| PGMA's Speech during the Annual National Subdivision and Housing Developers Convention |
Rizal Ballroom, Shangri-la Hotel Manila, Makati City (18 June 2003) |
| Thank you very much, mike and
thank you to everyone. The reason why I didn't want to make a speech was that you've already told me that under my administration this is the best housing policy ever given you ever had. I told you I need not make anymore speeches, you're the ones who have to keep talking to me now on how many houses you're building. But and so, I'm holding your industry to your promise that by next year you will have built 500,000 houses. At least you'll have 500,000 houses to start for 2003. At the same time, we were just discussing here the issue about the vat and the government... The administration position, and I have discussed this with Congressman Nograles and Congressman Zialcita, who are very close allies of the adminstration, that the administration position is that the vat on tax should be replaced by a GRP on VAT. I hope with this reform then we can continue to even expand on the promises that you made to me about building houses. Thank you very much for your promise and thank you very much for giving me this periodic update on your keeping your promise to build half a million houses for the working class and the poor. Thank you. Ang dahilan kung bakit ayaw ko magdiskurso kasi ang akala ko a decision has already been done as you have said, good housing policy. We've other things that we have to work on now that urgency. This morning, I was late because I was in a conference with the Drug Enforcement Agencies. And the media, however... Probably you're all already here thinking I'm going to do a major policy speech about housing. But we've done already a major policy speech, we've done the major policy changes. So now, they missed my statement about drugs. So they are asking me if I can make my statement about drugs now so that they can catch me with due respect to the housing sector, you are not I'm not saying that you have a drug problem. In fact, when you provide decent housing to the poor you help solve the drug problem. So given that, you contribute to the long-term solution to the drug problem. Maybe that it's appropriate that I should give a statement on the short- term action that we have to do regarding the problem of drugs. I've just met with the Drug Enforcement Agencies and I told them that I'm giving them 1 billion pesos from the lotto receipts which is more than Prime Minister Thaksin had when he fought and crushed the drug syndicates in three months time. I have asked therefore the drug enforcement agencies to do a Thaksin in about three months time. And this is my statement with regard to that: "I shall be personally monitoring the anti-drug campaign. And I would like to see strategic results. This means the neutralization of the top syndicates and the arrest of their leaders. A focus campaign against drug pushers, dealers of patrons in the government and especially those in uniform. And a stop in the transnational smuggling of drugs through our shores." "Drug lords, however high in the corridors of power they may be must be exposed or hunted down like a common criminals that they are. I ask for full cooperation of the public and the media. The future of our nation is at stake in this campaign." So salamat sa housing sector kasama rin sa publiko na tumutulong sa akin dito. Thank you. |