Noy says his admin surpassed GMA’s achievement

MANILA, Philippines - President Aquino believes his administration easily surpassed the achievements of the nine-year term of his predecessor, Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

The President cited the accolades the country is getting from being the “Sick Man of Asia” to “Asia’s Rising Star” and “Asia’s New Darling,” courtesy of the transparency, good governance and fair play policies he initiated.

“Our campaign has been extremely successful. We did not only revamp our image, we also effected true change. The Philippines is now called Asia’s New Darling,” he said during the 17th Asia Pacific Retail Convention and Exhibition held at SMX Convention Center recently.

“We plugged leaks and closed loopholes in processes, instituted transparency and accountability, went after the corrupt and leveled the playing field,” Aquino said.

He said the country’s history is replete with anecdotes of well-entrenched corruption from all levels of the bureaucracy that made it difficult for him as salesman-in-chief to attract both local and foreign investors.

Aquino said establishing a new brand was a challenge since Manila was “obscured by the rampant corruption and impunity that plagued the past administration to the point where we became the laggard among our neighbors in so many different aspects.”

The President also cited the country’s ranking in the World Economic Forum’s Global Competitiveness, from 85 in 2010 to 47 recently. He said the country’s gross domestic product is one of the fastest growing in the region at a 6.2 percent average over the last five years.

During a recent visit to Arteche, Eastern Samar, Aquino said his administration had also done more for the province.

From only P10.1 billion allotted for infrastructure in the province from 2006 to 2010, the President said the budget rose to P19.2 billion since 2011. He said his administration was also responsible for the 222-kilometer Wright-Taft-Borongan-Guiuan Road.

The Samar road is only several kilometers shorter than the route from Manila to Baguio at 250 kilometers, he said.