PGMA's During the 2002 General Alumni Homecoming of the University of the Philippines College of Law

PGMA's During the 2002 General Alumni Homecoming of the University of the Philippines College of Law

Rizal Ballroom, Shangri-la Hotel Manila, Makati City (Nov 21, 2002)

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU, NONONG, FOR YOUR INTRODUCTION, AND THANK YOU FOR NOT SUBMITTING
A COURTESY RESIGNATION. WELL, FIRST AND FOREMOST, I CHOOSE
WHOM I WANT IN MY CABINET AND CAN ADD OR SUBTRACT CABINET MEMBERS WHEN I
NEED TO BASED ON PERFORMANCE. AND I CAN ASSURE YOU AS I GREET THE UP
LAW ALUMNI HEADED BY BOY REINO AND THE OTHER MEMBERS OF CLASS '77-'78, AND
ALL THE OTHER CLASSES, I 'M NOT GOING TO WAIT ON COURTESY IF SOMEONE IN MY
GOVERNMENT ISN'T WORKING OUT TO THE BENEFIT OF THE NATION. BUT I CAN
ASSURE YOU THAT NONONG IS INDEED WORKING TO THE BENEFIT OF THE NATION.

CHIEF JUSTICE DAVIDE AND SENATE PRESIDENT DRILON, CONGRATULATIONS.

CHIEF JUSTICE DAVIDE'S NAME IS NOW FOREVER ETCHED IN THE MAIN CHAPTERS OF
OUR HISTORY WITH HIS HISTORIC ROLE IN THE IMPEACHMENT TRIAL AND HIS EQUALLY
HISTORIC LEADERSHIP OF THE SUPREME COURT AND ITS LANDMARK POST-EDSA
RULINGS.

NOTHING IS EASY IN A DEMOCRACY, AND FRANK DRILON ALSO HAS HIS DIFFICULT
ROLE TO PLAY. AND I BELIEVE HIS MARK IN HISTORY WILL BE IN THE DIFFICULT
BUT LANDMARK LEGISLATIVE REFORMS THAT ARE BEING PASSED AND WILL BE PASSED
UNDER HIS WATCH. THESE PIECES OF LEGISLATION HAVE REAL AND
LASTING IMPACT ON OUR ECONOMY AND THE ABILITY TO LIFT OUR PEOPLE OUT OF
POVERTY. FOR INSTANCE, AMONG THE CHALLENGES THAT HE IS RIGHT NOW DEALING
WITH IS THE TRANSCO LEGISLATION WHICH WILL MAKE THE FRANCHISE AVAILABLE TO
ANY POTENTIAL PURCHASER OF THE TRANSMISSION ASSETS OF NAPOCOR, AND IN SO
DOING, ENHANCES THE VALUE OF THESE ASSETS. A SUCCESSFUL PRIVATIZATION
PROGRAM IS ONE STEP TO CREATING A MORE COMPETITIVE ELECTRIC POWER INDUSTRY,
LOWERING PRICES FOR CONSUMERS AND DELIVERING BETTER SERVICES TO REMOTE
AREAS OF THE COUNTRY.

THE POWER SECTOR IS THE KEY REFORM AREA THAT WE MUST ADDRESS TODAY. THE
CAPITAL NEEDS OF MERALCO, NAPOCOR AND TRANSCO HAVE BALLOONED ALL THESE
DECADES. NOW, THEY REACHED ABOUT 40 BILLION PESOS ANNUALLY, AND GOVERNMENT
SUBSIDIES TO THE POWER SECTOR REACHING THESE AMOUNTS SHOULD INSTEAD BE USED
TO FUND OTHER SERVICES. BECAUSE THIS AMOUNT CAN BUILD MORE THAN 100,000
CLASSROOMS, IRRIGATE MORE THAN 100,000 HECTARES, PUT UP MORE THAN 75,000
LOW-COST HOUSING OR CONSTRUCT MORE THAN 6,000 KILOMETERS OF ROAD.

PRIVATIZATION IS THE KEY TO THE REFORM OF THE ELECTRIC POWER INDUSTRY.
PRIVATIZATION ENABLES THE GOVERNMENT TO STRETCH ITS SCARCE FINANCES TO MEET
OTHER BASIC NEEDS THAT OUR PEOPLE SHOULD HAVE IMMEDIATELY.

KAILANGAN ANG PRIVATIZATION PARA HINDI NA MAGHANAP ANG GOBYERNO NG DAGDAG
NA BUDGET PARA MAIWASAN ANG BROWN-OUT SA MGA DARATING NA PANAHON. ANG
PRIVATIZATION ANG MAKAKALUTAS NG UTANG NG NAPOCOR AT TRANSCO. KUNG WALANG
PRIVATIZATION, PATULOY ANG PAGLOBO NG UTANG NG NAPOCOR AT TRANSCO. PATULOY
ANG ATING PROBLEMA NG BUDGET DEFICIT.

BECAUSE OF THE STAGGERING NUMBERS INVOLVED FOR THE POWER SECTOR, FOREIGN
CAPITAL AND TECHNOLOGY ARE KEY TO PRIVATIZATION. AT THE CORE OF
PRIVATIZATION IS THE FRAMEWORK FOR GREATER COMPETITION AND A LEVEL PLAYING
FIELD FOR POWER GENERATORS. ANG KAKULANGAN NG PUHUNAN AT TEKNOLOHIYA ANG
DAHILAN KUNG BAKIT MASYADONG MATAAS ANG PRESYO NG ATING KURYENTE. NOONG
AKO'Y UNA NAGING PANGULO, ANG NAABUTAN KONG PRESYO NG KURYENTE AY
PANGALAWANG PINAKAMATAAS SA BUONG ASYA. ITO ANG DAHILAN KUNG BAKIT...
ISANG DAHILAN KUNG BAKIT NAPAKAMAHAL NOON ANG PRESYO NG MGA BILIHIN NOONG
AKO'Y UNANG UMUPO BILANG PANGULO. NGUNIT SA MGA REPORMANG GINAWA NATIN
BUMABA ANG PRESYO NG KURYENTE SA NAKARARAMI AT NAGING PANG-ANIM NA LAMANG
TAYO, HINDI NA PANGALAWA SA PINAKAMAHAL NA KURYENTE SA ASYA. AT ANG
INFLATION RATE AY BUMABA NA RIN, PINAKAMABABA NGAYON SA MAHIGIT SA ISANG
DEKADA.

PERO HINDI PA TAPOS ANG REPORMA DITO. AND IT'S IN THE CONTEXT OF THE POWER
SECTOR AS THE KEY REFORM AREA THAT WE MUST APPROACH THE BURNING ISSUE OF
TODAY WHICH IS MERALCO.

LAST NIGHT, BEFORE A GROUP OF HOUSING EXECUTIVES, I SPELLED OUT THE PRINCIPLES
UNDER WHICH WE SHALL MOVE FORWARD ON MERALCO:

FIRST, WE ARE TAKING STEPS TO ENSURE THE FINANCIAL VIABILITY OF THE
CORPORATION AS AN INSTITUTION. THROUGH THE DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY, THE
GOVERNMENT WHICH HAS A 25 PERCENT STAKE IN MERALCO IS SHEPHERDING A SERIES
OF CONSULTATIONS WHICH BEGAN THE OTHER DAY BETWEEN MERALCO AND ITS
CREDITORS. WE WILL SEE TO IT THAT THE REHABILITATION PLAN IS SET UP THAT
IS FAIR TO CREDITORS, INVESTORS, AND MOST OF ALL, THE PUBLIC.

SECOND, WE SHALL SEE TO IT THAT THE DECISION OF THE SUPREME COURT REGARDING
MERALCO'S OBLIGATIONS TO ITS CUSTOMERS WILL BE IMPLEMENTED. THE RULING IS
CURRENTLY AT THE STAGE WHERE THERE WILL BE MOTION FOR RECONSIDERATION AND A
REVIEW. AND IT'S NOT YET POSSIBLE TO MEASURE THE TOTAL IMPACT. HOWEVER,
WE DO BELIEVE THAT THIS DECISION WHATEVER IT IS CAN BE MANAGEABLE. AND IF
INDEED THE FINAL DECISION IS A REFUND, IT IS MY DUTY TO SEE TO IT THAT ONE
WAY OR ANOTHER YOU, THE CONSUMERS, WILL GET YOUR REFUND. (APPLAUSE) LET
ME ADD THAT THE SUPREME COURT IS THE HIGHEST COURT IN THE LAND AND NOTHING
WILL AID OUR ECONOMY AND DEMOCRACY MORE THAN STRONG INSTITUTIONS OF LAW.

THIRD, I AM DUTY-BOUND TO ENSURE THAT THERE WILL BE NO CRISIS IN POWER
SERVICES THAT WILL RESULT FROM THE FINANCIAL PROBLEMS OF MERALCO. I AM
CONSTITUTIONALLY BOUND TO SERVE THE PUBLIC INTEREST.

I SHALL NOT BE SWAYED BY POPULIST POLITICS NOR BY POWER PLAY. I
SHALL NOT PLEASE THE POOR BY TEARING DOWN THE RICH NOR PLEASE THE RICH BY
IGNORING THE POOR, BECAUSE THERE IS NOTHING MORE IMPORTANT TO
ME THAN THE FUTURE OF THIS COUNTRY, NOT EVEN THE ELECTIONS OF 2004.

I TAKE EXCEPTION TO THE ASSERTION BY SOME THAT POLITICS WILL PARALYZE THE
PHILIPPINES THROUGH THE 2004 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION. WHY? I BELIEVE THE
PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION FOR WHOMEVER IS RUNNING PRESENTS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY
TO ENACT POSITIVE CHANGE, NOT PARALYZE THE NATION. THE PARTIES OUT OF
POWER WOULD LIKE TO STOP THE PROCESS BECAUSE IT'S IN THEIR INTEREST TO DO
SO. FOR ME, I AM ENERGIZED BY FOCUSING ON POLICIES AND PRESCRIPTIONS THAT
WILL HELP CREATE JOBS, IMPROVE HEALTH CARE, DELIVER BETTER SERVICES, AND
ENHANCE OUR PEACE AND ORDER. AND I ASSURE YOU, WE WILL CONTINUE TO BE
DILIGENT IN THIS REGARD. SO, I VIEW THIS TIME AS ONE OF
UNTOLD OPPORTUNITY AND HOPE. ANY CRITICS WILL HAVE TO COME UP WITH A
VISION ON THE ECONOMY, SECURITY AND DEMOCRACY THAT IS REAL LIKE WHAT I 'VE
BEEN FIGHTING FOR.

IT DOESN'T MEAN THAT I AM A CANDIDATE FOR PRESIDENT. IT MEANS I AM THE
PRESIDENT AND WILL CONTINUE TO FOCUS ON BEING PRESIDENT, AND
CREATING JOBS, IMPROVING HEALTH CARE AND PROVIDING A BETTER EDUCATION TO
THE NEXT GENERATION OF FILIPINOS. I'LL WORRY ABOUT THE ELECTION WHEN THE
TIME COMES, BUT IT IS NOT NOW.

LAST NIGHT, THERE WERE REAL ESTATE DEVELOPERS WHO WERE WITH ME. AND THEY
COMMITTED TO BUILD HALF A MILLION HOUSES IN THE NEXT TWO YEARS. THEY ARE
ENTHUSED NOT ONLY WITH OUR HOUSING REFORMS BUT ALSO WITH OUR CENTRAL BANK
AND OTHER REFORMS PARTICULARLY THOSE THAT HAVE BROUGHT OUR INTEREST RATES
TO THE LOWEST LEVELS IN MORE THAN A DECADE. THEY ARE CURRENTLY BUILDING
NOT JUST PLANNING TO BUILD. THAT IS WHY THE NCSO FIGURE SHOW A 25 PERCENT
INCREASE IN CONSTRUCTION THIS YEAR.

THESE INTEREST RATES WILL GO DOWN EVEN MORE IF OUR BUDGET DEFICIT WILL GO
DOWN, AND THAT'S WHAT WE ARE WORKING ON. IN TURN, BRINGING DOWN THE BUDGET
DEFICIT DEPENDS ON REVENUE REFORM MEASURES BOTH ADMINISTRATIVE REFORMS AND
LEGISLATIVE REFORMS. THE PROPOSED REVENUE MEASURES WILL ENSURE THAT
EVERYONE PAYS THEIR TAXES AND PROVIDE THE GOVERNMENT WITH SPENDING MONEY ON
HEALTH CARE, EDUCATION AND JOB CREATION.

THESE ARE BASIC SERVICES THAT A GOVERNMENT IS EXPECTED TO DELIVER IN A
STRONG REPUBLIC. BUT THE MOST IMPORTANT BASIC SERVICE IS AN ENVIRONMENT OF
PEACE AND THE RULE OF LAW.

THIS GOVERNMENT IS MAKING SIGNIFICANT INROADS IN SOLVING OUR PEACE AND
ORDER CHALLENGES.

WHEN I TOOK OVER THE GOVERNMENT EARLY LAST YEAR, KIDNAPPING AND ORGANIZED CRIME WERE THE MAIN CONCERN. ROBBERIES, HIGH PROFILE
KIDNAPPINGS AT LEAST ONCE A MONTH WITH DEMAND FOR RANSOM, SO THAT PEACE AND
ORDER WAS RATED AS AMONG THE TOP THREE CONCERNS IN THE SURVEYS. NOW, IN A
NOVEMBER SURVEY, FIGHTING TERRORIST GROUPS AND FIGHTING KIDNAP-FOR-RANSOM
SYNDICATES RATE AMONG THE TOP FIVE ISSUES WHERE THE GOVERNMENT IS ASSESSED
TO BE DOING A GOOD JOB.

THIS ADMINISTRATION IS TACKLING THE ISSUE OF PEACE AND ORDER ON MANY
FRONTS. FORTUNATELY, WE HAVE DEVELOPED A FORMULA THAT'S WORKING. WE'VE
BECOME TOUGHER ON CRIME. WE LOOK AT THE DRUG PROBLEM AS A SOURCE OF THE
PEACE AND ORDER CHALLENGE, AND WE HAVE SET UP THE SPECIAL DRUG ENFORCEMENT
AGENCY TO ADDRESS THIS. MEANWHILE, I INSTRUCTED THE CHIEF OF THE NATIONAL
POLICE TO FOCUS ON KIDNAPPING AND WEEDING OUT MISFITS FROM THE POLICE. WE
HAVE STEPPED UP INTELLIGENCE COORDINATION. WE HAVE A HOT LINE, TELEPHONE
NUMBER 117. AND RELATED TO THIS, COMMUNITY MOBILIZATION HAS BEEN VERY
EFFECTIVE IN LOCATING CRIMINAL FUGITIVES. MY PRESIDENTIAL ANTI-ORGANIZED
CRIME COMMISSION SECRETARIAT SUPPLEMENTS THE WORK OF THE ENFORCEMENT
INSTITUTIONS. NOW, WE HAVE INTER-AGENCY COORDINATION MAINLY THROUGH
STRONGER POLICE WORK. THE RESULT OF ALL THESE IS A REDUCTION IN THE CRIME
RATE.

IN ORDER TO PRESERVE AND GROW THE SUCCESS WE'VE ACHIEVED, WE ARE
PROFESSIONALIZING THE POLICE AND FIGHTING THE ROOT CAUSE OF CRIMINALISM BY
FOCUSING ON POVERTY REDUCTION AND SUSTAINABLE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. WE
HAVE A HIGHER BUDGET TO PROVIDE HIGHER PAY TO POLICE AND SOLDIERS, WHO
UNDER THIS NEW BUDGET WILL EARN AS MUCH AS THE TEACHERS CURRENTLY DO. WE
HAVE INCREASED THE EDUCATIONAL REQUIREMENTS OF THE POLICE, THEY NOW HAVE
TO HAVE A COLLEGE DEGREE. WE HAVE ALSO INCREASED THE BUDGET FOR TRAINING
POLICEMEN.

I MAKE NO APOLOGIES FOR BEING TOUGH ON CRIME AND CRIMINALS AND TERRORISM
AND TERRORISTS. OUR PEOPLE DESERVE NO LESS THAN TO FEEL ABSOLUTELY SAFE TO
LIVE, WORK, AND RAISE A FAMILY. I WILL DO EVERYTHING IN MY POWER TO
IMPROVE THE SITUATION AND WILL CONTINUE TO DO SO.

I'M MOST CONCERNED ABOUT TAKING CRIMINALS OFF THE STREETS IN ORDER TO
PRESERVE THE BASIC RIGHT OF OUR PEOPLE TO LIVE IN PEACE, SAFETY AND ORDER.
MY HANDS-ON INVOLVEMENT IN THIS ISSUE IN NO WAY IMPEDES SUSPECTS OF THEIR
RIGHT TO FREE AND FAIR TRIAL, IT DOES PUT THEM AND OTHERS LIKE THEM ON
NOTICE THAT THEY CANNOT HIDE IF THEY BREAK THE LAW. THIS IS THE SAME
WARNING I HAVE TO THOSE WHO PRACTICE CORRUPTION IN AND OUT OF GOVERNMENT.

AND IT IS HERE THAT I VALUE MOST THE WORK OF LAWYERS. FIGHTING CORRUPTION
IS A COMPLEX TASK. AND THE COMPLEXITY OF MODERN LAW IS A GREAT CHALLENGE
TO NATIONS AND SOCIETIES ESPECIALLY OURS. WEAVING THROUGH ITS COMPLEXITY
TO BRING ABOUT GOOD GOVERNANCE AND A GOOD STRONG REPUBLIC WITH STRONG
INSTITUTIONS IS THE JOB OF LAWYERS AS WELL AS MANY OTHERS. BUT IT IS
SPECIALLY THE JOB OF LAWYERS NOT THE RUN OF THE MILL KIND BUT THOSE WHO
HAVE THE SKILL, THE ACUMEN AND MOST OF ALL, THE COMMITMENT TO OUR NATIONAL
IDEALS.

THE UP LAW ALUMNI ASSOCIATION HAS BEEN A WELL-SPRING OF THIS BREED OF
LAWYERS. AND SO, I ASK THAT YOU USE YOUR SPECIAL GIFTS AND
YOUR PRIVILEGED EDUCATION TO HELP ME BUILD THE STRONG PHILIPPINE REPUBLIC
THAT WE ALL ASPIRE FOR.

THANK YOU.

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