‘Let’s continue what we started’

MANILA, Philippines - Choking with emotion, a teary-eyed President Aquino appealed yesterday to his “bosses” the people to continue supporting what he had started and achieved with their help.

Aquino made the emotional appeal in his fifth State of the Nation Address before the joint opening session of Congress.

There was no mention of raging issues like the Priority Development Assistance Fund or the Disbursement Acceleration Program, which have pulled down his approval ratings to record lows, as his speech was devoted to enumerating his achievements in the past four years.

Nether did he take another swipe at the judiciary, even as Chief Justice Lourdes Sereno was in the gallery.

But he lambasted critics, saying they were few compared to the multitudes who still supported him, and said they were opposing not just his administration but the people.

 He also reached out to the opposition, however, mentioning how Vice President Jejomar Binay had stood with him in defense of the administration of his mother Corazon Aquino against coup plotters in 1987.

His speech, which lasted an hour and a half, was accompanied by visual presentations, including videos of people who had benefited from the programs and projects of his administration or who had sacrificed in the discharge of their duties.

Aquino’s voice cracked as he declared “the Filipino is worth dying for,” “the Filipino is worth living for” and “the Filipino is worth fighting for.” Television cameras then zoomed in on members of his family who were also fighting back tears as they listened to the President reaffirm his commitment to continue the reforms he had started.

“The Filipino is worth dying for” is the famous line of his late father, former senator Benigno Aquino Jr.

The President urged Filipinos to continue working for transformation as they themselves would be the key to the continuation of all the positive changes they have achieved.

He expressed confidence that with reforms in place, the country would be able to reach its goal with or without him.

Aquino also veered away from giving Congress his list of priority legislation, which the Palace said would include the Freedom of Information bill.

He said he is determined to give back to the people whom he has committed to serve after getting a new lease on life.

He recalled how he almost died in an ambush in the August 1987 coup against his mother, but survived and became the country’s leader without ever planning for it.

Aquino said those who had been criticizing him despite his administration’s achievements were the ones against the Filipinos.

He said there had been a lot of “negativism” in the news. He said criticism would emerge each time changes would happen.

His speech yesterday was different from those delivered in the previous days, where he was in a fighting mood.

In a speech last July 14, he defended DAP and assailed the Supreme Court for declaring parts of the program unconstitutional.

“In treading the straight path, you chose what was good and right; you were true to me and so I am being true to you too,” Aquino said to the people.

All about trust

The President said trust would always be the foundation of good governance – trust that victims and would-be victims of a typhoon would be taken care of, that after work they would be able to go back home safely to their families, that leaders would not take advantage of them and that the government would be there as an ally, especially if they were the aggrieved.

“Trust that those who abuse will be made accountable and processes will be corrected along with the institution used to steal from you. Trust that if you follow what is right, you can get what is rightfully yours. Regaining all of your trust: That is what reforms mean,” Aquino said.

He said he was still trying to break the status quo and had to step on the toes of powerful individuals who never wanted the people to explore and reach their full potential.

Aquino likened Filipinos to inhabitants of an isolated island with only one store, and since there were no choices, they would have to bear with high prices offered by the solitary store.

He stressed he was the one tasked to lead the nation out of isolation to a place where there would be more stores, choices, better lives and wider opportunities.

The President said his critics were fighting the people – not him and his administration.

“They are against the farmers in Iloilo, who for more than 50 years dreamt of efficient irrigation and who can now see Jalaur Multi-purpose River Project being constructed. They are against the many students who need not get cramped in classrooms. They are against those who landed jobs because of training from TESDA (Technical Education and Skills Development Authority),” he said. “They are against the soldiers who now have modern equipment and confidence to defend the country. They are against the Moros and other indigenous people who consider peace already in sight,” Aquino said.

“To the bosses: They are against you.”

Rice hoarders beware

President Aquino also warned rice hoarders their days were numbered.

“You are moving against Filipinos; on our part, we are pushing for the interest of every Filipino. Let us see who will emerge victorious,” Aquino said.

The President said he was appalled by reports of unscrupulous individuals taking advantage of consumers by hoarding rice and releasing their stocks to the markets once demand goes up.

“This cannot be allowed. If they think they are wise, the government has a better strategy. The immediate solution: import rice, supply them to the market, lower prices and maintain it at reasonable levels so those Filipinos taking advantage would lose money,” Aquino said.

In November last year, the President said the government started importing 500,000 metric tons of rice to augment supply that was reduced due to natural disasters. He said all of the shipments arrived in March and that in February, the National Food Authority Council imported additional 800,000 MT to fill the buffer stocking requirement and 360,750 MT had arrived in July, and the rest would arrive before the end of the month.

Also this month, Aquino said the immediate importation of 500,000 MT of rice was approved through open bidding. The NFA also has a standby authority to import additional 500,000 MT to prepare for the effects of calamities on rice prices.

Once the supplies arrive, Aquino said hoarders would be forced to sell the stocks they were hoarding.

“To these hoarders: If you want to play tough, go ahead, test the government’s resolve. Just remember: Your stocks in warehouses only have six months to last. You will surely lose money once the market gets flooded with additional rice,” Aquino said.

Aside from investigating hoarders, Aquino said they were also looking into those who possibly could have colluded with agencies to hide even NFA rice supply.

He bared that some employees were under investigation and they would be charged and jailed if proven guilty.

The President said aside from running after unscrupulous individuals, the government is also taking care of the agriculture sector so the country can have food security.

From 2011 to May 2014, Aquino said the government had distributed a total of 4,628 production machineries, 11,362 post-production machineries and 105 rice mills to different farmers’ associations.

He said farm-to-market roads were also built and training programs were being conducted to maximize their incomes.

Poverty reduction

President Aquino vowed yesterday to intensify his administration’s poverty reduction program to lift the remaining 24.9 percent of the population out of poverty, especially with the implementation of the expanded conditional cash transfer (CCT) program this month.

The President said that the P12.3-billion expanded CCT program is aimed to cover beneficiaries and help their children, aged up to 18 years old, complete their secondary education to give them better job opportunities.

Poverty incidence in the country has decreased by at least three percentage points in the past two years, according to the National Economic and Development Authority, from 27.9 percent during the first quarter of 2012 to 24.9 percent in the same period of 2013.

Aquino attributed this to the CCT program implemented by the Department of Social Welfare and Development.

“The three percentage points are equal to about 2.5 million Filipinos who have escaped the poverty line,” he said.

Aquino said a sound fiscal management carried out by his administration, beginning with the timely submission of the national budget, also helped the government achieve this goal.

He also thanked the international community for their assistance in the aftermath of Super Typhoon Yolanda.