The President sends her regrets
for not being able to join you today. There are pressing developments that need her
personal attention. Nevertheless, she asked yours truly to deliver to you her message. And
I read…
Good evening, ladies and gentlemen and congratulations on your 52nd Anniversary.
Your theme, "Responsible Journalism, Pillar of a Strong Republic," reflects the
commitment of the National Press Club to preserve the integrity of Philippine journalism.My administration considers the media an important
ally in addressing our people's need for timely and useful information.
We have made headway in strengthening people's interest and participation in
nation-building but more, much more, still needs to be done. There are sectors still
resistant to change that would rather have ignorance be perpetuated so that trust in
government would wane.
It is easy to point out seemingly ominous signs of moral decay and economic failing when
one has no real investment in the making of events. But to peddle pessimism in the guise
of truth results in a weakened national soul, a people floundering in self-doubt and
leaders wasting precious time and energy defending themselves from criticisms based on
falsehood.
I know that in a nation like ours that is riddled with pockets of extreme deprivation,
projecting the brighter side is difficult and some would even say, a bad business
decision. But there is a market for good news - and it is growing. We have been candid in
telling the people the hard facts about our fiscal difficulties, and we have given the
ordinary Filipino a handle on what ails our nation. Given that information, our people are
now more equipped to appreciate the programs of government to arrest inflation, fight
corruption and promote an austere lifestyle among its public executives.
In our first 100 days, we were able to save Angelo dela Cruz's life, improve fiscal
performance, strengthen anti-corruption institutions like the Presidential Anti-Graft
Commission and Office of the Ombudsman, and push hard in the direction of austerity,
fiscal discipline and better debt management.
There are pieces of constructive information that would hardly make it to the front-page
news. For example, in the first semester of 2004, GDP grew by 6.3% up from 4.5% in the
same semester last year; GNP increased to 6.1% from last year's 5.6%. Tourism arrivals
increased to 1.5 million from January-August this year, 28.3% higher compared to the same
period last year. For the first eight months of 2004, OFW remittances grew by 9.42% to
reach $5.5 billion. There is a 46% decrease in street crime incidents from 17,889 cases in
January-August 2003 to 9,616 cases in the same period of 2004.
Please don't get me wrong. I did not come here to complain. Rather, I am here to appeal
for a modicum of fairness, a nudge in the angle of the news, an ounce of objectivity in
the run of opinion - to reflect the larger truth - that of a nation, despite its failings,
winning the battle against crisis and poverty, that of a people valiantly fighting for
change and beating the odds.
Reporting should not only be balanced; whenever possible, it should also be inspiring.
In short, I am asking media to be a harbinger of hope, rather than a purveyor of despair.
That, I think, is responsible journalism.
For instance, it would certainly be more comforting to readers to learn that a number of
reforms are being undertaken to cushion the impact of our nation's fiscal woes and that of
the oil price increases, instead of just being warned of the consequences of the problems.
Reforms that, in fact, have pushed the overall economy by 6.35% in the first half of this
year; that have made our stock market more bullish; that increased our investment to 474%;
and helped contain the budget deficit below the ceilings in the third quarter of this
year.
We are determined to end the country's fiscal woes rather than have our creditors impose
their own stringent prescriptions on us two to three years down the road.
We have put in place an economic plan that is intended to stabilize the economy and boost
the country's financial standing.
The plan, called the Medium-Term Philippine Development Plan (MTPDP), targets a 7 to 8
percent domestic growth by 2009 and 2010, a 28-per cent investment to gross domestic
product ratio, and a balanced budget by 2010.
The plan also targets a $50-billion plus exports by 2007 as well as 1.7-million annual job
creation by 2009.
In tandem with these are the austerity measures that are estimated to raise billions of
pesos in savings. In yesterday's papers, Senate President Franklin Drilon declared that at
least three tax measures would be approved by the year-end.
We are also plugging the revenue leaks. Our two collection agencies - the BIR and BOC -
are on the march. In the first eight months of this year, customs collections have already
exceeded by 10.7% its original target. The BIR's campaign against tax cheats is in full
swing with property and bank accounts being garnished in Metro Manila, Subic and other
areas.
We expect steady gains towards fiscal stability, and a shoring up of confidence in our
steady economic fundamentals.
The global community including our foreign creditors is watching us keenly to see if
Filipinos are committed to reviving our battered economy and with a collective heave of
great political will, undo what previous generations could not accomplish. It is up to our
generation to convince them that this is exactly what we have set forth to do.
We have divergent views but we also have a common cause. We are fighting to liberate our
country from its debt burden by coming up with measures to finance our own growth instead
of relying on foreign borrowings. This struggle commands our full attention because there
are sectors with vested interests that would prefer a more complacent and therefore
predictable existence. Those who can afford it will try to use the media to protect their
interests, to resist change by inveigling the public to distrust government.
I am confident that those of you attending this summit will not allow yourselves to be
used as pawns by the enemies of economic freedom. Factual information delivered in a fair
and timely manner by your vast nationwide network of 249 AM and 402 FM radio stations, 386
cable stations, 100 TV stations, 9 broadsheets, and 18 tabloids is a crucial component of
our struggle against poverty and debt.
Responsible journalism is when you expose graft and corruption cases and in the same
space, described the measures being taken by our institutions to investigate and prosecute
such anomalies.
In the alleged unexplained wealth of Major General Carlos Garcia, we have ordered the AFP
to have him court-martialed before the end of the week.
Lifestyle checks have led to the dismissal for the first time of a DPWH undersecretary and
high-ranking BIR and Customs officials, and the filing of charges against AFP generals.
The BIR alone has filed 62 cases against its personnel, while the Department of Finance
has dismissed, suspended, reprimanded or fined 81 revenue staff.
As recommended by the Davide and Feliciano Commissions, procurement reforms in the DND and
AFP have been installed to, among others, put an end to the anomalous "fund
conversion."
I believe our being open to public scrutiny, which brought many cases to the open created
the negative perception in the minds of our critics.
There can be no more powerful ally than the media in showing the real score in our fight
against graft and corruption in the government.
Responsible journalism is when you write about crimes and call for an immediate solution
to ongoing investigations. By doing so, you give the grief-stricken the voice to
articulate their pain and cry for justice.
Our law enforcement agencies have scored major victories in the drive against illegal
drugs, in the arrest and liquidation of leaders of kidnap-for-ransom gangs, and the
neutralization of terrorists. We maintain that any crime committed against a peace-loving
Filipino diminishes all of us.
Responsible journalism is when we stress the need to address the educational crisis while
analyzing the reforms we have laid down in response to perennial problems that beset it.
Our Medium-Term Development Plan calls for education and youth opportunity enhancement
through the acceleration of knowledge creation and transfer to promote technology-based
entrepreneurship. In the next 100 days, we are determined to complete 3,000 new school
buildings; fully implement the Day Care Pre-School Program starting next year and achieve
a 1:1 textbook-pupil ratio for priority subjects in all public schools levels.
Now let me pause here and give you an update on the investigations being conducted by our
Task Force Newsmen. This Task Force headed by Police Senior Superintendent Rodolfo Mendoza
was formed last July to solve once and for all the cold blooded murders of the members of
media.
The latest victim, Eldy Sablas, a reporter of DXJR, was killed only last Tuesday, October
19, in Tandag, Surigao del Sur.
I condemn this senseless act of violence against a radio reporter whose mission was to
report the truth.
Of the 55 cases recorded since 1984, twenty-six cases have already been solved, and many
of the perpetrators arrested and charged. Of the twelve (12) cases this year, seven (7)
have already been solved.
The seven cases include those of Jose Luis Villanueva, Business Editor of Today;
Christopher Misajon, Newscaster of GMA 7; Jonathan Abayon, broadcaster of DZBB; Arnel
Manalo, columnist/reporter of Dyaryo Veritas; Elpidio Binoya, manager/broadcaster of DZRH
Radyo Natin; Isabelo Maghuop, commentator of DXID; and Rowel Edrinal, a commentator of
DZRC.
The other cases during the previous years that have been solved with cases filed in court
include those of Nelson Nadura, Noel Villarante, Apolinario Pobeda, Edgar Damalerio,
Benjaline Hernandez, Dennis Ramos, Candelario Cayona, Vincent Rodriguez, Frank Palma, Rey
Bancairin, Odilon Mallari, Daniel Hernandez, Alberto Berbon, Nesimo Paulin Toling, Ruben
Manrigue, and Florante de Castro.
This Task Force is under constant pressure not only from the National Press Club but from
my office as well to find the killers of these journalists and make them suffer for their
crimes. I will continue to see to it that these investigations are carried out with utmost
professionalism and urgency.
The deaths of these newsmen reveal the vicious lengths that some people would go to in
order to conceal the truth and to keep their underground activities shrouded in darkness.
Despite this sordid backdrop, a great majority of the Philippine media continues to report
and analyze the news in a fair and intelligent manner and within the bounds of ethics. I
extol such bravery and commitment to your craft.
Responsible journalism has the illuminating quality of sunlight under whose glare the
crooked straighten up in fear or shame.
It rebukes with truth, not with lies, threats and blackmail.
It seeks justice and thus, is in itself just.
Responsible journalism tries not only to uncover the truth; it strives to discover the
truth.
A responsible press results in accurate news - truth without embellishments from an
overeager pen or an overly creative keyboard.
In the end, that is how the public would best judge its government and the media - as
sources of truth and guardians of fairness and social justice. And this is why press
freedom must be held sacred as a bulwark of democracy, as a tool against tyranny and
oppression.
Thank you! |