PGMA's During the 12th General Assembly of the League of Municipalities of the Philippines

Fiesta Pavilion, Manila Hotel (Nov 14, 2002)
MARAMING SALAMAT SECRETARY ROMULO SA IYONG PAGPAKILALA SA AKIN. ALAM N'YO
SI SECRETARY ROMULO SA DAMI NG PAPER WORK NA GINAGAWA NIYA DAHIL HALOS
LAHAT NG AABOT SA AKIN AY DUMADAAN SA KANYA MUNA, HALOS HINDI SIYA
LUMALABAS NG MALACAŅANG. PERO NARITO SIYA, GANOON KA IMPORTANTE ANG LEAGUE
OF MAYORS OF THE PHILIPPINES.

TI KAILYAK DIAY BINALONAN, PANGASINAN MAYOR RAMON GUICO, THANK YOU VERY
MUCH FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP IN PUTTING TOGETHER THE AGENDA OF THE MAYORS
LEAGUE; GUSTO KO RING BATIIN 'YUNG IBANG MGA EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE OFFICERS,
OUR VERY YOUNG MAYOR FROM BOGO, CEBU, MAYOR CELESTINO MARTINEZ.
KASAMA KO SIYA DOON SA JAPAN, HINDI BA? AND I HOPE THAT UPON YOUR
NOMINATION... AND I HOPE THAT HE'S BEEN ABLE TO HELP ALSO THE OTHER MAYORS
IN DISSEMINATING THE OPPORTUNITIES THAT THERE ARE FOR JAPANESE ODA.

GUSTO KO RING BATIIN SI MAYOR MELCHOR NACARIO ANG EVP FOR EXTERNAL AFFAIRS.
SAAN SI MAYOR NACARIO? QUENG CACUNG CABALEN MAYOR BOKING
MORALES, FROM MABALACAT, THE HOME OF CLARK; MAYOR JOSE SALONGA,
OUR VICE PRESIDENT FOR LUZON. ASAN SI MAYOR SALONGA? AYUN. ANO
MAYOR KUMUSTA KA? MAYOR ELIZABETH DELGADO, OUR VERY YOUNG MAYOR FROM
SURIGAO; MAYOR ARMANDO SANCHEZ FROM BATANGAS; MAYOR
SYLVIA ADAME FROM BOHOL, HOW ARE YOU MAYOR? MAYOR MELQUIADES
AZCUNA; MAYOR FRANCIS OLBIS; MAYOR JULIO UY, ANG
ATING LEGAL COUNSEL; AT SI MAYOR MAYOR, ANG KANINA NAGPAHAYAG
NG RESULTA NG INYONG MGA WORKSHOP.

AT NARITO RIN -- GANOON KAYO KA IMPORTANTE -- ALAM N'YO SINASABI KO SA MGA
CABINET MEMBERS KO, KAYA USUALLY SA IBANG MGA AFFAIRS, KUNG MINSAN 'YUNG
HOST NAGLALAGAY NG ISANG BUONG MESA PARA SA CABINET MEMBERS. PERO WALANG
NAKA-UPO DOON. KASI ANG USAPAN NAMIN, MARAMI SILANG TRABAHO 'WAG NA
PARATING SAMA NG SAMA SA AKIN. PERO DITO HINDI SILA NANDITO PARA SUMAMA SA
AKIN NANDITO SILA PARA MAKIPAG-UGNAY SA INYONG LAHAT. KAYA ITO ANG ATING
MGA CABINET MEMBERS.

NANDITO SI SECRETARY OF DEFENSE, SI ANGIE REYES. DAHIL
NAPAKA-IMPORTANTE KAYO LALO NA NGAYON SA MGA LABAN KONTRA SA TERORISMO AT
IBA'T-IBA PANG MGA DISASTER WHETHER NATURAL O MAN-MADE; SI NANI BRAGANZA,
NA ANG TRABAHO NIYA WHETHER ITS FOR RE-DISTRIBUTION OR FOR
CONVERSION KAILANGAN ANG MABILIS NA KILOS NG MGA LOCAL GOVERNMENT
EXECUTIVES, KUNG HINDI SA KANYA TATAMA ANG COMPLAINT TUNGKOL SA KATAGALAN
NG PROSESO KAYA KAILANGANG-KAILANGANG KAYO NI NANI BRAGANZA; AT NARITO RIN
SI SERCRETARY GING DELES, SIYA ANG PARTNER NINYO SA KALAHI.
'YON ANG ATING KABALIKAT LABAN SA KAHIRAPAN; AT HINDI SIYA MUNICIPAL
MAYOR PERO SIYA ANG ATING HOST, CITY MAYOR OF MANILA, MAYOR LITO ATIENZA;
AT HINDI RIN SIYA MAYOR, CITY MAYOR, NI HINDI SIYA MUNICIPAL
MAYOR PERO SIYA RIN ANG ATING HOST, ANG PINUNO NG MANILA HOTEL SI DON
EMILIO YAP; I ALSO LIKE TO THANK USAID MISSION DIRECTOR
MICHAEL YATES FOR YOUR SUPPORT TO THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT; AT SA INYONG LAHAT
MGA PUNONG-BAYAN NG BUONG PILIPINAS, MALUGOD KONG BINABATI KAYONG LAHAT,
MGA KAGALANG-GALANG NA PINUNONG LOKAL MULA SA IBA'T-IBANG DAKO NG PILIPINAS
NA NARITO NGAYON PARA SAMA-SAMANG BALANGKASIN ANG MGA PROGRAMANG TUTUGON SA
KAHIRAPAN, LILIKHA NG MGA GAWAING PANG-KAUNLARAN AT PAGPAPASIGLA SA ATING
EKONOMIYA.

OUR LOCAL GOVERNMENTS HAVE TRULY COME OF AGE. THE DILG REPORTED TO ME
RECENTLY THAT BY AND LARGE, THE MUNICIPALITIES YOU STAND FOR NOW
COLLECTIVELY EXCEED THE NATIONAL GOVERNMENT IN PERFORMANCE.
SANA NAKATULONG AT SANA HINDI PA NINYO NAKALIMUTAN NA SIGURO NAMAN MARAMI
SA INYONG NAGAWA AY DAHIL BINIGAY KO SA INYONG BUO ANG INYONG IRA.
AT HINDI LAMANG 'YON, NAGBAYAD PA AKO NG UTANG SA INYO NG
NAKARAANG ADMINISTRASYON. NOONG NAGKATAON NA TAYO AY
NAGKA-PROBLEMA SA BUDGET DEFICIT JUST RECENTLY, MAY PANUKALANG BAWASAN ANG
INYONG IRA DAHIL BINABAWASAN NG NATIONAL GOVERNMENT NG ALLOCATION. NGUNIT SABI KO, HANAPAN
NATIN NG PARAAN NA BUO PA RIN ANG IRA NG MGA LOCAL GOVERNMENTS.
MAG-SAKRIPISYO NANG DAGDAG ANG NATIONAL GOVERNMENT, NGUNIT SIKAPING BUO PA
RIN ANG IRA NG LOCAL GOVERNMENT, DAHIL MAHAL NG ATING ADMINISTRASYON ANG
MGA LOCAL GOVERNMENT.

YOU ARE IMPORTANT TO THE ADMINISTRATION BECAUSE YOU ARE THE DIRECT LINK TO
THE PEOPLE. THE CREDIBILITY AND MOTIVE FORCE OF A STRONG PHILIPPINE
REPUBLIC LARGELY RESTS UPON YOUR SHOULDERS.

A STRONG PHILIPPINE REPUBLIC HAS TWO ESSENTIAL ATTRIBUTES: FIRST, THE
REPUBLIC MUST BE AUTONOMOUS OF DOMINANT CLASSES AND SECTORS, SO THAT IT
REPRESENTS THE PEOPLE'S INTEREST AND NOT ONLY THE INTEREST OF THE POWERFUL
MINORITY GROUPS; SECOND, THE REPUBLIC MUST HAVE THE CAPACITY, REPRESENTED
THROUGH STRONG INSTITUTIONS AND A STRONG BUREAUCRACY, TO IMPLEMENT ITS
POLICIES AND DELIVER ITS SERVICES.

THE FIRST AND FOREMOST STRONG INSTITUTION OF A STRONG PHILIPPINE REPUBLIC
IS AN EFFECTIVE GOVERNMENT FROM THE NATIONAL TO THE LOCAL GOVERNMENTS WITH
A PROFESSIONAL AND DEDICATED CIVIL SERVICE. SUCH A COMBINATION FOR AN
EFFECTIVE GOVERNMENT DELIVERS BASIC SERVICES FOR EVERYONE THE MOST
IMPORTANT OF WHICH IS AN ENVIRONMENT OF PEACE AND ORDER AND THE RULE OF
LAW AND THE NECESSARY INFRASTRUCTURE. IN ADDITION, AN EFFECTIVE REPUBLIC
MUST HELP ITS POOREST AND WEAKEST CITIZENS, EMPOWER THEM AND DISMANTLE THE
STRUCTURES THAT MAKE THEM POOR AND WEAK. AN EFFECTIVE GOVERNMENT RESTS ON
THE RULE OF LAW, AND OUR JUSTICE SYSTEM MUST BE STRENGTHENED TO BECOME AN
EFFICIENT INSTITUTION FOR ALL NOT JUST FOR THE POWERFUL.

ITO ANG ATING SINISIKAP NA MAGKAROON -- AN EFFECTIVE GOVERNMENT THAT PERFORMS.

A STRONG REPUBLIC MAKES SURE THAT ESSENTIAL SERVICES ESPECIALLY PEACE AND
ORDER AND THE NECESSARY INFRASTRUCTURE REACH THE PEOPLE, WHETHER THESE
SERVICES ARE PROVIDED FOR BY GOVERNMENT OR BY THE PRIVATE SECTOR.

THAT'S WHY EARLIER TODAY BEFORE COMING HERE, I WAS IN BATANGAS CITY TO
WITNESS THE COMPLETION OF THE LARGEST NATURAL GAS-RUN POWER GENERATION
FACILITY IN THE PHILIPPINES. WHAT I DID THIS MORNING WAS A MILESTONE EVENT
FOR OUR COUNTRY, BECAUSE NOW WITH THE OPENING OF THE ILIJAN NATURAL GAS
POWER PLANT NOW MORE THAN 52 PERCENT OF OUR TOTAL ENERGY REQUIREMENT IS
SUPPLIED BY RESOURCES FROM RIGHT HERE IN THE PHILIPPINES.
PRIOR TO OUR ADMINISTRATION, WE WERE IMPORTING MOST OF OUR ENERGY
RESOURCES. AND THIS ILIJAN POWER PLANT NOT ONLY ACCELERATES THE
DEVELOPMENT OF OUR INDIGENOUS INDUSTRY, BUT ALSO ENABLES THE INCREASE
UTILIZATION OF ENVIRONMENT-FRIENDLY FUELS, BECAUSE NATURAL GAS IS
ENVIRONMENT FRIENDLY.

THE ILIJAN PLANT IS ALSO THE LARGEST INVESTMENT OF SOUTH KOREA IN THE
PHILIPPINES WITH A TOTAL PROJECT COST OF 1 BILLION DOLLARS. AND THE GOOD
NEWS IS THAT THE INVESTORS TOLD ME THEY ARE STILL LOOKING FOR OTHER
INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITIES IN THE PHILIPPINES. SO, I INVITE OUR MAYORS TO
COURT THEM AND OTHER PROSPECTIVE INVESTORS FOR YOUR LOCALITIES.

I ALSO ARRIVED LAST WEEK FROM THE APEC SUMMIT IN MEXICO AND THE ASEAN
SUMMIT IN CAMBODIA. THESE LEADERS' MEETINGS UNDERSCORED A SIGNIFICANT NEW
TREND AMONG NATIONS AND LEADERS, NAMELY: THE RECOGNITION THAT WE MUST FIGHT
TERRORISM HAND-IN-HAND WITH THE FIGHT AGAINST POVERTY.

THE BEST ANTIDOTE TO TERRORISM AND POVERTY IS POLITICAL FREEDOM AND
ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY. THAT'S WHY AS THE LEADER OF A DEVELOPING NATION LIKE
OURS, I CANNOT ACHIEVE ONE WITHOUT THE OTHER. THAT'S WHY MY FIGHT, OUR
FIGHT AGAINST TERRORISM ON OUR OWN SOIL MUST BE ACCOMPANIED BY EFFORTS TO
BRING JOBS, EDUCATION AND OPPORTUNITY TO OUR PEOPLE AT THE SAME TIME.

IN THE FIGHT AGAINST TERRORISM I WOULD LIKE REPORT TO YOU THAT THIS
MORNING, AFP CHIEF GENERAL BENJAMIN DEFENSOR PRESENTED TO ME THE TOP, THE
VERY TOP BOMBER OF THE ABU SAYYAF, THE LEADER OF THEIR BOMBING AND
TERRORISM GROUP. THEIR GROUP WAS PLANNING A SERIES OF BOMB ATTACKS AGAINST
GOVERNMENT INSTALLATIONS, FOREIGN EMBASSIES AND SHOPPING MALLS IN METRO
MANILA. THE SELF-CONFESSED BOMBER IS IMPLICATED BY HIS OWN COHORTS WHO
WERE ARRESTEDEARLIER AND THIS BOMBER, THIS NUMBER ONE BOMBER OF THE ABU SAYYAF, THE
NUMBER ONE BOMB EXPERT WAS THE MASTERMIND OF THE BOMBINGS IN ZAMBOANGA LAST
OCTOBER, AND ALSO HE WAS PERSONALLY PRESENT IN THE DOS PALMAS KIDNAPPING
LAST YEAR. HE CARRIES A ONE MILLION-PESO REWARD FOR HIS CAPTURE. THAT'S
WHY WE NEED TO WORK WITH ONE ANOTHER. BECAUSE WE MUST MAKE SURE THAT THE
REST OF HIS KIND ARE PUT BEHIND BARS.

THAT'S WHY LET US CONTINUE TO BE UNITED IN OUR VISION AND WORK SO THAT WE
CAN SERVE THE WELFARE OF OUR PEOPLE IN A WAY THAT IS RESPONSIVE AND
COST-EFFECTIVE.

KANINA SA MGA DISKURSO NI MAYOR MAYOR AT NI MAYOR GUICO, NAPAG-ALAMAN KO NA
SA LOOB NG MGA NAKARAANG BUWAN AY NAG-SAGAWA RIN KAYO NG GANITONG
MALAWAKANG PAGPA-PLANO SA TATLONG MAJOR ISLAND CONFERENCES NA INYONG
GINANAP SA LUZON, VISAYAS AT MINDANAO.

ANG MGA PROGRAMANG PINAGTIBAY NINYO MGA MUNICIPAL MAYORS AY TUGON SA ATING
KAMPANYA PARA MANATILI ANG KAPAYAPAAN AT LABANAN ANG KAHIRAPAN SA
PAMAMAGITAN NG PAGTATAGUYOD NG PAGKAIN, TRABAHO, BUHAY AT EDUKASYON NG
INYONG MGA NASASAKUPAN. NATUTUWA AKO SA INYONG MAAGAP AT ANGKOP NA PAGKILOS
BILANG TUGON SA HAMON SA AKING STATE OF THE NATION ADDRESS AT NOONG
NAKARAANG LEAGUE OF MAYORS GENERAL ASSEMBLY. YOUR NEWLY-CREATED WORKING
AGENDA WILL ENSURE CONCERTED AND COHESIVE SUPPORT BY THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT
UNITS OF THE NATIONAL GOVERNMENT'S EFFORTS TO FIGHT TERRORISM AND
CRIMINALITY.

LOCAL ACTION MOVES THE NATION AND LOCAL VICTORIES EVENTUALLY BECOME
NATIONAL TRIUMPHS.

LET ME STRESS THAT UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE,
LOCAL CHIEF EXECUTIVES ARE AUTOMATICALLY DEPUTIZED AS AGENTS OF NAPOLCOM,
THUS, BECAUSE YOU ARE DEPUTIZED BY NAPOLCOM, YOU ARE EMPOWERED TO EXERCISE
OPERATIONAL SUPERVISION AND CONTROL OVER THE POLICE FORCES IN YOUR
RESPECTIVE TERRITORIAL JURISDICTIONS. THIS IS ASIDE FROM YOUR
BEING CHAIRMAN OF THE LOCAL PEACE AND ORDER COUNCIL.

GANUNPAMAN, PINAKIKINGGAN KO 'YUNG MGA PRESENTATION NI MONCHING GUICO NG
INYONG AGENDA AT MUKHANG PINAKAGUSTO NINYO SA AGENDA AY 'YUNG AMMENDMENT NG
LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE. KAYA 'YON AY SINUSUPORTAHAN NG ATING
PAMAHALAAN.

IN THE MEANTIME, THE DILG HAS A POLICE-COMMUNITY ANTI-TERRORISM PLAN WITH
THE FOLLOWING FOUR POINTS OF LGU PARTICIPATION:

FIRST, THE GOVERNORS, THE CITY AND MUNICIPAL MAYORS, AND THE PUNONG
BARANGAY MUST IMMEDIATELY CONVENE YOUR RESPECTIVE PEACE AND ORDER COUNCILS
OR COMMITTEES.

SECOND, THESE PEACE AND ORDER COUNCILS OR COMMITTEES MUST ADOPT OR
IMPLEMENT YOUR RESPECTIVE PUBLIC SAFETY PLANS, INCLUDING A PROVISION ON
REPORTING AND FEEDBACK MECHANISMS, TO ENSURE REGULAR MONITORING OF UNUSUAL
AND SUSPICIOUS MOVEMENTS OF PEOPLE IN YOUR LOCALITIES.

THIRD, BARANGAY ASSEMBLIES ALL OVER THE COUNTRY UNDER THE GUIDANCE OF THE
MAYORS -- IF THE BARANGAYS DON'T DO IT THEMSELVES -- MUST CONVENE TO
EDUCATE THEIR CONSTITUENTS ON HOW TO DEAL AND COPE WITH TERRORIST THREATS
IN THEIR RESPECTIVE BARANGAYS. ALSO, PLEASE TAKE NOTE THAT THE OTHER DAY,
THE CABINET APPROVED THE DRAFT OF THE NDCC UNDER SECRETARY REYES THAT WILL
INCORPORATE IN ALL OUR CONTINGENCY PLANS THE MANAGEMENT OF THE CONSEQUENCES
OF TERRORIST INCIDENTS. AND THIS INCLUDE THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT, THE MAYOR.
IN OTHER WORDS, WHEN AN INCIDENT ACTUALLY OCCURS -- HOW TO RESCUE, HOW TO
MAKE SURE THAT THE PLACE IS SAFE AND ALL THAT -- IT IS THE MAYOR WHO WILL
BE IN CHARGED.

AND FOURTH AND LAST, ALL PUBLIC SAFETY OFFICERS UNDER YOU MUST UNDERGO
MOBILIZATION AND TRAINING THROUGH DISTANCE EDUCATION ON INTELLIGENCE
GATHERING AND ON THE REPORTING SYSTEM. THEY SHOULD CONDUCT REGULAR DAILY
"RONDAS" AND SEARCHES IN ACCORDANCE WITH LAW WITHIN THEIR RESPECTIVE AREAS
OF JURISDICTION.

I COMMEND YOUR WORKSHOPS FOR TACKLING HEAD-TO-HEAD ON THE ISSUES CONCERNING
THE USE OF A MUNICIPAL IDENTIFICATION SYSTEM. MARAMING SALAMAT SA INYO
DOON. (APPLAUSE) I COMMEND YOU FOR TACKLING HEAD ON THE ISSUE OF THE
SELECTIVE ARMING OF BARANGAY TANODS IN HIGH-RISK AREAS. THE CONDITION FOR
THIS IS THEY MUST BE ACCREDITED AS CAFGUs WITH THE COMMENSURATE TRAINING.

AND I AM ALSO GLAD THAT BECAUSE THE FIGHT AGAINST TERRORISM MUST GO HAND-IN-HAND WITH THE FIGHT
AGAINST POVERTY, I'M GLAD THAT YOU ARE SUPPORTING THE KAPIT-BISIG LABAN
SA KAHIRAPAN OR KALAHI PROGRAM THAT WAS PUT TOGETHER BY GING DELES AS OUR
COMMON STRATEGY FOR POVERTY REDUCTION. THE WAR AGAINST POVERTY AND THE WAR
AGAINST TERRORISM ARE TWO SIDES OF ONE COIN. POVERTY PROVIDES THE RECRUITS
FOR TERRORISM, AND TERRORISM STRENGTHENS POVERTY. BECAUSE WE SPEND ALL
OUR TIME AND RESOURCES FIGHTING TERRORISM INSTEAD OF FIGHTING POVERTY.

AND IN OUR BATTLE AGAINST POVERTY FOR THE NEXT SIX MONTHS, EVEN AS WE ARE
RESOLVING THE TERRORISTS THREATS IN OUR COUNTRY, I'M FOCUSED ON A TIGHTLY
CONSOLIDATED WORK PROGRAM TO PUSH PRIVATE SECTOR-LED GROWTH. DAHIL MAY
DEFICIT TAYO AT 'YUNG IRA NINYO AY HINDI BINABAWASAN, 'YUNG MARAMING
GAGAWIN SANA NG NATIONAL GOVERNMENT IPAPAUBAYA NATIN SA PRIVATE SECTOR.

THE FIRST ITEM OF THIS PROGRAM IS TO STRENGTHEN OUR SMALL AND MEDIUM
ENTERPRISES. TO DO THIS -- TO MAKE THE THRIFT BANKS AND THE RURAL BANK
BRING OUT THEIR FUNDS TO YOUR SMEs -- THE CENTRAL BANK IS RELAXING ITS
FINANCIAL DOCUMENT REQUIREMENTS FOR LOANS TO SMALL AND MEDIUM ENTERPRISES.
AND THE FIELD OFFICE OF THE DEPARTMENT OF TRADE AND INDUSTRY ARE NOW
MANDATED TO CONCENTRATE THEIR SERVICES ON ASSISTING YOUR SMEs WITH
HOW-TO-DO PROJECT PROPOSALS REQUIRED TO ACCESS BANK MONEY.

LAST YEAR, I HOPE YOU REMEMBER, THAT YOU AND I PUMP-PRIMED THE ECONOMY BY
HAVING A SHARING -- ONE MILLION FROM THE NATIONAL GOVERNMENT AND ONE
MILLION FROM YOU PER TOWN -- THAT WAS FOR AGRICULTURAL MODERNIZATION.

YOU KNOW, THIS PROJECT OF OURS LAST YEAR, TOGETHER WITH GIVING YOU THE IRA
IN FULL AND ALSO PAYING THE IRA DEBTS OF THE LAST ADMINISTRATION, THIS
PUMP-PRIMING WE DID WITH YOUR FULL IRA AND YOUR EXTRA IRA AND THE ONE
MILLION PER TOWN FOR AGRICULTURAL MODERNIZATION, THIS WAS IDENTIFIED BY
THE ECONOMISTS AS A MAJOR SOURCE OF DOMESTIC DEMAND WHICH GAVE US ONE OF
THE HIGHEST GROWTH RATES IN ASIA EVEN IF OUR EXPORT GROWTH WAS NEGATIVE.

NOW, THIS YEAR, WE HAVE THE "ONE TOWN, ONE PRODUCT, ONE MILLION-PESO LOAN"
FOR SMEs. THE KEY TO GREATER ACTIVITY IN THE DOMESTIC MARKET IS THE
ACCELERATED DEVELOPMENT OF SMALL AND MEDIUM SCALE ENTERPRISES WHICH HAVE
PROVEN TO BE MORE CAPITAL-EFFICIENT THAN THE LARGER BUSINESS CONCERNS.

UNDER THIS PROJECT, A LOAN OF ONE MILLION PESOS WILL BE LENT TO SMEs FOR
ONE PRODUCT IN YOUR TOWN. IN EACH OF THE 1,500 OR SO TOWNS,
MUNICIPALITIES IN THE PHILIPPINES, TO ENCOURAGE GREATER ECONOMIC ACTIVITY
IN THE COUNTRYSIDE. WE HAVE SO FAR RELEASED 90 MILLION PESOS FOR THIS
PROJECT.

IBIG SABIHIN NOON, 90 TOWNS HAVE AVAILED OF THIS. EH, 1,500 KAYO.
KAYA SANA MAKIPAG-UGNAY KAYO SA DTI PARA MALAMAN NINYO -- KASI
'YUNG DTI HINDI NAMAN DEVOLVED EH, MAY DTI PROVINCIAL OFFICER --
MAKIPAG-UGNAY KAYO SA DTI KUNG PAPANO MAKA-ACCESS ANG INYONG SME DITO SA
PONDONG ITO. PWEDE RIN NINYONG ISAMA ANG PAG-ANGKAT NG MURANG GAMOT SA
ILALIM NG "PRESYONG TAMA, GAMOT PAMPAMILYA" PROGRAM. I URGE
MUNICIPALITIES ONCE MORE -- KASI MARAMI NG MUNISIPYO GUMAGAMIT NA KAYO
NITO. NAGBEBENTA NA KAYO NG HALF-PRICED MEDICINE -- I ENCOURAGE MORE
MUNICIPALITIES TO JOIN THE HALF-PRICED MEDICINE PROGRAM THAT'S BEING
ADMINISTERED ALSO BY THE DEPARTMENT OF TRADE AND INDUSTRY THROUGH THE PITC,
SO THAT AFFORDABLE QUALITY DRUGS WILL BE AVAILABLE TO YOUR CONSTITUENTS.

WITH THIS PROGRAM, COMPLEMENTED BY THE NATIONAL HEALTH INSURANCE PROGRAM,
OUR LOCAL OFFICIALS CAN SERVE MORE OF OUR POOR AND NEEDY PEOPLE. I WOULD
LIKE TO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO CONGRATULATE ALL THE MAYORS WHO HAVE
CHAMPIONED PHILHEALTH'S INSURANCE PROGRAM.

'YUNG NAMUMUNO NG PHILHEATH KABABAYAN NAMIN NI MONCHING, SI DR. TINGKOY
DUQUE. KASI KAYO MGA MAYORS MARAMI SA INYO NAGDADALA NG RESETA, NAGDADALA
NG MGA DOCTORS NA KAILANGANG MAGPAHOSPITAL. EH, KESA GAGASTOS PA KAYO SA
SARILI NINYONG BULSA KUNG 'YUNG MUNISIPYO NINYO AY MAG-IINVEST SA
HALF-PRICED MEDICINE AT SAKA KUNG ANG MUNISIPYO AY MAG-IINVEST SA HEALTH
INSURANCE NA 100 PESOS PER MONTH -- 'DI BA MONCHING? 100 PESOS PER MONTH PER FAMILY NA MAHIRAP --
AY MALAKING SAVING. HINDI NA KAYO KUKUHA SA BULSA NINYO PARA SA GASTOS NILA
PANG-DOKTOR AT HOSPITALIZATION.

KAYA ITO MGA PROGRAMANG ITO AY DAPAT MAS MARAMI PANG MAKINABANG NA LOCAL
GOVERNMENT PARA GANUN MAGANDA ANG SERBISYO SA MAMAMAYAN AT HINDI MASYADO
MABIGAT SA PERSONAL NA BULSA NG PUNONG-BAYAN.

NAAALALA KO ANG ISANG NEWSPAPER SUPPLEMENT NA INILABAS NINYO KAMAKAILAN
KUNG SAAN BINIGYAN NINYONG DIIN ANG SALAWIKAING, AND I QUOTE:
"NAGKAKAISANG MAMAMAYAN, MATATAG NA MGA BAYAN. ISANG MALAKAS NA BANSA,
MABILIS ANG KAUNLARAN."

DITO AY INYONG HINIHIKAYAT ANG ATING MGA KABABAYAN NA ISANTABI MUNA ANG
HIDWAAN -- PERSONAL MAN O PULITIKAL. ITO ANG TUNAY NA HAMON NG ATING
PANAHON. KAYA PAGLINGKURAN MUNA NATIN NANG MAY DEDIKASYON AT BUONG TAPAT
ANG MGA MAMAMAYAN AT ANG ATING INANG BAYAN. KAILANGAN NILA TAYO. AT
KAILANGAN NATIN ANG MATATAG NA REPUBLIKANG PILIPINAS.

MARAMING SALAMAT SA INYONG LAHAT.

[HOME]