| THANK YOU VERY MUCH, SECRETARY DICK GORDON.UNDERSECRETARY BENGZON,
REPRESENTING THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION AND COMMUNICATIONS; MR. BARCLAY OF ASIAN
TERMINAL; JOHN ABOITIZ AND OTHER OFFICIALS OF THE ABOITIZ TRANSPORT GROUP; CITY OF MANILA
MAYOR -- WHERE'S LITO? -- LITO ATIENZA; AL CUSI, GENERAL MANAGER OF PPA. I'D LIKE ALSO TO
ACKNOWLEDGE THE PRESENCE OF ROMY NERI, THE NEW HEAD OF NEDA; AND THE CUSTOMS COMMISSIONER,
TONY BERNARDO; DISTINGUISHED GUESTS, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN.
I CAME TO OFFICE
FOCUSED ON FIGHTING POVERTY, IMPROVING MORAL STANDARDS, CHANGING THE CHARACTER OF OUR
POLITICS, AND LEADING BY EXAMPLE. I WILL LEAVE THE OFFICE FOCUSED ON THE SAME PRIORITIES
-- AND I'M NOW FREE TO ACT WITH A MORE DETERMINED HAND.
I HAVE SAID THAT
THIS NATION IS AT A CROSSROADS. QUITE SIMPLY, IT MUST REFORM OR PERISH.
WE ARE AT A
CROSSROADS AND EACH MUST DO HIS PART. ON MY PART, I HAVE LET GO OF AMBITION TO RUN FOR
PRESIDENT IN 2004 TO AVOID THE BAGGAGE OF POLITICS.
FOLLOWING MY
FATHER'S CREDO ON BECOMING A POLITICIAN, "I WOULD RATHER DO RIGHT THAN GET
ELECTED," I NOW ASK MY COUNTRYMEN TO DO WHAT IS RIGHT. DO YOUR PART.
LAST RIZAL DAY, I
SAID THAT RELIEVED OF THE BURDEN OF POLITICS, I CAN DEVOTE THE LAST YEAR AND A HALF OF MY
ADMINISTRATION TO THE FOLLOWING:
FIRST, STRENGTHENING
THE ECONOMY TO CREATE MORE JOBS AND ENCOURAGE BUSINESS ACTIVITY THAT IS UNHAMPERED BY
CORRUPTION AND RED TAPE IN GOVERNMENT; SECOND, HEALING THE DEEP DIVISIONS WITHIN OUR
SOCIETY; THIRD, WORKING FOR A CLEAN AND HONEST ELECTIONS IN 2004.
RELIEVED OF THE
BURDEN OF POLITICS, AS I SAID, THIS IS WHAT I WILL DEVOTE THE LAST YEAR AND A HALF OF MY
ADMINISTRATION -- TO LEAD THE SOCIAL, POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC REFORMS THAT WILL EXTEND
BEYOND MY PRESIDENCY AND HAVE A LASTING IMPACT ON FUTURE GENERATIONS.
A GROWING, MODERN
ECONOMY THAT PRODUCES JOBS AND OPPORTUNITIES IS CENTRAL TO THE ELIMINATION OF POVERTY.
FUNDAMENTAL INSTITUTIONAL REFORM MUST CONTINUE IF THE PHILIPPINES IS TO BECOME A MODERN
NATION. THE STATUS QUO CANNOT PREVAIL; THE ECONOMY MUST BE LIBERATED.
LET'S PUT THE
COUNTRY BACK IN BUSINESS. LET'S MAKE OUR FACTORIES HUM AGAIN. I SAID IN MY STOCK EXCHANGE
SPEECH THAT I AM ADOPTING TARIFF POLICY SIGNALS TO ENCOURAGE THE MANUFACTURING SECTOR. IN
ADDITION, RESCUE PLANS FOR STEEL, TEXTILE, PETROCHEMICAL AND OTHER CRITICAL INDUSTRIES
LIKE SHIPPING MUST BE PUT IN PLACE AND IMPLEMENTED. I HAVE INSTRUCTED THE SECRETARY OF
TRADE AND INDUSTRY TO LEAD THE FORMULATION OF THESE RESCUE PLANS.
ONLY THROUGH
COOPERATION AND A UNIFIED VISION CAN WE HARNESS THE POWER TO REFORM OUR NATION.
AN IMPORTANT PART OF
THAT COOPERATION MOVES FORWARD TODAY, THE FIRST DAY OF THE ANNIVERSARY OF EDSA 2 -- ONE
YEAR AFTER WE GROUND BROKE THIS VERY PROJECT -- WE MARK ANOTHER STEP TOWARDS RATIONALIZING
OUR PORTS AND OPTIMIZING THEIR USE.
IT WAS IN THE MIDDLE
OF 2003, SIX MONTHS AFTER WE GROUND BROKE THIS PROJECT, WHEN I SAID THAT WE MUST START TO
MOVE FROM LAYING MACROECONOMIC FOUNDATIONS OF ECONOMIC SURVIVAL TOWARDS ADOPTING THE
MICROECONOMIC MEASURES NEEDED TO MOVE OUR COUNTRY FASTER FORWARD WHEN I DIRECTED SEVERAL
AGENCIES TO INCREASE AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTIVITY BY REDUCING PRODUCT WASTAGE IN TRANSIT AND
STORAGE, AND MAKE TRANSPORTATION FASTER AND CHEAPER FROM MINDANAO TO LUZON.
IN SEPTEMBER LAST
YEAR, I ANNOUNCED IN ILIGAN CITY THE VARIOUS MEASURES WE WERE UNDERTAKING TO MEET THESE
IMPERATIVES.
I ORDERED A REVIEW
OF OUR UNILATERAL TARIFF REDUCTION PROGRAM AND I ALSO ANNOUNCED THE START OF THE
UNBUNDLING OF THE FREIGHT AND CARGO HANDLING COSTS AND PORT USE FEES.
ALSO AT THAT TIME, I
CONFIRMED MY ORDER IN THE BIDDING TERMS OF REFERENCE, THE COST OF GOVERNMENT'S SHARE IN
DOMESTIC PORTS MUST BE BROUGHT DOWN TO 10 PERCENT INSTEAD OF THE NEGOTIATED COSTS WHICH
USED TO BE THE PRACTICE IN THE PAST. THE GUIDELINES FOR THESE WERE ISSUED ON NOVEMBER 5TH
2002. AND NOW, AFTER THIS EVENT, WE WILL DISCUSS HOW WE CAN MOVE FORWARD.
MOREOVER, AT THAT
TIME, I ANNOUNCED THE SUSPENSION OF THE APPLICATION OF PREVIOUSLY APPROVED INCREASES IN
WHARFAGE AND USAGE FEES.
I'M REMINDING... I
HAVE REMINDED THE PHILIPPINE PORTS AUTHORITY TO GIVE PRIORITY TO MY PRONOUNCEMENTS
ACCORDING TO THE TIME LINES THAT I HAVE STATED, NOT ONLY THOSE MADE IN ILIGAN CITY BUT
PARTICULARLY DURING THE MINDANAO BUSINESS CONFERENCE HELD IN SURIGAO CITY LAST AUGUST. FOR
EXAMPLE, I ORDERED THE UNBUNDLING OF ALL THE CHARGES RELATED TO THE CARGO HANDLING
COMPONENT OF THE FREIGHT CHARGES. SO, TODAY, ONCE AGAIN, I ADMONISH THE PPA AND THE MARINA
TO TAKE MY WORDS LITERALLY.
REDUCING FREIGHT
CHARGES AND CARGO IS ONE OF THOSE MICROECONOMIC REFORMS THAT WE NEED TO DO BECAUSE THEY
CAN REDUCE TRANSPORT COSTS FROM MINDANAO TO LUZON. THE OTHER MICROECONOMIC REFORM IS
BUILDING LOGISTICS, STORAGE AND PORT FACILITIES IN MINDANAO, AND A ROAD AND
ROLL-ON/ROLL-OFF FERRY TERMINAL SERVICE FROM MINDANAO THROUGH THE VISAYAS TO LUZON. THIS
IS WHAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT. LOOK AT THE ARROWS
IN ACCORDANCE WITH
THIS MASTER PLAN, LAST YEAR IN ILIGAN ALSO, WE LAUNCHED DBP'S SUSTAINABLE LOGISTICS
DEVELOPMENT LONG-TERM CREDIT FACILITY TO FINANCE EQUIPMENT AND INFRASTRUCTURE FOR OUR
SEED-TO-SHELF PROGRAM FOR AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTIVITY.
I HAVE INSTRUCTED
THE DBP TO GO FULL BLAST AND CONCENTRATE ON THIS. DBP HAS 20 BILLION PESOS TO FINANCE
LOGISTICS, STORAGE, FERRY BOAT AND PORT FACILITIES IN MINDANAO THROUGH THE VISAYAS UP TO
LUZON.
FOR THE CHAIN OF
ROLL-ON/ROLL-OFF FACILITIES, THE DBP HAS EARMARKED 7.5 BILLION PESOS OUT OF THAT 20
BILLION PESOS.
NOW, MIND YOU, DBP
IS NOT THE INVESTOR. DBP IS THE LENDER FOR CREDITWORTHY INVESTORS. IN THIS MAP, THERE ARE
48 FERRY ROUTES FROM MINDANAO TO LUZON UNDER THE DBP MASTERPLAN. SINCE I ANNOUNCED THIS IN
AUGUST LAST YEAR, DBP HAS RECEIVED 26 LOAN APPLICATIONS. I URGE DBP TO SPEED UP ACTION ON
THESE APPLICATIONS. FOR THE VISAYAS-MINDANAO ALONE, SEVEN COMPANIES HAVE SIGNIFIED
INTEREST IN PROVIDING RO-RO SERVICES IN CERTAIN PORTS.
AND IN A FEW DAYS, I
WILL SIGN AN EXECUTIVE ORDER TO PROVIDE THE POLICY FRAMEWORK FOR PRIVATE SECTOR
PARTICIPATION IN THE ROAD RO-RO TERMINAL SYSTEM WHICH WE CALL RRTS FOR SHORT.
THE MOST OUTSTANDING
FEATURES OF THIS E.O. ARE THE INTEGRATION OF THE TERMINAL SYSTEM WITH THE NATIONAL ROAD
SYSTEM, RRTS RARIFFICATION, OPERATION OF PRIVATE COMMERCIAL TERMINALS, FAST-TRACKING
ENVIRONMENT RELATED AND OTHER DOCUMENTARY REQUIREMENTS, AND PRIVATE SECTOR FINANCING FOR
RRTS.
THE EO. WILL ALSO
GUARANTEE COST REDUCTION FROM THE RATIONALIZATION OF TOLL RATES. THE TOLL RATE, INCLUSIVE
OF TERMINAL FEES BASED ON LANE METER, SHALL BE LEVIED ON SELF-POWERED VEHICLES USING THE
RRTS.
I'M INSTRUCTING THE
ENVIRONMENT SECRETARY TO ISSUE FORESHORE LEASE AGREEMENTS AND ENVIRONMENTAL COMPLIANCE
CERTIFICATES FOR THE RRTS WHERE NECESSARY AND APPROPRIATE. WE MUST HAVE WIN-WIN SOLUTIONS,
DONE PRUDENTLY BUT EXPEDITIOUSLY FOR OUR PORTS PROGRAM AS WELL AS FOR OUR MINING PROGRAM.
TO ILLUSTRATE THIS
LOGISTICS PROGRAM, NEXT MONTH, I INVITE YOU ON AN 8 HOUR MOTOR TRIP ON THE
BORACAY-BATANGAS LEG OF THIS ROLL-ON/ROLL-OFF FERRY HIGHWAY.
THE BORACAY-BATANGAS
ROUTE IS PART OF THIS NAUTICAL HIGHWAY WE ARE BUILDING -- THAT'S HERE IN OUR WESTERN
SEABOARD -- TO COMPLEMENT THE EXISTING PAN-PHILIPPINE HIGHWAY IN OUR EASTERN SEABOARD.
MOST OF YOU KNOW
THAT YOU CAN GO FROM APARRI TO DAVAO, GOING THROUGH SAMAR AND LEYTE. NOW, YOU CAN GO FROM
APARRI TO DAVAO, GOING THROUGH BATANGAS, MINDORO, BORACAY ALL THE WAY DOWN TO THE
ZAMBOANGA PENINSULA.
TRAVELING AND
TRANSPORTING GOODS FROM OR TO THESE PORTS WILL SOON BE MADE EASIER, SAFER AND CHEAPER.
THIS WESTERN SEABOARD NAUTICAL HIGHWAY ROAD AND ROLL-ON WILL COVER BATANGAS, PULUPANDAN,
DUMAGUETE, CALAPAN IN MINDORO, DAPITAN CITY DOWN THERE, CATICLAN, ILOILO CITY, GUIMARAS.
THIS AMBITIOUS BUT
DEFINITELY VITAL PROGRAM WILL BE FUNDED BY, PARTLY, OFFICIAL DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANCE,
PARTLY BY THE PRIVATE SECTOR, AND AS I SAID EARLIER, PARTLY BY THE DBP'S LONG-TERM LOANS
AND FINANCING FOR ELIGIBLE PROJECTS AND QUALIFIED BORROWERS UNDER THE LOGISTICS PROGRAM.
THE PORTS OF
BALINGOAN, BAYBAY, BENONI, DAPITAN, TABACO WERE COMPLETED IN MAY LAST YEAR. A RO-RO RAMP
HAS BEEN COMPLETED IN EACH OF THE PORTS OF PASACAO, ILIGAN, MAASIN, MASBATE, BASILAN AND
BAYBAY. WHILE TWO RO-RO RAMPS HAVE BEEN CONSTRUCTED IN ZAMBOANGA CITY AND CALAPAN. RO-RO
RAMP CONSTRUCTION IS GOING ON IN CULASI, HILONGOS, MASBATE, CURIMAO, TUBIGON AND
PULUPANDAN.
IN THE MEANTIME, WE
WILL CONTINUE TO MODERNIZE THE PORTS OF CAGAYAN DE ORO, GENERAL SANTOS, CEBU AND BATANGAS
CITY. THE BATANGAS PORT WILL BE THE MAIN PORT FOR THE CALABARZON FACTORIES, WHICH AS OF
TODAY HAS A SHIPPING DEMAND OF 7,000 CONTAINERS A WEEK AND GROWING. BECAUSE OF THE
CARRYING CAPACITY OF THE TRAFFIC HERE IN THE ROADS OF MANILA, THE MANILA PORTS WILL NO
LONGER BE EXPANDED, BUT THEY WILL JUST BE MODERNIZED THE WAY THAT THIS TERMINAL HAS BEEN
MODERNIZED.
WHAT WE ARE
CELEBRATING HERE AT PIER 15 SOUTH HARBOR IS A MODEL COMPONENT OF THIS MODERNIZATION.
SHIPPING COMPANIES
SEE GOOD REASON, I HOPE, TO IMPROVE THEIR SERVICES TO MATCH THE IMPROVEMENT IN THIS AND
OTHER MAJOR PORTS.
EARLIER, WE
WITNESSED THE ELECTRONIC TICKETING. EARLIER, WE WITNESSED THE TOUCH-SCREEN INFORMATION
SYSTEM, MAKING INFORMATION AVAILABLE LITERALLY AT THE USERS' FINGERTIPS.
LATER, WE WILL SEE
THE SUPERFERRY 15 WHICH WE ARE INAUGURATING TODAY. AND SOMETIME ANOTHER DAY, THE
SUPERFERRY 16. THESE ARE SETTING THE TREND TOWARDS COMPLIANCE WITH STRICT INTERNATIONAL
SAFETY STANDARDS AND WORLD CLASS FACILITIES.
THIS PORT
MODERNIZATION AND THE LOGISTICS DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM WILL REDUCE COSTS OF PASSENGER CARGO
FROM MINDANAO TO LUZON AND EVEN TO OTHER PARTS OF THE WORLD. IT WILL REDUCE THE TRANSPORT
COSTS AND INCREASE THE NET INCOME OF THE VISAYAN AND MINDANAO FARMERS. IT WILL REDUCE THE
TRANSPORT COSTS AND DECREASE THE PRICE OF FOOD BOUGHT BY THE VISAYAN AND LUZON CONSUMERS.
IT WILL PROVIDE RELIEF TO THE POOR AMONG THE FARMERS AND THE CONSUMERS AND THE DOMESTIC
TRAVELING ORDINARY PEOPLE.
WE HAVE THE COURAGE
TO TAKE ON POVERTY, NOT IN TERMS OF RHETORIC BUT IN TERMS OF THE CONCRETE ACTION SUCH I
HAVE JUST DESCRIBED.
IT'S A GOOD THING,
WE ARE GOING TO LAUNCH A SHIP, SO THAT I CAN USE THAT ANALOGY AND GIVE NOTICE THAT
NOTWITHSTANDING THAT I AM NOT RUNNING FOR PRESIDENT IN 2004 UP TO 12 O'CLOCK NOON OF JUNE
THE 30TH OF 2004, I AM THE CAPTAIN OF THE SHIP AND I AM GOING TO FOCUS LIKE A LASER BEAM
ON THE ECONOMY FOR THE NEXT 18 MONTHS.
I WILL CONTINUE TO
MAKE THAT TOUGH DECISION AND LET THE CHIPS FALL WHERE THEY MAY. THIS IS NOT THE TIME TO
RETREAT RATHER THIS IS THE TIME TO FORGE AHEAD WITH REFORM. FOR TOO LONG, THE PHILIPPINES
HAS BEEN DOMINATED BY THE MUSICAL CHAIRS OF POLITICS. THIS MUST STOP. TOO MUCH IS AT
STAKE. IN DECIDING NOT TO RUN FOR PRESIDENT, MY AIM IS TO UNIFY THE NATION, BUT DO SO ON A
STEADFAST PATH TO REFORM AND MODERNIZATION. THE ECONOMY AND PEACE AND ORDER WILL BE MY
FOCUS; REFORM AND UNITY MY GOAL.
WE HAVE MUCH TO BE
THANKFUL FOR INCLUDING AN ECONOMY THAT HAS ACHIEVED VERY IMPRESSIVE GROWTH IN 2001 AND
2002 NOTWITHSTANDING THE GLOBAL SLOWDOWN. AN ECONOMY THAT HAS ACHIEVED A VERY STABLE
MACROECONOMIC ENVIRONMENT INCLUDING LOW INFLATION, EXPORT FIGURES THAT ARE STRONG INSPITE
OF THE GLOBAL ECONOMIC SLOWDOWN, AND A WORKFORCE THAT IS ONE OF THE MOST COMPETITIVE IN
THE WORLD.
BUT WE ARE ALSO A
NATION THAT NEEDS TO UNITE IF WE ARE TO WIN THE WAR AGAINST POVERTY AND IF WE ARE TO
IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE OF EACH AND EVERYONE OF OUR CITIZENS.
KAYA SA ARAW NA ITO
SA ATING PAGDIRIWANG ULITIN NATIN ANG ATING TUGON, PALAKASIN PA NATIN ANG ATING PAGKAKAISA
AT SAMA-SAMA NATING PATIBAYIN ANG ATING PAGTITIWALA SA ATING KAKAYAHANG UMUNLAD. SA
PAGTUTULUNGAN, MAKAKAMIT NATIN ANG MINIMITHING KAUNLARAN NG MALAKAS NA REPUBLIKANG
PILIPINO.
MARAMING SALAMAT AT
MABUHAY SA INYONG LAHAT. |