhay! |
