PGMA's Speech during the Ceremonial Signing of Anti-Trafficking of Persons Act 2003 and the State Visit Arrival Report

PGMA's Speech during the Ceremonial Signing of the Anti-Traffickingof Persons Act of 2003 and State Visit Arrival Report

Ceremonial Hall, Malacañang, 26 May 2003

Senate President Franklin Drilon and the other members of the Senate; Speaker De Venecia, oh! he's not yet here; the members of Congress; Ambassador Ricciardone who was just my host together with President Bush in Washington; Excellencies of the Diplomatic Corps; Secretary Romulo and the other members of the Cabinet; the distinguished members of the Senate and the House of Representatives, principally the sponsors of this Republic Act
9208 led by in the Senate: Senator Estrada, Senator Flavier, Senator Legarda, Senator Villar, Francis Pangilinan, Senator Osmeña, Senator Oreta, Biazon, Pimentel and Lacson.

The members of Congress who passed this law especially the sponsors: Congresswoman Joson, Angara-Castillo, Joaquin, Luistro, Custodio, Masa and Eric Singson; officials of the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao and
other Mindanao local executives; officials of the Armed Forces and the Philippine National Police; leaders and representatives of the various NGOs representing the women and labor sectors; leaders and representatives of the business community; honored guests; ladies and gentlemen.

Una sa lahat, binabati ko at nagpapasalamat ako sa ating mga mambabatas para sa wakas dito sa batas na nagbibigay sa ating taumbayan ng proteksyon kontra sa pangangalakal ng mga kababaihan at mga bata. Nagpapasalamat ako sa ngalan ng lahat ng kababaihan, sa ngalan ng lahat ng ina, at sa ngalan din ng DSWD kung saan nagsimula itong panukalang ito. Itong batas ay nangangatawan ng desisyong moral, dahil ang pangangalakal ng kababaihan o ng bata ay imoral, siya ay pagsasamantala. Siya ay imoral at pagsasamantala kahit na kung ang babae o magulang ng bata ay binabayaran. Itong batas ay nagbibigay ng babala na ang pangkabuhayan ng ating mga kababaihan at mga bata ay bubuti hindi sa pagsasamantala sa kanila kundi sa pagbibigay ng karapatan sa kababaihan at edukasyon sa mga bata. Hindi sa pamamagitan ng pamamahagi sa kanila ng mga sukli ng isang makuwarta ngunit masamang kalakal.

Sa pamamagitan ng batas na ito ipinapakita natin sa mundo at sa sarili natin na ang Pilipino ay hindi nalilito sa pamamagitan ng komersyong nagsasamantala at komersyong malaya dahil alam natin ang kaibahan ng kriminal na hanapbuhay at lehitimong hanapbuhay. Pinapakita natin na marunong tayong maglikha ng isang makalingang kapaligiran para sa ating mga kababaihan at mga bata sa pamamagitan ng pagtanggol sa kanila mula sa mga sumisikap gawin silang kasangkapan.

Itong batas ay nagpapalakas sa ating Republika. Dahil ang malakas na Republika ay isang mabisang estado na tungkuling tumulong sa kanyang pinakamahihirap at pinakamahihinang mamayan, nagbibigay sa kanila ng
kapangyarihan, at binubuwag ang mga istrakturang nagpapahirap at nagpapahina sa kanila. Ang mabisang pamahalaan ay nakasandal sa pag-iral ng batas.

Itong batas ay affirmative action. Isang katangian ng batas na ito ay kinikilala na kahit na meron ng pangkalahatang mga batas na nagbabawal sa iba't-ibang bahagi ng aspeto ng trafficking, ito ay nagpapakita na ang kababaihan at mga bata ay may karapatang magkaroon ng tanging pagtatanggol na espesyal para sa kanila sa ibabaw ng mga heneral na probisyon ng batas kriminal.

Magpasalamat tayo dito sa pagsulong tungo sa isang higit na makatarungan at makataong lipunan.

Napag-usapan ko ang mabisang pamahalaan. Ang mabisang pamamahala ay nakasandal din sa paghatid ng batayang paglilinkgod sa taumbayan -- gaya ng kaligtasan sa biyahe. Kaya ako ay nayayamot sa pangyayari sa banggaan ng barko kahapon.

I deeply sympathize with the families of those who perished in yesterday's tragedy. I'd like to issue a warning to our maritime authorities about the strict enforcement of navigation rules and the fitness of pilots of commercial vessels. These perennial accidents can and must be stopped. I'm directing the maritime authorities to get at the bottom of this incident and submit a complete report within 15 days. We must pinpoint responsibility and mete out the necessary sanctions. Let's make sure there is just compensation for the victims. And we must take preemptive measures so that this won't happen again. This is another black eye in maritime safety and it's ironic because sea transport is a fundamental aspect of the economy.

Sa kabila nitong trahedya, mayroon rin tayong dapat ipagsalamat. Meron tayong mga bagay, mga biyaya na dapat ipagpasalamat. Let's give thanks for the blessings of God and the support of our people for a safe, productive, and satisfying visit to the United States of America.

Despite the tragedy that occurred yesterday, the Filipino people have much to celebrate. We've just strengthened the protection of our women and children with this law. Our country has just become the third country to be declared by the World Health Organization as having succeeded in preventing further local transmission of SARS. The punitive military actions against the terrorist attackers of Siocon, Zamboanga Del Norte and Maigo, Lanao Del Norte have been dislodged from their bases and dispersed into ragtag groups being run to the ground by the gallant troops of the
Armed Forces of the Philippines. The investigation into the Davao and Koronadal bombings is bearing fruit with the arrest of the perpetrators of this and even previous terrorists attacks arrested by the capable operatives of the Philippine National Police. Despite the war in Iraq and the SARS outbreak, our economic growth in the first quarter of 2003 is turning out to be stronger than anyone expected.

The Philippines is demonstrating to the world our national traits of respect for women, care for children, strength of will, and intelligence to succeed against exploiters of women and children, and against viruses, terrorists, and economic malaise. These national traits of galang sa kababaihan, kalinga sa bata, tibay ng loob at galing sa buhay are the characteristics that the people of America honored during my state visit to that country.

Galang sa kababaihan, dahil ako ang kauna-unang babaeng lider na binigyan ng parangal ng isang bisita de estado ng administrasyong Bush. Kalinga sa bata dahil isa sa mga bunga ng aking biyahe sa Amerika ay tulong para makaraos ang ating mga bata sa Timog Mindanao -- assistance for child survival in Southern Philippines -- at ang halaga nitong tulong na ito ay 96 million U.S. dollars or five billion pesos.

At EDSA we proved that our people are capable of making moral choices. The success of my state visit is about recognizing that moral choices in moments of crisis must be backed up in day-to-day life by unified action, sustained vigor, and effective prosecution. We've shown to the world that the Filipino is not confused between terrorism and demand for justice because we can distinguish between naked hate and justified grievance. We've also shown that we know how to create and defend a secure peace on the basis of law and not allow ourselves to be lured into the illusion of peace through avoiding hostilities by ignoring threats. We will secure our peace and harmony as a nation through the strength of our will and our intelligence to succeed, not through concessions by our enemies or restraints of our attackers.

In my state visit, President Bush and I articulated a new partnership based on a range of mutual interests that now includes a vision for the strategic role the Philippines plays in Asia and on the global stage. the partnership between the Philippines and America is mirrored in the amity and cooperation between our two governments, which in turn
reflect the historic and social bonds between the Filipino and American peoples. The high points of my visit were about honoring how many Filipinos have achieved so much in America which in some measure was reflected in how much America appreciates what Filipinos have done.

The honors and courtesies accorded to our Philippine delegation were extraordinary and special. But I believe the improvement in our official relationship with America is only the most recent, full and faithful reflection of the enduring bonds of friendship, alliance and common interests between our two sovereign nations.

I'm not the first nor will I be the last Philippine President to make a state visit to America. As in all past and likely in all future such visits, some of our people will ask about material gains, while others will seek expressions of respect and recognition of our dignity as a people. I'd like to report to our people that America has been generous with our political (practical) needs, and America has also been warm and wise in honoring the uniqueness and humanity of our nation.

Before critics devalue this achievement, before political contenders cast partisan doubts on the advancement of our nation, and before controversy confuses the high-minded purpose of this national enterprise, let us pause and join our people in congratulating themselves for a state visit that truly honors galang sa kababaihan, kalinga sa bata, tibay ng loob at galing sa buhay ng Pilipino.

America recognizes and appreciates a friend with such sterling qualities, but those qualities are primarily for our nation's benefit and are resources we can rely upon in facing the many challenges of the future.

Maraming salamat sa iyong lahat.

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