Aquino: Boring if Philippines has no problems

MANILA, Philippines - President Benigno Aquino III said it will no longer be "exciting" if the country won't have problems.

In his speech during Sunday's visit at Compostela Valley, Aquino said his administration is already used to facing the nation's overlapping problems like Typhoons "Pablo" and "Yolanda" that hit the country in the last two years.

"['P]ag patung-patong naman ho [ang problema], inaayos mo pa lang ang isang problema—tulad nito, ‘yong dala ni Pablo—eh dumating naman ‘yong pinsan niyang si Yolanda. Pero, sabi ko, alam n’yo sanay na tayo sa problema," the President said.

But Aquino said he reminds his Cabinet members that it will also be a problem if the country will have no troubles.

"Tatandaan ninyo ‘pag dumating ang panahong wala tayong problema, iyon naman ang problema. Dahil magiging boring na. Pero puwede rin namang 'wag masyadong 'interesting' at 'exciting,'" Aquino said.

Aquino was in Compostela Valley on Sunday to inspect the shelters and houses built in the areas ravaged by Pablo last year.

Compostela Valley and Davao Oriental were the areas hit hardest by Pablo, which triggered massive flooding and landslides that affected more than 700,000 families and killed over a thousand people.

The President said the government has never forgotten the people of Compostela Valley and their needs will be continued to be addressed even if the nation faces yet another devastation this year.

Like in places ruined by Yolanda this year, Aquino said the rehabilitation of Compostela Valley and other Pablo-hit areas will be based on the principle of "Build back better."

"Bawat inisyatibang ating ititindig sa inyong pagbangon, ay titiyakin nating di hamak na mas maayos at mas ligtas kaysa noon," Aquino said. "[B]awat hakbang natin ay sisiguro sa pangmatagalang pagbabago sa mga komunidad, at tuluyan ninyong pagsulong."

Aquino said the government will build 27,000 houses in various resettlement sites in Compostela Valley. So far, 600 have been completed and more than 2,000 will be finished soon.

And as the country continues to rise from the devastation caused by Pablo and Yolanda, Aquino said Filipinos have once again showed their resiliency in times of difficulty.

"Lagi ninyong pinapaalala sa akin: Pilipino ako, Pilipino tayo—matatag, at kailanma’y hindi patitinag sa anumang hamon. Walang kayang magpaluhod o magpayuko sa atin; at walang problemang hindi kayang lampasan kung lahat tayo ay nagbabayanihan," the President said.