PGMA's Speech during a Meeting with the Filipino Community

Tonle Sap Ballroom, Hotel Cambodiana Phnom, Penh, Kingdom of Cambodia ( 03 Nov 2002)

MARAMING SALAMAT, GINOONG TONY GOMEZ. TALAGANG PWEDE KANG IPAGMALAKI NG PILIPINAS. IKAW PALA 'YUNG NAGTAYO NG MAGANDANG AIRPORT DOON SA BANDANG ANGKOR WAT. CONGRATULATIONS.

KANINA PINAKILALA NA SA INYO SI SECRETARY BLAS OPLE. DAPAT BIGYAN NATIN SIYA NG MAGANDANG BATI DAHIL KAKAGALING LANG N'YA SA EUROPE AT 'YUNG MGA MATATAGAL NG KINAKALABAN NI AMBASSADOR GAZMIN NOONG SIYA AY HENERAL AY DAHIL SA MABISANG MISYON NI SECRETARY OPLE AY NATURING BILANG TERORISMO -- INTERNATIONAL TERRORIST. CONGRATULATIONS, SECRETARY OPLE. NANDITO RIN SI SECRETARY MANUEL ROXAS, ANG ATING SECRETARY OF TRADE AND INDUSTRY NA NAGTATANGOL PARATI NG KARAPATAN NG PILIPINAS SA ATING IBA'T-IBANG NEGOSASYON MAGING SA ASEAN. KAYA ITO PO SI SECRETARY MAR ROXAS.

AT KANINA NAKILALA NA NINYO SI SECRETARY RICHARD GORDON. MARAMI BA ANG MAGDADALA NG V-12 TOURIST DOON SA PILIPINAS? GUSTO KO IPAKILALA RIN SA INYO MULI SI PRESS SECRETARY TOTING BUNYE. KUNG SAKALING MAY MGA BANDANG MUNTINLUPA DITO, S'YA 'YUNG DATING CONGRESSMAN AT MAYOR NG MUNTINLUPA; AT 'YUNG ATING EKSPERTO SA BIMP-EAGA, 'YUNG ISANG SUB-GROUPING SA ASEAN, SI SECRETARY PAUL DOMINGUEZ; MUKHANG HINDI PA N'YO MASYADONG KILALA 'YUNG NAMUMUNO NG PRESIDENTIAL MANAGEMENT STAFF, SI SECRETARY YONGYONG AFABLE; DOON NAKAUPO NAMAN 'YUNG NAMUMUNO NG PHILIPPINE INTERNATIONAL TRADING CORPORATION, ETO IS TONY ABAD. KUNG MERON SA INYONG GUSTONG MANGALAKAL SA PILIPINAS, 'YAN ANG ISANG MAGANDANG PARAAN DADAAN SA PITC KASI DEVELOPMENTAL ANG KANYANG TRADING.

AT SIYEMPRE BINABATI KO SI AMBASSADOR VOLTS GAZMIN. SALAMAT SA IYONG PAG-AALAGA SA DALAWANG LIBONG PILIPINONG NANDITO SA CAMBODIA. MAGING SA RELASYON NATIN SA CAMBODIA. ALAM N'YO BAGAY NA BAGAY SI AMBASSADOR GAZMIN DITO DAHIL 'YUNG NAMUMUNO NG CAMBODIA AY ISANG HENERAL DIN AT MAGALING MAG-GOLF. SO, BAGAY NA BAGAY SILA. KAYA MAGANDA RIN ANG RELASYON NG PILIPINAS AT CAMBODIA. KASI ISANG IMPORTANTE RIN DAPAT MAGKA-VIBES 'YUNG AMBASSADOR AT SAKA 'YUNG HEAD OF GOVERNMENT. GANUN DIN 'YUNG MGA IBANG BANSA SA PILIPINAS EH. ANG DAMI DOON, PAG MAY BAGONG AMBASSADOR BABAE ANG PINAPADALA. SO, BINABAGAY TALAGA SA HEAD OF GOVERNMENT 'YUNG AMBASSADOR.

AT SA INYONG LAHAT NAMAN HINDI LANG KAY GINOONG GOMEZ, LAHAT KAYONG MGA FILCOM OFFICERS AT SAKA MEMBERS, FILIPINO COMMUNITY BINABATI KO DAHIL KUNG SAAN-SAAN PALA KAYONG BAHAGI NG CAMBODIA DUMATING DITO PARA SA ITONG AFFAIR NA ITO, SALAMAT. AT ITO BA, PALAGAY KO KAYO AY... AT GUSTO KO RIN BATIIN SI FATHER OCHOA. MERON PA PALANG DON BOSCO DITO. ANG GALING, PARANG PHILIPPINES... AWAY FROM THE PHILIPPINES ANG DON BOSCO. AT KAYONG LAHAT, PALAGAY KO KAYO AY MICROCOSM DIN NG ATING CULTURAL DIVERSITY SA PILIPINAS.

ATIN BANG CAPANGPANGAN KETI? PASALAMATAN CUNG LUBUS ING PAMANYATANG YU NGENING ALDO.

ADTA KAKAILYAK NGA ILOKANO. KAKAILYAK TI BANGIR NI MAMANG KO NGA ILOKANO GAPO PANGASINAN, AGIAMAN KADAKAYO NGA UMAY KAYO TATTA NGA ALDAW.

DUNAY TAGA-MMINDANAO, ASA NA DUGAY SI AMBASSADOR GAZMIN ISIP COMMANDER UG ASA NAGIKAN SI SECRETARY PAUL DOMINGUEZ. SO, DAGHAN SALAMAT AKO SAB DIDTO KO NIDAKO. O, NI ALAM N'YO, SA ILIGAN CITY. DIDTO SAB NADUGAY SI AMBASSADOR GAZMIN. SO, SA ATON MGA KAUBANAN DIDTO, DAGHANG SALAMAT SA INYONG PAG-ABOT KARONG ADLAW.

SA MGA KASIMANWA NI SECRETARY ROXAS NGA ILONGGO, KASIMANWA SAB SANG AKONG BANA, SALAMAT GID NGA NAKADTO KAMO SA ATONG PROGRAMA SUBONG.

AT SA INYONG LAHAT, SAAN MAN KAYO NANGGALING SA PILIPINAS. SAAN MAN KAYO NANGGALING SA CAMBODIA, AKO'Y NATUTUWA SA INYONG PAGDALO NGAYONG HAPON. ANG INYONG PAGBIBIGAY HALAGA SA ATING PAGTITIPON-TIPON NGAYON AY ISANG TUNAY NA PAGMAMALASAKIT AT PAGMAMAHAL SA ATING BAYAN, SA ATING PAMAHALAAN, AT SA BUONG SAMBAYANANG PILIPINO.

I AM VERY PROUD THAT FILIPINOS HAVE BEEN WORTHY PARTNERS OF THE PEOPLE OF CAMBODIA IN NATION-BUILDING. I UNDERSTAND THAT THIS STARTED WHEN THE FIRST FILIPINOS ARRIVED HERE DURING THE EARLY 1990S WHEN AMBASSADOR GAZMIN WAS THE HEAD OF THE PRESIDENTIAL SECURITY GROUP AT THAT TIME. AND WHEN THIS COUNTRY WAS STILL IN TURBULENT TIMES AND THE UNITED NATIONS TRANSITIONAL AUTHORITY CAME TO CAMBODIA TO SUPERVISE CAMBODIA'S ADMINISTRATION AND HELP CREATE AN ATMOSPHERE IN WHICH FREE ELECTIONS COULD TAKE PLACE. YOUR CONTRIBUTION TO DEMOCRACY IS IMPORTANT AS OUR CONTRIBUTION AS A COUNTRY IS IMPORTANT. YOU WERE SENT HERE TO OVERSEE THE TRANSITION TO DEMOCRACY BECAUSE FILIPINOS, THE PHILIPPINES, WE ARE THE MOST VIBRANT AND DYNAMIC DEMOCRACY IN ASIA, AND WE ARE VERY PROUD OF IT, AND WE ARE VERY PROUD OF YOU.

SINCE THEN, FILIPINOS HERE IN CAMBODIA HAVE MADE YOUR MARK AFTER JUST ONE DECADE AS MANAGERS, ENGINEERS -- AYAN SI TONY -- TEACHERS, SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS, ENTERTAINERS, DOCTORS, SOCIAL WORKERS, AGRICULTURAL EXPERTS, MEMBERS OF RELIGIOUS ORGANIZATIONS LIKE FATHER OCHOA, AND MANY OTHER CALLINGS. AND YOU HAVE BEEN EXEMPLARS -- GAYA NG SABI NI AMBASSADOR -- OF THE GREAT FILIPINO WORKER KNOWN WORLDWIDE FOR DISCIPLINE, TALENT, PROFESSIONALISM AND A SHEPHERDING AND COMPASSIONATE SPIRIT.

MY ADMINISTRATION IS DETERMINED TO BRING GOVERNMENT CLOSER TO OUR PEOPLE, INCLUDING OUR OVERSEAS FILIPINOS.

EVEN WHEN I WAS A SENATOR, TOGETHER WITH SENATOR OPLE THEN, I ALREADY FELT THAT WAY. THAT'S WHY WHEN I WAS A SENATOR, AND SECRETARY OPLE WAS ALSO A SENATOR, SEPARATELY WE FILED OUR OVERSEAS VOTING BILLS, BUT LIKE MANY OTHER OVERSEAS VOTING BILLS BEFORE AND AFTER OURS, OUR BILLS DID NOT EVEN PROGRESS AT THAT TIME BEYOND THE COMMITTEE LEVEL.

THAT'S WHY WHEN I BECAME PRESIDENT, I CERTIFIED AS ONE OF MY FIVE MOST URGENT BILLS THE OVERSEAS VOTING BILL.

AND SO NOW AT LAST, FOR THE FIRST TIME AFTER SO MANY ATTEMPTS, THE OVERSEAS VOTING BILL HAS PASSED BOTH HOUSES OF CONGRESS. MOST OF YOU ARE FILIPINO CITIZENS STILL SO LET'S PRAY THAT THE HOUSE AND THE SENATE CAN IRON OUT THEIR CONFLICTING PROVISIONS SOON BECAUSE AS SOON AS THEY DO SO I WILL SIGN THE BILL INTO LAW WITHIN 24 HOURS.

THROUGH THIS ACT OF EMPOWERMENT, WE ENVISION OUR OVERSEAS FILIPINOS LIKE YOU TO HAVE GREATER STAKE IN GOVERNANCE AND THE FUTURE DIRECTION OF OUR COUNTRY EVEN IF YOU ARE HERE. WE WANT YOU TO MAINTAIN YOUR BOND WITH YOUR HOMELAND AND DEEPEN FURTHER YOUR APPRECIATION OF YOUR NATIONAL IDENTITY.

I ENCOURAGE YOU ALL -- SABI KASI NI TONY GUSTO N'YANG TUMULONG -- ONE WAY BY WHICH YOU CAN HELP IS TO BE OUR AMBASSADORS OF GOODWILL AND MAINTAIN OUR FRIENDLY RELATIONS WITH THE CAMBODIAN GOVERNMENT AND PEOPLE.

AS YOU KNOW, I'M HERE IN CAMBODIA FOR THE ASEAN LEADERS' MEETING. I'M HERE FOR THE SAME REASON I WAS IN MEXICO AT THE APEC LEADERS' MEETING LAST WEEK: TO FOCUS ON THE ECONOMY AND THE SECURITY OF THE PHILIPPINES. WHETHER IT'S A FIGHT AGAINST GLOBAL TERRORISM OR IMPROVING EDUCATION WHICH MANY OF YOU ARE DOING HERE IN CAMBODIA, AT THE END OF THE DAY, IT IS ALWAYS ABOUT THE ECONOMY AND IMPROVING THE LIVES OF OUR PHILIPPINE CITIZENS.

IF YOU REMEMBER, WHEN I BECAME PRESIDENT 21 MONTHS AGO, I INHERITED AN ECONOMY WITH 4 MILLION JOBLESS FILIPINOS AND A 40 PERCENT POVERTY INCIDENCE.

TODAY, INSPITE OF THE GLOBAL SLOWDOWN WE HAVE AN ECONOMY THAT HAS DELIVERED ONE OF THE HIGHEST GROWTH RATES IN ASIA, AND WE'RE ALSO TAKING FURTHER STEPS TO STRENGTHEN OUR MACROECONOMIC FUNDAMENTALS. WE WILL CONTINUE TO BE VIGILANT IN OUR EFFORTS TO REDUCE OUR BUDGET DEFICIT AND, IN THIS REGARD, I BELIEVE THAT THE REVENUE ENHANCEMENT MEASURES BEING IMPLEMENTED BY THE BUREAU OF INTERNAL REVENUE AS WELL AS OUR STRICT CONTROLS ON GOVERNMENT SPENDING THAT HAVE BEEN INSTITUTED WILL SUPPORT OUR SUCCESS ON THIS FRONT.

AS WE DO THIS, WE WILL FOCUS ON THE POSITIVE INDICATORS OF THE STRENGTH OF OUR DOMESTIC DRIVEN ECONOMY. THIS INCLUDES SUCH THINGS AS:

GROWTH, AS I SAID EARLIER. ONE OF THE HIGHEST IN ASIA MAYBE IN THE WORLD. THIS HAS BEEN FUELED BY AMONG OTHER FACTORS THE CONTINUED STRENGTH OF SERVICES AND A STRONG DELIVERY IN OUR INDUSTRIAL SECTOR;

WHY HAVE THE SERVICES BEEN SO STRONG? THE GROWTH HAS BEEN SUPPORTED BY CONTINUED EXPANSION IN TELECOMMUNICATIONS, TRADE AND PRIVATE SERVICES INCLUDING TOURISM. I DON'T KNOW IF DICK HAS TOLD YOU THAT THE OCTOBER FIGURES OF TOURISM SHOW A GROWTH RATE OF 4 PERCENT INSPITE OF THE BALI BOMBING.

EH, NOON NGANG NAGKAROON NG DOS PALMAS INCIDENT, 'YUNG MAY-ARI NG PEARL FARM LINAGAY PA NILA 'YUNG KANILANG REGIONAL HEADQUARTER SA PILIPINAS, EVEN AFTER THE DOS PALMAS INCIDENT. AT KAHIT NA NANGYARI ITONG MGA BOMBING NGAYON, NANDUN SI DICK, NAKA-NAKA-ORGANIZE PA S'YA NG WORLD TOURISM ORGANIZATION, ANTI-TERRORISM SUMMIT NA GAGANAPIN DOON SA MANILA AT THE END OF THIS WEEK. KAYA TULOY ANG ATING TURISMO.

THE NON-BANK FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS AND INSURANCE INDUSTRIES HAVE ALSO PUSHED THE FINANCE SECTOR TO POST THE HIGHEST GROWTH IN FOUR YEARS; AND AS FOR THE GROWTH IN THE INDUSTRIAL SECTOR. THIS HAS BEEN LED BY MANUFACTURING WHICH WAS NEGATIVE LAST YEAR BUT NOW IT'S A LEADING SECTOR FOR GROWTH PARTICULARLY MANUFACTURED EXPORTS, BECAUSE EXPORTS ARE UP BY 20PERCENT;

PRIVATE CONSTRUCTION IS ON THE REBOUND; AND IN THE AGRICULTURAL SECTOR, FISHERIES AND FORESTRY HAVE BEEN PARTICULARLY STRONG; INFLATION IS AT A 15-YEAR LOW SO WITH INTEREST RATES; AND WE HAVE -- THANKS TO YOU -- INCREASING LEVELS OF REMITTANCES FROM OVERSEAS FILIPINOS, UP 39 PERCENT FROM JANUARY TO JUNE 2002. THIS HAS BOOSTED THE PERSONAL CONSUMPTION OF YOUR RELATIVES. LAST YEAR, YOU, THE OVERSEAS FILIPINOS REMITTED 6 BILLION DOLLARS. THIS YEAR, FOR THE FIRST HALF YEAR ALONE YOU HAVE ALREADY REMITTED 4 BILLION DOLLARS. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR SUPPORT. BUT BECAUSE OF OUR BUDGET DEFICIT, GOVERNMENT SPENDING HAS BEEN FLAT, PERMITTING THE PRIVATE SECTOR TO LEAD THE GROWTH.

THUS, FOR THE NEXT SIX MONTHS, EVEN AS WE ARE RESOLVING THE TERRORIST THREATS IN OUR COUNTRY, I AM FOCUSED ON A TIGHTLY CONSOLIDATED EIGHT-POINT WORK PROGRAM TO PUSH PRIVATE SECTOR-LED GROWTH:

THE FIRST IS TO STRENGTHEN OUR SMALL AND MEDIUM ENTERPRISES. TO DO THIS, THE CENTRAL BANK IS RELAXING ITS FINANCIAL DOCUMENTARY REQUIREMENTS FOR LOANS TO SMALL AND MEDIUM ENTERPRISES. AND THE FIELD OFFICES OF MAR ROXAS, THE DTI ARE MANDATED TO CONCENTRATE THEIR SERVICES ON ASSISTING THE SMES WITH PROJECT PROPOSAL DOCUMENTS REQUIRED TO ACCESS BANK MONEY.

SALAMAT NASABI NI TONY, GUSTO N'YONG TUMULONG SA PANGKABUHAYAN NG PILIPINAS. KAYA PAG MAGPAPADALA KAYO NG REMITTANCES SA INYONG MGA KAMAG-ANAK PARA MAGTAYO SILA NG MALILIIT NA NEGOSYO, SABIHIN N'YO RIN PWEDE NA SILANG MAGPATULONG SA DTI PARA 'YUNG PADALA NINYO 'YON ANG EQUITY TAPOS PWEDE PA RING I-LEVERAGE 'YON AT HUMIRAM SA MGA BANGKO DAHIL INI-ENCOURAGE NATIN NGAYON SILANG HUMIRAM SA SMES.

THE SECOND PROGRAM IS TO JUMPSTART HOUSING. THERE ARE EIGHT BIG DEVELOPERS IN OUR COUNTRY AND THEY'RE TAKING A LEAP OF FAITH. THEY ARE GOING BACK INTO HOUSING CONSTRUCTION AFTER THREE YEARS THAT THEY'VE BEEN DO SO. AND FOR THE FIRST TIME, THEY'RE GOING TO DO END-USER FINANCING.

SABI NI TONY, GUSTO N'YONG TUMULONG SA PABAHAY. UNFORTUNATELY, WALANG PAG-IBIG DITO. KAYA SI YONGYONG AFABLE NA ANG AKING PMS PARA HINDI KO MAKALIMUTAN, SASABIHIN KO KAY YONGYONG NA SABIHIN N'YA SA PAG-IBIG MAGPADALA SILA NG SELLING MISSION DITO PARA MAKAPAG.... SA GANUN MAKAPAG-MEMBER KAYO O KUNG MEMBERS NA 'YUNG MGA KAMAG-ANAK NINYO AY MAKAPAGBILI KAYO NG BAHAY, PABAHAY PARA SA KANILA.

THE THIRD IS TO REDUCE TRANSPORT COSTS FROM MINDANAO TO LUZON. THE POLICY REFORMS HAVE ALREADY BEEN DONE TO REDUCE PORT FEES. NOW, THE DEVELOPMENT BANK OF THE PHILIPPINES HAS 20 BILLION PESOS TO LEND TO INVESTORS ON A ROLL-ON/ROLL-OFF PORT AND FERRY SYSTEM INCLUDING ACCESS ROADS, MARITIME INSTITUTES, VOCATIONAL AND TECHNICAL SCHOOLS, AND POST-HARVEST FACILITIES TO PUT TOGETHER A SUSTAINABLE LOGISTIC SYSTEM CONNECTING THE ISLANDS OF OUR ARCHIPELAGO. PARA DIRETSO, DIRETSO ANYWHERE FROM MINDANAO, ANYWHERE TO LUZON.

THE FOURTH IS TO BEGIN THE INFRASTRUCTURE THAT WILL DECONGEST METRO MANILA. THIS MEANS BEGINNING THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE SYSTEM THAT WILL COMPLETE THE MASS TRANSIT SYSTEM IN METRO MANILA, ALSO THAT WILL CONNECT MANILA TO CLARK-SUBIC BY TRAIN, AND MANILA TO BATANGAS PORT BY A MODERN HIGHWAY. WE WANT TO START THIS CONSTRUCTION WITHIN THE NEXT SIX MONTHS.

THE FIFTH IS TO MARK UP THE CONTRIBUTION OF THE PCGG TO OUR FISCAL RESOURCES BY PUSHING FOR AN EARLY DECISION ON THE MARCOS DEPOSITS IN THE PHILIPPINE NATIONAL BANK AND THE LIQUIFICATION OF THE GOVERNMENT'S 27 PERCENT SHARE IN SAN MIGUEL CORPORATION.

THE SIXTH IS TO MAKE MAKATI A SPECIFIC URBAN TOURIST DESTINATION. THIS WILL CATER TO THE MOST IMPORTANT SPECIFIC TOURIST MARKET SEGMENT TODAY -- THE WORKING JAPANESE FEMALE WHO LIKES TO GO ON GROUP SHOPPING HOLIDAYS.

THE SEVENTH IS TO STIMULATE PRIVATE INVESTMENT IN AGRICULTURE. WE ARE PUSHING LEGISLATION TO ALLOW FARMER-BENEFICIARIES TO SELL THEIR LAND SO IT CAN BE USED AS COLLATERAL.

AND THE EIGHTH IS TO BEGIN THE COMPLETE STAFF WORK TO MAKE THE RECLAMATION AREA IN ROXAS BOULEVARD A TOURISM COMPLEX TO BE CALLED 'THE BAGONG NAYONG PILIPINO.'

OUR MAIN GOAL FOR ALL OF THESE IS TO WIN THE BATTLE AGAINST POVERTY WITHIN THE DECADE. BUT AS MENTIONED BY TONY, WE MUST ALSO SEEK PERMANENT NATIONAL STABILITY.

THUS, I'D LIKE TO REPORT TO YOU THAT BECAUSE OF OUR AGGRESSIVE DRIVE AGAINST TERRORISM, DESPITE THAT SOMETIMES THEY DESPERATELY RESORT TO SOME HIT AND RUN BOMBINGS, THE DOMESTIC TERRORISTS SPECIALLY THE ABU SAYYAF ARE ON THE RUN. WE HAVE CAPTURED THE BOMBERS OF ZAMBOANGA OF OCTOBER AND ALSO ONE OF THE PERPETRATORS OF THE BUS BOMBING IN MANILA. ALL SAINTS' DAY WAS VERY PEACEFUL BECAUSE OF OUR ALERT LAW ENFORCERS, SOLDIERS AND INTELLIGENCE AGENTS WHO HARDENED THE TERRORISTS' TARGET.

ALAM MO, DUMATING AKO SA MANILA MULA SA APEC, NOVEMBER 2. I LEFT SAN FRANCISCO, MANILA TIME, ABOUT NOON TIME, 1 O'CLOCK PM. SO I CALLED UP... BEFORE I LEFT I CALLED UP SECRETARY REYES -- DEFENSE SECRETARY. "KUMUSTA NA D'YAN?" "EVERYTHING IS QUITE," SABI N'YA. "NO UNTOWARD INCIDENTS." SO I HOPPED ON THE PLANE. I DON'T KNOW WHAT HAPPENED ON THE OTHER HALF OF NOVEMBER 1. WHEN I GOT BACK, I ASKED THE CHIEF OF STAFF, GENERAL DEFENSOR, "O, KUMUSTA?" "FINE, EVERYTHING PEACEFUL." AT NAGBIBIRUAN PA. SIGURO IKIKWENTO KO 'YUNG ISANG BIRO KO. IN ANOUNCE NA RAW NG MILITARY NA THEY'RE GONNA FIELD SO MANY POLICEMEN, SO MANY SOLDIERS, SO MANY DOGS, SNIFFING DOGS. AH, INANOUNCE NI ... KAYA TULOY ANG DAMI NAGTEXT RAW KAY GENERAL EBDANE NG CHIEF NG PHILIPPINE NATIONAL POLICE KASI FIELDINGS SO MANY DOGS IN THE CEMETERIES... NAG-TEXT SILA, "SALAMAT SA PAGKAIN." ANYWAY, TWO HUNDRED DOGS... PERO TWO HUNDRED DOGS PA RIN ANG BUMALIK. KAYA BIRO LANG 'YON.

WE HAVE CRUSHED AT LEAST FIVE KIDNAP-FOR-RANSOM GANGS. AND THE CHINESE-FILIPINO COMMUNITY NA S'YA ANG PABORITONG BIKTIMA ITONG MGA GANG NA ITO, SABI NILA SA NGAYON MATAHIMIK DOON SA BINONDO.

THESE MACRO STATISTICS TRANSLATE INTO BENEFITS FOR THE POOR. THE PRICE OF RICE FOR THE POOR IS STABLE AT 14 TO 16 PESOS DEPENDING ON WHERE YOU BUY IT. 'YUNG RICE FOR THE POOR 'YON 'YUNG REGULAR-MILLED RICE. PERO NGAYON PATI RAW 'YUNG WELL-MILLED RICE 18 PESOS NA LAMANG. AND SOME 200,000 URBAN POOR FAMILIES HAVE ACQUIRED THE RIGHT TO BUY THE LAND THAT THEY ARE OCCUPYING, SO THAT THEY'RE NOT SQUATTERS ANYMORE. SCHOOLS ARE BEING BUILT IN BARANGAYS WHERE THERE USED TO BE NONE, ABOUT A THOUSAND OF THEM. AND MORE THAN 3 MILLION POOR FILIPINOS NOW HAVE HEALTH INSURANCE. THESE ACHIEVEMENTS WE ATTAINED DURING THE SHORT PERIOD OF THE 21 MONTHS OF MY ADMINISTRATION.

BUT, NO PRESIDENT CAN BUILD A STRONG REPUBLIC SINGLE-HANDEDLY. I CAN CONTINUE TO DO THIS AND DO THIS BETTER ONLY IF I CAN COUNT ON THE SUPPORT OF THE MORE THAN 7 MILLION FILIPINOS OVERSEAS.

YOU ARE PART OF THIS WELLSPRING OF SUPPORT, THE NETWORK OF FILIPINOS ALL OVER THE WORLD THAT I'M COUNTING ON.

KAYA NAGPAPASALAMAT AKO SA BINANGGIT NGA NI TONY, INYONG PAGMAMALASAKIT SA ATING KAPWA PILIPINO AT SA ATING BAYAN. IPAGPATULOY NATIN ANG ATING... AT ANG INYONG MAGANDANG GAWAIN, ANG ATING PAGBUBUKLOD-BUKLOD, AT ANG ATING PAGKAKAISA. DAHIL TULOY PANG MAHIRAP ANG HINAHARAP NG ATING MUNDO. KAYA MAS LALONG KAILANGAN ANG ATING SARILING SIKAP AT PAGKAKAISA.

AND SO, EVEN AS YOU ARE HERE HELPING BUILD THE RENEWED CAMBODIAN NATION, HELP ME TOO TO BUILD A STRONG PHILIPPINE REPUBLIC.

MARAMING SALAMAT SA INYONG LAHAT.

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