Aquino govt remains committed to promises of Edsa Revolution, says Palace spokesperson

Philippine Embassy
News Release
24 February 2012

Aquino govt remains committed to promises of Edsa Revolution, says Palace spokesperson

The Aquino administration remains committed to the promises of the Edsa People Power Revolution calling on the people not to forget the legacy of the bloodless revolt in February 1986 that toppled the Marcos dictatorship.

“As we remember the historic events of People Power, so too must we remember the promise of Edsa – the promise of true democracy, of a government that renders meaningful public service, and of a country in which power lies in the hands of the common citizen,” Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte said in a statement on Friday.

To fulfill the promises of Edsa, Valte said the administration continues to work to achieve inclusive growth and ensure an effective justice system for all. The reforms put in place by the Aquino government have already yielded results and it will continue to work to weed out corruption, Valte said.

She said the government will remain focus on improving public access to social services, quality health and education, and other opportunities for advancement.

“As we continue to work for the benefit of the Filipino people, we call on our countrymen, especially the youth, never to forget the legacy that People Power has given us. Out of the dark days of Martial Law, where greed and abusive power ruled, the world witnessed the extraordinary solidarity, courage and conviction of the Filipino people that led to the peaceful ousting of a dictator and the reclaiming of a nation’s democracy,” she said.

She also called on Filipinos to become part of strengthening the country’s democracy and ensure that the country continues to progress and achieve the vision of a Philippines in which no one is left behind.

President Benigno S. Aquino III will lead Saturday morning the 26th Anniversary Celebration of the Edsa People Power Revolution at the People Power Monument in Edsa.

The President is also scheduled to unveil the statue of Jaime Cardinal Sin in Manila, one of the major figures during the Edsa Revolution in February 1986.

The theme for this year’s celebration will be “Ano ang iyong Taya Para sa Pilipinas Natin (What is your Contribution for our Philippines).”

Aquino: Country benefiting from lower interest rates for debt servicing

President Benigno S. Aquino III said Friday that he’s not contemplating much on the prospects of getting another ratings upgrade adding to pay for much lower interest for the country’s debts as a result of previous upgrades is already interesting for the Philippines.

In a housing project launching in Cavite on Friday, the President was asked by reporters about his thoughts regarding comments made by some analysts who say the Philippines has been under rated.

The President said it is more important for him that the upgrades given to the Philippines last year financially helped the country address its problems. The Philippines is lucky to have those upgrades while European countries get rating downgrades from rating agencies because of sluggish economies, he said.

“Napantayan na natin yung pagtingin ng mga namumuhunan o yung financial institutions na hindi tayo kasing risky noong dati (We have reached the perception level of creditors or financial institutions that we are no longer risky like we used to be),” the President said. “Mas importante sa akin dito may positive na effect na bumababa yung kailangan nating bayarang interest kapag tayo ay nangangailangang umutang (For me, what is more important is the positive effect of our lower interest expense in the event that we need to borrow).”

The chief executive acknowledged the country’s need to borrow as it operates in a decreasing deficit in relation to its gross domestic product (GDP). Because of the lower interests for its debts, the government was able to save and use the savings for government programs that benefit the people, he said.

In December last year, Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services (S&P) revised its rating outlook on the Philippines to positive from stable. S&P affirmed the foreign currency ‘BB’ long-term and ‘B’ short-term sovereign credit ratings for the country.

S&P also affirmed the local currency ‘BB+’ long-term and ‘B’ short-term sovereign credit ratings.

In July last year, S&P upgraded the Philippines’ credit rating to BB amid “strong external liquidity and signs of improving growth prospects.”

Prior to S&P’s upgrade, Moody’s Investors Service upgraded in June 2011 the Philippine government’s foreign and local currency long-term bond ratings from Ba3 to Ba2, with a stable outlook.

Aquino says govt serious in modernizing police, military

TRECE MARTIRES, Cavite: President Benigno S. Aquino III bared the various developmental programs of the Aquino administration for the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and Philippine National Police (PNP) focusing on the upgrade of their skills and equipment to further ensure better service to the Filipino people.

In his speech during the symbolic turnover of 1,500 Houses for the AFP and PNP personnel in Ciudad Adelina 2, Barangay Luciano, here, Friday, President Aquino expressed the seriousness of the government to effect the military and police upgrades as vividly represented by the 28 billion pesos budget allocation for the program that has almost reached the total budget allotted by the past administrations for the past 15 years.

“Ikinalulugod ko po na ibalita sa inyo na naihatid na ang iba pang serbisyo sa inyong hanay… sa ating liderato labing-walong proyekto sa ilalim ng ating AFP modernization program ang matagumpay na nating naisakatuparan. Sa nakalipas na isang taon at walong buwan, nakapag-laan na tayo ng mahigit dalawampu’t walong bilyong piso na malapit nang pantayan ang 33 bilyon pisong pondo na ipinagkaloob ng lahat ng nakaraang mga administrasyon sa loob ng labing limang taon sa nasabing programa (I am happy to inform you that we have delivered other services to you… in our leadership, eighteen projects under our AFP modernization program have successfully been implemented. For the past year and eight months, we appropriated more than twenty eight billion pesos, which could almost reach the 33 billion peso fund allotted by all other previous administrations for the past fifteen years for the said program),” the President said.

“Through our efforts, we have delivered 28 billion in roughly about 17 months… hindi man natin matutugunan ng ora-orada ang mga kakulangan sa inyong hanay, makaaasa kayong tuloy-tuloy na ang pagpapaunlad natin sa inyong kakayahan at mga kagamitan (we might not be able to swiftly provide solutions to all your needs, but expect that we will continuously improve your skills and arms),” he added.

The Chief Executive said that four of the eight brand new helicopters have been acquired by the government for the Philippine Airforce.

“Lumanding na sa bansa ang apat na brand new combat utility helicopters para sa Philippine Airforce at parating na ang apat pa, isama na rin natin dito ang makabagong armas at ibayo pang pagsasanay sa inyong hanay (Four brand new combat utility helicopters for the Philippine Airforce have landed and four more are expected to arrive, let us also include to this the new arms and trainings for you)” the President noted.

For the PNP, he said, a significant number of patrol vehicles have been purchased apart from the advanced and high-caliber firearms.

“Sa hanay naman ng kapulisan, napasakamay na ninyo nitong nakaraang taon ang mahigit 140 patrol jeeps, 100 patrol utility vehicles, 180 motorcycle units pati na ang mga de-kalibreng armas… nitong 2011 din dumalo sa mga kursong pampublikong kaligtasan ang 500 police commissioned officers at 13,000 non-commissioned officers upang malinang ang kanilang galling, motibasyon at pagpapahalaga sa tungkulin (For the police forces, you have received last year more than 140 patrol jeeps, 100 patrol utility vehicles, 180 motorcycle units and high-caliber firearms… in 2011, 500 police commissioned officers and 13,000 non-commissioned officers attended courses in public safety to improve their skill, motivation and esteem for their duties),” President Aquino said.

Also in attendance were other officials of the government led by Vice President Jejomar Binay, Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin, Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) Secretary Herminio “Sonny” B. Coloma Jr., National Housing Authority (NHA) General Manager Chito Cruz, Cavite Vice Governor Recto Catimbuhan, Trece Martires Mayor Melandres de Sagun and Edsa People Power Commission (EPPC) Commissioners Cesar Sarino and Milagros Kilayko.

Palace welcomes rising business confidence

Malacanang has attributed the results of the Business Expectations Survey of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) showing continued improvement in business sentiment to the improved partnership between the government and the business sector, a Palace official said on Friday.

“We welcome the results of the Business Expectations Survey of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas that showed continued improvement in business sentiment for three consecutive quarters now,” Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte said in a statement issued on Friday.

Valte said that gains have been achieved from the improved partnership between the government and the business. “This is a continuing affirmation from the business sector of our government’s efforts to curb corruption, strengthen our fiscal position, and ensure the country is on track to achieve equitable and inclusive growth for all,” she said.

According to the latest survey, the Confidence Index rose from 38.7% in the fourth quarter of last year to 40.5% in the first quarter of this year.

The respondents cited several factors for their continued confidence, namely; increased public spending, business expansion arising from steady investment flows, sound macroeconomic fundamentals and political stability, and possible further credit upgrades for the Philippines.

Moreover, bullish sentiment for the next quarter rose significantly to 55.4 percent from 36.1 percent in the previous quarter.

Valte said the Department of Budget and Management also reported on Thursday that 85% of infrastructure projects under the Department of Public Works and Highways have already been bidded out as of February 15 this year.

Aquino leads turnover of housing projects to military, police beneficiaries in Cavite

TRECE MARTIRES, Cavite: President Benigno S. Aquino III assured to the men and women of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), the Philippine National Police (PNP) the continuous and unwavering support from the Aquino administration through various programs aimed to develop their skills and uplift the standards of their living as he bared the construction and distribution of over 30,000 more housing units to their personnel.

In his speech during the symbolic turnover of 1,500 Houses for the AFP and PNP personnel in Ciudad Adelina 2, Barangay Luciano, here, Friday, President Aquino gave the assurance saying that part of the “good news” is the inclusion of personnel from other security and safety forces of the government such as the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP), Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) and the Bureau of Corrections (BuCorr) to the second phase of the housing project across the country.

“Sa pangunguna ng Department of Budget and Management at iba’t-ibang ahensya ng atin pamahalaan, tuloy-tuloy ang programang ito ng ating administrasyon, balita ko po nakakasa na ang plano ng NHA na magpatayo ng 31,200 housing units pa para sa ikalawang yugto ng ating programa (Through the leadership of the Department of Budget and Management and other agencies of the government, the administration will continue this program, I heard that the plan of NHA to build 31,200 more housing units for the second phase of the program is already prepared),” the President said.

“Dagdag sa ‘good news’ kabilang na sa makikinabang dito ang mga kawani ng Bureau of Jail Management and Penology, Bureau of Fire Protection at Bureau of Corrections na matagal nang nakalimutan bigyang pansin, nakaaabot na rin ito katulad ng ating ipinangako… sa Visayas at Mindanao (Also included in the good news is this: staff of the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology, Bureau of Fire Protection and Bureau of Correction, who have long been neglected will benefit from this initiative, it has finally reached them like we promised… in Visayas and Mindanao), ,” he added.

The President noted the significant development in the country under the Aquino government in terms of the people’s trust and confidence not only locally but also in the rest of the world.

“Iba na nga po ang Pilipinas ngayon kung ikukumpara sa dinatnan nating kalagayan nito, sa halip na pagdurusa, namamayani na ang liwanag ng pag asa sa bansa… sa halip na pagdududa napapasa-kamay na natin ang kumpiyansa ng mundo sa kakayahan nating umasenso (The Philippines has indeed changed, when compared to its previous condition when we assumed office, the light of hope in our country is reigning… instead of doubt, we now have the confidence of the world that we have the ability to become progressive),” President Aquino said.

The Chief Executive also urged the people to continuously cooperate with the government and take their part in efforts to effect reforms towards a new, developed and progressive nation.

“Walang dudang isinasa-buhay natin ang diwa ng People Power ngunit sa mga nangyayari at nababalitaan natin sa ating bansa, malinaw na hindi pa tapos ang laban na inumpisahan sa Edsa noong 1986. Kailangan ko ang tulong ninyo upang tapusin ang laban na ito (There is no doubt that the spirit of the People Power is alive, but due to what is happening and what we are hearing about our country, it is clear that the fight we started on Edsa in 1986 is still ongoing. I need your help to put an end to this fight),” the President said.

“Kasama ang sambayanan, itinutuwid na natin ang maling sistema sa ating lipunan, isipin na lang po natin ang pagdating ng panahon kung kailan ipamamana na natin sa susunod na henerasyon ang Pilipinas na talaga naman ibang-iba sa atin pong dinatnan. Ganap ang ating magiging kasiyahan dahil kasama tayo sa pagsasakatuparan ng pagbabagong ito, tuloy-tuloy na po tayo sa tagumpay, sa inyo pong tulong (Together with the people, we have fixed the wrong system in our government, let us think about the future where we are to pass on the legacy of a Philippines far different from when we assumed office. We will have absolute happiness because we are included in manifesting this change, success will be continuous with your help),” he further noted.

Also present during the event were other officials led by Vice President Jejomar Binay, Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin, Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) Secretary Herminio “Sonny” B. Coloma Jr., National Housing Authority (NHA) General Manager Chito Cruz, Cavite Vice Governor Recto Catimbuhan, Trece Martires Mayor Melandres de Sagun and Commissioners Cesar Sarino and Milagros Kilayko of the Edsa People Power Commission.

The turnover ceremony was part of the series of events that were lined up for the 26th Anniversary Celebration of the Edsa People Power Revolution.

It commemorates the collaboration between civilian and military forces during the non-violent revolt of the Filipinos against dictatorship in 1986.

The housing program was being implemented under Administrative Order 9 “Directing the National Housing Authority to Formulate, Implement and Manage a Housing Program for the Military and Police Personnel”, which was issued on April 11, last year.

In the first five years, beneficiaries need only pay P200 a month for a standard row house that will gradually increase to P809.53 during the 26th to the 30th year allowing them to use and allot more of their income for the other needs of their families including education, health, and other similar concerns.

At present, a total of 21,400 houses were turned over to the beneficiaries. Other venues of the project apart from Cavite include Bulacan, Laguna and Baras in Rizal Province.

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