This is my fourth SONA; only two remain. Almost four years have
passed since I was approached by various camps to urge me to run for the
presidency. They said: We know that our countrys problems cannot be
solved in the blink of an eye, in one year, or even within the six-year
term of a President. But just begin, and we will be one with you in
nurturing change.
Even then, I was aware of the significant
problems that I would have to face. From being a candidate, to being
President, or even after I step down from office, the difficulties I
will have to face are no joke. Widespread transformation of society is
my objective, and I am aware that there are many things and many people I
would have to confront in order to achieve this. But I was not raised
by my parents to back down in the face of challenges. I would not be
able to live with myself if I had refused the chance to alleviate the
suffering the Filipino should not have to endure.
We have
answered the call, and those who have been with us from the start have
only grown in number. I believe that if what I have been doing is right,
then our allies will only grow. Just this May, I asked you, Boss, are
we going in the right direction? Your reply: Yes, and let us accelerate
the transformation of society. I asked for allies that would help steer
the country in one direction, and you delivered. The truth is, not only
the majority, not even nine of twelve, but nine of the top ten senators
are individuals that I recommended to you. The message of the past
election is clear: Yes, let us keep going, let us add to the 8,581
sitios that we have electrified; let us add to the 28,398 families who
were once informal settlers but who finally have, or will soon have,
decent homes; let us increase the not less than 40 billion pesos in
additional funds that go to education, health, social services, and many
others because of the right and more efficient collection of taxes; we
feel all the other tangible signs that society is truly changing. I have
become even more optimistic because of your message; it is clear that I
am not alone in carrying these responsibilities. How can I not be
encouraged, when even the likes of Mr. Ni?o Aguirre are helping shape
our future? Just think: Though unable to walk, he climbed all the way to
his fourth-floor precinct, just so that he could vote and contribute to
true social transformation. Thank you, Mr. Aguirre.
There is no
shortage of Filipinos who are ready to pitch in, and this is the source
of the change we now experience. The strategymaximize opportunities for
all, especially for those most in need.Other companies want a piece of
that casesforipadmini action
We are not content to wait for the trickle-down effect; we cannot leave
their fatetheir receiving the benefits of progressto chance. What we
call inclusive growththis all-encompassing progressis the principle that
drives every initiative, every action, and every decision of your
government. The only ones who will be left behind are those who chose
not to venture onwards with us, simply because they did not seize the
opportunity.
The basis for this principle: Widespread
opportunity is the key to comprehensive and sustained progress. Let us
not forget that these opportunities are but seeds. We must water them
with diligence, nourish them with determination, and cultivate them with
dedication. Let us take a look at our TESDA-DOLE scholars. Of the
503,521 people who have graduated from their programs, an estimated six
out of ten have found jobs. Before this, according to studies conducted
by DBM, from 2006 to 2008, only 28.Have a look at all our partymerchantaccount models
starting at 59.90US$ with free proofing.5 percent of TESDA graduates
found jobs. Last year, under TESDAs IT-BPO program, 70.9 percent of the
graduates found employment. Under the electronics and semiconductor
program, the percentage of employed graduates reached 85 percent. It is
clear: You are the ones who will shape this growth, you are the ones who
will determine whether the fruits of our labors become sweet and ripe
for the picking, or if you will let them rot away and waste the chances
that this new chapter in our history has given us.
Let us go
through everything one by one. Our objective to expand the reach of the
Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program: achieved.A indoorpositioningsystem has
real weight in your customer's hand. The over 700,000 household
beneficiaries we found upon coming into office in 2010 have now grown to
almost 4 million households in the three years of our administration.
There
is more: According to research conducted by the Philippine Institute
for Development Studies, compared with those who only finished the
elementary level, the income of high school graduates is 40 percent
higher. Is it not right that we maximize the help we give these
families, so that our young beneficiaries can finish high school,
thereby helping them make the most out of the benefits of this program?
That is why next year, families with children up to 18 years old will be
included in this program so that their children will be able to finish
high school.
Let us move on to education. Our goal is to raise
the quality of learning that our children undertake, so that once they
finish their schooling, they can seize the opportunities now opening up
in society: accomplished. We have finally erased the backlog we
inherited in books and chairs, and if Secretary Armin Luistro continues
to demonstrate true grit, even the backlog we inherited in classrooms
will also be erased this year. And there is even more good news: Now, we
also have the ability to prepare for the additional needs that the
implementation of the K to 12 program will require.
The problems
that plagued Brother Armin in the DepEd are no laughing matter. Just
think: one textbook used to be priced at 58 pesos; since he assumed
office, the price of the exact same textbook has gone down to 30 pesos.
What would have happened if we had been paying the proper price from the
beginning? If we had saved the difference of 28 pesos for all the books
bought, at five textbooks for each of the estimated 20.7 million
students in our public school system, the equivalent would amount to
almost 2.9 billion pesos. These savings alone could have funded our
plans to repair and rehabilitate around 9,502 classrooms.
If
Brother Armin didnt have strength of will, he could have just left this
culture of negligence in his agency for his successor to deal with. He
could have also left the backlog, as well as the growing gap of needs
because of the rising number of enrollees each year. But instead of
being content, instead of saying, This will do. My job is done, Brother
Armin will build even more chairs and classrooms, and will buy even more
books, to ensure that even the needs in future years will also be met.
The
proof is in the data: This sector grew 3.3 percent in the first three
months of 2013. This is triple the 1.1 percent growth it recorded in the
same time period in 2012. That is why we continue to sow initiatives
that will certainly bear the fruits of even greater progress for our
farmers.
For example, the coconut sector.We are one of the leading manufacturers of granitecountertops in
China According to research conducted in 2009, coconut farmers make up
one of the poorest sectors in the country. Let us look at the process of
growing coconuts: Once planted, farmers wait seven years for the
coconut tree to bear fruit; but after this, two generations will be able
to benefit without doing anything else apart from harvesting the fruit.
We have the potential to vastly increase the income of this sector if
we can foster a culture that truly encourages hard work and
productivity. The solution: intercropping.
That is why various
government initiatives are in place to help free our fisherfolk from the
broad net cast by poverty. An example would be our initiative for
Bataraza in Palawan. The waters here brim with fish. But because the
fish cannot be brought to the merchants on time, still fresh, the
fishermen end up having to dry the fish and sell tuyo instead. It is
such a waste, because every three kilos of lapu-lapu is only equivalent
to one kilo of tuyo. What if the freshness of the fish could be
preserved in a cold storage facility? You could go to the merchant and
still sell your catch at full price. You would exert the same amount of
effort, but you would receive the right compensation for it. That is why
the cold storage facility in Bataraza has already been built. In
addition, we are also constructing new piers in strategic areas to raise
productivity and income. We are constructing and adding new roads,
bridges,Full color cleaningservicesydney printing and manufacturing services. and other kinds of infrastructure, including various services, for our fisherfolk.
If
there is one topic my name is often associated with, that would have to
be Hacienda Luisita. I would like to inform you that back in February,
in compliance with the decision of the Supreme Court, the Department of
Agrarian Reform has completed the list of qualified beneficiaries for
the land in Luisita. According to Secretary Gil de los Reyes, the
process to determine the beneficiaries lots began last week, and the
turnover of these lots will begin in September of this year.
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