videograb from NBN-4
HOLDING BOTH A CARROT AND A STICK, President Benigno S. Aquino III alternated bountiful praise and stinging criticism as he cited both the successes and the remaining challenges in the last half of his term during his fourth State of the Nation Address during the opening of the 16th Congress Monday.
The President also vowed that his administration would focus on more inclusive growth so that the economic development bannered by his administration in the last two years would trickle down to the poor. The President however demanded wider and more inclusive citizen, civil society, and civil service participation in his campaign to rid the government of corruption. The President cited the need for a transformation of both the government bureaucracy and the citizenry into more active partners of his administration.
But while the President made sweeping declarations in his SONA, he somehow failed to make any mention of several issues that human rights and civil society organizations have been hoping for: freedom of information, human rights violations, media murders, and the culture of impunity.
“Ang stratehiya, sagarin ang oportunidad para sa lahat, lalo na para sa mga mas nangangailangan,” the President said. “Hindi natin pakay maghintay ng trickle down; hindi puwedeng baka sakali o tsamba lang silang daratnan ng mga biyaya ng kaunlaran. Ito pong tinatawag nating inclusive growth—itong malawakang kaunlaran—ang mismong prinsipyong bukal ng bawat inisyatiba, bawat kilos, bawat desisyon ng inyong gobyerno. Ang maiiwan na lamang ay ang ayaw sumama, dahil hindi sinamantala ang pagkakataon.”
(Our strategy is to maximize opportunities for everyone, especially for those most in need. We will not wait for trickle-down; we cannot leave it to chance. What we call inclusive growth, or widespread development, is the principle that is behind every initiative, every action, every decision we make. Only those who do not wish to come with us will be left behind, only those who do not take advantage of this.)
The President made the statement as he bannered the 6.8 percent growth of the economy in 2012, and a first quarter growth of 7.8 percent in 2013. The President said that this was the highest gross domestic product growth in east and southeast asia.
As well, the President cited glowing statements from international and multilateral institutions about the Philippines, being called “the rising tiger” by the World Bank, or “the brightest spark” by the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales.
The President also reported to Congress what he deemed were major victories in the first half of his term, particularly in the issues of corruption and development.
- Increased coverage of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program from 700,000 families in 2010 to 4 million; as well, inclusion of families with children up to 18 years old;
- Significant percentage of TESDA graduates who are now employed
- Removal of the deficit for textbooks and school desks and seats
- Reduction in the prices of textbooks purchased for public schools
- A significant reduction in rice imports, from 2 million metric tons in 2010 to only 350,000 metric tons in 2013
- The listing of qualified beneficiaries of farmers in the Aquino-Cojuangco owned Hacienda Luisita, now under the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program; The President says he expects land titles to be given out by September this year.
- Eighty one percent of Filipinos now covered by Philhealth
But the President also gave Congress a long wishlist for the remainder of his term in office, including:
- Amendments to the Cabotage Law, the law governing transportation of passengers and cargo, to foster stronger competition and lower transportation costs.
- A Fiscal Incentives Rationalization Bill, to address concerns that some industries and businesses are being given too much incentives while others are not
- A land administration reform bill
- And the Basic Law for the proposed Bangsamoro autonomous government in Mindanao
Unfortunately, the President again failed to make mention or endorse the long-delayed Freedom of Information bill for the fourth consecutive SONA. Transparency advocates have been calling the President into account for his failure to endorse the measure despite his earlier campaign promises that it would get priority. Legislators have repeatedly cited the President’s apparent disinterest in the FOI bill for their refusal to make the measure a priority. As well, the President failed to make any mention of the issues of extrajudicial killings and the murders of mediamen in the country. These are issues that have carried over to his term despite his earlier assurances that they would be addressed immediately.
“We are dismayed that President Aquino, in his State of the Nation Address today, chose not to talk about the continuing culture of impunity in the Philippines,” said James Ross, Legal and Policy Director of Human Rights Watch. “We are disappointed that he did not take the opportunity to communicate to the military and the police that they will be held accountable for human rights violations.”
“President Aquino’s failure to denounce abuses against outspoken activists, environmentalists, clergy, and journalists sends the wrong message to abusive security forces and corrupt politicians,” Ross added.
photo by Malacanang Photo Bureau
The President also called attention to what he sees as a looming problem with funding for pensions and social security. The President said that while the government appreciates the services of its soldiers and policemen, the amount set aside for their pensions is getting bigger and bigger by the year: P54 billion in 20012, P61 billion in 2013, and P80 billion by 2016. The President is asking Congress to review current laws to see how the pension mechanism could be adjusted.
As well, the President cited the ballooning unfunded liabilities of the Social Security System, now amounting to P1.1 trillion pesos. This, because across-the-board pension increases have occurred 21 times since 1980, while contributions have only gone up twice. In 28 years, the President said, the SSS will run out of money – unless Congress revises the SSS pension scheme.
While the President praised several government officials and agencies, he minced no words in singling out several government agencies and officials in his SONA. The President stressed the need for widespread reforms in the civil service to weed out corruption and inefficiency in the bureaucracy.
In particular, the President criticized the Bureau of Immigration, the National Irrigation Administration, and the Bureau of Customs, saying he was badly disappointed with the performance of their leaders. The President asked how former Governor Joel Reyes and his brother Mario Reyes could have gotten through Immigration to leave the country when there were arrest warrants already out against them. The Reyes brothers are accused of masterminding the murder of Palawan broadcaster Gerry Ortega.
The President has reportedly already accepted the resignation offered by Immigration Commissioner Ricardo David.
The President also singled out the National Irrigation Administration and its former administrator Antonio Nangel for what he said were unacceptable excuses for missing its targets. Nangel has since been replaced by Malacanang.
As well, the President also lashed out at the Bureau of Customs for its failure to stem the tide of arms, drugs, and illegal imports that are coming into the country. Here, the President also minced no words: “P200 billion ang kita na dumudulas, at hindi napupunta sa kaban ng bayan. Saan kayo nakakakuha ng kapal ng mukha?”
(P200 billion pesos in revenues are lost to government coffers. Where do you get the nerve to do this?)
Interestingly, the Customs Commissioner is former congressman Ruffy Biazon, a Liberal Party stalwart. There was no mention of Biazon in the speech, and there is no word yet on Biazon’s fate.
“Para naman po sa mga kawaning walang balak tumalikod sa kulturang wangwang: Tapos na ang pakikiusap. Nagkaroon kayo ng tatlong taon para ipakitang handa kayong umayos; ngayon, hahanapin, kung hindi pa kayo nahahanap, pero ‘yung ‘di talaga mahahanap, lalahatin na po natin kayong lahat; ngayon, pasensyahan tayo,” the President said.
(For those in government who refuse to abandon this attitude, the time for requests has ended. You had been given three years to shape up; now, we will look for you, and we will find you. No apologies here.)
The President then widened the net of criticism, citing what he said was an old problem in the civil service. The President pointed out that since the time of his mother, former President Corazon Aquino, he would hear of civil servants saying that they do not need to follow orders from Malacanang because the President only stays for six years while civil servants are there to stay.
The President appealed to Congress to review the Civil Service Code so that mechanisms could be put into place to take out erring civil servants. “Suportado ko ang pagbuo ng mekanismong magbabalik sa dangal ng serbisyo-publiko; na tanging mga tapat, mahuhusay at may prinsipyong mga lingkod-bayan lamang ang maaaring makapasok at manatili sa gobyerno,” the President said.
(I support a mechanism that will bring back the honor in public service. Only those who are loyal, efficient, and with principles should be allowed into the civil service.)