Vice President Jejomar Binay; Senate President

Franklin M. Drilon; Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr.;

Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno and the eminent
Justices of the Supreme Court; former Presidents
Fidel Valdez Ramos and Joseph Ejercito Estrada;
distinguished members of the diplomatic corps;
honorable members of the House of Representatives
and of the Senate; our leaders in local government;
members of the Cabinet; members of the military and
police in uniform; my fellow public servants; and, of
course, to my Bosses, the Filipino people, a pleasant
afternoon to all.

This is my fourth SONA; only two remain. Almost four

years have passed since I was approached by
various camps to urge me to run for the presidency.
They said: “We know that our country’s problems
cannot be solved in the blink of an eye, in one year,
or even within the six-year term of a President. But
just begin, and we will be one with you in nurturing
change.”

Even then, I was aware of the significant problems

that I would have to face. From being a candidate, to
being President, or even after I step down from
office, the difficulties I will have to face are no joke.
Widespread transformation of society is my
objective, and I am aware that there are many things
and many people I would have to confront in order to
achieve this. But I was not raised by my parents to
back down in the face of challenges. I would not be
able to live with myself if I had refused the chance to
alleviate the suffering the Filipino should not have to
endure.

We have answered the call, and those who have

been with us from the start have only grown in
number. I believe that if what I have been doing is
right, then our allies will only grow. Just this May, I
asked you, Boss, are we going in the right direction?
Your reply: “Yes, and let us accelerate the
transformation of society.” I asked for allies that
would help steer the country in one direction, and
you delivered. The truth is, not only the majority, not
even nine of twelve, but nine of the top ten senators
are individuals that I recommended to you. The
message of the past election is clear: Yes, let us
keep going, let us add to the 8,581 sitios that we
have electrified; let us add to the 28,398 families
who were once informal settlers but who finally
have, or will soon have, decent homes; let us
increase the not less than 40 billion pesos in
additional funds that go to education, health, social
services, and many others because of the right and
more efficient collection of taxes; we feel all the
other tangible signs that society is truly changing. I
have become even more optimistic because of your
message; it is clear that I am not alone in carrying
these responsibilities. How can I not be encouraged,
when even the likes of Mr. Niño Aguirre are helping
shape our future? Just think: Though unable to walk,
he climbed all the way to his fourth-floor precinct,
just so that he could vote and contribute to true
social transformation. Thank you, Mr. Aguirre.

There is no shortage of Filipinos who are ready to

pitch in, and this is the source of the change we now
experience. The strategy—maximize opportunities
for all, especially for those most in need. We are not
content to wait for the trickle-down effect; we
cannot leave their fate—their receiving the benefits
of progress—to chance. What we call inclusive
growth—this all-encompassing progress—is the
principle that drives every initiative, every action,
and every decision of your government. The only
ones who will be left behind are those who chose not
to venture onwards with us, simply because they did
not seize the opportunity.

The basis for this principle: Widespread opportunity

is the key to comprehensive and sustained progress.
Let us not forget that these opportunities are but
seeds. We must water them with diligence, nourish
them with determination, and cultivate them with
dedication. Let us take a look at our TESDA-DOLE
scholars. Of the 503,521 people who have graduated
from their programs, an estimated six out of ten have
found jobs. Before this, according to studies
conducted by the DBM from 2006 to 2008, only 28.5
percent of TESDA graduates found jobs. Last year,
under TESDA’s IT-BPO program, 70.9 percent of the
graduates found employment. Under the electronics
and semiconductor program, the percentage of
employed graduates reached 85 percent. It is clear:
You are the ones who will shape this growth, you are
the ones who will determine whether the fruits of our
labors become sweet and ripe for the picking, or if
you will let them rot away and waste the chances
that this new chapter in our history has given us.

Let us go through everything one by one. Our

objective to expand the reach of the Pantawid
Pamilyang Pilipino Program: achieved. The over
700,000 household beneficiaries we found upon
coming into office in 2010 have now grown to almost
4 million households in the three years of our
administration.

There is more: According to research conducted by

the Philippine Institute for Development Studies,
compared with those who only finished the
elementary level, the income of high school
graduates is 40 percent higher. Is it not right that we
maximize the help we give these families, so that our
young beneficiaries can finish high school, thereby
helping them make the most out of the benefits of
this program? That is why next year, families with
children up to 18 years old will be included in this
program so that their children will be able to finish
high school.
Let us move on to education. Our goal is to raise the
quality of learning that our children undertake, so
that once they finish their schooling, they can seize
the opportunities now opening up in society:
accomplished. We have finally erased the backlog
we inherited in books and chairs, and if Secretary
Armin Luistro continues to demonstrate true grit,
even the backlog we inherited in classrooms will
also be erased this year. And there is even more
good news: Now, we also have the ability to prepare
for the additional needs that the implementation of
the K to 12 program will require.

The problems that plagued Brother Armin in the

DepEd are no laughing matter. Just think: One
textbook used to be priced at 58 pesos; since he
assumed office, the price of the exact same
textbook has gone down to 30 pesos. What would
have happened if we had been paying the proper
price from the beginning? If we had saved the
difference of 28 pesos for all the books bought, at
five textbooks for each of the estimated 20.7 million
students in our public school system, the equivalent
would amount to almost 2.9 billion pesos. These
savings alone could have funded our plans to repair
and rehabilitate around 9,502 classrooms.

If Brother Armin didn’t have strength of will, he could

have just left this culture of negligence in his agency
for his successor to deal with. He could have also
left the backlog, as well as the growing gap of needs
because of the rising number of enrollees each year.
But instead of being content, instead of saying, “This
will do. My job is done,” Brother Armin will build even
more chairs and classrooms, and will buy even more
books, to ensure that even the needs in future years
will also be met.

Regarding the strengthening of our agricultural

sector, this has also been achieved. Just think:
According to the NFA, in 2010, the country imported
more than 2 million metric tons of rice. In 2011, this
fell to 855,000 metric tons. In 2012: 500,000 metric
tons. And now in 2013, the maximum we, including
the private sector, will import will be the minimum
access volume of 350,000 metric tons. This includes
the 187,000 metric tons of reserve buffer stock in
case typhoons arrive one after the other; in all
likelihood, even the private sector will no longer
have to import rice because we are still on track to
becoming self-sufficient in rice. In addition to that,
we have begun exporting premium-quality rice. We
have truly come so far from those days when it was
said that we could not even feed ourselves.

The proof is in the data: This sector grew 3.3 percent

in the first three months of 2013. This is triple the
1.1 percent growth it recorded in the same time
period in 2012. That is why we continue to sow
initiatives that will certainly bear the fruits of even
greater progress for our farmers.

For example, the coconut sector. According to

research conducted in 2009, coconut farmers make
up one of the poorest sectors in the country. Let us
look at the process of growing coconuts: Once
planted, farmers wait seven years for the coconut
tree to bear fruit; but after this, two generations will
be able to benefit without doing anything else apart
from harvesting the fruit. We have the potential to
vastly increase the income of this sector if we can
foster a culture that truly encourages hard work and
productivity. The solution: intercropping.

The government will help you to strengthen your

coconut farms; but in exchange, you will be required
to sow different kinds of seeds in between the rows
of coconut trees. Doing so will raise the frequency
of crop harvests, and depending on what they plant,
their income will also increase. If they grow only
coconuts, the farmers would earn about 20,000
pesos a year per hectare. But if they add coffee, they
could reach about 172,400 pesos a year; if they add
bananas, they could earn 102,325 pesos, while
adding cacao would give them 89,000 pesos. Isn’t
that such a huge difference?

We have already begun laying down initiatives for

this: In 2012, we were able to use 5,500 hectares of
land for intercropping in 90 different locations
throughout the country. This program covered 10,000
farmers. Our target for 2013: an additional 434 sites
for coconut intercropping.

We are also now steering our fishermen towards

more productive waters. Think about it: our fishing
industry contributed 193.65 billion pesos to our
economy in 2012. In spite of this, based on a study
last conducted in 2009, 41 percent of our fisherfolk
still live below the poverty line. They are the ones
who catch the fish, but all they have on their dinner
tables are fish bones.

That is why various government initiatives are in

place to help free our fisherfolk from the broad net
cast by poverty. An example would be our initiative
for Bataraza in Palawan. The waters here brim with
fish. But because the fish cannot be brought to the
merchants on time, still fresh, the fishermen end up
having to dry the fish and sell tuyo instead. It is such
a waste, because every three kilos of lapu-lapu is
only equivalent to one kilo of tuyo. What if the
freshness of the fish could be preserved in a cold
storage facility? You could go to the merchant and
still sell your catch at full price. You would exert the
same amount of effort, but you would receive the
right compensation for it. That is why the cold
storage facility in Bataraza is already in the works.
In addition, we are also constructing new piers in
strategic areas to raise productivity and income. We
are constructing and adding new roads, bridges, and
other kinds of infrastructure, including various
services, for our fisherfolk.

The DILG, BFAR, and Coast Guard are also tightly

monitoring irresponsible and unrestrained forms of
fishing; this I ask of our fishermen: allow our fish to
repopulate. I ask for your solidarity in caring for your
own livelihood. As you no doubt see, the state has
already opened up opportunities for you, but the
result is in your hands.

If there is one topic my name is often associated

with, that would have to be Hacienda Luisita. I would
like to inform you that back in February, in
compliance with the decision of the Supreme Court,
the Department of Agrarian Reform has completed
the list of qualified beneficiaries for the land in
Luisita. According to Secretary Gil de los Reyes, the
process to determine the beneficiaries’ lots began
last week, and the turnover of these lots will begin in
September of this year.

As for other large tracts of land: We have long tasked

the DAR, DENR, LRA, and Land Bank to develop a
framework for speeding up the parceling out of land.
I would like to remind everyone: Correct data is the
first step to the orderly implementation of CARPER.
But we inherited a land records system that is
problematic and defective. This is why, from the
start, the DOJ, LRA, DENR, and DAR have worked to
fix this system, and now we are at a point where we
can guarantee that in the next year, all notices of
coverage will have been served for lands covered by
comprehensive agrarian reform.

It is clear: The state was established to serve you. If

you have health problems, the government must care
for you; in times of illness, it should be there to give
aid and support. What has our government done in
this regard?

Our goal to extend PhilHealth coverage to more of

our countrymen has been achieved. When we began,
62 percent of Filipinos were enrolled; now, that
number stands at 81 percent. The remaining number
still not on our lists are those we are seeking to
identify, including those in the informal settlers’ and
indigenous people’s sectors. We are counting on the
cooperation of our local governments to ensure that
all of our countrymen are enrolled in the system.

It is not just PhilHealth’s roster of enrollees that is

growing: so is its scope of services. The past year
saw the launch of the Z Benefit Package. This past
February, this was upgraded with the Expanded Z
Benefit Package. The poorest of the poor can now
avail of free medical care at public hospitals for
more medical conditions than ever before. Last year,
breast cancer, prostate cancer, and acute leukemia
were included on the list of covered conditions;
today, coronary bypass, and corrective surgery for
holes and defective blood vessels in the heart, are
also included in the package.

All these health benefits would go to waste if our

health care facilities are substandard, or
inaccessible to our countrymen in the provinces.
This is why we have gone all-out in funding health
care infrastructure projects: These past three years,
we have budgeted a total of 33 billion pesos for the
improvement and modernization of 4,518 hospitals,
rural health units, and barangay health stations
nationwide. Among these are Region 1 Medical
Center in Dagupan City, which has successfully
completed five kidney transplants in the last year;
the Bicol Regional Training and Teaching Hospital in
Legazpi; the Vicente Sotto Medical Center in Cebu;
and the Northern Mindanao Medical Center in
Cagayan de Oro, which, according to Secretary Ike
Ona of the DOH, now have the capacity to perform
open heart surgery due to upgraded facilities and
equipment. There is also the Davao Regional
Hospital in Tagum City, the first cancer center
outside Metro Manila.

Regarding disaster preparedness: Our goal to

develop mechanisms to protect the Filipino people
from natural calamities, we have also achieved.
Among these are the effective services brought
about by the joint forces of the Geohazard Mapping
and Assessment Program and of Project NOAH of the
DOST. This past year, we completed a multihazard
mapping of the 28 most vulnerable locations in the
country. A similar endeavor for the Greater Metro
Manila Area will be completed by 2014. Geohazard
maps for 496 cities and municipalities have also
been completed. The remaining 1,138 covering every
last corner of the country will be finished before the
end of 2015. Not only have these maps increased in
number, they are also more detailed and refined,
which is why we will be able to more accurately
identify high-risk areas.

From the time Project NOAH was launched, a total of

525 automated water level monitoring stations and
automated rain gauges have been installed in 18
major river basins throughout the country. We also
continue to modernize our weather detection
technology, with Doppler radars, tsunami detectors,
and alerting sirens.

But simply distributing high-tech equipment and new

technology is not enough. We also need to train the
end-users of this equipment in understanding, using,
and disseminating the information gained. When the
weather is bad, they no longer rely solely on wind
speed for their forecasts; they can also predict the
volume of rainfall, and they can provide correct and
timely warnings so our communities can prepare
accordingly.

We are also remedying the problem of flooding in

Metro Manila. Imagine: When Ondoy hit, an
estimated 3,600 cubic meters per second of rainfall
flowed down from the Sierra Madre. But the capacity
of the channels through which these flowed can only
support 1,000 cubic meters per second. Where would
the difference of 2,600 cubic meters per second go?
These are the sudden torrents of water that overflow
into low-lying areas and become flash floods.

Haven’t we all heard before that “waterways are

inalienable?” What this means is that the channels
through which water passes should be for that
purpose alone. The problem is, in addition to the lack
of adequate drainage, certain structures are built,
obstructing these drainage systems, a situation
compounded by the trash of those living around it. To
solve this problem, we are coordinating with our
LGUs to safely and successfully relocate our
informal settlers. In addition, a legal team led by
Secretary Leila de Lima is preparing to file cases
against those who have closed or obstructed our
waterways.

We are not content with simply passing the blame

and pointing fingers. Our action: an allocation of 6.2
billion pesos to prevent flooding throughout Metro
Manila. This includes the construction of the
Blumentritt Interceptor Catchment area. The entire
project is 3.3 kilometers in length; and once it is
completed, it will be able to catch the equivalent of
14 Olympic-sized swimming pools of water. When the
rains hit, the rainwater now has somewhere to go,
and will no longer accumulate on our streets. This
project was started in March, and we aim to
complete it by next year.

Government has been fulfilling its obligation to the

people, but let us ask ourselves: How have I
contributed to the solution? If someone dumps trash
into a river, confront them; if you see a building
being built obstructing an estuary, report it to the
correct authorities. We will only drown in our
problems if we do nothing.

Even after the storms have passed, our work to

restore normalcy to the lives of calamity-struck
families does not end. Through the cooperation of
the government, and the private sector, 9,377
houses have been erected for the victims of typhoon
Sendong. An additional 4,374 homes will be built
before the end of the following year. We ask for
patience and understanding, the process has been
delayed because of the complex process of land
acquisition; in truth, if discussions on other tracts of
land go well, we will be able to construct an
additional 2,719 houses.
We also aim to turn over a total of 53,106 homes to
our countrymen who were left homeless by the
onslaught of typhoon Pablo. We began to hand over
houses in May; and we will complete another 17,609
homes by the end of the year. And by the time we
finish the 35,447 homes still to be completed by
2014, all the families who felt nature’s wrath will
once again find shelter under their own roofs.

Still on the subject of housing, this time for our men

and women in uniform: More than a year ago, we had
already built 21,800 housing units for our police
force and soldiers. For Phase II of this project, we
have already built an additional 26,050 homes out of
our target of 31,200, and the rest will be completed
by next month.

Apart from housing, livelihood projects are being

implemented for the benefit of our troops. Several
thousand hectares of land in three of our military
camps—namely, Fort Magsaysay in Nueva Ecija,
Camp Kibaritan in Bukidnon, and Camp Peralta in
Capiz—will be the venues for these livelihood
projects, which will give our soldiers additional
income through plantations of bamboo, coffee,
cacao, and palm oil. If before, soldiers were
concerned solely with defending us, now, even
military retirees can participate in improving our
economy.
But our quest to find solutions to all the other
problems we inherited regarding national defense
does not stop here. Consider this: In 1986, there
were an estimated 250,000 policemen and soldiers
protecting a total of 55 million Filipinos. Today, we
still have an estimated 250,000 policemen and
soldiers, who protect 95 million Filipinos. Our
population has almost doubled, while the number of
our protectors has not changed.

We are sure to have critics who will say “Is this

really a problem? Just add more policemen and
soldiers. You can even reduce unemployment that
way.” If only it were that simple. Let us look at the
situation. The common pension scheme works like
this: both members and employers contribute to the
pension. Their contributions serve as capital for
reinvestment, and the gains of these investments
will in turn fund the retiring members’ pensions. But
what is the true situation of the AFP and PNP
pensions? No contributions have been made, but
there are payments to make. Apart from this, the
pensions of retirees have been indexed to the
salaries of active personnel. This means that if the
salaries of those in the service increase, so too will
the pensions received by retirees or qualified
families. Yearly, there are more and more men and
women retiring, so, naturally, the obligations that
must be paid out also increase. What is worse is that
funds from the national budget are being used for
these growing obligations: In 2012, 54.48 billion
pesos were spent on soldiers’ and policemen’s
pensions. This year, that figure will rise to 61.29
billion. By 2016, it will be at 80.64 billion. Our
pension deficit will keep growing and growing and
growing, eating into the budget allocation for other
social services. How then do we add more
servicemen, given such a context?

We need a system that fulfills our civic obligations to

our policemen and armed forces; and it is likely that
we will request the assistance of the GSIS in this
regard. We are currently studying the feasibility of
using reclaimed land to generate funds that will form
part of the solution. After all, we cannot surprise the
GSIS and ask them to account for the entirety of our
needs, which is why an even more thorough study
will be conducted to create a fair, sustainable, and
clear mechanism for the pensions of PNP and AFP
personnel. I call on Congress today: Let us review PD
1638 and RA 8551 to ensure that these pensions are
timely, and balanced against national needs.

We see an equivalent solution for the problems that

the SSS pensions will soon face. Consider that, since
1980, across-the-board pension increases occurred
21 times, but actual pension contribution increases
only occurred twice. As a result, the SSS has
accumulated an estimated 1.1 trillion pesos in
unfunded liability. According to a study done in 2011,
this shortfall will increase by 8 percent per annum,
eventually resulting in the complete consumption of
the fund 28 years from now. If this happens, the next
generation is certain to suffer.

We believe that it is time to amend the SSS Pension

Scheme. We must establish measures that remedy
the outflow of funds. If we add 0.6 percent to the
contribution rate, it will immediately deduct 141
billion pesos from the unfunded liability of the SSS. If
we begin to invest in our future today, no further
problems will be handed down to the next generation
of Filipinos.

When it comes to our national police, our goal to

strengthen their capabilities so that they may better
fulfill their mandate: accomplished. Beginning this
2013, 30,000 policemen will finally be able go back
to doing police work because we will be hiring
civilian personnel who will focus on administrative
work. After all, the skills and abilities of our police
would be put to waste if we keep them imprisoned in
the four corners of an office.

At the start of July 2013, we began distributing new

9mm Glock 17 pistols to our police. This is just the
beginning: We are slated to distribute a total of
74,879 firearms among our police force, in keeping
with our goal of a one-is-to-one police-to-pistol ratio.
These investments in our national police will yield
abundant benefits, especially since this redounds to
more efficient and reliable public service. Is it not
true that we have gotten used to news of violence
during elections? Oplan Katok directly addresses
this. The goal of the program: track down loose
firearms, which ensures that the guns we have
licensed are in the possession of those authorized to
do so. The police have knocked on a total of 491,929
front doors for the renewal of licenses. This
contributed greatly to our campaign for Secure and
Fair Elections, which yielded a 63 percent reduction
among private armed groups—from the 112 during
the 2010 elections, to just 41 this 2013. And from the
189 incidents of violence recorded in 2010, we have
recorded only 77 confirmed incidents for the recently
concluded election.

Let us use ARMM as an example. Governor Mujiv

Hataman has said that he could not remember a time
in his life when Lanao del Sur did not suffer a failure
of elections. We should note that this was the first
time that the ARMM elections were synchronized
with the national elections. This means that, in the
past, the full force of the State was focused on just
one region, and yet it still had to call for a failure of
elections. This 2013, because our uniformed forces
had to safeguard elections across the entire country,
there were those who thought the situation in ARMM
would only get worse. But we have seen how vastly
it has improved: ARMM successfully held a clean,
safe, and fair election; votes were counted, and
those whom the people charged with new mandates
were proclaimed. Because of the diligence of our
police force and of our soldiers, and the coming
together of the nation, the 2013 elections were more
peaceful.

But there are still incidents that sully our police

force’s honor. We know of what happened to the
members of the Ozamiz Gang—Ricky Cadavero and
Wilfredo Panogalinga—who were caught, only to be
killed. As with our investigation of the Atimonan
incident, we will ensure that those at fault will be
held accountable—regardless of their rank. Whoever
masterminded all of this: prepare yourselves. I am
close to learning who you are.

Despite these incidents, my confidence in and hope

for our police remain high. They have never wanted
for exemplars like PO3 Edlyn Arbo, who, despite
being off-duty and unarmed, bravely confronted a
mugger who embarked on the jeep she was on, and
pursued him. There are also those like PO3 Felipe
Moncatar, who has received countless
commendations because of the growing list of
criminals he has put in jail. I heard you’ve just
apprehended another member of a syndicate—
including members of carjacking syndicates and
some of the most wanted in Bacolod. You may have
also heard about PO2 Dondon Sultan. A car broke
down along Quezon Boulevard, and PO2 Sultan
stopped and offered his assistance. He did not just
change a tire; he also helped bring the car to a
mechanic. As thanks for his service, PO2 Sultan was
offered 1,000 pesos—an offer he declined. He said,
and I quote, “Our job is to help our countrymen.” We
salute those of you who truly serve the public. You
are proof that honest and capable policemen are not
an endangered species. I have already instructed
Secretary Mar Roxas of the DILG and Secretary
Voltaire Gazmin of the DND to ensure that those like
you in our uniformed services reap the appropriate
rewards.

Add to these our disaster relief workers from many

branches of government, as well as volunteers from
the private sector. I know that it is not easy to battle
floods, dig through mud, and confront calamities. I
will not tire of recognizing your contributions to our
society; I salute the way you have offered yourselves
to help in lessening the suffering of our countrymen.

Peace is also within reach in a region that has long

been torn apart by conflict. In October of the
previous year, the Framework Agreement on the
Bangsamoro was signed. In truth, just nine days
have passed since the signing of the second annex
of the agreement. We are confident that we will not
have to wait long before hearing more good news on
the development of the peace process.

I am sure everyone is aware that the building of

consensus is not an easy task; fortunately, both
sides are ready to listen, willing to compromise, and
willing to reach a meeting of the minds. We know,
too, the consequences of impatience and haste.
What is clear to me: Every word we utter must result
in an action that would benefit all. Every line that we
craft in the agreement we are forging must be set in
stone and not merely written on water, only to be
forgotten by history. My father raised me to be true
to my word, and I can tell our brothers and sisters of
the Bangsamoro: Whatever agreements we come to
will be fulfilled by the national government.

Trust is vital to the peace process. It does not come

automatically, perhaps because of the long history of
conflict. Now, the desire of both sides to reach an
agreement is palpable, and we are truly proving
ourselves trustworthy. To those seeking to sow
discord and doubt: Can you really say that you are a
Filipino that has compassion for his fellow Filipinos?

I am hopeful that every Filipino will contribute

towards our goals for the Bangsamoro. We will prove
that they did not make a mistake in choosing the
path of peace; we are ready to lend the strength of
the entire nation to lift up the provinces of Muslim
Mindanao, who are among our poorest. What we aim
for is the triumph of all; we will not allow any of our
countrymen to be left behind, while others surpass
them. Once again, I call on Congress: The Transition
Commission that will craft the Bangsamoro Basic
Law has already been created. Once their task is
completed in keeping with the principles of the
peace process, I ask you to pass the Bangsamoro
Basic Law before the end of 2014. This way, we will
have ample time to prepare for the election of a new
Bangsamoro government come 2016.

We have accomplished whatever change we are

experiencing today because we refused to be
satisfied with the status quo in the government we
inherited. Let me ask: How many of you have used
what they call the Telepono sa Barangay? I wouldn’t
be surprised if no one has. According to the DOTC,
more than 5 billion pesos would have been
earmarked for a program that would distribute
landline phones to far-flung areas. Would this not
have been a grave waste of funds, because in such a
short time after its implementation, the number of
Filipinos with cellphones just grew and grew? Who
would take notice of the 6,000 landlines they would
have installed, when we have 100 million cellphones
in the Philippines?

Here is another example of the kind of thinking

we’ve had to eradicate from government. Eight
combat utility helicopters were bought for what they
claimed to be “the more efficient deployment of our
soldiers.” The problem: The guns the helicopters
were equipped with were mounted at the door;
requiring their removal in order to enable people to
pass. If you are a soldier entering the fray at the
height of battle, what use is a machine gun that is
set aside and unable to fire? Did no one think about
this before the contracts were signed? Why was this
even approved in the first place?

We have to be more discriminating buyers. We

cannot rely on the sales talk of suppliers alone. We
have tasked the DOST to assemble a body of experts
who can critically assess suppliers’ pitches,
especially on big-ticket items. Our operating
principles: the right identification of the root of the
problem; the careful study and deliberation,
grounded on correct methodology, to arrive at the
best solution.

This was also the rationale and the driving force

behind our response to the issue of informal settlers
in Metro Manila. This is why we are already fulfilling
our goal to remove from harm’s way those who
crammed themselves into high-risk areas of the city.
After all, I do not think anyone will disagree with us
when we say the current situation cannot be allowed
to persist. In the general welfare clause of our
Constitution—Article 2, Section 5—it says, “The
maintenance of peace and order, the protection of
life, liberty, and property, and promotion of the
general welfare are essential for the enjoyment by
all the people of the blessings of democracy.”

Here we have proven that the Filipino listens to

reason. If it is clear that compassion is your bedrock
principle, then we will be more eager to work with
you. Before roofs were dismantled, before walls were
demolished, we explained how we came to our
decision: better housing, access to public transport,
and, for the diligent, no shortage of opportunities to
earn. We made it clear that we wanted to provide a
refuge to those who were high-risk and most in need
—and not to syndicates. We are aware that whenever
the aid given by the state is abused, the lives of
other Filipinos are also put in jeopardy.

After a batch of informal settlers was moved to the

relocation site, they urged their former neighbors:
Join us. It is safer here. This year, our priority is to
relocate more than 19,400 families living along Metro
Manila’s major waterways. The convergence of DILG,
NHA, DSWD, MMDA, and DPWH has resulted in a
much clearer solution to one of our most long-
standing problems.

Another example of transformation in government:

haven’t vital bills languished in Congress? In the
previous year, the Sin Tax Reform Law and the
Responsible Parenthood Law were finally signed into
laws. We thank our partners in Congress and in the
Senate who helped us push for the passage of these
laws. We persevered through the long process of
debate and consultation; we were not cowed by
those who tried to sow doubt in the attempt to
obstruct our meaningful agenda. We have fought for
what benefits the people, and we are advancing true
public service for the Filipino.

I would also like to propose to Congress several laws

that will help us sustain and improve on the reforms
we have established. Let us amend the Cabotage
Law in order to foster greater competition and to
lower the cost of transportation for our agricultural
sector and other industries. Let us likewise enact
the Fiscal Incentives Rationalization Bill, so that the
incentives we provide to businesses become even
clearer and more accountable. We also have to focus
on the Land Administration Reform Bill, given the
need for convergence among agencies tasked to
oversee our land holdings, and thus ensuring that
they can fulfill their collective mandate with
increased efficiency.

Tomorrow, we are submitting to Congress our

proposed 2.268 trillion-peso National Budget for
2014. I am confident of your support and advocacy
for the allocation of funds which was arrived at after
careful consideration. This budget is not only a
continuation of our reforms, but it will also
accelerate our momentum towards long-lasting
inclusive progress.

There are those who insist on upgrading our Armed

Forces. I agree with this, but some of them act as if
they want us to invest every centavo of our country
into fighter jets, tanks, and other equipment for
warfare. They may not know that one fighter jet
costs 1.58 billion pesos—equivalent to 6,580 houses
for our soldiers and our police force, or nearly 2,000
classrooms for our children. And what can one jet
do? To be truly effective, we would need a squadron
—and one squadron is composed of twenty-four
fighter jets. At 1.58 billion pesos per jet, we would
have to devote 37.92 billion pesos of the nation’s
coffers just to assemble one squadron. And what
about practice missiles? And it is not as if jet fuel, a
radar system, ground bases, and ground intercept
controls are free. Building a minimum credible
defense posture is not something we can take
lightly. Do we follow others who prioritize the
possession of a nuclear option at the expense of
everything else? I do not think anyone would agree.
We will balance our needs. We are committed to
meeting the needs of our society, while remaining a
good and upstanding member of the community of
nations.

We are well aware that, in the past, decisions were

made based on politics. Leaders did everything they
could just to keep a firm hold on their power—at the
expense of the suffering of present and future
generations of Filipinos. Let us look, for example, at
the consequences of refusing to raise passenger
fares for the LRT and MRT.

Each trip that one passenger makes on the LRT is

estimated to cost 40 pesos. What does each
passenger pay? 15 pesos. This means that the
government subsidizes the remaining 25 pesos. As
for the MRT, the true cost of one trip is 60 pesos: 15
pesos paid by passengers, 45 pesos by the
government—in the end, each and every Filipino pays
a share of the subsidy. Whether you live in Mindanao
or Visayas, and not once have you ever stepped onto
the LRT or MRT, you help to fund this.

What’s worse: because past leaders gave away our

commercial development rights, each peso that we
can earn from the posters and billboards in the
stations goes to private companies, instead of going
to the government. What we could have used to
subsidize the cost of maintenance and operations
was given away.

Perhaps it is only reasonable for us to move the fares

of the MRT and LRT closer to the fares of air-
conditioned buses, so that the government subsidy
for the MRT and LRT can be used for other social
services.
You are my witnesses: We have no plans to hand
down problems to our successors. In truth, projects
that were left to decay in the past are now truly
benefiting the people. Let us look at the Ternate-
Nasugbu Road. This road, connecting Cavite,
Batangas, and Metro Manila, is only six kilometers
long, but it still took almost 20 years to finish. We
already opened one part of this road, and when the
sections requiring slope protection are completed,
the benefit this road will bring to motorists will be
complete.

We also have the Aluling Bridge in Ilocos Sur. The

plans for its construction were first laid down on
paper in 1978. And we made certain that our
successors would not merely inherit sheets of paper.
The bridge was finally completed in March. Last
month, we also began the operation of the
Laguindingan Airport—a project that took one
generation to make the leap from idea to
implementation.

There is also the semiconductor industry, which

waited decades for a laboratory that could compete
with facilities of other countries. We did not allow
them to wait much longer. In May of this year, under
the leadership of DOST, we inaugurated the
Advanced Device and Materials Testing Laboratory
(ADMATEL). Before, products manufactured here had
to be sent to other countries to undergo testing. We
were unable to maximize profits in this industry; we
were unable to maximize the potential of our
semiconductor industry to attract even more
investments.

Because of ADMATEL, products will now be

manufactured and tested here, and we will be able to
take even greater advantage of the skills of Filipino
workers in the electronics sector. And we have every
expectation that this industry—one that contributed
almost 44 percent to our exports in 2012—will grow
even stronger.

With the help of our Big Man in the Senate, Senator

Franklin Drilon, the more than fifty-year wait of
Ilonggos has come to an end; the implementation of
the Jalaur River Multi-Purpose Project II in Iloilo has
started. How will this help us?

First, an estimated 24,000 farmers across Iloilo will

benefit from year-round irrigation. As a result, the
harvests of rice farmers may double. Let me make it
clear: The 31,840 hectares of land that will be
irrigated will yield an additional 146,013 metric tons
of rice. This amount is equal to almost 80 percent of
the buffer stock of rice that we will import for 2013.

This does not include the other benefits that this

project will bring. For instance, preventing
widespread flooding in Iloilo, and adding 6.6
megawatts in hydropower to the energy
requirements of the province. This project will also
contribute to the supply of water for some parts of
the province, and to the development of its
ecotourism industry. Apart from all these, the Jalaur
River Project will create around 17,000 jobs; and
once it becomes fully operational, an estimated
32,000 Filipinos will be given decent livelihoods. This
project was first conceived in 1960—the same year I
was born.

We are aware that many of our countrymen are

excited to see the fruits of our Public-Private
Partnership (PPP) projects. We likewise know that
there are those who have grown impatient waiting
for them.

Let us put things into context. Back in 2010, when

our administration came into office, we were left
with only 6.5 percent of the programmable budget for
the year, or just around 100 billion pesos; 93.5
percent of the budget had already been allotted by
my predecessor. This is precisely why we
approached the private sector. We told them: “We do
not have the funds, let us partner with one another
to build the necessary infrastructure.”

Apart from this, we faced other difficulties when PPP

began. The studies on which the projects were
based were outdated; and the bureaucracy lacked
the sufficient knowledge to implement them. Not to
mention the public, who seemed to have lost
confidence in the contracts the government
undertook.

Nevertheless, whatever the situation may be, our

principle is that anything worth doing is worth doing
right. We have no plans of entering into questionable
contracts today just to bequeath problems to the
next administration. Each project has to go through
the correct process to ensure that our taxpayers’
hard-earned money will be spent the right way.

As early as now, we are seeing the effects of the

honest, transparent, and clear way we have been
going about our PPP projects. Previously, even just
the construction of a single airport already made
headlines. Let us compare this to what we are
seeing today: Apart from the Laguindingan Airport,
which is already being utilized, we are upgrading and
modernizing the Tacloban Airport, the Bicol
International Airport, the New Bohol Airport, the
Mactan Airport, and the Puerto Princesa Airport all at
the same time. The Daang Hari-NLEX link road is the
fastest PPP project that has been awarded in any
administration, with no shortcuts in the processes.
All these, and all the other infrastructure projects
that are being and will be constructed, will give rise
to a society teeming with opportunity.
The problems that we have inherited—and are
currently solving—make up a long list; for example,
the recurring, rotating blackouts in Mindanao. From
the very beginning, we have been working on a
solution for this—but we are also aware that a
problem that has been ignored for an entire decade
cannot be solved overnight. Right now, we continue
to take steps to address the shortages as well as
provide for immediate needs. We have helped
electric cooperatives bring in generator sets that
will reduce brownouts; and this will continue until
the plants that will supply the region with more
electricity are completed.

But the critics will never fully disappear. Some are

complaining that the price of electricity will increase
with the usage of diesel-fueled generator sets.
Hydropower is abundant now because of the rainy
season, so we hear objections to the generator sets.
But come summer, many will once again complain
about eight-hour brownouts.

We also want more power plants built in other parts

of the Philippines. As our economy grows, so will our
consumption of electricity, which means we must
likewise increase supply. Do we really want to wait
until our plants are at full capacity before more
plants are built? Power plants do not sprout like
mushrooms—a power plant takes two to three years
to construct.
If anyone has a good suggestion, we are ready to
listen. But I also hope that the kibitzers put the
situation in the proper context. The plant in
Redondo, Zambales, is a good example. A TRO was
issued against the plant because of the argument
that renewable energy is better. Did they happen to
mention that renewable energy is also more
expensive—from the cost of building the plants to
the eventual price of energy? Did they mention that
it cannot provide the baseload—the capacity
required to make sure brownouts do not occur? If
you put up a wind-powered plant, what do you do
when there is no wind? If you put up a solar plant,
what do you when the sky is cloudy? Let me be
clear: I believe in renewable energy and we support
its use, but there should also be baseload plants that
can ensure a steady supply of electricity for our
homes and industries. I wonder if those who are
critical of the plants we want put up will be as noisy
when they are busy fanning themselves during
brownouts. All I am really saying is this: Let us help
each other find a solution.

Since we are being frank with each other, let us talk

about the renovation of NAIA 3. This is a complex
issue, which has already undergone two arbitrations.
We would have won both of them, but one of the
decisions was reversed due to a technicality. This is
why we are now preparing for our case to be heard
once more. And there are added complications
because of the issue of warranties for the
completion of NAIA 3—it is not acceptable for us to
find defects after renovations, and then have to
spend even more money to fix them. This is why
when we were told that the original contractor was
willing to give a proper warranty, we agreed to the
deal. But we want to be certain; we want to fully and
correctly go through the process. So I must ask for
your understanding on this issue.

Today, it is clear: A single goal is behind each square

meter of cement we pour in building the foundations
of a more progressive country; gain for all—and not
politics. Whereas before, roads were constructed
based on whims, and bridges were built where the
Mayor enjoyed the friendship of Madam, now, we
follow a nationwide plan. No favorites, no
transactionalism, no patronage; each peso is spent
to accelerate our goal of broad-based growth.

What we can expect in the years to come: airports

and ports to facilitate commerce and tourism; roads
to ensure that we all reap the maximum benefit from
these big-ticket projects; power plants that will
generate enough energy and fuel the development of
industry. This is the framework from which other
initiatives will branch out, creating even greater
opportunities for Juan and Juana dela Cruz—from the
farmer who will have access to adequate irrigation
and who will be able to sell his harvest more quickly,
to the construction workers erecting new buildings;
from the continued development of call centers
across the country, to the rise of even more
businessmen ready to invest in the Philippines. We
implemented the right projects for the right price; we
completed these projects with the right quality; and
we finished, or we will finish, these projects right on
time, because the right people worked on them.

Let us talk about traffic: Isn’t it estimated that our

economy loses an estimated 2.4 billion pesos every
day because of Metro Manila traffic? Among the
projects targeted to decongest Manila is the
Integrated Transport System. For the buses that
force themselves onto already-crowded roads, we
will construct terminals in areas with less traffic.
Our countrymen can already make use of the
terminal in Parañaque, and the ones in Quezon City
and Muntinlupa are already lined up. Provincial buses
will be permitted only up to these terminals, so they
do not add to the congestion.

There is also the two connector roads that will join

the North and South Luzon Expressways. To tell you
the truth, there were already plans to construct what
they called the Metro Manila Highway in the
seventies. This would have connected the two
expressways, so that traveling from one point to
another need not consume the hours it takes to pass
through the entire length of EDSA. The problem: Mr.
Marcos issued laws that favored one of his cronies.
And unfortunately, we are required to follow them:
Whoever constructs infrastructure in those areas
must be in partnership with the corporation of Mr.
Marcos’ friend. Even worse: every time they add even
just another short section to the original road, their
franchise is extended by thirty years. That is not the
end of it: Once the company profited, the
development of infrastructure in the area was left
unfinished. Remember that these roads were
supposed to traverse Pangasinan to Quezon… But
when the company operated at a loss, they had the
audacity to pass on to the government a multitude of
debts. I ask our Congress today: Let us take another
look at Presidential Decrees 1113 and 1894.

Despite this, our projects continue. We have an

eight-kilometer, four-lane elevated expressway that
will connect C3 road to Caloocan, crossing España,
up to PUP in Sta. Mesa. There is also a more than
fourteen-kilometer six-lane elevated tollway
extending from Balintawak to Buendia in Makati. The
Common Alignment of these two roads: a five-and-a-
half kilometer, six-lane elevated expressway from
PUP in Sta. Mesa, crossing Osmeña and Quirino
Avenue, to Buendia in Makati. Once this road is
opened to the public, what once took two hours from
SLEX to NLEX will now take only fifteen minutes.
What once was a three-hour drive from Clark to
Calamba will be reduced by almost half to an hour
and forty minutes. Every day, an estimated 55,000
motorists will benefit from this project. Motorists will
save time and gas, pollution will be decreased, and
commerce and tourism will flourish. Is this not a win-
win situation?

In the space of only three years, we have proven that

agencies that were once cesspools of corruption can
be transformed into examples of honest and efficient
service. Some of the simple, but effective, reforms
that Secretary Singson implemented in DPWH: no
more letters of intent, which bidders once used in
conspiring with each other to inflate costs and gain
more profit; simplified bidding processes, so even
more contractors can compete for projects; and
reasonable costs of doing projects. Government also
now pays on time, attracting even more skilled
contractors to do their part in raising the quality of
public infrastructure. This kind of honest leadership
has allowed the DPWH to save 18.4 billion pesos,
which has been allotted to other meaningful
projects.

As an example of the dividends of good governance,

let us look at the Tagumbao Bridge in Gerona,
Tarlac. In truth, I was an advocate of its
construction back when I was just a Congressman.
Back then, some of my constituents had to circle
around two towns just to cross a river that
overflowed during the rainy season. I even told past
administrations: you can have my entire PDAF, just
complete the bridge, in installments if possible. But
nothing happened and time passed. The gap
separating the banks of the river—and thus, the
length of the bridge that was required—only widened
further.

Right now, we are constructing the Tagumbao

Bridge. Now that we are the ones implementing it,
this is the story: Approved funds for the project
stand at around 334 million pesos; but because of
good management and prudent spending, the cost
was lowered to 226 million pesos. In the end, we
saved a total of over 108 million pesos without
sacrificing the quality of the completed bridge. And
even better: The funds that we saved can be used in
the construction of a dike and river training projects
for Phase II.

Let us move on to tourism. According to the Oriental

Morning Post, we are the “Best Tourism Destination of
2012.” And it seems the Shanghai Morning Post fell in love
with our country when they named us the “Most
Romantic Destination of 2012.” Scuba Diving
Magazine says that the Philippines is the “Best
Diving Destination.” And Palawan is the “Best Island”
if you ask Travel + Leisure Magazine. It seems they just
stopped short of calling us paradise.

Given such resounding praise, it comes as no

surprise that in 2012, we registered 4.3 million
tourist arrivals in our country—another new record
high. This figure is a 21.4 percent increase from
when we assumed office in 2010, when only an
estimated 3.1 million tourists visited our country.
When it comes to our domestic travelers, our
previous target for 2016 was 35.5 million tourists.
But we have surpassed this as early as 2011, with
37.5 million domestic tourists. With the momentum
that we are now experiencing, we have full
confidence that we will achieve our new domestic
target of 56.1 million before the end of 2016.

A stronger tourism sector will generate more job

opportunities. The DOT estimates that tourism
created 3.8 million jobs in 2011. The truth is, it is not
just our scenic and most famed destinations that will
profit from the arrival of tourists, but also the nearby
towns that can be considered tourism support
communities; the places from which resorts and
hotels source the food that they serve, the souvenirs
that they sell, as well as other products and services
that provide a source of income for our provinces.

And I am certain that you have also heard the good

news that has recently landed in our country. Last
March, the International Civil Aviation Organization
removed the significant safety concerns they had
previously imposed on the Philippines. This was a
fruit of our reforms in the aviation industry, to ensure
that aviation safety in the Philippines meets
international standards. And because of this, just
last July 10, the European Union has once again
permitted our flag carrier to resume direct flights to
Europe.

Think about it: What if our aviation industry had

already been improved and strengthened before?
Was it not a waste to miss out on tourists whose
lack of enthusiasm for visiting the country can be
attributed to this? Missed jobs, funds, and
opportunities—these are the results of the previous
system of governance.

This is why, from the very onset, we have fought

against corruption in all levels of government and
pushed for the transformation of our institutions. The
result: public service that truly benefits our
countrymen.

Let us just look at the depth of transformation taking

place in our GOCCs. Government-owned corporations
whose losses were previously subsidized by the
national government are now turning over dividends.
Let us take the Philippine Reclamation Authority
(PRA) as an example. In the thirteen years prior to
our term, from 1996 to 2009, the dividends of the
PRA amounted to a sum total of 676.82 million
pesos. Along the straight path: in 2012 alone, their
dividends—1 billion pesos. Is this not a complete
transformation?

The Local Water Utilities Administration is another

good example. In 2011, the said GOCC recorded a
net loss of 950 million pesos. But because of prudent
management, they did more than just balance their
books; based on their report, their gross income
amounted to 870 million pesos in 2012. Because of
this, they were able to remit 365 million pesos to
government for that same year.

Yet another example: In my first SONA, we exposed

the questionable practices of the MWSS, whose
officials were giving themselves excessive bonuses
and allowances, even as their company failed to
address the needs of our citizens. This agency itself
reported: The MWSS registered losses amounting to
34 million pesos in 2010. This was completely
unacceptable. That is why in 2011, we signed the
GOCC Governance Act, which serves as the standard
for integrity, credibility, and accountability in the
management of our GOCCs. Its results: In 2011, the
MWSS earned 333 million pesos, from the 34-million-
peso loss of 2010. In 2012, their earnings totaled
almost 2 billion pesos. Consequently, their dividends
have also increased: from 150 million in 2011, these
increased to 345 million pesos for 2012. It is
saddening though, that the depth of the reforms
planted by the MWSS leadership is tarnished by the
mudslinging of those who want to cling to the old
system.

In tandem with the increased confidence in our good

governance is the continued resurgence of our
economy. The results: two consecutive ten-place
jumps in the global competitiveness index of the
World Economic Forum. For the first time in history,
we attained investment-grade status from two of the
three most respected credit ratings agencies in the
world, and it is quite possible that the third will soon
follow suit. We have maintained the stability of our
consumer goods prices, and we continue to reduce
the portion of our budget allotted to paying our
debts, while increasing the funds allotted to social
services. In a period of lethargic global economic
activity, we registered an astounding 6.8 percent
GDP growth in 2012. We surpassed this in the first
quarter of 2013, when we reported growth of 7.8
percent—the highest recorded GDP in East and
Southeast Asia. Special mention must be made of
the 28.5 percent contributed by the manufacturing
sector to the growth of our economy. And we
anticipate that manufacturing will gain even more
traction in the coming years.

We are now considered a rising tiger by the World

Bank; the brightest spark, according to the Institute
of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales,
among other accolades that allude to the
transformation that is sweeping our nation. From the
prudent expenditure of funds to the effective
collection of taxes; from infrastructure development
to the transparent conduct of business that
generates jobs, our message to the world could not
be clearer: The Philippines is ready to ride the tides
of progress.

The transformation of our society is not just evident

in the economy or in statistics. Now, Filipinos know:
Rich or poor, with or without political connections,
when you do wrong, you will pay the consequences.
Now, justice is truly blind. We will not undermine the
orders of our Bosses to hold the corrupt
accountable, and to right the wrongs of a system
that has long beggared our country.

In fact, we are already holding the former leadership

of TESDA accountable for his part in the outrageous
overpricing of purchases by the agency. For
example: one incubator jar is priced at 149 pesos.
But Mr. Syjuco priced the same jar at 15,375 pesos.
The normal price of a dough cutter, 120 pesos. The
price according to Mr. Syjuco: 48,507 pesos. Let’s be
clear: This is a dough cutter, not a Hamilton Class
Cutter. Perhaps when he finally has his day in court
to face the cases filed by the Ombudsman, Mr.
Syjuco will finally learn to count.

We have also indicted the former PAGCOR officials

who embezzled 26.7 million pesos just to produce a
movie; burned through funds amounting to 186
million pesos to finance a party-list; and had the gall
to use the rice donations allotted to calamity victims
for campaign sorties.

Former leaders of the PNP are also being made to

answer allegations regarding the 131.6 million pesos
wasted on seventy-five defective rubber boats, and
the 104.99 million pesos spent on the anomalous
purchase of secondhand helicopters from 2009 to
2010. It would actually be better if they are able to
properly answer questions regarding this, so we may
discover if there are others who must also be held
accountable.

On the topics of Cadavero, PDAF, MRT 3, and others:

Just because the critics are not aware of what we
are doing, they assume that we are doing nothing
about these issues. If government possesses no data
and yet announces who it will investigate, does that
not send a message to the suspects to just hide the
evidence? This is why we go where the truth takes
us. The evidence decides our path.

When we denounced the “wang-wang” culture, we

did not just dismantle the sirens of those who lord it
over the streets; we also uprooted the culture of
corruption that seemed firmly entrenched in our
public institutions.
But let us be honest: Even today, there are still those
in government who seemingly refuse to change. It is
disheartening to discover the depth and breadth to
which they have branched out in the bureaucracy;
the moment we look away, someone is sure to be
taken advantage of and victimized. The time has
come to name names: we have repeatedly
admonished the Bureau of Immigration to improve
their watch over our ports and airports. How then
was it possible for the brothers Joel and Mario
Reyes, the principal suspects in the slaying of Gerry
Ortega, to leave the country? How could the escape
of the Korean Park Sungjun—as blatantly seen in
CCTV footage—have taken place? He is wanted in
(South) Korea, and their government asked for our
assistance in securing his arrest. How can we face
them now, when our own government employees are
the ones who enabled his escape?

The “make-do” culture at the NIA has also tested our

patience. Instead of laying out plans for new
irrigation systems, they are merely content with the
continued rehabilitation of existing irrigation. For
them, shoddy repairs are enough to say they have
already done a good job. During their anniversary, I
asked them why only 60 percent of their target was
accomplished in 2012, when they had reached 80
percent in 2011. The next day, I met with their head
during the NEDA Board Meeting. His excuse: 40
percent of the target areas were located in Mindanao
and were devastated by typhoon Pablo, thus the
delay. When were we hit by typhoon Pablo? In the
first week of December. Which means that he meant
to complete the remaining 40 percent of his tasks in
the span of just three weeks. This is the kind of
leadership we no longer need in the bureaucracy.

And here we have the Bureau of Customs, whose

personnel are trying to outdo each other’s
incompetence. Instead of collecting the proper taxes
and preventing contraband from entering the
country, they are heedlessly permitting the
smuggling of goods, and even drugs, arms, and other
items of a similar nature into our territory. The
Department of Finance estimates that more than 200
billion pesos in revenue slips through our borders
without going into public coffers. Where do these
people get the gall? One can almost hear these
public officials say, “I don’t care if the weapons go to
criminal elements; I don’t care how many lives are
ruined by drugs; I don’t care if our fields remain
barren forever; What matters is that I am rich; it’s
every man for himself.” Such practices have no place
in government. If you cannot do your job, you do not
deserve to remain in office.

If you are a good, conscientious employee of the BI,

NIA, Customs, or any other government agency, I
hope that you do even more. It is not enough to lie
low and hide inside your cubicle; to prevent
wrongdoing is part of your duty. You are in the right,
so there is no need to hide; please make it easy for
me to find people like you; I will raise you up as
praiseworthy examples, that we may fully transform
the flawed culture of your agencies.

And for those employees who refuse to turn their

backs on the culture of wang-wang: my patience has
run out. You were given three years to demonstrate
your readiness to change; now, I shall pursue all of
you and hold you accountable. No hard feelings.

And let us include in these reforms corrupt members

of our Civil Service. It was during my mother’s time
when I heard someone say, “So what if Malacañang
ordered this? You will only be there for six years.” It
is time to rectify this way of thinking. I call on our
Congress to examine our Civil Service Code and PD1,
so that we can revise these at the earliest possible
time. I support the development of mechanisms that
will restore the integrity of public service; that will
ensure that only honest, capable, and principled civil
servants will be allowed to enter and remain in
government service.

And now, let’s allow our countrymen to share the

transformations taking place in their lives:

[Video starts. The following is a translation of the video transcript.]

“My name is Violeta S. Abuque. We didn’t have [the
Conditional Cash Transfer Program] before. Life was
hard, you didn’t have any money, and you couldn’t
approach anyone to ask for help because they didn’t
have anything either.

“We were very happy that when DSWD launched their

program, it covered even those of us living in the
mountains. This program will help me put my
children to school. We’ve realized how important it is
to invest in your children’s education; they’ll have a
different life from our ancestors who couldn’t even
write their own names.

“I am very thankful for the [Conditional Cash

Transfer] program, and to everyone who has
supported this.”

— Violeta S. Abuque, CCT beneficiary

“Before, my children couldn’t even bring food to eat

in school—but now they can, and they even have
breakfast.

“You really have to fulfill the conditions that come

with the program. And, of course, you have to find a
way to complement and augment the help they’ve
given you. So every week, my child and I make some
peanut butter and sell it.

“I am very grateful that I’m part of the [Conditional

Cash Transfer] program, because it has been a really
big help to my family.”

— Dulce Panaligan, CCT beneficiary

“I went back to selling balut [fertilized duck eggs]

while I was looking for a job. And then I heard that
TESDA was holding trainings. I read up on these, and
I registered. I’m very happy with how the TESDA
program has helped me with my job-seeking. I’ve
used what I’ve learned, so I can get a better life, so I
can learn more things—especially applying what I’ve
learned to my job.”

— Emerson Paguia, TESDA scholar, IT Web Developer

“On 6:45 in the morning of April 2, I was on my way

to the PCCR review center. A mugger entered the
jeep, and on the Nagtahan flyover, declared a
robbery. He held me at knifepoint, and when I
struggled, he stabbed me on the thigh, but I got the
knife from him. Before he got off the jeep, I stuck the
knife in his back. I chased after him, and we were
both bleeding. This was probably what got the
people’s attention, which eventually led to the
mugger’s arrest.

“I’m always aware of the oath I took, to serve our

citizens. To my fellow police officers: Let us always
do what is right, and what is for the good of the
country—at the same time, what will reflect well on
what we’re doing as PNP.”

— PO3 Edlyn Arbo, Philippine National Police

“I was assigned to Police Station 4 from 2006 to

2012. I was given a spot meritorious promotion by
the President, probably because of my apprehension
of some of Bacolod City’s most wanted criminals.
Last Saturday, I used the new gun the President had
given me recently, to apprehend notorious car
burglars here in Bacolod City.

“We do our jobs even if it’s difficult, even if we have

to put our lives on the line—we do it so we can serve
our fellowmen and our country.”

— PO3 Felipe Moncatar, Philippine National Police

“My car broke down along Quezon Avenue, just after

the tunnel. A policeman arrived after fifteen minutes,
and he really helped me out—he even tried to lift the
car with his bare hands. So I was thinking that,
eventually, he would ask for a reward. Then the
towing vehicle arrived, and they were about to tow
my car. But this policeman said: No, help first before
you haul.

“Out of gratitude, I tried to hand him 1,000 pesos for

his help. But he refused it. He told me: Our job is to
help the citizens. There has been positive change
among our police force. To PO Sultan, I salute you.”
— Armin Punzalan, businessman

“The Navy’s modernization program is not just about

equipment—it’s all about the welfare of our ranks.
Everyone can see this—not just me, but all of my
colleagues in the Philippine Navy; we are all very
happy with the reforms we’ve seen.

“We’re experiencing the returns of the President’s

straight and righteous path. We’re happy now, we do
not want of anything. I tell my colleagues: The
government has been giving us so much, and we just
need to do our jobs well in return—to give back to
the country, to give back to the people.”

— Lt. Commander Desuasido, Philippine Navy

[Video ends]

Our country has never lacked for people prepared to

take a stand and fight for our country regardless of
the enormity of the challenges before them. There is
the courage of Commodore Ramon Alcaraz during
the Second World War. In a small wooden Q-Boat, he
took on nine Japanese Zero fighters—then
considered among the most modern planes; three of
these, he shot down. In fact, he would have
continued fighting had he not received an order from
his superiors to surrender. This type of bravery is
what our soldiers display every day as they patrol
our most remote mountains and our farthest islands;
soldiers who continuously bear the distance from
their families, who proudly stand their ground
against anyone who challenges our sovereignty. It is
no exaggeration either when I say that the triumphs
we have achieved along the straight path might still
be distant aspirations had it not been for the
members of our Cabinet. When I asked them to join
the government, they knew their jobs were not going
to be easy. That they accepted the challenges was a
blessing. They took an oath to help in transforming
the country, and from the beginning, they have made
sacrifices every day so that the privilege of serving
you does not go to waste.

There are those like Secretary Albert del Rosario.

Going by tradition, a Secretary’s first official travel
outside the Philippines would be to a country with
whom we enjoy strong and peaceful relations. But
only a few hours after taking his oath as Foreign
Affairs Secretary, Secretary del Rosario only took
the time to possibly pack a change of clothes before
immediately flying to Libya. He went through more
than twenty checkpoints in the middle of crossfire
and led the evacuation of more than 20,000 Filipinos
who were caught in the conflict in Libya. You might
also be surprised to hear the nationalities of the men
and women we also ended up evacuating. Truly, the
Philippines is different today: From a country that
was always just the recipient of help, we have
become a country capable of providing help.
All things considered, Secretary Albert could have
said “no” to working in government. He is a
successful and respected businessman, and,
certainly, he would be much more comfortable living
a private life. He had also already served as
ambassador to America. He could have become
disillusioned after being removed from his position,
because he opposed the past administration’s
declaration of a State of Emergency back in 2006.
But we asked him to return to government, and he
did. Now, he is contributing even more as Secretary.
He is ready to put himself in harm’s way, because he
knows that no one else will save Filipinos but fellow
Filipinos. For continuing to stand up for our rights, I
salute you, Secretary Albert del Rosario.

We also know that excellent public servants do not

just transform a society; they inspire. Millions of
Filipinos grieved when Jesse Robredo passed. For
almost two decades, he served and led Naga with
skill, compassion, and humility. These principles of
his are the exact reasons we borrowed him from
Congresswoman Leni and their three children, and
from the Nagueños, so that he could become part of
our Cabinet. This is why one of the hardest things I
ever had to do as President was to deliver the news
to Leni and their daughters, after the tragedy.

Apart from grieving, I could not avoid blaming myself

for what happened to Jesse. Maybe if I had not
asked him to join my Cabinet, he would still be alive
today. Maybe if he had remained in Naga, he would
still be with us. Maybe there would still be a Jesse
Robredo in public service today.

But I also know that Jesse would not allow the

transformation and righting of society to end with
him. Jesse and I were only given opportunities to
serve the country because of all of you. We cannot
have just one face for transformation and change.
We should not have to wait another hundred years
before the next good citizen is born, before the next
good Filipino rises to the occasion.

There are those who always ask: What will happen in

2016? What will happen when you step down? Will
that be the end of good, honest governance? Will we
have reached the end of the straight and righteous
path?

My Bosses, let us remember: where did we begin? If

you have doubts now, compare them with the doubts
we all carried in 2010. Were we not happy enough
then just to see the darkness end? Was it not enough
for us to be able to replace those in power?

Now, we are experiencing change. Change that has

sprung from the seeds of kindness, solidarity, and
good will; change that was brought about by the
millions of Filipinos who have, in their own ways, big
and small, pitched in and transformed the country.

And just look at where working together as one

people has brought us: Did anyone imagine that
peace would be within reach for a region that has,
for the past 40 years, been torn apart by conflict?
Who else could be responsible for this but the Moros
who laid down their arms and said: “Come. Let’s talk.
I trust you.” Who else but the common Filipino
citizen who said: “Brother, we are all Filipinos. Let us
put an end to this conflict.”

When the Pantawid Pamilya program was initially

proposed, there were some who asked: How could
we possibly achieve the program’s desired effects;
where are the funds to cover all poor Filipinos? Did
anyone imagine that in just three years, we will have
expanded the scope of our project to cover 4 million
household beneficiaries? And isn’t it they themselves
who continue to help this program succeed? Each
mother who wakes up early to send her child off to
school? Each child that studies hard?

Did anyone imagine that from importing millions of

tons of rice, we would be 94 percent rice self-
sufficient by the end of 2012? Did anyone imagine
that a country known as the “Sick Man of Asia”
would, within three years of good governance, reach
investment-grade status? Who would have thought
that all the social interventions the government is
providing right now would be doable without raising
taxes, apart from the Sin Tax? And did they not have
a part in this—each accountant, each doctor, each
lawyer who now pays the right taxes? Didn’t we all
have a part in this?

Is there any space left for doubt? Especially now

that we are achieving things we never thought we
could achieve; especially now that we have made
progress—that our shared goals are within reach? My
Bosses: Is this really the time for doubt?

For every Filipino who believes in the strength of

small acts of kindness: You made this transformation
possible. This is your SONA.

For every teacher who wakes at dawn just to teach

children in far-flung areas: This is your SONA. For
every policeman who serves and asks for nothing in
return: This is your SONA.

For every Filipino who, unhappy with the list of

candidates in an election, chose to knock on the
doors of your neighbors to say: “We can’t be content.
Let us find a rightful leader together,” this is your
SONA.

For every student who strives to be aware of social

issues, and does not just complain on Facebook but
actually proposes solutions: This is your SONA.
For Brigadier General Ramon Mateo Dizon, the soon-
to-retire head of the PSG, who stood alongside me
even in facing coups d’état during my mother’s term:
Up until my presidency, you have protected me, and
my first and official family. I am able to go to
different countries and to far corners of the
Philippines with full confidence. Chito, you have
done your part in changing our country. You are truly
loyal to your flag, to the Constitution, and to the
Filipino people. Of course, you could not have
accomplished all this without your wife Jo-ann by
your side. This SONA is for both of you as well.

And to all who roused their fellow citizens from

apathy, those who challenged the cynics in our
midst, and those who made the stubborn see reason:
This is your SONA.

The road ahead of us is long; and we never said it

would be easy—or that we could tread this path free
of challenge. But I do not doubt our capacity to
overcome any obstacle. We did not achieve our
current success by chance. Let us not allow this
transformation to be temporary; let us seize this
opportunity to make the change permanent.

This is our fourth SONA. When I was a congressman,

the people of Tarlac were my strength. When I
became a senator and until now, in my Presidency,
the people of our country have been there.
Philippines, you are my strength. As we continue
doing our part—and as we continue placing faith in
our fellowmen and in God—I tell you: It will still be
you who will make certain that what we have begun
here will continue; you will be the ones who will
make sure that we will completely eradicate
corruption; you will be the ones who will make sure
that we will never again stray from the straight and
righteous path.

Once, I was told: “Noynoy, just begin the change.” So

we did, and we can all see how far we have come.
Now, my countrymen, let us continue to stand arm-
in-arm. Together, let us foster, accelerate, and
expand the transformation of society. I am Noynoy
Aquino, and I proudly say to the world: I am a
Filipino. How wonderful it is to be a Filipino in these
times.

Thank you.