Third State of the Nation Address of President Benigno S. Aquino IIIBatasan Pambansa Complex, Quezon CityJuly 23, 2012

State of the Nation Addressof His Excellency Benigno S. Aquino IIIPresident of the PhilippinesTo the Congress of the Philippines

[Delivered at the Session Hall of the House of Representatives, Batasan Pambansa Complex, QuezonCity, on July 23, 2012]

Maraming salamat po. Maupo po tayong lahat

Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile; Speaker Feliciano Belmonte; Bise Presidente Jejomar Binay; mgadating Pangulong Fidel Valdez Ramos at Joseph Ejercito Estrada; ang ating mga kagalang-galang namahistrado ng Korte Suprema; mga kagalang-galang na kagawad ng kalipunang diplomatiko; mgakagalang-galang na miyembro ng Kamara de Representante at ng Senado; mga pinuno ng pamahalaanglokal; mga miyembro ng ating Gabinete; mga unipormadong kasapi ng militar at kapulisan; mga kapwakong nagseserbisyo sa taumbayan; at siyempre sa akin pong mga boss, magandang hapon po.

Ito po ang aking ikatlong SONA, at parang kailan lang nang nagsimula tayong mangarap. Parang kailanlang nang sabay-sabay tayong nagpasyang tahakin ang tuwid na daan. Parang kailan lang nangsinimulan nating iwaksi ang wang-wang, hindi lamang sa kalsada kundi sa sistemang panlipunan.

Dalawang taon na ang nakalipas mula nang sinabi ninyo, “Sawa na kami sa korupsyon; sawa na kami sakahirapan.” Oras na upang ibalik ang isang pamahalaang tunay na kakampi ng taumbayan.

Gaya ng marami sa inyo, namulat ako sa panggigipit ng makapangyarihan. Labindalawang-taong gulangpo ako nang idineklara ang Batas Militar. Bumaliktad ang aming mundo: Pitong taon at pitong buwangipiniit ang aking ama; tatlong taong napilitang mangibang-bansa ang aking pamilya; naging saksi ako sapagdurusa ng marami dahil sa diktadurya. Dito napanday ang aking prinsipyo: Kung may inaagrabyado’tninanakawan ng karapatan, siya ang kakampihan ko. Kung may abusadong mapang-api, siya anglalabanan ko. Kung may makita akong mali sa sistema, tungkulin kong itama ito. [Applause]

Matagal nang tapos ang Batas Militar. Tinanong tayo noon: “Kung hindi tayo, sino pa?” at “Kung hindingayon, kailan pa?” Ang nagkakaisang tugon natin: tayo at ngayon na. Ang demokrasyang ninakawgamit ang paniniil at karahasan, nabawi natin sa mapayapang paraan; matagumpay nating pinag-alabang liwanag mula sa pinakamadilim na kabanata ng ating kasaysayan.

Ngunit huwag po nating kalimutan ang pinag-ugatan ng Batas Militar: Kinasangkapan ng diktador angSaligang Batas upang manatili sa kapangyarihan. At hanggang ngayon, tuloy pa rin ang banggaan sapagitan ng gusto ng sistemang parehas, laban sa mga nagnanais magpatuloy ng panlalamang.

Mula sa unang araw ng ating panunungkulan, walang ibang sumalubong sa atin kundi ang mgabangungot ng nawalang dekada.

Nariyan po ang kaso ng North Rail. Pagkamahal-mahal na nga nito, matapos ulitin ang negosasyon,nagmahal pa lalo. Sa kabila nito, binawasan ang benepisyo. Ang labingsiyam na trainsets naging tatlo, at

sa mga estasyon, mula lima, naging dalawa. Ang masaklap po, pinapabayaran na sa atin ang utang nito,now na.

Nariyan ang walang pakundangang bonus sa ilang GOCC, sa kabila ng pagkalugi ng kanilang mgaahensya. Nariyan ang isang bilyong pisong pinasingaw ng PAGCOR para sa kape. Nariyan angsistemang pamamahala sa PNP na isinantabi ang pangangailangan sa armas ng 45 porsiyento ngkapulisan, para lang kumita mula sa lumang helicopter na binili sa presyong brand new.

Wala na ngang iniwang panggastos, patung-patong at sabay-sabay pa ang mga utang na kailangangbayaran na. Mahaba ang iniwang listahan na tungkulin nating punuan: Ang 66,800 na backlog saclassrooms, na nagkakahalaga ng tinatayang 53.44 billion pesos; ang 2,573,212 na backlog sa mgaupuan, na nagkakahalaga naman ng 2.31 billion pesos. Nang dumating tayo, may halos tatlumpu’t animna milyong Pilipinong hindi pa miyembro ng PhilHealth. Ang kailangan para makasali sila: maaaringumabot sa 42 billion pesos. Idagdag pa po natin sa lahat ng iyan ang 103 billion pesos na kailangan parasa modernisasyon ng Hukbong Sandatahan. Sa harap ng lahat ng ito, ang iniwan sa ating pondo namalaya nating magagamit: 6.5 percent ng kabuuang budget para sa natitirang anim na buwan ng 2010.Para po tayong boksingerong isinabak sa laban nang nakagapos na nga ang mga kamay at paa,nakapiring pa ang mga mata, at kakampi pa ng kalaban ang referee at ang mga judge.

Kaya nga sa unang tatlong buwan ng aming panunungkulan, inaabangan namin ang pagdating ng Linggopara maidulog sa Panginoon ang mga bangungot na humaharap sa amin. Inasahan namingmangangailangan ng ‘di bababa sa dalawang taon bago magkaroon ng makabuluhang pagbabago.Bibigyan kaya tayo ng sapat na pag-unawa ng taumbayan?

Subalit kung may isang bagay mang nakatatak na sa ating lahi, at makailang ulit na nating pinatunayansa buong mundo: Walang hindi makakaya ang nagkakaisang Pilipino. Nangarap po tayo ng pagbabago;nakamit natin ang pagbabago; at ngayon, karaniwan na ito. [Applause]

Ang kalsadang pinondohan ninyo ay tuwid, patag, at walang bukol; ang tanging tongpats ay aspalto osemento. Karaniwan na po ito.

Ang sitwasyon kung paparating ang bagyo: nakaabang na ang relief, at hindi ang tao ang nag-aabang ngrelief. Nag-aabang na ring umalalay ang rescue services sa taumbayan, at hindi tayo-tayo lang din angsumasaklolo sa isa’t isa. Karaniwan na po ito.

Ang wang-wang sa lansangan, galing na lang sa pulis, ambulansya, o bumbero—hindi sa opisyal nggobyerno. Karaniwan na rin po ito. Ang gobyernong dating nang-aabuso, ngayon, tunay na kakampi nang Pilipino. [Applause]

Nagpatupad po tayo ng reporma: tinanggal ang gastusing hindi kailangan, hinabol ang mga tiwali, atipinakita sa mundong open for business under new management na ang Pilipinas.

Ang dating sick man of Asia, ngayon, punung-puno na ng sigla. Nang nagkaroon tayo ng positive creditrating action, ang sabi ng iba, tsamba. Ngayong walo na po sila, tsamba pa rin kaya? [Applause] SaPhilippine Stock Exchange index, nang una nating nahigitan ang 4,000 na index, may mga nagduda.Ngayon, sa dami ng all-time high, pati economic managers, nahirapan yata sa pagbilang, at ako rin po aynagulat: nakakaapatnapu’t apat na pala tayo, at bihira nang bumaba sa 5,000 ang index. [Applause] Nitopong first quarter ng 2012, ang GDP growth natin, 6.4 percent; milya-milya ang layo niyan sa mgaprediksyon, at pinakamataas sa buong Southeast Asian region; pangalawa po ito sa Asya, sunod lang

tayo sa Tsina. [Applause] Kung dati po, tayo ang laging nangungutang, ngayon, hindi po birong tayo naang nagpapautang. [Applause] Dati, namamalimos tayo ng investments; ngayon, sila na ang dumadagsa.Ang mga kumpanyang Hapon, sa isang pagpupulong, ang sabi ay, “Baka gusto n’yo kaming silipin. Hindinga kami ang pinakamura, pero una naman kami sa teknolohiya.” Pati pinuno ng isang bangko saInglatera, kamakailan nakikiusap maisali sa pila.

Sa bawat sulok ng mundo, nagpapakita ng paghanga ang mga komentarista. Ayon sa BloombergBusinessweek, and I quote: “Keep an eye on the Philippines.” Ang Foreign Policy magazine, pati isa samga pinuno ng ASEAN 100, nagsabing maaari daw tayong maging, and I quote, “Asia’s Next Tiger.”[Applause] Sabi ni Ruchir Sharma, pinuno ng Emerging Market Equities and Global Macro ng MorganStanley, I quote: “The Philippines is no longer a joke.” At mukha naman pong hindi siya nambobola, dahiltinatayang isang bilyong dolyar ang ipinasok ng kanyang kumpanya sa atin pong bansa. [Applause] Sananga po, ang kaliwa’t kanang paghanga ng taga-ibang bansa, masundan na ng lokal na tagapagbalita.[Applause]

Sinisiguro po nating umaabot ang kaunlaran sa mas nakakarami. Alalahanin po natin: Nang mag-umpisatayo, may 760,357 na kabahayang benepisyaryo ang Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program. Tinarget[target] natin itong paabutin sa 3.1 million sa loob ng dalawang taon. Pebrero pa lang po ng taong ito,naiparehistro na ang ikatlong milyong kabahayang benepisyaryo ng Pantawid Pamilya. [Applause] Sasusunod na taon naman, palalawakin pa natin ang sakop nito sa 3.8 milyong bahay; limang beses po anglaki niyan sa dinatnan natin.

Pangmatagalan po ang impact ng proyektong ito. Hindi pa kumpleto ang mga pag-aaral, pero ngayon palang, maganda na ang ipinapakita ng numero. Base sa listahan ng DSWD: May 1,672,977 na mga inangregular nang nagpapacheck-up. 1,672,814 na mga batang napabakunahan laban sa diarrhea, polio,tigdas at iba pa. Four point fifty-seven million na estudyanteng hindi na napipilitang mag-absent dahil sakahirapan. [Applause]

Sa kalusugan naman po: Nang dumating tayo, animnapu’t dalawang porsiyento lamang ng mga Pilipinoang naka-enrol sa PhilHealth. Ang masaklap, hindi pa masiguro kung lahat sila ay kabilang sa mgatotoong nangangailangan ng kalinga ng estado, o buwenas lang na malapit sa politiko. Ngayon po, 85percent ng lahat ng mamamayan, miyembro na nito. [Applause] Ang ibig pong sabihin, 23.31 million naPilipino ang naidagdag sa mga saklaw ng PhilHealth mula nang bigyan tayo ng mandato. [Applause]

Ang maganda pa rito: ang 5.2 million na pinakamahirap na kabahayang tinukoy ng National HouseholdTargeting System, buong-buo at walang-bayad nang makikinabang sa benepisyo ng PhilHealth.[Applause] Dahil po sa No Balance Billing policy ng Department of Health, ang lunas para sa dengue,pneumonia, asthma, katarata, gayundin ang pagpapagamot sa mga catastrophic disease tulad ng breastcancer, prostate cancer, at acute leukemia, makukuha na nang libre ng mga pinakamahirap natingkababayan. [Applause]

Ito po ang proseso ng pagpapagamot para sa kanila: Papasok ka sa alinmang ospital ng gobyerno.Ipapakita mo ang iyong PhilHealth card. Magpapagamot ka. At uuwi kang maginhawa nang walanginilabas ni isang kusing.

Sabi nga po sa isa sa mga briefing na dinaluhan natin, apat sa sampung Pilipino, hindi man lamangnakakakita ng health professional sa tanang buhay nila. Sa iba po, mas malaki pa: may nagsasabinganim sa bawat sampung Pilipino ang pumapanaw nang malayo sa kalinga ng health professional.Anuman ang ating pagbatayan, hindi po maikakaila: nakakabahala ang bilang ng mga Pilipinong hindi

naaabot ang serbisyong pangkalusugan ng pamahalaan. Tinutugunan na po natin ito. Mula sa sampunglibo noong dumating tayo, umabot na sa 30,801 ang mga nurse at midwife na ating nai-deploy sa ilalimng RNHeals Program. [Applause] Idagdag pa po natin sa kanila ang mahigit labing-isang libongCommunity Health Teams na nagsisilbing tulay upang higit na mapatibay ang ugnayan ng mga doktor atnurse sa komunidad.

At kung dati tutungo lamang ang mga nurse kung saan makursunadahan ng kanilang hepe, ngayon, dahilsa tamang targeting, kung saan sila kailangan, doon sila ipinapadala: [applause] sa mga lugar na matagalnang naiwan sa laylayan ng lipunan. Ipinadala po ang ating mga health professional sa 1,021 na pook nasaklaw ng Pantawid Pamilya, at sa 609 na pinakamahihirap na lungsod at munisipyo, ayon sa pag-aaralng National Anti-Poverty Commission. [Applause]

Dalawang problema po ang natutugunan nito: bukod sa nagkakatrabaho at nabibigyan ng workexperience ang libu-libong nurse at midwife na dati ay walang mapaglalaanan ng kanilang kaalaman,nagiging abot-kamay din ang dekalidad na kalinga para sa milyun-milyon nating kababayan.

Subalit hindi pa po tayo makukuntento rito, dahil ang hangad natin: kalusugang pangkalahatan.Nagsisimula ito, hindi sa mga pagamutan, kundi sa loob mismo ng kanya-kanya nating tahanan. Ibayongkaalaman, bakuna, at checkup ang kailangan upang mailayo tayo sa karamdaman. Dagdag pa po diyanang pagsisikap nating iwasan ang mga sakit na puwede namang iwasan.

Halimbawa: Nabanggit ko ang mosquito traps kontra dengue noong nakaraang taon.Alam naman poninyo, ang mga syantipiko mahigpit sa pagsisiyasat. Maaga pa para sabihing siguradong-sigurado natayo, pero nakaka-engganyo po ang mga paunang resulta nitong programang ito.

Sinubok natin ang bisa ng mosquito traps sa mga lugar kung saan naitala ang pinakamataas na insidenteng dengue. Sa buong probinsya ng Bukidnon noong 2010, may 1,216 na kaso. Nang inilagay ang mgamosquito trap noong 2011: mukhang nakatulong dahil bumaba ito sa tatlumpu’t pito; 97 percent raw poang reduction po ito. Sa bayan ng Ballesteros at Claveria sa Cagayan, may 228 na kaso ng denguenoong 2010. Pagdating ng 2011, walo na lang ang naitala. Sa Catarman, Northern Samar: 434 na kasong dengue noong 2010, naging apat na lang noong 2011. [Applause]

Panimulang pag-aaral pa lamang po ito. Pero ngayon pa lang, marapat na yata nating pasalamatan sinaSecretary Ike Ona ng DOH at Secretary Mario Montejo ng DOST, [Applause] Wala naman tayongmasyadong umento, [palakpak ninyo na lang] para naman ganahan silang lalong magsaliksik at mag-ugnayan.

Marami pa po tayong kailangang solusyonan. Nakakabahala ang mataas pa ring maternal mortality rationg bansa. Kaya nga po gumagawa tayo ng mga hakbang upang tugunan ang pangangailangan sakalusugan ng kababaihan. Nais din nating makamit ang Universal Health Care, at magkaroon ng sapatna kagamitan, pasilidad, at tauhan ang ating mga institusyong pangkalusugan.

Sa pagtugon natin sa mga ito, malaki ang maiaambag ng Sin Tax Bill. Maipasa na po sana ito sa lalongmadaling panahon. [Applause] Mababawasan na ang bisyo, madadagdagan pa ang pondo para sakalusugan.

Ano naman kaya ang sasalubong sa kabataan pagpasok sa paaralan? Sa lilim ng puno pa rin kaya silaunang matututo ng abakada? Nakasalampak pa rin kaya sila sa sahig habang nakikipag-agawan ngtextbook sa kaklase nila?

Matibay po ang pananalig natin kay Secretary Luistro: Bago matapos ang susunod na taon, ubos na angminana nating 66,800 na kakulangan sa silid-aralan. [Applause] Ulitin ko po, next year pa po ‘yan; 40,000pa lang this year. Ang minana po nating 2,573,212 na backlog sa upuan, tuluyan na rin natingmatutugunan bago matapos ang 2012. [Applause] Sa taon din pong ito, masisimot na rin ang 61.7 millionna backlog sa textbook upang maabot na, sa wakas, ang one is to one ratio ng aklat sa mag-aaral.[Applause] Sana nga po, ngayong paubos na ang backlog sa edukasyon, sikapin nating huwag ulingmagka-backlog dahil sa dami ng estudyante. Sa tingin ko po, Responsible Parenthood ang sagot dito.[Applause]

At para naman po hindi mapag-iwanan ang ating mga State Universities and Colleges, mayroon tayongpanukalang 43.61 percent na pag-angat sa kanilang budget para sa susunod na taon. [Applause] Paalalalang po: lahat ng ginagawa natin, may direksyon; may kaakibat na kondisyon ang dagdag-budget na ito.Kailangang ipatupad ang napagkasunduang SUC Reform Roadmap ng CHED at ng kaukulang statecolleges and universities, upang siguruhing dekalidad ang magiging produkto ng mga pamantasangpinopondohan ng estado. Kung mataas ang grado ninyo sa assignment na ito, asahan ninyongdodoblehin din namin ang kayod para matugunan ang mga natitirang pangangailangan po ninyo.[Applause]

Panay addition po ang nagaganap sa ating budget sa edukasyon. Isipin po ninyo: ang budget ng DepEdna ipinamana sa atin noong 2010, 177 billion pesos. Ang panukala natin para sa 2013: 292.7 billionpesos. [Applause] Noong 2010, 21.03 billion pesos ang budget para sa SUCs. Taunan po iyangdinagdagan upang umabot na sa 37.13 billion pesos na panukala natin para sa 2013. [Applause] Pero sakabila nito, ngayon pa lang, may nagpaplano nang magcut-classes para mag-piket sa Mendiola. Ganitopo kasimple: ang 292.7 ay mas malaki sa 177, at ang 37.13 ay mas malaki sa 21.03. Kaya kung maymagsasabi pa ring binawasan natin ang budget ng edukasyon, kukumbinsihin na lang namin ang inyongmga paaralan na maghandog ng remedial math class para sa inyo. [Laughter and applause] At sana po,sa mga klaseng iyon, pakiusap po, pasukan naman ninyo.

Nang maupo tayo, at masimulan ang makabuluhang reporma, minaliit ng ilan ang pagpapakitang-gilas ngpamahalaan. Kundi raw buwenas, ningas-kugon lang itong mauupos rin paglaon. May ilan pa rin pongayaw magretiro sa paghahasik ng negatibismo; silang mga tikom ang bibig sa good news, at ginawangindustriya na ang kritisismo.

Kung may problema kayo na bago matapos ang taon, bawat bata ay may sarili nang upuan at aklat,tingnan ninyo sila, mata sa mata, at sabihin ninyong, “Ayaw kong makapag-aral ka.”

Kung masama ang loob ninyo na ang 5.2 million na pinakamahihirap na kabahayang Pilipino ay maaarinang pumasok sa ospital nang hindi iniintindi ang gastos sa pagpapagamot, tingnan ninyo sila ulit, matasa mata, at sabihin ninyong, “Ayaw kong gumaling ka.”

Kung nagagalit kayo na may tatlong milyong pamilyang Pilipino nang tumutungo sa katuparan ngkanilang mga pangarap dahil sa Pantawid Pamilya, tingnan ninyo sila, mata sa mata, at sabihin ninyong,“Ibabalik ko kayo sa kawalan ng pag-asa.” [Applause]

Tapos na ang panahon kung kailan choice lang ng makapangyarihan ang mahalaga. Halimbawa, angdating namumuno sa TESDA, nagpamudmod ng mga scholarship voucher; ang problema, wala palangnakalaang pondo para rito. Natural, tatalbog ang voucher. Ang napala: 2.4 billion pesos ang sinisingil ngmahigit isanlibong eskwelahan mula sa pamahalaan. Nagpapapogi ang isang tao’t isang administrasyon;

sambayanang Pilipino naman ang pinagbabayad ngayon.

Pumasok si Secretary Joel Villanueva; [applause] hindi siya nagpasindak sa tila imposiblengpagbabagong dapat ipatupad sa kanyang ahensya. Sa kabila ng malaking utang na minana ng TESDA,434,676 na indibidwal pa rin ang kanilang hinasa sa ilalim ng Training for Work Scholarship Program.[Applause] Kongkretong tagumpay din po ang hatid ng TESDA Specialista Technopreneurship Program(mas mahirap pong bigkasin kaysa sa resulta). Biruin po ninyo: Bawat isa sa 5,240 na sertipikadongSpecialistas, kumikita na ngayon ng 562 pesos kada araw o 11,240 pesos kada buwan. Mas malaki papo ito sa minimum wage. [Applause]

Mula sa pagkasanggol, hanggang sa pagkabinata, gumagana na ang sistema para sa mamamayan.Sinisiguro nating manganganak ng trabaho ang pagsigla ng ating ekonomiya.

Alalahanin po natin: para tumabla lang, kailangang makalikha taun-taon ng isang milyong bagongtrabaho para sa mga new entrants. Ang nalikha po natin sa loob ng dalawang taon: halos 3.1 million nabagong trabaho. [Applause]

Ito po ang dahilan kung bakit pababa nang pababa ang unemployment rate sa bansa. Nang dumatingtayo, eight percent ang unemployment rate. Naging 7.2 ito noong Abril ng 2011, at bumaba pa lalo sa 6.9ngayong taon, sa buwan rin ng Abril. ‘Di po ba makatwirang mangarap na balang araw, bawat Pilipinonghandang magbanat ng buto, may mapapasukang trabaho?

Tingnan na lamang po natin ang BPO sector. Noong taong 2000, limanlibo katao lang ang naempleyo saindustriyang ito. Fast forward po tayo: 638,000 katao na ang nabibigyang trabaho ng mga BPO, at labing-isang bilyong dolyar ang ipinasok nito sa ating ekonomiya noong taong 2011. Ang projection nga po,pagdating ng 2016, kung saan ako po ay magpapaalam na sa inyo, 25 billion dollars na ang maipapasoknito, at makakapag-empleyo ng 1.3 million na Pilipino. [Applause] Hindi pa po kasama rito ang tinatayangaabot sa 3.2 million na mga taxi driver, barista, mga sari-sari store, karinderya, at marami pang ibangmakikinabang sa mga indirect jobs na malilikha dahil sa BPO industry.

Malaking bahagi din po ng ating job-generation strategy ang pagpapatayo ng sapat na imprastruktura. Samga nakapagbakasyon na sa Boracay, nakita na naman ninyo ang bagong-binyag nating terminal saCaticlan. Nakalatag na rin po ang plano upang palawakin ang runway nito.

Magkakaroon pa po ‘yan ng mga kapatid: bago matapos ang aking termino, nakatayo na ang New BoholAirport sa Panglao, [applause] New Legaspi Airport sa Daraga, at Laguindingan Airport sa MisamisOriental. [Applause] Ia-upgrade na rin po natin ang ating international airports sa Mactan, PuertoPrincesa, at Tacloban. [Applause] Dagdag pa po diyan ang pagpapaganda ng mga airport sa Butuan,Cotabato, Dipolog, Pagadian, Tawi-Tawi, Southern Leyte, at San Vicente sa Palawan. [Applause] Kamipo sa Tarlac ay maghihintay na lang. [Laughter]

Pang-apat na Pangulo na po akong sasalo sa problema ng NAIA 3. Hindi lang po eroplano ang nag-takeoff at nag-landing dito: maging mga problema’t anomalya, lumapag din. Nagbitiw na po ng salita siSecretary Mar Roxas: bago tayo magkita sa susunod na SONA, maisasaayos na ang mga structuraldefects na minana natin sa NAIA 3. [Applause]

Nitong Hunyo po, nagsimula na ring umusad ang proseso para sa LRT Line 1 Cavite Extension project,na magpapaluwag sa trapik sa Las Piñas, Parañaque, at Cavite. [Applause] Dagdag pa diyan, paralalong mapaluwag ang traffic sa Kamaynilaan at mapabilis ang pagtawid mula North Luzon hanggang

South Luzon Expressway, magkakaroon ng dalawang elevated NLEX–SLEX connector. Matatapos poang mga ito sa 2015. [Applause] Magiging one hour and 40 minutes na lang ang biyaheng Clarkpapuntang Calamba oras na makumpleto ang mga ito. Bago po tayo bumaba sa puwesto, nakatayo narin ang mga dekalidad na terminal sa Taguig, Quezon City, at Parañaque na paparadahan ng busbiyaheng probinsya, [applause] upang hindi na sila makisiksik pa sa EDSA.

Nagbago na po ang takbo ng usapan tungkol sa ahensyang dati’y itinuturing na pugad ng kapalpakan.Naalala ko po dati: Kapag tag-ulan at umapaw ang Tarlac River, nalulunod ang MacArthur Highway.Tutunawin nito ang aspalto; magbabaku-bako ang kalsada hanggang sa tuluyan na nga itong mawawala.Bilang kinatawan noon ng aking distrito, inireklamo ko po ito. Ang tugon ng DPWH: alam namin angproblema, alam namin ang solusyon, pero wala kaming pera. Kinailangan ko pong makiusap sa akingmga barangay, at ang sabi ko po sa kanila ay “Kung hindi natin ito uunahin, walang gagawa nito, at tayorin ang mapeperhuwisyo.” Dati, panay ang “hoy, gising!” sa gobyerno, bakit wala daw kasing ginagawa.Ngayon ang reklamo, “sobra namang trapik, ang dami kasing ginagawa.” [Laughter and applause]Paalala lang din po: naisasaayos na natin ang mga kalsadang ito nang hindi nagtataas ng buwis.[Applause]

Bubuo tayo ng mga daanan, hindi ayon sa kickback o kursonada, pero ayon sa isang malinaw nasistema. Dahil hindi na bara-bara ang paglalagak natin ng pondo para sa mga proyekto, hindi na itomapapako sa plano, totoong kalsada na ang pakikinabangan ng Pilipino. Nang maupo po tayo sapuwesto, 7,239 kilometers sa ating national road network ang hindi pa naisasaayos. 1,569 kilometers nanito ang naipaayos natin sa ilalim ng pamamahala ni Secretary Babes Singson; [applause] sa 2012—2,275 kilometers pa ang maidadagdag na natapos na rin po. Pati po ang mga kalsada at kurbadangmapanganib, tinutukoy at inaayos na gamit ang teknolohiya. Taun-taon po nating bubunuin ito, upangbago matapos ang aking termino, bawat pulgada ng ating national road network, maayos na po.Siyempre ‘wag la lang po n’yo dagdagan ang national road network.

Hindi lang kalsada, kundi pati sistema, isinasaayos sa DPWH. Dahil sa pagsunod sa tamang proseso ngbidding at procurement, 10.6 billion pesos na ang natipid ng kanilang ahensya mula 2011 hanggangnitong Hunyo. [Applause] Maging mga kontratista, batid ang positibong bunga ng reporma sa DPWH.Sabi nga po nila, “ang top 40 na kontratista, fully booked na raw po.”

Sana po hindi maantala ang pagpapatayo natin ng iba pang imprastraktura para hindi rin mapurnada angpaglago ng ibang industriya.

Kaakibat ng pagpapaunlad ng imprastruktura ang paglago ng turismo. Isipin po ninyo: Noong 2001, angtourist arrivals sa ating bansa, 1.8 million. Nang dumating po tayo noong 2010, naglalaro ito sa 3.1million. Mantakin po ninyo: sa hinaba-haba ng kanilang administrasyon, ang naidagdag nilang touristarrivals, 1.3 million lamang; may ambag pa kaming kalahating taon diyan. Tayo naman po, Hunyo pa langng 2012—2.1 million na turista na ang napalapag. [Applause] Mas marami pang dadagsa sa peak seasonbago matapos ang taon, kaya hindi ako nagdududang maaabot natin ang quota na 4.6 million na turistapara sa 2012. [Applause] Ibig sabihin po: 1.5 million na turista ang ating maidadagdag. Samakatuwid, sadalawang taon, mas malaki ang magiging paglago ng ating tourist arrivals, kumpara sa naidagdag ngpinalitan natin sa loob ng siyam at kalahating taon. Hindi po tayo nagtataas ng bangko; nagsasabi langpo tayo ng totoo. [Applause]

Pero hindi nakuntento rito si Secretary Mon Jimenez. Sabi niya, kung sa Malaysia may bumisitang 24.7million na turista noong 2011, at kung sa Thailand naman tinatayang 17 million, sa dinami-rami ngmagagandang tanawin sa ating bansa, hindi naman siguro suntok sa buwan kung mangarap tayong

pagdating ng 2016, sampung milyong turista na ang bibisita sa Pilipinas kada taon. [Applause] Kungpatuloy na magkakaisa ang sambayanang Pilipino, gaya ng ipinamalas nating hirangin ang PuertoPrincesa Underground River bilang isa sa New Seven Wonders of Nature, walang dudang makakamtannatin ito. Ang pahayag nga po natin sa daigdig: “It’s more fun in the Philippines.” [Applause] Kahit walapang isang taon sa puwesto si Secretary Mon Jimenez, nagagapas na natin ang positibong bunga ngating mga naipunlang reporma. Masasabi nga po nating pagdating sa turismo, “It’s really fun—to haveSecretary Mon Jimenez as our Secretary.” [Applause]

Kung paglago po ang usapan, nasa tuktok ng listahan ang agrikultura. Kayod-kalabaw po si SecretaryAlcala upang makapaghatid ng mabubuting balita. Dati, para bang ang pinapalago ng mga namumuno saDA ay ang utang ng NFA. Twelve billion pesos ang minana nilang utang; ang ipinamana naman nila saatin, 177 billion pesos.

Hindi po ba’t noon, pinaniwala tayo na 1.3 million metric tons ang kakulangan sa bigas, at para tugunanito, ‘di bababa sa two million metric tons ang kanilang inangkat noong 2010. Parang unlimited rice silakung maka-order ng bigas, pero dahil sobra-sobra, nabubulok lang naman ito sa mga bodega. Ang 1.3million metric tons, unang taon pa lang, napababa na natin sa 860,000 metric tons. [Applause] Ngayongtaon, 500,000 na lang, kasama pa ang buffer sakaling abutin tayo ng bagyo. [Applause] Huwag lang potayong pagsungitan ng panahon, harinawa, sa susunod na taon ay puwede na tayong mag-export ngbigas. [Applause]

Ang sabi po ni Secretary Alcala: ang susi dito, makatotohanang programa sa irigasyon, at masigasig naimplementasyon ng certified seeds program. [Applause] Ang masakit po, hindi bagong kaalaman ito; hindilang ipinapatupad. Kung dati pa sila nagtrabaho nang matino, nasaan na kaya tayo ngayon?

Tingnan rin po natin ang industriya ng niyog at ang cocowater na dati tinatapon lang, ngayon,napapakinabangan na ng magsasaka. Noong 2009—483,862 liters ng cocowater ang iniluwas natin.Umangat po ito ng 1,807,583 liters noong 2010. Huwag po kayong magugulat: noong 2011: 16,756,498liters [applause]—puwede ho bang ulitin iyon?—16,756,498 liters ng cocowater ang in-export ngPilipinas. Ang coco coir naman, kung dati walang pumapansin, ngayon may shortage na dahilpinapakyaw ng mga exporter. Hindi natin sasayangin ang pagkakataong ito: bibili pa tayo ng mga bagongmakinang magpoproseso ng bunot para makuha ang mga hiblang ginagawa mula sa coco coir. Sasusunod na taon, lalo nating mapapakinabangan ang industriya ng niyog: Naglaan na tayo ng 1.75 billionpesos upang mamuhunan at palaguin ito. [Applause]

Sinimulan po ng aking ina ang Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program. Nararapat lamang na mataposang programang ito sa panahon ng aking panunungkulan. [Applause]

Isinasaayos na po ang sistema upang mapabilis ang pagpapatupad ng repormang agraryo. Ginagawa ngpamahalaan ang lahat ng hakbang upang maipamahagi sa ating magsasaka ang mga lupaing diniligan atpinagyaman ng kanilang pawis. Subalit mayroon pa rin pong ayaw paawat sa pagtatanim ng mga balakid.Ang tugon ko sa kanila: susunod tayo sa batas. Ang atas ng batas, ang atas ng taumbayan, at ang atasko: Bago ako bumaba sa puwesto, naipamigay na dapat ang lahat ng lupaing sakop ng CARP.[Applause]

Liwanagin naman po natin ang nangyayari sa sektor ng enerhiya. Mantakin po ninyo: Dati po, umabotlang ang kawad ng kuryente sa barangay hall, “energized” na raw ang buong barangay. Kaya ganun nalang kung ipagmalaki nilang 99.98 percent na raw ng mga barangay sa bansa ang may kuryente. Pati banaman sa serbisyong dapat ay matagal nang napapakinabangan ng Pilipino, nagkakagulangan pa? Kaya

nga po, para subukan ang kakayahan ng DOE at NEA, naglaan tayo ng 1.3 billion pesos para pailawanang unang target na 1,300 sitios, sa presyong isang milyong piso bawat isa. Nang matapos sila, angnapailawan sa inilaan nating pondo: 1,520 sitios, at gumastos lamang sila ng 814 million pesos.[Applause] Nagawa nila ito sa loob lamang ng tatlong buwan, at mas marami pa pong gagawin ditohangga’t matapos ang 36,000 sitios, na dati’y inaabot ng dalawang taon. Kay Secretary Rene Almendras,bilib talaga ako sa iyo; parang hindi ka nauubusan ng enerhiya. Sa paghahatid-serbisyo, hindi ka langeveready, nagmistulang energizer bunny ka pa—you keep on going, and going, and going. [Applause]

Nangingibabaw na nga po ang liwanag sa ating bayan—liwanag na nagsiwalat sa krimeng nagaganap samadidilim na sulok ng lipunan. Ang pinagsisikapang kitain ng Pilipino, hindi na magagantso. Patuloy poang pagbaba ng crime volume sa buong bansa. Ang mahigit limandaan libong krimen na naitala noong2009, mahigit kalahati po ang nabawas: 246,958 na lamang iyan nitong 2011. Dagdag pa rito: ang datingdalawanlibo’t dalawandaang kaso ng carnapping noong 2010, lampas kalahati rin ang ibinaba: 966 nalang po iyan pagdating ng 2011.

Ito nga po sana ang dalhin ng ating mga headline. Hindi po natin sinasabing wala nang krimengnagaganap, pero palagay ko naman po, wala dapat magalit na nangalahati na ito. Si RaymondDominguez na matagal nang labas-masok sa kulungan, hindi ba’t sa loob lamang ng mahigit isang taon,nasentensyahan at naipakulong na? Ang dalawa pa niyang kapatid ay sinampahan na rin natin ng kasoat kasalukuyan na ring nakabilanggo. May dalawang suspect sa bus bombing sa Makati noongnakaraang taon, ang isa po’y pumanaw na; ‘yung isa, humihimas na ng rehas. Kakosa niya ang mahigitsampung libong sangkot sa ilegal na droga na inaresto ng PDEA nitong 2011. [Applause]

Alam po nating hindi araw-araw ang laban ni Pacman, at hindi puwedeng iasa dito ang pagbaba ngkrimen. Kaya nga po pinalalakas natin ang puwersa ng kapulisan. ‘Di po ba, nang dumating tayo,apatnapu’t limang porsyento ng ating kapulisan ang walang baril at umaasa sa anting-anting habangtumutugis ng masasamang-loob? [Laughter] May nanalo na po sa bidding, tinitiyak na lamang natingdekalidad ang kanilang mga produkto. Pagkatapos ng proseso, at itong taon po nating inaasahan ito,maipagkakaloob na ang 74,600 na baril na magagamit nila upang ipagtanggol at alagaan ang bayan,lipunan, at sarili. [Applause]

Dumako naman po tayo sa usapin ng pambansang tanggulan. May mga nagsabi na po na ang ating AirForce, “all air, at no force.” [Laughter] Imbes na alagaan ng estado, para bang sinasadyang ilagay saalanganin ang ating mga sundalo. Hindi po tayo makakapayag na manatiling ganito.

Makalipas nga lang po ang isang taon at pitong buwan, nakapaglaan na tayo ng mahigit dalawampu’twalong bilyong piso para sa AFP Modernization Program. Aabutan na nito ang tatlumpu’t tatlong bilyongpisong pondo na ipinagkaloob sa nasabing programa sa nakalipas na labinlimang taon. [Applause]Bumubuwelo pa lang po tayo sa lagay na ‘yan: kapag naipasa na ang panukala nating AFPmodernization bill sa Kongreso, makakapaglaan tayo ng pitumpu’t limang bilyong piso para sa susunodna limang taon.

Kasado na rin po ang tatlumpung milyong dolyar na pondong kaloob ng Estados Unidos para sa DefenseCapability Upgrade and Sustainment of Equipment Program ng AFP. Bukod pa po ito sa tulong nilaupang pahusayin pa ang pagmanman sa ating mga baybayin sa ilalim ng itatayong Coast Watch Centerng Pilipinas.

Nagka-canvass na rin po ang Sandatahang Lakas ng mga kagamitan tulad ng mga kanyon, armoredpersonnel carrier, at frigates. Hindi magtatagal, dadaong na ang karelyebo ng BRP Gregorio del Pilar sa

ating pampang. Sa Enero, aangkla na po sa Pilipinas ang BRP Ramon Alcaraz, ang pangalawa natingHamilton class cutter. ‘Di na po bangkang papel ang ating ipapalaot; [applause] ngayon po, mga hi-techat dekalidad na barko na ang tatanod sa 36,000 kilometers nating coastline.

Mainam na rin po siguro kung maglilinis-linis na ng mga hangar ang ating Sandatahang Lakas, dahildarating na ang mga kagamitang lalong magpapatikas sa ating tanggulan. Sa wakas, may katuwang napo ang kaisa-isa nating C-130 na tatlumpu’t anim na taon nang rumoronda sa himpapawid: dalawa pangC-130 ang magiging operational ulit sa taong ito. Bago matapos ang taong ito, inaasahan nating mai-dedeliver na ang binili nating dalawampu’t isang refurbished UH-1H Helicopter, apat na combat utilityhelicopters, mga radyo’t iba pang communication equipment, rifles, mortars, mobile diagnosticlaboratories, kasama na ang bullet station assembly. [Applause] Pagdating naman po ng 2013, lalapagna ang sampung attack helicopters, dalawang naval helicopters, dalawang light lift aircraft, isang frigate,at mga force protection equipment. [Applause]

At hindi lang po natin sa armas ipinaparamdam ang pagkalinga sa ating pulis at kasundaluhan.Nabawasan na rin po ang mga pasanin nila sa pamumuhay dahil sa mahigit dalawampu’t dalawanglibong bahay ang naipatayo na sa ilalim ng AFP–PNP housing program. [Applause]

Hindi po ito tungkol sa pakikipaggirian o pakikipagmatigasan. Hindi ito tungkol sa pagsisiga-sigaan.Tungkol ito sa pagkamit ng kapayapaan. Tungkol ito sa kakayahan nating ipagtanggol ang ating sarili—isang bagay na kaytagal nating inisip na imposible. Tungkol po ito sa buhay ng isang sundalong araw-araw sumasabak sa peligro; tungkol ito sa pamilya niyang nag-aabang na makabalik siyang ligtas, anoman ang kanyang makaharap. Hayaan po nating ang ilang mga benipisyaryo ang magbigay ng kani-kanilang mga kuwento:

[Video]

At ngayon ngang inaaruga na sila ng taumbayan, lalo namang ginaganahan ang ating kasundaluhan namakamtan ang kapayapaan. Tagumpay pong maituturing ang dalawandaan at tatlong rebeldeng sumukoat nagbabalik-loob na sa lipunan, at ang 1,772 na bandidong nawakasan na ang karahasan. Halimbawapo ang kilabot na teroristang si Doctor Abu, na hindi na makakapaghasik ng kaniyang lagim. Nagpupugayrin po tayo sa panunumbalik ng katahimikan sa mga lugar na matagal nang biningi ng putukan. Angresulta nga po ng bayanihan: 365 na barangay ang naagaw sa kamay ng kaaway, 270 na gusali’tpaaralan ang naipaayos, at 74 health centers ang naipagawa. [Applause]

Kung kapayapaan na lang din po ang usapan, dumako naman tayo sa lugar na matagal naging mukha ngmga mithiing ‘di makamtan-kamtan. Bago po magsimula ang mga reporma natin sa ARMM, at alamnaman po n’yo, may mga ghost students doon, na maglalakad sa isang ghost road, tungo sa isang ghostschool, para magpaturo sa isang ghost teacher. Ang mga aparisyon pong gumulantang kay OICGovernor Mujiv Hataman: [applause] Apat na eskuwelahan na natagpuang may ghost students;iniimbestigahan na rin ang mga teacher na hindi lumilitaw ang pangalan sa talaan ng ProfessionalRegulation Commission, gayundin ang mga tauhan ng gobyernong hindi nakalista sa plantilya. Limampu’tlimang ghost entry ang tinanggal sa payroll. Ang dating paulit-ulit na pagsasaboy ng graba sa kalsadapara lang pagkakitaan ng pera, bawal na. Wala nang cash advance sa mga ahensya, para maiwasan angpagsasamantala. Ang mga multo sa voters list, mapapatahimik na ang kaluluwa. [Applause] Kaya nga pokay OIC Gov. Mujiv Hataman, ang masasabi natin: talaga namang isa ka nang certified ghost buster.

Ang pumalit po, at pinapalit na: pabahay, tulay, at learning center para sa mga Badjao sa Basilan. Mgacommunity-based hatchery, lambat, materyales para maglinang ng seaweeds, at punlang

napakinabangan ng 2,588 na mangingisda. Certified seeds, punla ng gabi, cassava, goma, at mgapunong namumunga para sa 145,121 na magsasaka. Simula pa lang po iyan: nakalaan na ang 183million pesos para sa mga municipal fishing port projects sa ARMM; 310.4 million pesos para sa mgaistasyon ng bumbero; 515 million pesos para sa malinis na inuming tubig; 551.9 million pesos para samga kagamitang pangkalusugan; 691.9 million pesos para sa daycare centers; at 2.85 billion pesos parasa mga kalsada at tulay na babagtas sa rehiyon. Ilan lang po iyan sa patutunguhan ng kabuuang 8.59billion pesos na ipinagkaloob ng pambansang gobyerno para isakatuparan ang mga reporma sa ARMM.[Applause] Lilinawin ko rin po: hindi pa kasama rito ang taunang suportang natatanggap nila, na ngayong2012 ay umabot sa 11.7 billion pesos. [Applause]

Miski po ang mga dating gustong tumiwalag, nakikita na ang epekto ng reporma. Kinikilala natin bilangpahiwatig ng kanilang tiwala ang nakaraang pitong buwan, kung kailan walang nangyaring sagupaan sapagitan ng militar at ng MILF. Sa peace process naman po: hayag at lantaran ang usapan;nagpapamalas ang magkabilang panig ng tiwala sa isa’t isa. Maaaring minsan, magiging masalimuot angproseso; signos lang po ito na malapit na nating makamit ang nag-iisa nating mithiin: Kapayapaan.

Mapayapang pag-uusap rin po ang prinsipyong isinulong natin upang mabuo ang ating Executive Orderukol sa pagmimina. Ang kaisipan sa likod ng nabuong consensus: mapakinabangan ang ating likas nayaman upang iangat ang buhay ng Pilipino, hindi lamang ngayon kundi pati na rin sa susunod nasalinlahi. Hindi natin pipitasin ang ginintuang bunga ng industriyang ito, kung ang magiging kabayaran ayang pagkasira ng kalikasan. [Applause]

Ngunit unang hakbang lamang ito. Isipin po ninyo: Noong 2010, 145 billion pesos ang kabuuang halagana nakuha mula sa pagmimina, subalit 13.4 billion pesos lamang o siyam na porsyento ang napunta sakaban ng bayan. Ang likas na yaman, pag-aari ninyo; hindi tayo papayag na balato lang ang mapupuntasa Pilipino. Umaasa po tayo sa pakikiisa ng Kongreso upang makapagpasa ng batas na sisigurongnapapangalagaan ang kalikasan at matitiyak na makatarungan ang magiging pakinabang ng publiko atpribadong sektor sa mga biyayang makukuha natin mula sa industriyang ito. [Applause]

Pag-usapan po natin ang situwasyon sa Disaster Risk Reduction and Management. Dati, anggobyernong dapat tumutulong, nanghihingi rin ng tulong. Ngayon, nasa Pasipiko pa lang ang bagyo, alamna kung saan idedestino ang ayuda, at may malinaw nang plano upang maiwasan ang peligro.

Tuwing pag-uusapan nga po ang sakuna, lagi kong naaalala ang nangyari po sa amin sa Tarlac noongminsang bumagyo. Sa lakas ng ulan, bumigay ang isang dike. Nang nagising ang isang barangaycaptain, tinangay na ng baha ang kanyang pamilya at mga kagamitang pangsaka. Buti nga po’tnakaligtas ang buong mag-anak. Malas lang po ng kalabaw nilang naiwang nakatali sa puno; nabigti itosa lakas ng ragasa.

Walang kalaban-laban din po ang marami sa tinamaan ng bagyong Ondoy, Pepeng, at Sendong.Napakarami pong nasawi sa paghagupit ng mga delubyong ito. Sa ilalim ng bagong-lunsad na ProjectNOAH, isinakay natin sa iisang bangka ang mga inisyatiba kontra-sakuna, at hindi na rin po idinadaan satsamba ang paglilikas sa mga pamilya. Gamit ang teknolohiya, nabibigyan na ng wastong babala angPilipino upang makapaghanda at makaiwas sa disgrasya.

Real-time at direkta na ang pakinabang ng walumpu’t anim na automated rain gauges at dalawampu’twalong water level monitoring sensors natin sa iba’t ibang rehiyon. Bago matapos ang 2013, ang targetnatin: animnaraang automated rain gauges at apatnaraan at dalawampu’t dalawang water level sensors.Ipapakabit po natin ang mga ito sa labingwalong pangunahing river basins sa buong bansa. [Applause]

Isa pa pong pagbabago: Dati, ang mga ahensya’y kanya-kanyang habulan ng numero, kanya-kanyangagenda, kanya-kanyang pasikatan. Ngayon, ang kultura sa gobyerno: bayanihan para sa kapakanan ngtaumbayan. Convergence po ang tawag natin dito.

Dati pa naman po naglipana ang mga programa sa tree planting. Pero matapos magtanim, pababayaanna lang ang mga ito. Kapag nakita ng mga komunidad na naghahanap din ng kabuhayan, puputulin angmga ito para gawing uling.

May solusyon na po rito. Mayroon na pong 128,558 hectares ng kagubatang naitanim sa buong bansa;bahagi lang po iyan ng kabuuang 1.5 million na ektaryang matatamnan bago tayo bumaba sa puwesto.[Applause] Nakapaloob po rito ang mga komunidad na nasa ilalim ng National Convergence Initiative.Ang proseso: pagkatanim ng puno, makikipag-ugnayan ang DSWD sa mga komunidad. Kapalit ngconditional cash transfer, aalagaan ang mga puno; mayroon ding mga magpapalago ng bagong punla sanursery. 335,078 na po ang mga Pilipinong nakakakuha ng kabuhayan mula dito.

Sa isa nga pong programa, nakiambag din ang pribadong sektor, na nagbibigay ng espesyal na binhi ngkape at cacao sa komunidad, at tinuturuan silang alagaan at siguruhing mataas ang ani. Itinatanim angkape sa lilim ng mga puno, na habang nakatayo ay masisigurong hihigop ng baha at tutulong makaiwastayo sa pinsala. Ang kumpanyang nagbigay ng binhi, sure buyer na rin ng ani. Panalo po ang mgakomunidad nay may dagdag kita, panalo ang pribadong sektor, panalo pa ang susunod na salinlahingmakikinabang sa matatayog na puno. [Applause]

Matagal na pong problema ang illegal logging. Mula nga po nang lumapag ang EO 23, nakasabat na siMayor Jun Amante ng mahigit anim na milyong pisong halaga ng troso. Nagpapasalamat tayo sa kanya.Sa Butuan pa lang ito; paano pa kung magpapakita ng ganitong political will ang lahat ng LGU?

Ang mga trosong nakukumpiska ng DENR, lalapag sa mga komunidad na naturuan na ng TESDA ngpagkakarpintero. Ang resulta: upuan para sa mga pampublikong paaralan na hawak naman ng DepEd.Isipin po ninyo: ang dating pinagmumulan ng pinsala, ngayon, tulay na para sa mas mabutingkinabukasan. Dati, imposible nga ito: Imposible kung nagbubulag-bulagan ang pamahalaan sa ilegal nagawain.

Kaya kayong mga walang konsensya; kayong mga paulit-ulit isinusugal ang buhay ng kapwa Pilipino:maghanda na kayo. Tapos na ang maliligayang araw po ninyo. [Applause] Sinampolan na natin angtatlumpu’t apat na kawani ng DENR, isang PNP provincial director, at pitong chief of police.Pinagpapaliwanag na rin po natin ang isang Regional Director ng PNP na nagbingi-bingihan sa akingutos at nagbulag-bulagan sa mga dambuhalang trosong dumaan sa kanilang tanawin. Kung hindi kayoumayos, isusunod namin kayo. Magkubli man kayo sa ilalim ng inyong mga padrino, aabutan naminkayo. Isasama na rin namin ang mga padrino ninyo. [Applause] Kaya bago pa magkasalubong ang atinglandas, ako po’y muling makikiusap, mas maganda sigurong tumino na kayo.

Mula sa sinapupunan, sa pag-aaral at pagtatrabaho, may pagbabago nang haharap sa Pilipino. Atsakaling piliin niyang magserbisyo sa gobyerno, tuloy pa rin ang pag-aaruga ng estado hanggang sakanyang pagreretiro. Tatanawin ng pamahalaan ang kanyang ambag bilang lingkod-bayan, at hindiipagdadamot sa kanya ang pensiyong siya rin naman ang nagpuhunan.

Isipin po ninyo, at ako po’y nagulat dito: may mga pensyonado tayong tumatanggap ng 500 pesoslamang kada buwan. Paano kaya niya ito pagkakasiyahin sa tubig, kuryente, at pagkain araw-araw? Ang

atin pong tugon: Pagsapit ng bagong taon, hindi na bababa sa limanlibong piso ang matatanggap nabuwanang pensyon ng ating old-age and disability pensioners. [Applause] Masaya tayong matutugunannatin ang pangangailangan nila ngayon, nang hindi isinusugal ang kapakanan ng mga pensyonadobukas.

Iba na po talaga ang mukha ng gobyerno. Sumasabay na po sa pribadong sektor ang ating pasahod parasa entry level. Pero kapag sabay kayong na-promote ng kaklase mong piniling mag-pribado,nagkakaiwanan na.

Mahahabol din po natin iyan; pero sa ngayon, ang good news natin sa mga nagtatrabaho sapamahalaan: Performance-Based Incentives. Dati, miski palpak ang palakad ng isang ahensya, verysatisfactory pa rin ang pinakamababang rating ng empleyado. Dahil sa pakikisama, nahihirapan ang bisorna bigyan ng makatarungang rating ang mga tauhan niya. Nakakawawa tuloy ang mga mahusaymagtrabaho; nawawalan sila ng dahilan para galingan dahil parehas lang naman ang insentibo ng mgatamad at pursigido.

Heto po ang isa lamang sa mga hakbang natin upang tugunan ito. Simula ngayong taon, magpapatupadtayo ng sistema kung saan ang bonus ay nakabase sa pagtupad ng mga ahensya sa kanilang mga targetpara sa taon. [Applause] Nasa kamay na ng empleyado ang susi sa kanyang pag-angat. Ang insentibo,maaaring umabot ng tatlumpu’t limang libong piso, depende sa pagpapakitang-gilas mo sa iyong trabaho.Dagdag pa ito sa across-the-board na Christmas bonus na matatanggap mo.

Ginagawa natin ito, hindi lamang para itaas ang kumpiyansa at ipakita ang pagtitiwala natin sa ating mgalingkod-bayan. Higit sa lahat, para ito sa Pilipinong umaasa sa tapat at mahusay na serbisyo mula salingkod-bayan, at umaasang sila at sila lamang ang itinuturing na boss ng kanilang pamahalaan.

Alam po niyo, sa simula pa lang mayroon nang mga kumuwestiyon sa sinasabi nating, “Kung walangcorrupt, walang mahirap.” Hanggang ngayon mayroon pa rin pong mangilan-ngilang nagtatanong:nakakain ba ang mabuting pamamahala? Ang simpleng sagot, “Siyempre.”

Isipin po natin ang ating pinanggalingan: Dati, parang “Wild West” ang pamumuhunan sa Pilipinas. Maypeligro na nga ang negosyo, sinagad pa ang risko dahil sa di tiyak at nakalihim na patakaran.Kakamayan ka nga gamit ang kanan, kokotongan ka naman na gamit ang kaliwa.

Ngayon, dahil patas na ang laban, at may hayag at hindi pabagu-bagong mga patakaran, patuloy angpagtaas ng kumpiyansa sa ating ekonomiya. Patuloy ang pagpasok ng puhunan; patuloy ang pagdami ngtrabaho; patuloy ang positibong siklo ng pagkonsumo, paglago ng negosyo, at pagdami ng mamamayangnaeempleyo. [Applause]

Dahil maayos ang paggugol ng gobyerno, walang tagas sa sistema. Dahil maayos ang pangkolekta ngbuwis, lumalago ang kaban ng bayan. Bawat pisong nakokolekta, tiyak ang pupuntahan: Piso itongdiretso sa kalsada, piso para sa bakuna, piso para sa classroom at upuan, piso para sa atingkinabukasan. [Applause]

Dahil maayos ang paggawa ng tulay, kalsada, at gusali, itinatayo ang mga ito kung saan kailangan.Maayos ang daanan, mas mabilis ang takbo ng produkto, serbisyo, at mamamayan.

Dahil maayos ang pamamahala sa agrikultura, tumataas ang produksyon ng pagkain, at hindi pumapaloang presyo nito. Stable ang pasahod, at mas malakas ang pambansang ekonomiya.

Tunay nga po: Ang matatag at malakas na ekonomiyang pinanday ng mabuting pamamahala angpinakamabisang kalasag laban sa mga hamon na kinakaharap ng daigdig. Dalawang taon po natingbinaklas ang mga balakid sa pag-unlad, at ngayon, tayo na lang mismo ang makakapigil sa ating sarilingpag-angat.

Ginawa po natin ang lahat ng ito habang binubuno rin ng bawat bansa sa iba’t ibang sulok ng daigdig angkani-kanilang problema’t pagsubok.

Hindi po tayo nag-iisa sa mundo, kaya’t habang tinutugunan natin ang sarili nating mga suliranin, angkoplamang na bantayan din ang ilang pangyayaring maaaring makaapekto sa atin.

Naging maugong ang mga kaganapan sa Bajo de Masinloc. May mga mangingisdang Tsinong pumasoksa ating teritoryo. Nasabat ng barko natin at nasabad sa kanilang mga barko ang endangered species.Bilang pinuno, kailangan kong ipatupad ang batas na umiiral sa ating bansa. Sa pagsulong nito,nagbungguan ang Nine-Dash Line Theory ng mga Tsino, na umaangkin sa halos buong West PhilippineSea, at ang karapatan natin at ng marami pang ibang bansa, kasama na ang Tsina, na pinagtibay namanng United Nations Convention on the Laws of the Sea.

Ibayong hinahon ang ipinamalas natin. Ang barko ng Hukbong Dagat, bilang tanda ng ating malinis nahangarin, ay agad nating pinalitan ng barkong sibilyan. Hindi tayo nakipagsagutan sa mga banat ngkanilang media sa atin. Hindi naman po siguro kalabisan na hilingin sa kabilang panig na galangin angating karapatan, gaya ng paggalang sa kanilang mga karapatan bilang kapwa bansang nasa iisangmundong kailangang pagsaluhan.

Mayroon po tayong mga miron na nagsasabing hayaan na lang ang Bajo de Masinloc; umiwas na langtayo. Pero kung may pumasok sa inyong bakuran at sinabing sa kanya na ang kanyang kinatatayuan aysa kanya na, papayag ba kayo? Hindi naman po yata tamang ipamigay na lang natin sa iba ang sadyangatin talaga. [Applause]

Kaya nga po hinihiling ko sa sambayanan ang pakikiisa sa isyung ito. Iisa lang po dapat ang kumpasnatin. Tulungan ninyo akong iparinig sa kabilang panig ang katuwiran ng ating mga paninindigan.

Hindi po simple ang sitwasyon, at hindi magiging simple ang solusyon. Magtiwala po kayo: kumokonsultatayo sa mga eksperto, at sa lahat ng pinuno ng ating bansa, pati na sa kaalyado natin—gayundin sa mganasa kabilang panig ng usaping ito—upang makahanap ng solusyon na katanggap-tanggap sa lahat.[Applause]

Sa bawat hakbang sa tuwid na daan, nagpunla tayo ng pagbabago. Ngunit may mangilan-ngilan pa ringpilit na bubunot nito. Habang nagtatalumpati ako ngayon, may mga nagbubulung-bulungan sa isang silidat hinihimay ang aking mga sinasabi; naghahanap ng butas na ipambabatikos bukas. Sasabihin nila,“Salita lang ito, at hindi totoo ang tuwid na landas.” Sila rin po ang magsasabing hayaan na, magkaisa na;forgive and forget na lang para makausad na tayo.

Hindi ko po matatanggap ito. Forgive and forget na lang ang sampung taon na nawala sa atin? Forgiveand forget na lang para sa magsasakang nabaon sa utang dahil sa kakaangkat natin ng bigas, gayongpuwede naman palang pagyamanin sa ating sariling lupa?

Forgive and forget na lang ba para sa pamilya ng isang pulis na namatay nang walang kalaban-laban,

dahil batuta lang ang hawak niya habang hinahabol ang armadong masasamang-loob?

Forgive and forget na lang ba para sa mga naulila ng limampu’t pitong biktima ng masaker saMaguindanao? Maibabalik ba sila ng “forgive and forget?” [Applause] Forgive and forget ang lahat ngatraso ng mga naglubog sa atin sa bulok na estado? Forgive and forget para maibalik ang lumang statusquo? Ang tugon ko, “Ang magpatawad, maaari; ang makalimot, hindi.” [Applause] Kung ang nagkasala ayhindi mananagot, gagarantiyahan mo ang pagpapahirap muli sa sambayanan.

Ang tunay na pagkakaisa at pagkakasunduan ay magmumula lamang sa tunay at ganap na katarungan.Katarungan ang tawag sa plunder case na isinampa laban sa dating pangulo. [Applause] Katarungan nabigyan siya ng pagkakataong harapin ang mga akusasyon at ipagtanggol ang kanyang sarili. Katarunganang nasaksihan natin noong ika-dalawampu’t siyam ng Mayo. Noong araw na iyon, pinatunayan natin:Posibleng mangibabaw ang katarungan kahit na ang kabangga mo ay may mataas na katungkulan.[Applause] Noong araw na iyon, may isang Delsa Flores sa Panabo, Davao del Norte, na nagsabing,“Posible palang iisang batas lang ang kailangang sundin ng court interpreter na tulad ko, at ng PunongMahistrado.” [Applause] Posible palang maging patas ang timbangan; maaaring isakdal at panagutinmiski ang mayaman at makapangyarihan.

Kaya po sa susunod na magiging Punong Mahistrado, malaki ang inaasahan sa inyo ng sambayanan.Napatunayan na po nating posible ang imposible; ang trabaho natin ngayon, siguruhing magpapatuloyang pagbabago tungo sa tunay na katarungan, matapos man ang ating termino. [Applause] Marami pongsira sa sistemang kailangan ninyong kumpunihin, at alam kong hindi magiging madali ito. Alam ko pokung gaano kabigat ang pasanin ng isang malinaw na mandato; ngunit ito ang atas sa atin ngtaumbayan; ito ang tungkuling ating sinumpaan; ito ang kailangan nating gampanan.

Simple lang ang hangad natin: kung inosente ka, buong-loob kang haharap sa korte, dahil kampantekang mapapawalang-sala ka. Kung ikaw ang salarin, anuman ang apelyido mo, o gaano man karami angtitulong nakakabit sa iyong pangalan, may katiyakan din na pananagutan mo ang ginawa mongkasalanan. [Applause]

Salamat din po kay Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales, [applause] sa pagtanggap ng hamon namaging tunay na tanod-bayan. Kung tutuusin, pwede na niyang tanggihan ang responsibilidad atsabihing, “Retirado na ako, puwede bang ‘yung iba na lang?” Subalit nangibabaw ang kaniyang malasakitsa bayan. Sa kabila nito, may nagregalo pa rin sa kanya ng granada sa bahay. [Laughter] Ma’am, maymga darating pa pong pagsubok; baka po paglaon, magaya na kayo sa akin na tinatawag, sabay-sabaypang tinatawag, na ganid na kapitalista na komunista din patungong diktador dahil sa masigasig na mgarepormang ipinapatupad natin.

Bilib po ako sa inyong pagpapakitang-gilas at maraming salamat sa pagiging instrumento ng katarungan,lalo na noong kasagsagan ng impeachment trial. Salamat din po sa dalawang institusyong bumubuo ngKongreso: Sa Senado at Kamara de Representante, na tinimbang ng taumbayan at nakitang sapat nasapat.

Sa lahat po ng tumulong sa pagpapagana ng mga prosesong pangkatarungan: Dumaan kayo samatinding pagsubok, batikos, at agam-agam; kasama pa ang kaba na kung natalo tayo, kayo ang unangpupuntiryahin ng kalaban. Pero ‘di kayo natinag. Umasa sa inyo ang Pilipino, at pinatunayan ninyongtama ang pag-asa sa inyo. Hindi ninyo binigo ang sambayanan; ipinaliwanag ninyo lalo ang atingkinabukasan. [Applause]

Paalala lang po: hindi natatapos ang laban sa isang tiwaling opisyal na natanggal sa puwesto, sa isangmaanomalyang kontratang napigil ipatupad, o sa isang opisinang naituwid ang pamamalakad. Kayanaman nananawagan po tayo sa Kongreso na ipasa ang panukala nating sa pag-amyenda sa Anti-Money Laundering Act, upang mas mapaigting pa natin ang pagpapanagot sa mga tiwali.

Itong tinatamasa natin ngayon: ang bawat nailawan at iilawan pang sitio; ang bawat daan, tulay,paliparan, tren, at daungan; ang bawat kontratang walang bukol; ang kaligtasan at kapayapaan mulalungsod hanggang nayon; ang pagbalik ng piring sa sistemang pangkatarungan; ang bawat classroom,upuan, at aklat na napasakamay ng kabataan; ang bawat Pilipinong nahahandugan ng bagongkinabukasan—ang lahat ng ito, naabot natin sa loob lamang ng dalawang taon.

Pagtabihin po natin ang dalawang taon na ito, at ang nakaraang siyam at kalahating taon na atingpinagdusahan. ‘Di po ba’t sumusulong na ang agenda ng pagbabago? Ang kapareho namin ng adhikain,malamang, kasama namin sa agendang ito. At kung kontra ka sa amin, siguro kontra ka rin sa ginagawanamin. Kung kumukontra sila sa agenda ng pagbabago, masasabi ba niyang sila’y nasa panig ninyo?

Paparating na naman po ang halalan. Kayo po, ang aming mga boss, ang tangi naming susundan. Angtanong ko sa inyo, “Boss, saan tayo tatahak? Tuloy ba ang biyahe natin sa tuwid na landas, omagmamane-obra ba tayo’t paatras, pabalik sa daan na baluktot at walang patutunguhan?”

Naalala ko pa po noong nagsimula tayo. Mulat na mulat ako sa bigat ng pasaning sasalubong sa atin.Kabilang ako sa mga nag-isip: Kaya pa bang ituwid ang ganito kabaluktot na sistema?

Heto po ang aking natutuhan sa dalawampu’t limang buwan ng pagkapinuno: Walang pong imposible.[Applause] Walang imposible dahil kung nakikita ng taumbayan na sila ang tanging boss ng kanilangpamahalaan, bubuhatin ka nila, gagabayan ka nila, sila mismo ang mamumuno tungo sa makabuluhangpagbabago. Hindi imposible na ang Pilipinas ang maging kauna-unahang bansa sa Timog-SilangangAsya na magbibigay at nagbibigay ng libreng bakuna laban sa rotavirus. Hindi imposible para sa Pilipinasna tumindig at sabihing: “Ang Pilipinas ay sa Pilipino—at handa kaming ipagtanggol ito.” Hindi imposiblena ang Pilipinong kaytagal nang yumuyuko tuwing may nakakasalubong na dayuhan—ang Pilipino,ngayon, taas-noong tinitingala ng buong mundo. [Applause] Talaga namang ang sarap maging Pilipino samga panahong ito.

Noon pong nakaraang taon, hiniling ko sa taumbayan: Magpasalamat sa mga nakikiambag sa positibongpagbabago sa lipunan. Hindi po biro ang mga pagsubok na dinaanan natin, kaya angkop lamang napasalamatan ang mga taong nakibalikat, sa pagkukumpuni sa mga maling idinulot ng masamangpamamahala.

Sa lahat ng miyembro ng aking Gabinete: Maraming, maraming salamat. [Applause] Mapalad po angsambayanan at may mga tulad ninyong handang isuko ang pribado at mas tahimik na pamumuhay paramaghatid serbisyo-publiko, kahit pa batid ninyong ang kapalit nito ay mas maliit na sweldo, panganib, atpambabatikos. Maraming salamat muli.

Huwag din po sana nilang masamain dahil personal ko silang papangalanan: Kina Father CatalinoArevalo, at Sister Agnes Guillen, na dumidilig at nagpapalago sa aking buhay spirituwal, lalo na sa mgapanahong sukdulan ang pagsubok sa amin, maraming, maraming salamat din po. [Applause]

Ito po ang aking ikatlong SONA, tatlo na lamang din po ang natitira. Papasok na po tayo sa kalagitnaanng ating liderato. Noong nakaraang taon, ang hamon ko sa inyo: iwaksi ang kultura ng negatibismo; sa

bawat pagkakataon, iangat ang kapwa-Pilipino.

Batid po sa tinatamasa natin ngayon: hindi kayo nabigo. Sa inyo nagmula ang pagbabago. Ang sabininyo: posible.

Humaharap po ako sa inyo bilang mukha ng isang gobyernong kayo ang boss at kayo pa rin ang lakas.Inuulat ko lamang ang mga pagbabagong ginawa ninyong posible.

Kaya nga po sa lahat ng nurse, midwife, o doktor na piniling magsilbi sa mga baryo; sa bawat bagonggraduate na piniling magtrabaho sa gobyerno; sa bawat atletang Pilipinong bitbit ang watawat saan mangpanig ng mundo; sa bawat kawani ng pamahalaan na tapat na nagseserbisyo: Kayo po ang gumawa ngpagbabago. [Applause]

Sa tuwing haharap ako sa isang ina na nagsasabing, “Salamat at nabakunahan na ang aking sanggol,”ang tugon ko: Ikaw ang gumawa nito.

Sa tuwing haharap ako sa isang bata na nagsasabing, “Salamat sa papel at lapis, sa pagkakataongmakapag-aral,” ang tugon ko: Kasama ka sa gumawa nito.

Sa tuwing haharap ako sa isang OFW na nagsasabing, “Salamat at puwede ko na muling pangarapingtumanda sa Pilipinas,” ang tugon ko: Ikaw ang gumawa nito.

Sa tuwing haharap ako sa isang Pilipinong nagsasabing, “Salamat, akala ko hindi na magkakakuryentesa aming sitio. Akala ko hindi ko na aabuting buhay ang liwanag na ganito,” ang tugon ko: Ikaw anggumawa nito.

Sa bawat pagkakataon na haharap ako sa isang magsasaka, guro, piloto, inhinyero, tsuper, ahente sacall center, karaniwang Pilipino; sa bawat Juan at Juana dela Cruz na nagsasabing “Salamat sapagbabago,” ang tugon ko sa inyo: Kayo ang gumawa nito. [Applause]

Inuulit ko po: posible na ang dating imposible. Humaharap po ako sa inyo ngayon, at sinasabing: hindi koSONA ito. Kayo ang gumawa nito. SONA ito ng sambayanang Pilipino. Maraming, maraming salamat poat magandang hapon po sa lahat. [Applause]

English Translation of the Third State of the Nation Address of President Benigno S. Aquino III

State of the Nation AddressofHis Excellency Benigno S. Aquino IIIPresident of the PhilippinesTo the Congress of the Philippines

[English translation of the speech delivered at the Session Hall of the House of Representatives, BatasanPambansa Complex, Quezon City, on July 23, 2012]

Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile; Speaker Feliciano Belmonte; Vice President Jejomar Binay; formerPresidents Fidel Valdez Ramos and Joseph Ejercito Estrada; eminent Justices of the Supreme Court;

distinguished members of the diplomatic corps; honorable members of the House of Representatives andof the Senate; our leaders in local government; members of our Cabinet; uniformed officers of the militaryand of the police; my fellow public servants;

And to my Bosses, the Filipino people: a pleasant afternoon to all.

This is my third SONA. It wasn’t too long ago when we began to dream again; when, united, we chose thestraight and righteous path; when we began to cast aside the culture of wang-wang, not only in ourstreets, but in every sector of society.

It has been two years since you said: We are tired of corruption and of poverty; it is time to restore agovernment that is truly on the side the people.

Like many of you, I have been a victim of the abuse of power. I was only 12 years old when Martial Lawwas declared. For seven years and seven months, my father was incarcerated; we lived in forced exile forthree years. I saw for myself how many others also suffered.

These experiences forged the principles I now live by: Where a citizen is oppressed, he will find me as anally; where there is an oppressor, I will be there to fight; where I find something wrong in the system, I willconsider it my duty to right it.

Martial Law ended long ago and when it did, we were asked: “If not us, then who?” and “If not now, thenwhen?” Our united response: let it be us, and let it be now. The democracy that was taken from us byforce was reclaimed peacefully. And in so doing, we brought light to a dark chapter in our history.

Let it not be forgotten: Martial Law was borne because a dictator manipulated the Constitution to remainin power. And to this day, the battle rages: between those who seek a more equitable system, and thosewho seek to preserve their priveleges at the expense of others.

The specters of a lost decade haunted us from our first day in office.

There was the North Rail contract—an expensive project that became even more expensive afterrenegotiation. Ironically, the higher cost came with fewer public benefits; a fleet of 19 trainsets wasreduced to three, and the number of stations, from five to two. To make matters worse, the debts incurredfrom the project are now being called in.

We had GOCCs handing out unwarranted bonuses, despite the losses already suffered by their agencies.We had the billions wasted by PAGCOR on—of all things—coffee. We had the suspect managementpractices of the PNP, which involved ignoring the need to arm the remaining 45 percent of our policeforce, just to collect kickbacks on rundown helicopters purchased at brand-new prices.

We were left with little fiscal space even as debts had bunched up and were maturing. We were also left along list of obligations to fulfill: A backlog of 66,800 classrooms, which would cost us about 53.44 billionpesos; a backlog of 2,573,212 classroom chairs, amounting to 2.31 billion pesos. In 2010, an estimated36 million Filipinos were still not members of PhilHealth. Forty-two billion pesos was needed to enrollthem. Add to all this the 103 billion pesos needed for the modernization of our armed forces.

To fulfill all these obligations and address all our needs, we were bequeathed, at the start of our term, 6.5percent of the entire budget for the remaining six months of 2010. We were like boxers, sent into the ring

blindfolded, with our hands and feet bound, and the referee and the judges paid off.

In our first three months in office, I would look forward to Sundays when I could ask God for His help. Weexpected that it would take no less than two years before our reforms took hold. Would our countrymenbe willing to wait that long?

But what we know about our people, and what we had proven time and again to the world was this:Nothing is impossible to a united Filipino nation. It was change we dreamed of, and change we achieved;the benefits of change are now par for the course.

Roads are straight and level, and properly paved; this is now par for the course.

Relief goods are ready even before a storm arrives. Rescue services are always on standby, and thepeople are no longer left to fend for themselves. This is now par for the course.

Sirens only blare from the police cars, from ambulances, and from fire trucks—not from governmentofficials. This is now par for the course. The government that once abused its power is finally using thatpower for their benefit.

Reforms were established as we cut wasteful spending, held offenders accountable for their actions, andshowed the world that the Philippines is now open for business under new management.

What was once the sick man of Asia now brims with vitality. When we secured our first positive creditrating action, some said it was pure luck. Now that we have had eight, can it still just be luck? When thePhilippine Stock Exchange Index first broke 4,000, many wondered if that was sustainable. But now, withso many record highs, we are having trouble keeping score: For the record, we have had 44, and theindex hovers near or above 5,000. In the first quarter of 2012, our GDP grew by 6.4 percent, much higherthan projected, the highest growth in the Southeast Asian region, and the second only to China in thewhole of Asia. Once, we were the debtors; now, we are the creditors, clearly no laughing matter. Untilrecently, we had to beg for investments; now, investors flock to us. Some Japanese companies have saidto us, “Maybe you’d like to take a look at us. We’re not the cheapest but we’re number one in technology.”A British banker recently came loooking for opportunities.

Commentators the world over voice their admiration. According to Bloomberg Business Week, “Keep aneye on the Philippines.” Foreign Policy magazine, and even one of the leaders of ASEAN 100, said thatwe may even become “Asia’s Next Tiger.” Ruchir Sharma, head of Morgan Stanley’s Emerging MarketEquities said, “The Philippines is no longer a joke.” And it doesn’t look like he’s pulling our leg, becausetheir company has invested approximately a billion dollars in our markets. I only wish that the optimism offoreign media would be shared by their local counterparts more often.

And we are building an environment where progress can be felt by the majority. When we began office,there were 760,357 household-beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program. Our target: 3.1million within two years. By February of this year, the three millionth household-beneficiary of PantawidPamilya had been registered. Next year, we will enroll 3.8 million—five times what we had at thebeginning of our term.

This is a long-term project, with far-reaching impact. The research is in its initial stages, but already thefigures show promise. Based on data from the DSWD: 1,672,977 mothers now get regular checkups;1,672,814 children have been vaccinated against diarrhea, polio, measles, and various other diseases;

4.57 million students no longer need to miss school because of poverty.

When we first took office, only 62 percent of Filipinos were enrolled in PhilHealth. Enrollment was notnecessarily based on need but on being in the good graces of politicians. Now, 85 percent of our citizensare members. This means that since we received our mandate, 23.31 million more Filipinos have accessto PhilHealth’s array of benefits and services.

And here’s even better news: the 5.2 million poorest households identified by our National HouseholdTargeting System will now fully benefit from PhilHealth’s programs, free of charge. Because of theDepartment of Health’s No Balance Billing Policy, treatment for dengue, pneumonia, asthma, cataracts—as well as treatments for catastrophic diseases like breast cancer, prostate cancer, and acute leukemia—can be availed of for free by our poorest countrymen.

The process for our poorest PhilHealth members: Enter any government hospital. Show you PhilHealthcard. Get treatment. And they return to their homes without having to shell out a single centavo.

One of the briefings I attended noted that four out of ten Filipinos have never seen a health professionalin their entire lifetime. Other figures are more dire: Six out of ten Filipinos die without being attended to byhealth professionals.

But whatever the basis, the number of Filipinos with no access to government health services remains aconcern. And we are acting on this: In 2010, ten thousand nurses and midwives were deployed under theRNHeals Program; to date, we have deployed 30,801. Add to this over 11,000 Community Health Teamstasked to strengthen the links between doctors and nurses, and the communities they serve.

And today, because of efficient targeting, they are deployed to where they are most needed: to areas thathave been for so long left in the margins of society. We have sent our health professionals to 1,021localities covered by the Pantawid Pamilya, and to the 609 poorest cities and municipalities, as identifiedby the National Anti-Poverty Commission.

This new system addresses two issues: thousands of nurses and midwives now have jobs and anopportunity to gain valuable work experience; at the same time, millions of our countrymen now haveincreased access to quality health care.

But we are not satisfied with this. What we want: True, universal, and holistic health care. This begins notin our hospitals, but within each and every household: Increased consciousness, routine inoculation, andregular checkups are necessary to keep sickness at bay. Add to this our efforts to ensure that we preventthe illnesses that are in our power to prevent.

For example: Last year, I told you about our anti-dengue mosquito traps. It is too early to claim totalvictory, but the initial results have been very encouraging.

We tested the efficacy of those mosquito traps in areas with the highest reported incidence of dengue. In2011, traps were distributed in Bukidnon—which had recorded 1,216 cases of dengue in 2010. Afterdistribution, the number of cases decreased to 37—that is a 97 percent reduction rate. In the towns ofBallesteros and Claveria in Cagayan, there were 228 cases of dengue in 2010; in 2011, a mere eightcases were recorded. In Catarman, Northern Samar: 434 cases of dengue were reported in 2010. Therewere a mere four cases in 2011.

This project is in its initial stages. But even this early on, we must thank Secretaries Ike Ona of DOH andMario Montejo of DOST; may our gratitude spur them into even more intensive research andcollaboration.

Challenges remain. The high maternal mortality ratio in our country continues to alarm us. Which is whywe have undertaken measures to address the health-care needs of women. We, too, want UniversalHealth Care; we want our medical institutions to have enough equipment, facilities, and manpower.

We can easier fulfill all these goals, if the Sin Tax Bill—which rationalizes taxes on alcohol and tobaccoproducts—can be passed. This bill makes vice more expensive while at the same time raising moremoney for health.

And what of our students—what welcomes them in the schools? Will they still first learn the alphabetbeneath the shade of a tree? Will they still be squatting on the floor, tussling with classmates over asingle textbook?

I have great faith in Secretary Luistro: Before the next year ends, we will have built the 66,800 classroomsneeded to fill up the shortage we inherited. The 2,573,212 backlog in chairs that we were bequeathed willbe addressed before 2012 ends. This year, too, will see the eradication of the backlog of 61.7 milliontextbooks—and we will finally achieve the one-to-one ratio of books to students.

We are ending the backlogs in the education sector, but the potential for shortages remains as ourstudent population continues to increase. Perhaps Responsible Parenthood can help address this.

For our State Universities and Colleges: we have proposed a 43.61 percent increase in their budget nextyear. A reminder, though, that everything we do is in accordance to a plan: There are correspondingconditions to this budget increase. The SUC Reform Roadmap of CHED, which has been deliberated andagreed upon, must be enacted to ensure that the students sponsored by the state are of top caliber.Expect that if you work to get high marks in this assignment, we will be striving just as hard to address therest of your needs.

Year after year, our budget for education has increased. The budget we inherited for DepEd last 2010was 177 billion pesos. Our proposal for 2013: 292.7 billion pesos. In 2010, our SUCs were allocated abudget of 21.03 billion pesos. Since then, we have annually raised this allocation; for next year, we haveproposed to set aside 34.99 billion pesos of our budget for SUCs. Despite this, some militant groups arestill cutting classes to protest what they claim is a cut in SUC budgets. It’s this simple: 292.7 is higher than177, and 34.99 is higher than 21.03. Should anyone again claim that we cut the education budget, we’llurge your schools to hold remedial math classes. Please attend.

When we assumed office and began establishing much-needed reform, there were those who belittledour government’s performance. They claimed our achievements were mere luck, and what impact theymay have as short-lived. There are still those who refuse to cease spreading negativity; they who keeptheir mouths pursed to good news, and have created an industry out of criticism.

If you have a problem with the fact that before the year ends every child will have their own chairs andown set of books, then look them straight in the eye and tell them, “I do not want you to go to school.”

If you take issue with the fact that 5.2 million of the country’s poorest households can now avail of qualityhealth-care services without worrying about the cost, then look them straight in the eye and tell them, “I

do not want you to get better.”

If it angers you that three million Filipino families have been empowered to fulfill their dreams because ofPantawid Pamilya, then look them straight in the eye and tell them, “I will take away the hope you nowhave for your future.”

The era where policy was based on the whims of the powerful has truly come to an end. For example, theprevious leadership of TESDA generously distributed scholarship vouchers—but neglected to fund them.Naturally, the vouchers bounced. The result: over a thousand schools are charging the government 2.4billion pesos for the vouchers. One person and one administration wanted to show off; the Filipino peopleare paying for that now.

When Secretary Joel Villanueva assumed the post, he was not daunted by the seemingly impossiblereforms that his agency needed to enact. Despite the staggering debt inherited by TESDA, it still trained434,676 individuals under the Training for Work Scholarship Program. The TESDA SpecialistsTechnopreneurship Program likewise delivered concrete victories—imagine: each of the 5,240 certifiedSpecialistas are earning 562 pesos a day, or 11,240 pesos a month. This is higher than the minimumwage.

From infancy, to adolescence, to adulthood, the system is working for our citizens. And we are ensuringthat our economy’s newfound vitality generates jobs.

Let us keep in mind: there are about a million new entrants to the job market every year. The jobs wehave produced within the past two years total almost 3.1 million.

As a result, our unemployment rate is declining steadily. In 2010, the unemployment rate was at 8percent. In April 2011, it dropped to 7.2, and dropped further to 6.9 this year. Is it not an apt time for us todream of a day where any Filipino who wishes to work can find a job?

Look at the BPO sector. Back in the year 2000, only five thousand people were employed in this industry.Fast forward to 2011: 638,000 people are employed by BPOs, and the industry has contributed 11 billiondollars to our economy. It has been projected that come 2016, it will be bringing in 25 billion dollars andwill be employing 1.3 million Filipinos. And this does not include the estimated 3.2 million taxi drivers,baristas, corner stores, canteens, and many others that will benefit from the indirect jobs that the BPOindustry will create.

A large portion of our job generation strategy is building sufficient infrastructure. For those who have goneto Boracay on vacation, you have probably seen our newly christened terminal in Caticlan. The plan toexpand its runway has also been laid out.

And we will not stop there. Before the end of my term, the New Bohol Airport in Panglao, New LegaspiAirport in Daraga, and Laguindingan Airport in Misamis Oriental will have been built. We will also upgradeour international airports in Mactan, Cebu; Tacloban; and Puerto Princesa Airport, so they can receivemore passengers; in addition to remodeling the airports in Butuan, Cotabato, Dipolog, Pagadian, Tawi-Tawi, Southern Leyte, and San Vicente in Palawan.

I am the fourth president to deal with the problems of NAIA Terminal 3. Airplanes are not all that take offand land here; so did problems and anomalies. Secretary Mar Roxas has already said: Before weconvene at the next SONA, the structural defects we inherited in NAIA 3 will have been fully repaired.

This June, the LRT Line 1 Cavite Extension project began to move forward. When completed, it willalleviate traffic in Las Piñas, Parañaque, and Cavite. In addition to this, in order to further improve trafficin Metro Manila, there will be two elevated roads directly connecting the North Luzon and South LuzonExpressways. These will be completed in 2015 and will reduce travel time between Clark and Calamba to1 hour and 40 minutes. Before I leave office, there will be high-quality terminals in Taguig, Quezon City,and Parañaque, so that provincial buses will no longer have to add to the traffic on EDSA.

Perceptions have also changed about a department formerly notorious for its inadequacies. I stillremember the days when, during the rainy season, the Tarlac River would overflow and submerge theMacArthur Highway. The asphalt would melt away; the road would be riddled with potholes, until it endedup impassable.

As the representative of my district, I registered my complaints about this. The Department of PublicWorks and Highways’ reply: we know about the problem, we know how to solve it, but we have nomoney. I had to appeal to my barangays: “If we don’t prioritize and spend for this ourselves, no one will fixit, and we will be the ones who suffer.” Back in those days, everyone called upon the government to wakeup and start working. The complaints today are different: traffic is terrible, but that’s because there’s somuch roadwork being done. May I remind everyone: we have done all this without raising taxes.

We will not build our road network based on kickbacks or favoritism. We will build them according to aclear system. Now that resources for these projects are no longer allocated haphazardly, our plans will nolonger end up unfulfilled—they will become tangible roads that benefit the Filipino people. When weassumed office, 7,239 kilometers of our national roads were not yet fixed. Right now, 1,569 kilometers ofthis has been fixed under the leadership of Secretary Babes Singson. In 2012, an additional 2,275kilometers will be finished. We are even identifying and fixing dangerous roads with the use of moderntechnology. These are challenges we will continue to address every year, so that, before end of my term,every inch of our national road network will be fixed.

We have fixed more than roads; our DPWH has fixed its system. Just by following the right process ofbidding and procurement, their agency saved a total of 10.6 billion pesos from 2011 to June of this year.Even our contractors are feeling the positive effects of our reforms in DPWH. According to the DPWH,“the top 40 contractors are now fully booked.” I am hopeful that the development of our infrastructurecontinues unimpeded to facilitate the growth of our other industries.

The improvement of our infrastructure is intertwined with the growth of our tourism industry. Consider this:In 2001, the Philippines recorded 1.8 million tourist arrivals. When we assumed office in 2010, this figurehad grown to only around 3.1 million. Take note: despite the length of their time in office, the previousadministration only managed to add a mere 1.3 million tourist arrivals—and we contributed half a year tothat number. Under our administration, we welcomed 2.1 million tourist arrivals by June 2012. More willarrive during peak season, before the end of the year, so I have no doubt that we will meet our quota of4.6 million tourist arrivals for 2012. This means that we will have a year-on-year increase of 1.5 milliontourists. The bottom line: In two years, we would have had a bigger growth in tourist arrivals, compared tothe increase charted by the previous administration in their nine years. We are not singing our ownpraises; we are merely stating the truth.

But Secretary Mon Jimenez is still not satisfied. He says: if 24.7 million tourists came to Malaysia in 2011,and around 17 million visited Thailand, would it be too far-fetched to have ten million tourists visiting thePhilippines annually by 2016? And if the Filipino people continue to embody the same solidarity that

allowed the Puerto Princesa Underground River to become one of the New Seven Wonders of Nature,there is no doubt that we will be able to achieve this. As we have already announced to the entire world:“It’s more fun in the Philippines.” Secretary Mon Jimenez has been at his post for less than a year, but weare already reaping the fruits of the reforms we have laid down. So, when it comes to tourism, we areconfident in saying, “It’s really more fun—to have Secretary Mon Jimenez with us.”

When it comes to growth and development, agriculture is at the top of our priorities. Secretary Alcala hasbeen working nonstop to deliver us good news. Before, it seemed as though the officials of DA cultivatednothing but NFA’s debts. The NFA that our predecessors took over had a 12-billion peso debt; when theyleft office, they then bequeathed to us a debt of 177 billion pesos.

For so long in the past, we were led to believe that we were short 1.3 million metric tons of rice, and thatwe needed to import 2 million metric tons to address this shortage. They ordered rice as like it wasunlimited—but because we had exceeded far more than what we needed, imported rice went to rot in thewarehouses.

In just our first year, we redcued the annual shortage of 1.3 million metric tons to just 860,000 metric tons.This year, it is down to 500,000—including a buffer stock to dip into in times of calamity. And, if theweather cooperates, we’ll be able to export rice next year.

Secretary Alcala has said that key to our success is a feasible irrigation program and the assiduousimplementation of the certified seeds program. What is galling is that this knowledge is not new—it simplywasn’t applied. If they had only done their jobs right, where could we have been by now?

Look at our coconut industry: Coconut water, once treated as a waste product, is now being utilized byour farmers. From 483,862 liters exported in 2009, to 1,807,583 liters in 2010, to a staggering 16,756,498liters of cocowater exported in 2011. And where no one previously paid heed to coconut coir, we are nowexperiencing a shortage due to the high demand of exporters. We are not wasting this opportunity: we arebuying the machines that will process the coco fibers. We have allocated 1.75 billion pesos to invest in,and develop, this sector.

My mother initiated the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program. It is only just that this program sees itsconclusion during my term.

We are improving the system, so that we can more swiftly and more efficiently realize agrarian reform.The government is doing everything in its power to ensure that our farmers can claim as their own theland they have tilled and nurtured with their sweat.

There are those, however, who wish to obstruct us. I say to them: We will obey the law. The law says, thenation says, and I say: Before I step down, all the land covered by CARP will have been distributed.

Let me shed some light on our advances in the energy sector. In the past, an electrical wire needed onlyto reach the barangay hall for an entire barangay to be deemed energized. This was the pretext for theclaim that 99.98 percent of the country’s barangays had electricity. Even the delivery of so basic a servicewas a deception?

We challenged DOE and NEA, allocating 1.3 billion pesos to light up an initial target of 1,300 sitios, at thecost of one million pesos per sitio. And the agencies met the challenge—they lit up 1,520 sitios, at a totalcost of 814 million pesos. They accomplished this in three months, instead of the two years it took the

people that preceded them. Secretary Rene Almendras, I give you credit; you never seem to run out ofenergy. With public service, you are not only ever-ready, but like an energizer bunny too—you keep ongoing, and going, and going.

We have suffused the nation with light—and it is this light, too, that has exposed the crimes that occur inthe shadowed corners of society. What the Filipino works so hard for can no longer be pilfered. Crimevolume continues to decline across the country. In 2009, over 500,000 crimes were recorded—this year,we have cut that number by more than half, to 246,958. Moreover, 2010’s recorded 2,200 cases ofcarnapping has likewise been reduced by half—to 966 cases this 2011.

It is these facts that, we hope, will be bannered in headlines. We do not claim that we have endedcriminality, but I’m sure no one would complain that it has been reduced. In the span of just a little morethan a year, haven’t we finally put Raymond Dominguez in jail, after years of being in and out of prison?Charges have been filed against two of his brothers as well, and they are now serving time, too. Of thetwo suspects in the Makati bus bombing of the past year—one is dead, and the other is living in a jail cell.He shares the same fate as the more than ten thousand individuals arrested by PDEA in 2011 forcharges relating to illegal drugs.

Pacquiao does not fight every day, and so we can’t rely on him to bring down the crime rate. Which iswhy we’re strengthening our police force. When this administration began, 45 percent of our policecarried no guns and probably relied on magic charms as they chased criminals. But now we havecompleted the bidding—and we are now testing the quality—for an order of 74,600 guns, which we willprovide our police, so that they may better serve and protect the nation, our communities, andthemselves.

Let us now talk about national defense. Some have described our Air Force as all air and no force.Lacking the proper equipment, our troops remain vulnerable even as they are expected to be put inharm’s way. We cannot allow things to remain this way.

After only one year and seven months, we have been able to allocate over 28 billion pesos for the AFPModernization Program. This will soon match the 33 billion pesos set aside for the program in the past 15years. And we’re only getting started: if our proposed AFP modernization bill is passed in Congress, wewill be able to allocate 75 billion pesos for defense within the next five years.

The 30-million dollar fund entrusted to us by the United States for the Defense Capability Upgrade andSustainment of Equipment Program of the AFP is now ready as well. This is in addition to their assistancein improving the way we patrol our shores under the Coast Watch Center of the Philippines, which willsoon be established.

At this moment, the Armed Forces is likewise canvassing equipment such as cannons, personnel carriers,and frigates. Before long, the BRP Ramon Alcaraz, our second Hamilton class cutter, will drop anchor, topartner with the BRP Gregorio del Pilar. We are not sending paper boats out to sea. Now, our 36,000kilometers of coastline will be patrolled by more modern ships.

And perhaps it is an apt time for our Armed Forces to clean up their hangars, because we will be havingequipment arriving soon to further fortify our defenses. Finally, our one and only C-130 that has beenroaming our skies for the past 36 years will have partners: two more C-130s will once again beoperational. Before this year ends, we are hopeful that the twenty-one refurbished UH-1H Helicopters, thefour combat utility helicopters, the radios and other communication equipment, the rifles, the mortars, the

mobile diagnostic laboratories, and even the station bullet assemblies we have purchased will bedelivered. Come 2013, ten attack helicopters, two naval helicopters, two light aircraft, one frigate, and airforce protection equipment will also be arriving.

And it is not only through better equipment that we demonstrate our commitment to help our police andour soldiers. We have eased their financial burdens through the 22,000 houses that have been built underthe AFP–PNP housing program.

We are not doing this because we want to be an aggressor, we are not doing this because we wantescalation. This is about keeping the peace. This is about protecting ourselves—something that we havelong thought impossible. This is about the life of a soldier who risks his life every day; this is about hisfamily, who awaits his safe return, despite the challenges that confront him.

Let’s listen to some of the beneficiaries of these programs tell us in their own words how their lives havebeen changed.

[VIDEO]

Now that the people care for them, the more impassioned our soldiers are in winning the peace. Weconsider the 1,772 outlaws whose violence has come to an end a great triumph. One example is theinfamous terrorist, Doctor Abu, who will never again strike fear in the hearts of our countrymen. We alsocelebrate the peace and quiet that has returned to places where our countrymen were once deafened bygunfire. As a result of our solidarity: 365 barangays have been liberated from the enemy, 270 buildingsand schools have been repaired, and 74 health centers have been built.

While we are on the subject of peace, let us talk about a place that has long stood as a symbol offrustrated hopes. Before our reforms in the ARMM began, what we had were ghost students walking toghost schools on ghost roads, to learn from ghost teachers. Some of the apparitions that haunted OICGovernor Mujiv Hataman: Four schools found with ghost students; we are also investigating the teacherswhose names do not appear in the list of the Professional Regulation Commission, as well as thegovernment workers not listed in the plantilla. Fifty-five ghost entries have been taken off the payroll. Theprevious scheme of regraveling roads again and again just to earn money has been outlawed. To avoidabuse, we have ended cash advances for agencies. Now, the souls of the ghosts in voters lists can restin peace. This is why, to OIC Governor Mujiv Hataman, we can say to you: you are indeed a certifiedghost buster.

What we have replaced these phantoms with: real housing, bridges, and learning centers for Badjaos inBasilan. Community-based hatcheries, nets, materials to grow seaweeds, and seedlings that havebenefited 2,588 fishermen. Certified seeds, gabi seedlings, cassava, rubber, and trees that are bearingfruit for 145,121 farmers. And this is only the beginning. 183 million pesos has been set aside for the firestations; 515 million pesos for clean drinking water; 551.9 million pesos for health-care equipment; 691.9million pesos for daycare centers; and 2.85 billion pesos for the roads and bridges across the region.These are just some of the things that will be afforded by the aggregate 8.59 billion pesos the nationalgovernment has granted the ARMM. Also, allow me to clarify: this does not include the yearly support thatthey receive, which in 2012 reached 11.7 billion pesos.

Even those who previously wanted to break away are seeing the effects of reform. Over the past sevenmonths, not even a single encounter has been recorded between the military and the MILF. We recognizethis as a sign of their trust. With regard to the peace process: talks have been very open; both sides have

shown trust and faith in one another. There may be times when the process can get a little complicated,but these are merely signs that we are steadily moving closer to our shared goal: Peace.

We likewise engaged stakeholders in a level-headed discussion in crafting our Executive Order onmining. The idea behind our consensus we reached: that we be able to utilize our natural resources touplift the living conditions of the Filipinos not just of today, also of the following generations. We will notreap the rewards of this industry if the cost is the destruction of nature.

But this Executive Order is only the first step. Think about it: In 2010, 145 billion pesos was the total valuederived from mining, but only 13.4 billion or 9 percent went to the national treasury. These naturalresources are yours; it shouldn’t happen that all that’s left to you is a tip after they’re extracted. We arehoping that Congress will work with us and pass a law that will ensure that the environment is cared for,and that the public and private sectors will receive just benefits from this industry.

Let us talk about the situation in Disaster Risk Reduction and Management. Once, the government, whichis supposed to give aid, was the one asking for aid. Today, even when the storm is still brewing, wealready know how to craft clear plans to avoid catastrophe.

Talking about disasters reminds me of the time when a typhoon struck Tarlac. The dike collapsed due tothe rains; when one of the barangay captains awoke, the floods had already taken his family, as well ashis farming equipment. Fortunately, the entire family survived. But the carabao they had left tied to a treewasn’t as lucky; it was strangled to death from the force of the flood.

Many of those affected by typhoons Ondoy, Pepeng, and Sendong were just as defenseless. We lost somany lives to these natural disasters. And now, through Project NOAH, all our anti-disaster initiativeshave been brought inside one boat, and we no longer leave the evacuation of families up to mere luck.We now have the technology to give fair warning to Filipinos in order to prepare for and avoid the worst.

Our 86 automated rain gauges and 28 water level monitoring sensors in various regions now benefit usdirectly and in real time. Our target before the end of 2013: 600 automated rain gauges and 422 waterlevel sensors. We will have them installed in 80 primary river basins around the country.

Yet another change: Before, agencies with shared responsibilities would work separately, with littlecoordination or cooperation. Now, the culture of government is bayanihan—a coming together for thesake of the people. This is what we call Convergence.

There have always been tree planting programs in government—but after the trees have been planted,they were left alone. Communities that needed livelihood would cut these down and turn them intocharcoal.

We have the solution for this. 128,558 hectares of forest have been planted across the country; this isonly a fraction of the 1.5 million-hectare farmlands to be laid out before we step down. This covers thecommunities under the National Convergence Initiative. The process: When a tree is planted, the DWSDwill coordinate with communities. In exchange for a conditional cash transfer, communities would takecare of the trees; some would help nurture seeds in a nursery. 335,078 individuals now earn theirlivelihood from these activities.

The private sector has likewise taken part in a program that hands out special coffee and cacao beans tocommunities, and trains the townsfolk, too, to nurture those seeds into a bountiful harvest. The coffee is

planted in the shade of the trees that in turn help prevent flooding and protect the people. The companythat hands out the seeds are sure buyers of the yield. It’s a win-win situation—for the private sector, thecommunities with their extra income, and the succeeding generations that will benefit from the trees.

Illegal logging has long been a problem. From the time we signed Executive Order No. 23, Mayor JunAmante has confiscated lumber amounting to more than six million pesos. He has our gratitude. This isjust in Butuan; what more if all our LGUs demonstrated the same kind of political will?

The timber confiscated by DENR are handed over to TESDA, which then gives the timber to communitiesthey train in carpentry. From this, DepEd gets chairs for our public schools. Consider this: What was oncethe product of destruction has been crafted into an instrument for the realization of a better future. Thiswas impossible then—impossible so long as the government turned a blind eye to illegal activities.

To those of you without a conscience; those of you who repeatedly gamble the lives of your fellowFilipinos—your days are numbered. We’ve already sanctioned thirty-four DENR officials, one PNPprovincial director, and seven chiefs of police. We are asking a regional director of the PNP to explainwhy he seemed deaf to our directives and blind to the colossal logs that were being transported beforehis very eyes. If you do not shape up, you will be next. Even if you tremble beneath the skirts of yourpatrons, we will find you. I suggest that you start doing your jobs, before it’s too late.

From the womb, to school, to work, change has touched the Filipino. And should a life of governmentservice be chosen, our people can expect the same level of care from the state, until retirement. Ouradministration will recognize their contributions to our society as public servants, and will not withholdfrom them the pensions they themselves contributed to.

Consider: some retirees receive less than 500 pesos a month. How does one pay for water, power, andfood, daily? Our response: With the New Year comes our resolution that all old-age and disabilitypensioners will receive no less than five thousand pesos monthly. We are heartened that we can meettheir needs now, without jeopardizing their future benefits.

The face of government has truly changed. Our compensation levels are at par with the private sector’s atthe entry level. But as you rise through the ranks, private-sector pay overtakes the government.

We will close that gap in time; for now, we have good news for government employees: Performance-Based Incentives. In the past, even poorly performing agencies would not have any employees withratings lower than “very satisfactory.” To maintain smooth interpersonal relations, supervisors would havea hard time giving appropriate ratings. Exceptional employees are not recognized: their excellence is de-incentivized, and receive the same rewards as laziness and indolence.

Here is one of our steps to respond to this. Starting this year, we will implement a system in whichbonuses are based on their agency’s abilities to meet their annual targets. Employees now hold the keysto their own advancement. Incentives may reach up to 35,000 pesos, depending on how well you do yourjobs. This is in addition to your across-the-board Christmas bonus.

We are doing this not only to boost morale and to show due appreciation of our public servants. This is,above all, for the Filipino people, who expect sincere and efficient service—who expect that they willcontinue to be the sole Bosses of our workers in government.

There have always been people who have questioned our guiding principle, “If there is no corruption,

there is no poverty.” They ask if good governance can put food on the table. Quite simply: Yes.

Think about it: Doing business in the Philippines was once considered too risky—the rules were tooopaque and they were constantly changing. A person shaking your hand one day may pick your pocketthe next.

Now, with a level playing field, and clear and consistent rules, confidence in our economy is growing.Investments are pouring in, jobs are being created, and a virtuous cycle has begun—where empoweredconsumers buy more products, and businesses hire more people so they can expand to keep up with thegrowing demand.

Prudent spending has allowed us to plug the leaks in the system, and improved tax collection hasincreased revenues. Every peso collected is properly spent on roads, on vaccines, on classrooms andchairs—spent on our future.

We have fixed the system by which we build roads, bridges, and buildings—they now go where they aretruly needed. Our roads are properly paved; products, services, and people reach their destination quicklyand with greater ease.

Because of good governance in agriculture, food production has increased, prices don’t fluctuate, wagesare stable, and our economy is stronger.

It is true: A resilient and dynamic economy resting on the foundations of good governance is the bestdefense against global uncertainty. We have been dismantling the obstacles to progress for two years,and now, our success can only be limited by how hard we are willing to work for it.

We achieved all these things even as countries around the world were surmounting their own challenges.

We exist in this world with others. And so it is only appropriate that even as we attend to our ownproblems, we remain vigilant about some events that affect us.

The situation in Bajo de Masinloc has been the source of much discussion. Chinese fishermen enteredout territory. Our patrol boats intercepted some of their ships, which contain endangered species. As yourleader, it is my duty to uphold the laws of our country. And as I did, tension ensued: on one hand, theChinese had their Nine-Dash Line Theory laying claim to almost the entire West Philippine Sea; on theother, there was the United Nations Convention on the Laws of the Sea, which recognized the rights ofmany countries, including that of China itself.

We demonstrated utmost forbearance in dealing with this issue. As a sign of our goodwill, we replacedour navy cutter with a civilian boat as soon as we could. We chose not to respond to their media’sharangues. I do not think it excessive to ask that our rights be respected, just as we respect their rights asa fellow nation in a world we need to share.

There are those who say that we should let Bajo de Masinloc go; we should avoid the trouble. But ifsomeone entered your yard and told you he owned it, would you agree? Would it be right to give awaythat which is rightfully ours?

And so I ask for solidarity from our people regarding this issue. Let us speak with one voice. Help merelay to the other side the logic of our stand.

This is not a simple situation, and there can be no simple solutions. Rest assured: we are consultingexperts, every leader of our nation, our allies—even those on the other side—to find a resolution that isacceptable to all.

With every step on the straight and righteous path, we plant the seeds of change. But there are still somewho are commited to uprooting our work. Even as I speak, there are those who have gathered in a room,whispering to each other, dissecting each word I utter, looking for any pretext to attack me with tomorrow.These are also the ones who say, “Let go of the past. Unite. Forgive and forget so we can move forwardas a people.”

I find this unacceptable. Shall we simply forgive and forget the ten years that were taken from us? Do wesimply forgive and forget the farmers who piled up massive debts because of a government that insistedon importing rice, while we could have reinvested in them and their farmlands instead? Shall we forgiveand forget the family of the police officer who died while trying to defend himself against guns with nothingbut a nightstick?

Shall we forgive and forget the orphans of the 57 victims of the massacre in Maguindanao? Will theirloved ones be brought back to life by forgiving and forgetting? Do we forgive and forget everything thatwas ever done to us, to sink us into a rotten state? Do we forgive and forget to return to the former statusquo? My response: Forgiveness is possible; forgetting is not. If offenders go unpunished, society’s futuresuffering is guaranteed.

True unity and reconciliation can only emanate from genuine justice. Justice is the plunder case leveledagainst our former president; justice that she receives her day in court and can defend herself against theaccusations leveled against her. Justice is what we witnessed on the 29th of May. On that day, we provedthat justice can prevail, even when confronted with an opponent in a position of power. On that day, awoman named Delsa Flores, in Panabo, Davao del Norte, said “It is actually possible: a single lawgoverning both a simple court reporter like me, and the Chief Justice.” It is possible for the scales to beset right, and for even the rich and powerful to be held accountable.

This is why, to the next Chief Justice, much will be demanded of you by our people. We have proven theimpossible possible; now, our task is reform towards true justice that continues even after ouradministration. There are still many flaws in the system, and repairing these will not be easy. I am awareof the weight of your mandate. But this is what our people tasked us to do; this is the duty we have swornto do; and this what we must do.

Our objectives are simple: If you are innocent, you will appear in court with confidence, because you willbe found not guilty. But if you are guilty, you will be made to pay for your sins, no matter who you are.

I would also like to thank Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales, for accepting the challenges that camewith the position. She could have turned down the responsibility, citing her retirement and volunteeringothers for the job—but her desire to serve the nation won out. This generosity was met with a grenade inher home. Ma’am, more challenges will come; in time, perhaps, they’ll give you the same monikersthey’ve given me—a greedy capitalist who is also a communist headed towards dictatorship because ofthe reforms we have been working so hard to achieve.

I thank you for your work, and I thank you for being an instrument of true justice—especially at the heightof the impeachment trial. I thank, too, the two institutions that form our Congress—the Senate and the

House of Representatives—which were weighed and measured by the Filipino people, and were notfound wanting.

To everyone that ensured that our justice system worked well: You weathered many challenges andcriticism, and even misgivings; couple that with the anxiety over possible failure, of having to face the ireof those you went up against, after a mission lost. But you did not falter. The Filipino people were relyingon you, and you proved that their faith was rightly placed. You did not fail the nation; you furtherbrightened our futures.

Let me remind you that our fight does not end with the ousting of one corrupt official, with the suspensionof an anomalous contract, or the systemic overhauling of a government office. I call upon Congress topass our amendments to the Anti-Money Laundering Act, that we may strengthen our measures to holdthe corrupt accountable.

Every town that has and will be lighted; the highways, bridges, airports, trains, and ports we have built;fair contracts; the peace in our cities and our rural areas; every classroom, desk, and book assigned to achild; every Filipino granted a future—all of these, we have achieved in just two years. We haveadvanced an agenda of reform in these last two years, a marked contrast to our suffering in the decadethat came before.

If we share the same ideals and work for the same goals, then we are bound by a shared agenda. But ifyou are against us, it only follows that you are against what we are doing. Whoever stands against theagenda for genuine change—can the people really count them as being on their side?

Elections are fast approaching. You, our Bosses, will be our compass. I ask you, “Boss, what direction willwe take? Do we continue treading the straight and righteous path, or do we double-back—towards thecrooked road that leads to a dead end?”

I remember well those early days when we first started working. I was keenly aware of the heavy burdenswe would face. And I was among those who wondered: Is it possible to fix a system this broken?

This is what I have learned in the 25 months I have served as your president: nothing is impossible.Nothing is impossible because if the Filipino people see that they are the only Bosses of theirgovernment, they will carry you, they will guide you, they themselves will lead you towards meaningfulchange. It isn’t impossible for the Philippines to become the first country in Southeast Asia to provide freevaccines for the rotavirus. It isn’t impossible for the Philippines to stand strong and say, “The Philippinesis for Filipinos—and we are ready to defend it.” It is not impossible for the Filipino who for so long hadkept his head bowed upon meeting a foreigner—it is not impossible for the Filipino, today, to stand withhis head held high and bask in the admiration of the world. In these times—is it not great to be a Filipino?

Last year, I asked the Filipino people: Thank those who have done their share in bringing about positivechange in society. The obstacles we encountered were no laughing matter, and I believe it is only rightthat we thank those who shouldered the burdens with us, in righting the wrongs brought about by badgovernance.

To all the members of my Cabinet: my sincerest thanks. The Filipino people are lucky that there are thoseof you ready to sacrifice your private and much quieter lives in order to serve the public, even if you knowthat you will receive smaller salaries, dangers, and constant criticism in return.

And I hope that they will not mind if I take this opportunity to thank them today: to Father Catalino Arevaloand Sister Agnes Guillen, who have nurtured and allowed my spiritual life to flourish, especially in times ofgreatest difficulty: my deepest gratitude.

This is my third SONA; only three remain. We are entering the midpoint of our administration. Last year, Ichallenged you to fully turn your back on the culture of negativism; to take every chance to uplift yourfellow Filipinos.

From what we are experiencing today, it is clear: you succeeded. You are the wellspring of change. Yousaid: it is possible.

I stand before you today as the face of a government that knows you as its Boss and draws its strengthfrom you. I am only here to narrate the changes that you yourselves have made possible.

This is why, to all the nurses, midwives, or doctors who chose to serve in the barrios; to each newgraduate who has chosen to work for the government; to each Filipino athlete who proudly carries the flagin any corner of the globe, to each government official who renders true and honest service: You madethis change possible.

So whenever I come face to face with a mother who tells me, “Thank you, my child has been vaccinated,”I respond: You made this happen.

Whenever I come face to face with a child who tells me, “Thank you for the paper, for the pencils, for thechance to study,” I respond: You made this happen.

Whenever I come face to face with an OFW who tells me, “Thank you, because I can once again dreamof growing old in the Philippines,” I respond: You made this happen.

Whenever I come face to face with a Filipino who says, “Thank you, I thought that we would never haveelectricity in our sitio. I never imagined living to see the light,” I respond: You made this happen.

Whenever I come face to face with any farmer, teacher, pilot, engineer, driver, call center agent, or anynormal Filipino; to every Juan and Juana dela Cruz who says, ”Thank you for this change,” I respond:You made this happen.

I repeat: what was once impossible is now possible. I stand before you today and tell you: this is not mySONA. You made this happen. This is the SONA of the Filipino nation. Thank you.