MANILA, Philippines - Twenty-six years after regaining democracy, Filipinos still struggle against hunger, poverty and injustice, President Benigno 'Noynoy' Aquino said Saturday.
Aquino said that while Filipinos were able to wrest back their freedom following a bloodless revolution against the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos, the fight for basic rights and better lives remains.
"Ang rebolusyon sa EDSA ang nagsilbing lunsaran...hanggang sa kasalukuyan ay hindi pa tapos ang rebolusyong ito (The revolution in EDSA was the launching ground...but till now, the revolution has not ended),"Aquino said in his speech at the People Power Monument along EDSA.
While the fight against corruption, hunger, poverty and injustice goes on, Aquino said, significant victories have been won. The President enumerated the country's economic achievements under his administration, and highlighted the Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) program launched by the government to aid poor families.
Aquino said 2.3 million families received cash from the government in 2011, a figure that exceeded their target beneficiaries by 45,000 families.
Under the CCT program, chosen beneficiaries receive P500 monthly subsidy for food plus an additional P300 for every child that goes to school. Aquino expects to extend the reach of the CCT program to 3 million families before the year ends.
Meanwhile, Aquino said the country's economy has experienced significant gains. He reported that the Philippine Stock exchange has recorded 16 "all-time highs" under his government.
"Hindi naman siguro pagyayabang ang tawag dito, resulta po ang tawag dito (This isn't bragging but clear results)," he said.
Aquino also said that the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) attracted over P2-trillion in "record-breaking" investments from 1995 till February 2012. He added that 22 percent of PEZA's gains came when he was elected in 2010.
Aquino also relayed the independent report by the Japan External Trade Organization, which placed the country at the top of the most suitable country for investments in the manufacturing and sevices sectors.
Based from the survey, the country topped the list for having the cheapest rates in labor, rentals and land prices, while maintaining competency among its labor pool.
Aquino said that based from these achievements, a lot has changed 26 years after EDSA.
"Ang tawag dito dedikasyon, ang tawag dito malasakit, and tawag dito matuwid na daan," he said.
Aquino left shortly after delivering his speech and went with a convoy to the Luneta Park for a separate ceremony commemorating the People Power revolution. The President unveiled there the monument of the late Manila Archbishop Jaime Cardinal Sin, who was at the forefront of mobilizng people to gather at EDSA in 1986.
source: interaksyon.com
