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Guest
(Part 1)
STATE OF THE NATION ADDRESS President of the Republic of the Philippines
Her Excellency PRESIDENT GLORIA MACAPAGAL-ARROYO
Monday, July 23, 2007
Thank you. Thank you very much Speaker De Venecia, Senate President
Villar, other newly elected leaders of both Houses, congratulations to
you, Senators and Congressmen and Congresswomen. Vice President De
Castro, former President Ramos, Chief Justice Puno, our host Mayor, Mayor
Sonny Belmonte, other government officials, members of the Diplomatic
Corps, ladies and gentlemen.
We meet here today to inaugurate a new Congress after a freshelection. I
congratulate every elected official, from municipal to provincial to
Congress on hard fought and successful campaigns.
Tapos na ang halalan at pamumulitika; panahon na para maglingkod nang
walang damot, mamuno nang walang pangamba maliban sa kagalingan ng
bayan, and to govern with wisdom, compassion, vision and patriotism.
Hangarin kong mapabilang ang Pilipinas sa mayayamang bansa sa loob ng
dalawampung taon. By then poverty shall have been marginalized; and
the marginalized raised to a robust middle class.
We will have achieved the hallmarks of a modern society, where
institutions are strong.
By 2010, the Philippines should be well on its way to achieving that
vision.
With the tax reforms of the last Congress, and I thanked the last
Congress, we have turned around our macroeconomic condition through
fiscal discipline, toward a balanced budget. Binabayaran ang utang, pababa
ang interes, at paakyat ang pondo para sa progreso ng sambayanang
Pilipino!!! Maraming salamat ulit sa nakaraang Congress.
We have been investing hundreds of billions in human and physical
infrastructure. The next three years will see record levels of well
thought out and generous funding for the following priorities:
First, investments in physical, intellectual, legal and security
infrastructure to increase business confidence. Imprastraktura para sa
negosyo at trabaho. Isang milyong trabaho taon-taon.
Second, investments in a stronger and wider social safety net - murang
gamot, abot-kayang pabahay, eskwelang primera klase, mga gurong mas
magaling at mas malaki ang kita, mga librong de-kalidad, more scholarships
for gifted students, and language instruction to maintain
our lead in English proficiency. Dunong at kalusugan ang susi sa
kasaganaan.
Third, investments in bringing peace to Mindanao; in crushing terrorism
wherever it threatens regardless of ideology; and in putting a stop to
human rights abuses whatever the excuse.
We pay tribute to the fearless fourteen who were savagely massacred at
Tipo-Tipo trying to pursue a peaceful and progressive Philippines. We
will not disappoint their hopes. We will not waste their sacrifice. We
will not be swayed from the course we have set in this conflict for peace
with justice throughout our land.
We have created a Philippine model for reconciliation built on inter-faith
dialogue, expanded public works and more responsive social services. These
investments show both sides in the Mindanao conflict that they have more
at stake in common; and a greater reason to be together than hang apart,
including being together isolating the terrorists.
Imprastraktura ang haliging nagtitindig hindi lamang ng kapayapaan kundi
ng ating buong makabagong ekonomiya: mga kalsada, tulay, paliparan,
public parks and power plants.
Last year I unveiled the Super Regions - Mindanao, Central Philippines,
North Luzon Agribusiness Quadrangle, Luzon Urban Beltway and the Cyber
Corridor - to spread development away from an inequitable concentration
in Metro Manila. Hindi lamang Maynila ang Pilipinas.
The Super Regions was not a gimmick for the occasion but the blueprint for
building a future.
In Mindanao, our food basket, I said we would prioritize agribusiness
investments. And I am happy to see that the latest survey in June shows
the hunger rate has sharply gone down nationwide. We have done that.
The Departments of Agriculture, Agrarian Reform, and Environment and
Natural Resources will devote 30 percent of their program budgets to
Mindanao. DAR will move to Davao.
Dapat maging daan sa tagumpay sa agribusiness ang reporma sa lupa. Done
right, reform will democratize success, as Ramon Magsaysay and Diosdado
Macapagal envisioned. We must reform agrarian reform so it can transform
beneficiaries into agribusinessmen and other
agribusiness women.
Sa gayon, dadami pa ang mga tampok na magsasaka gaya ng mga nagwagi ng
Gawad Saka, sina Ananias Cuado ng Comval at Demetrio Tabelon ng
Butuan; at Nelson Taladhay ng Sultan Kudarat, pangunahing agrarian reform
beneficiary ng 2007. We also have outstanding farmers from the
other superregions, like Joseph Fernando and Heherson Pagulayan, Nestor
Bautista, Joseph Lomibao, Arturo Marcaida, Peter Uy, Arturo
Pasacas and Glenn Saludar.
Sa anim na taon nagtayo tayo at nag-ayos ng patubig para sa isang milyong
ektarya sa buong bansa - pinakamalaki sa matagal na panahon.
Magtatayo tayo ng mariculture o palaisdaan sa dagat. Isa rito ay ilalagay
natin sa Sibutu. Hiling ito ni Nur Jaafar.
Para sa buong bansa naglaan tayo ng P3 billion para sa tatlong libong
kilometro ng farm to market roads. Sanlibong kilometro sa Mindanao.
Gawa na ang tatlong daan.
The road and RORO network has cut the cost of bringing agribusiness
products from Mindanao to Luzon. A 10-wheeler used to pay P32 thousand
from Dapitan to Batangas. Now it pays P11 thousand. Fresh fish that cost
P20 thousand a ton to move, now travels at P14 thousand.
Construction is criss-crossing Mindanao: Dapitan-Dakak to bring Cely
Carreon's paradise closer to civilization;
Sibuco-Siraway- Siocon-Baliguian ; Dinagat Island Network, a baptismal
gift for Glenda Ecleo's new province; the 66-kilometer Manay-Mati section
of Davao-Surigao; and Maguindanao- Lebak, Sim Datumanong's brainchild when
he headed DPWH.
We want better airports, new bridges and ample energy for Mindanao's
rising economy.
The Dipolog and Pagadian airports will be improved by year's end. Also the
Cotabato airport. No doubt eagerly awaited by Au Cerilles, Rolando
Yebes, Digs Dilangalen, Ros Labadlabad and Victor Yu, and Mayors Evelyn
Uy and Sammy Co.
Last July 10 we inaugurated the P1.7 billion, 900 meter bridge in Butuan,
built on the initiative of Mayor Boy Daku Plaza, near the P4 billion
second-generation flood control project that we also built. The first was
built by my father after the great Butuan flood of the 1960's. Kailangan
ipagtanggol ang kapaligiran at mamamayan sa sakuna.
In Agusan del Norte, I hope Edel Amante will be happy with our plans to
pilot micro agribusiness in Jabonga.
On July 8, Ozamis Airport opened, bankrolled partly by Leo Ocampos, Aldo
Parojinog and Hermie Ramiro's congressional fund. Now, that's the
kind of pork that has good cholesterol.
At that occasion the MOU was signed for the Pangil Bay Bridge that will
connect Ozamis to Lanao del Norte and Iligan. As urged by Bobby
Dimaporo, I declared Mt. Inayawan Range a protected nature park. On Mayor
Lawrence Cruz's recommendation, I instruct DPWH to build the
Iligan Circumferential Road.
In 2001, we opened a solar plant in Cagayan de Oro. Still, Mindanao faced
a 100-megawatt gap by 2009 out now a 210-megawatt clean coal
plant in Phividec will fill that gap. We count on Oca Moreno and Tinex
Jaraula to continue providing a good investment climate.
We thank Miriam Defensor-Santiago and Migz Zubiri for sponsoring the
Biofuels Law in the last Congress. We now have 160 thousand hectares
of jatropha nurseries in Bukidnon and 30,000 in General Santos. Jatropha
is a 100% substitute for diesel, with only 5% of its
emission.
Mindanao's energy challenge lies not in generating power but in power
lines. Terrorists target transmission towers. We must resolutely apply
the Human Security Act. This act was first filed by Johnny Enrile in 1996,
3 years after the first World Trade Center bombing, 4 years
before the Rizal Day bombing and 5 years before 9/11. He ably crafted the
final Senate version with Senate President Manny Villar and Nene
Pimentel.
Let's now go to Central Philippines, our tourism super region:
* We protect its natural wonders and provide the means to travel to those
wonders.
* For Boracay, the leading overall destination, the Kalibo Airport is now
international with an instrument landing system as we said last
year. Next is an P80 million terminal on request of Joben Miraflores.
* The Aklan-Libertad- Pandan Road, waiting for Japan to approve the
contractors, will connect Boracay to the nature park we declared in
Northwest Panay Peninsula. We are improving other Panay roads and
building the road from the Iloilo Airport which we inaugurated in Santa
Barbara to Iloilo and the Metro Radial Road that Mayor Jerry Trenas asked
for when we inaugurated the airport, Art Defensor conceived the airport
when he was governor, Governor Neil Tupaz midwifed its delivery when we
inaugurated the airport, I said . * Iloilo connects to Guimaras via
Jordan Wharf. We thank Congress for the P900 million oil spill calamity
fund to save the environment of Guimaras. I thank once again the previous
Congress. It is back on its feet. The other side of the island will
connect to Bacolod soon because we started building the Sibunag RORO Port
last May on recommendation of Governor, now Congressman, Rahman Nava.
* Bacolod-Silay Airport, near the nature park we declared in Northern
Negros, is completed and just awaiting the access road requested by
Monico Puentavella.
* We awarded the contract for upgrading the Dumaguete airport as I
reported to George Arnaiz last week.
* Boracay investors are expanding in Palawan, whose Tubbataha Reefs we
declared a nature park. After the Puerto Princesa-Roxas Road last
year, we opened Taytay-El Nido in March. The P1 billion Taytay-Roxas
section is ongoing. San Vicente airstrip and Busuanga Airport are
under construction. And Mayor Hagedorn is reminding us to work on the
Puerto Princesa terminal.
* Under construction are airport aprons of the surfing edens: Governor Ben
Evardone's pet project in Guiuan and Lalo Matugas's home town in
Siargao.
* A 100-megawatt energy gap looms in the Visayas in 2009. The Korea
Electric plant in Cebu will plug in 200 megawatts only in 2010 so
there's a one year gap. Meantime three power barges will supply 100
megawatts and the Panay diesel power plant will increase its run from
70 megawatts to 100.
* In Central Cebu, we proclaimed a nature park. From Cebu, the top
destination for foreign tourists, they can easily radiate to other
destinations. Optimism is infectious, and opportunity irresistible.
Progress follows progress. Someone, even government, just has to get
it started.
* Going south, Cebu connects to Tubigon and on to Ubay, Jagna and Panglao
through the Bohol Circumferential Road that we inaugurated
last May 9. The local government has acquired 85 percent of the land for
the international airport on Panglao Island, now a tourism
destination of its own.
* Ubay links to Maasin RORO Port which was completed last October. Now I
hope there will be more divers for Mian Mercado.
* Jagna RORO Port opened last May 9. It will connect to Loloy Romualdo's
Mambajao in November, and on to Guinsiliban, the gateway to
Mindanao.
STATE OF THE NATION ADDRESS President of the Republic of the Philippines
Her Excellency PRESIDENT GLORIA MACAPAGAL-ARROYO
Monday, July 23, 2007
Thank you. Thank you very much Speaker De Venecia, Senate President
Villar, other newly elected leaders of both Houses, congratulations to
you, Senators and Congressmen and Congresswomen. Vice President De
Castro, former President Ramos, Chief Justice Puno, our host Mayor, Mayor
Sonny Belmonte, other government officials, members of the Diplomatic
Corps, ladies and gentlemen.
We meet here today to inaugurate a new Congress after a freshelection. I
congratulate every elected official, from municipal to provincial to
Congress on hard fought and successful campaigns.
Tapos na ang halalan at pamumulitika; panahon na para maglingkod nang
walang damot, mamuno nang walang pangamba maliban sa kagalingan ng
bayan, and to govern with wisdom, compassion, vision and patriotism.
Hangarin kong mapabilang ang Pilipinas sa mayayamang bansa sa loob ng
dalawampung taon. By then poverty shall have been marginalized; and
the marginalized raised to a robust middle class.
We will have achieved the hallmarks of a modern society, where
institutions are strong.
By 2010, the Philippines should be well on its way to achieving that
vision.
With the tax reforms of the last Congress, and I thanked the last
Congress, we have turned around our macroeconomic condition through
fiscal discipline, toward a balanced budget. Binabayaran ang utang, pababa
ang interes, at paakyat ang pondo para sa progreso ng sambayanang
Pilipino!!! Maraming salamat ulit sa nakaraang Congress.
We have been investing hundreds of billions in human and physical
infrastructure. The next three years will see record levels of well
thought out and generous funding for the following priorities:
First, investments in physical, intellectual, legal and security
infrastructure to increase business confidence. Imprastraktura para sa
negosyo at trabaho. Isang milyong trabaho taon-taon.
Second, investments in a stronger and wider social safety net - murang
gamot, abot-kayang pabahay, eskwelang primera klase, mga gurong mas
magaling at mas malaki ang kita, mga librong de-kalidad, more scholarships
for gifted students, and language instruction to maintain
our lead in English proficiency. Dunong at kalusugan ang susi sa
kasaganaan.
Third, investments in bringing peace to Mindanao; in crushing terrorism
wherever it threatens regardless of ideology; and in putting a stop to
human rights abuses whatever the excuse.
We pay tribute to the fearless fourteen who were savagely massacred at
Tipo-Tipo trying to pursue a peaceful and progressive Philippines. We
will not disappoint their hopes. We will not waste their sacrifice. We
will not be swayed from the course we have set in this conflict for peace
with justice throughout our land.
We have created a Philippine model for reconciliation built on inter-faith
dialogue, expanded public works and more responsive social services. These
investments show both sides in the Mindanao conflict that they have more
at stake in common; and a greater reason to be together than hang apart,
including being together isolating the terrorists.
Imprastraktura ang haliging nagtitindig hindi lamang ng kapayapaan kundi
ng ating buong makabagong ekonomiya: mga kalsada, tulay, paliparan,
public parks and power plants.
Last year I unveiled the Super Regions - Mindanao, Central Philippines,
North Luzon Agribusiness Quadrangle, Luzon Urban Beltway and the Cyber
Corridor - to spread development away from an inequitable concentration
in Metro Manila. Hindi lamang Maynila ang Pilipinas.
The Super Regions was not a gimmick for the occasion but the blueprint for
building a future.
In Mindanao, our food basket, I said we would prioritize agribusiness
investments. And I am happy to see that the latest survey in June shows
the hunger rate has sharply gone down nationwide. We have done that.
The Departments of Agriculture, Agrarian Reform, and Environment and
Natural Resources will devote 30 percent of their program budgets to
Mindanao. DAR will move to Davao.
Dapat maging daan sa tagumpay sa agribusiness ang reporma sa lupa. Done
right, reform will democratize success, as Ramon Magsaysay and Diosdado
Macapagal envisioned. We must reform agrarian reform so it can transform
beneficiaries into agribusinessmen and other
agribusiness women.
Sa gayon, dadami pa ang mga tampok na magsasaka gaya ng mga nagwagi ng
Gawad Saka, sina Ananias Cuado ng Comval at Demetrio Tabelon ng
Butuan; at Nelson Taladhay ng Sultan Kudarat, pangunahing agrarian reform
beneficiary ng 2007. We also have outstanding farmers from the
other superregions, like Joseph Fernando and Heherson Pagulayan, Nestor
Bautista, Joseph Lomibao, Arturo Marcaida, Peter Uy, Arturo
Pasacas and Glenn Saludar.
Sa anim na taon nagtayo tayo at nag-ayos ng patubig para sa isang milyong
ektarya sa buong bansa - pinakamalaki sa matagal na panahon.
Magtatayo tayo ng mariculture o palaisdaan sa dagat. Isa rito ay ilalagay
natin sa Sibutu. Hiling ito ni Nur Jaafar.
Para sa buong bansa naglaan tayo ng P3 billion para sa tatlong libong
kilometro ng farm to market roads. Sanlibong kilometro sa Mindanao.
Gawa na ang tatlong daan.
The road and RORO network has cut the cost of bringing agribusiness
products from Mindanao to Luzon. A 10-wheeler used to pay P32 thousand
from Dapitan to Batangas. Now it pays P11 thousand. Fresh fish that cost
P20 thousand a ton to move, now travels at P14 thousand.
Construction is criss-crossing Mindanao: Dapitan-Dakak to bring Cely
Carreon's paradise closer to civilization;
Sibuco-Siraway- Siocon-Baliguian ; Dinagat Island Network, a baptismal
gift for Glenda Ecleo's new province; the 66-kilometer Manay-Mati section
of Davao-Surigao; and Maguindanao- Lebak, Sim Datumanong's brainchild when
he headed DPWH.
We want better airports, new bridges and ample energy for Mindanao's
rising economy.
The Dipolog and Pagadian airports will be improved by year's end. Also the
Cotabato airport. No doubt eagerly awaited by Au Cerilles, Rolando
Yebes, Digs Dilangalen, Ros Labadlabad and Victor Yu, and Mayors Evelyn
Uy and Sammy Co.
Last July 10 we inaugurated the P1.7 billion, 900 meter bridge in Butuan,
built on the initiative of Mayor Boy Daku Plaza, near the P4 billion
second-generation flood control project that we also built. The first was
built by my father after the great Butuan flood of the 1960's. Kailangan
ipagtanggol ang kapaligiran at mamamayan sa sakuna.
In Agusan del Norte, I hope Edel Amante will be happy with our plans to
pilot micro agribusiness in Jabonga.
On July 8, Ozamis Airport opened, bankrolled partly by Leo Ocampos, Aldo
Parojinog and Hermie Ramiro's congressional fund. Now, that's the
kind of pork that has good cholesterol.
At that occasion the MOU was signed for the Pangil Bay Bridge that will
connect Ozamis to Lanao del Norte and Iligan. As urged by Bobby
Dimaporo, I declared Mt. Inayawan Range a protected nature park. On Mayor
Lawrence Cruz's recommendation, I instruct DPWH to build the
Iligan Circumferential Road.
In 2001, we opened a solar plant in Cagayan de Oro. Still, Mindanao faced
a 100-megawatt gap by 2009 out now a 210-megawatt clean coal
plant in Phividec will fill that gap. We count on Oca Moreno and Tinex
Jaraula to continue providing a good investment climate.
We thank Miriam Defensor-Santiago and Migz Zubiri for sponsoring the
Biofuels Law in the last Congress. We now have 160 thousand hectares
of jatropha nurseries in Bukidnon and 30,000 in General Santos. Jatropha
is a 100% substitute for diesel, with only 5% of its
emission.
Mindanao's energy challenge lies not in generating power but in power
lines. Terrorists target transmission towers. We must resolutely apply
the Human Security Act. This act was first filed by Johnny Enrile in 1996,
3 years after the first World Trade Center bombing, 4 years
before the Rizal Day bombing and 5 years before 9/11. He ably crafted the
final Senate version with Senate President Manny Villar and Nene
Pimentel.
Let's now go to Central Philippines, our tourism super region:
* We protect its natural wonders and provide the means to travel to those
wonders.
* For Boracay, the leading overall destination, the Kalibo Airport is now
international with an instrument landing system as we said last
year. Next is an P80 million terminal on request of Joben Miraflores.
* The Aklan-Libertad- Pandan Road, waiting for Japan to approve the
contractors, will connect Boracay to the nature park we declared in
Northwest Panay Peninsula. We are improving other Panay roads and
building the road from the Iloilo Airport which we inaugurated in Santa
Barbara to Iloilo and the Metro Radial Road that Mayor Jerry Trenas asked
for when we inaugurated the airport, Art Defensor conceived the airport
when he was governor, Governor Neil Tupaz midwifed its delivery when we
inaugurated the airport, I said . * Iloilo connects to Guimaras via
Jordan Wharf. We thank Congress for the P900 million oil spill calamity
fund to save the environment of Guimaras. I thank once again the previous
Congress. It is back on its feet. The other side of the island will
connect to Bacolod soon because we started building the Sibunag RORO Port
last May on recommendation of Governor, now Congressman, Rahman Nava.
* Bacolod-Silay Airport, near the nature park we declared in Northern
Negros, is completed and just awaiting the access road requested by
Monico Puentavella.
* We awarded the contract for upgrading the Dumaguete airport as I
reported to George Arnaiz last week.
* Boracay investors are expanding in Palawan, whose Tubbataha Reefs we
declared a nature park. After the Puerto Princesa-Roxas Road last
year, we opened Taytay-El Nido in March. The P1 billion Taytay-Roxas
section is ongoing. San Vicente airstrip and Busuanga Airport are
under construction. And Mayor Hagedorn is reminding us to work on the
Puerto Princesa terminal.
* Under construction are airport aprons of the surfing edens: Governor Ben
Evardone's pet project in Guiuan and Lalo Matugas's home town in
Siargao.
* A 100-megawatt energy gap looms in the Visayas in 2009. The Korea
Electric plant in Cebu will plug in 200 megawatts only in 2010 so
there's a one year gap. Meantime three power barges will supply 100
megawatts and the Panay diesel power plant will increase its run from
70 megawatts to 100.
* In Central Cebu, we proclaimed a nature park. From Cebu, the top
destination for foreign tourists, they can easily radiate to other
destinations. Optimism is infectious, and opportunity irresistible.
Progress follows progress. Someone, even government, just has to get
it started.
* Going south, Cebu connects to Tubigon and on to Ubay, Jagna and Panglao
through the Bohol Circumferential Road that we inaugurated
last May 9. The local government has acquired 85 percent of the land for
the international airport on Panglao Island, now a tourism
destination of its own.
* Ubay links to Maasin RORO Port which was completed last October. Now I
hope there will be more divers for Mian Mercado.
* Jagna RORO Port opened last May 9. It will connect to Loloy Romualdo's
Mambajao in November, and on to Guinsiliban, the gateway to
Mindanao.
very long.. i just posted this bacause I want other people to know what really our President aims for us for her new term.. 
