Ngayong malapit ng magtapos ang taon, naalala natin ang maraming bunga ng ating pagsusumikap, habang kinikinita naman natin ang marami pang kailangang gawin.

Sa dalawampung buwan kong panunungkulan sa bayan bilang inyong Pangulo, nakita ko ang sakripisyo at dedikasyon ng mga kapwa kong nanunungkulan sa Republika ng Pilipinas: ang mga government employees. Lubusan akong nagpapasalamat sa kanila, sa mga opisyal at empleyado sa mga opisina ng gobyerno, sa mga guro, sa mga sundalo’t pulis.

Hindi natin lubusang magagantimpalaan ang dedikasyon at paninilbihan sa ating mga government employees and men in uniform.

Mahigpit ang ating situwasyong pananalapi. Subalit sa gitna ng lahat ng kahirapang ito at matapos ayusin ang lahat ng natitirang cash resources ng ating Pamahalaan, ipinapahayag ko ngayon ang isiguradong pagkakaloob ng siguradong limang libong pisong (P5,000.00) cash gift sa lahat ng naglilingkod sa gobyerno, pati mga guro, pati mga sundalo. Sa nakaraang taon, hindi nakakakinabang itong cash gift na nakukuha ng ibang empleyado ng gobyerno. Ito ay ipapamahagi bago mag-akinse ng Disyembre.

Ang cash gift na ito ay isang munting pasasalamat ko, at ng Republika, sa ating mga government employees. This P 5,000.00 cash gift will be given to all government employees, even those who did not get it before, including teachers, soldiers and police officers.

Ang pamahalaan natin ay lubusang kinikilala ang kontribusyon ng lahat ng nagtratrabaho dito, anuman ang kanilang ranggo o saan man sila nakatalaga, sa pang-kalahatang tungkulin ng serbisyo publiko.

Ang lahat ng nagtratrabaho sa gobyerno ay dapat maramdaman na sila ay kabilang sa isang organisasyon at isang pangarap – service to the higher ideals of the public interest and the common good. Paglilingkod sa mataas na mithiing malasakit ng sambayanan at kapakanan ng lahat.

Naiintindihan ko na ang pa-suweldo sa gobyerno ay mababa. Marami ang kinakailangang magsakripisyo. Pero patuloy tayong magsisikap na magkaroon ng pay packages na makatarungan at makatuwiran, at igagawad ang mga ito batay sa merit at performance.

Kasabay nito, gusto kong gamitin ang pagkakataong ito para tiyakin sa ating government employees na ginagawa natin ang lahat para mapa-sama kayo sa ating socio-economic programs. Tulad ng iba pa nating mga kababayan, ang inyong mga pangunahing pangangailangan ng kalusugan, edukasyon at lalo na ang pabahay ay aming prayoridad. Nais natin na ang inyong mga pamilya ay maging matatag at matiwasay. Ito ay mahalaga upang mas higit kayong makapaglingkod sa bayan.

Gusto kong malaman ninyo na inaatasan ko ang aking gabinete at lahat ng mga pinuno ng ibang government agencies na maghanap, at gumawa ng mga programa para sa ikabubuti ng kanilang mga empleyado, para makahanap ng ibang paraan para mapabuti ang kanilang kalagayan.

Nais kong iparating sa lahat ng empleyado ng gobyerno na napakahalaga ang bawat isa sa inyo. Empleyado sa opisina, mga guro, mga sundalo, mga pulis; kayo ang mga front-liners, kayo ang mukha ng Republikang Pilipinas.

Sa ating pagtutulungan, maitatayo natin ang isang matatag na Republikang Pilipinas, na tunay na manunungkulan para sa ating lahat at sa mga darating pang henerasyon ng Pilipino.

Lubusang nagpapasalamat ako sa inyong mga kapwa kong nasa gobyerno. Ipagpatuloy ninyo ang inyong dedikasyon, tulungan ninyo ako para mapatatag natin ang bansa’t gobyerno ng Pilipinas.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has approved the grant of a P5,000.00 cash gift to all government employees including teachers, soldiers and policemen who in the past did not receive an extra bonus like other state workers.

In a radio message this morning, the President said the cast gift is a small token for the dedicated service of all government employees including the men in uniform.

"Sa dalawampung buwan kong panunungkulan sa bayan bilang inyong Pangulo, nakita ko ang sakripisyo at dedikasyon ng mga kapwa kong nanunungkulan sa Republika ng Pilipinas: ang mga government employees. Lubusan akong nagpapasalamat sa kanila, sa mga opisyal at empleyado sa mga opisina ng gobyerno, sa mga guro, sa mga sundalo’t pulis (In my 20 months as President, I have witness the sacrifices and dedication of my co-fellow workers in the service of the Republic of the Philippines: the government employees. I fully thank the officials and employees in all the offices of our government, to the teachers, and the soldiers and policemen), the President said.

The President said the government’s finances are tight but after consolidating the remaining cash resources of the Government, she is announcing the grant of additional cash gift of P5,000 for all state workers.

"Ang cash gift na ito ay isang munting pasasalamat ko, at ng Republika, sa ating mga government employees (This cast gift is my and the Republic’s small token to all government employees). This P5,000.00 cash gift will be given to all government employees, even those who did not get it before, including teachers, soldiers and police officers," the President said.

The President said the government fully recognizes the contributions of all state workers, irrespective of their ranks or place of assignment, to public service.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo said the government would continuously find ways for additional just and fair pay packages based on merit and performance for state workers including their inclusion in all government socio-economic programs.

In her weekly radio address, the President said she understands that government employees are underpaid and sacrifice a lot.

"Kasabay nito, gusto kong gamitin ang pagkakataong ito para tiyakin sa ating government employees na ginagawa natin ang lahat para mapa-sama kayo sa ating socio-economic programs. Tulad ng iba pa nating mga kababayan, ang inyong mga pangunahing pangangailangan sa kalusugan, edukasyon at lalo na ang pabahay ay aming prayoridad (Also, I wish to use this occasion to assure our government employees that we are doing everything so that they will be included in our socio-economic programs. Like the rest of our countrymen, your needs for health, education and housing will be given priority.), " the President said.

The President stressed that she wanted government employees’ families to be secured and well-provided for. This is important, she said, so that state workers can work more efficiently for the nation.

"Gusto kong malaman ninyo na inatasan ko ang aking gabinete at lahat ng mga pinuno ng ibang government agencies na maghanap at gumawa ng mga programa para sa ikabubuti ng kanilang mga empleyado, para makahanap ng ibang paraan para mapabuti ang kanilang kalagayan (I would like all of you to know that I have directed my Cabinet and all heads of other government agencies to find and establish programs for the benefit of their employees welfare)," the President pointed out.

The President exhorted all government employees to join her in building a strong Republic, one that will truly serve the nation and generations to come.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo today lauded anew the decision of the Labor Solidarity Movement (LSM), the umbrella organization of the country’s mainstream labor groups, not to press for wage increase at this time.

The President met with LSM members at the State Dining Room in Malacaņang and assured them that in return for their very patriotic decision, her administration is doing all it can to prevent an increase in transportation fares.

"You are very helpful in offering not to demand a wage increase," the President told the group.

The movement is composed of Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP), Federation of Free Workers (FFW), Alliance of Filipino Workers (AFW) and the Trade Union of the Philippines and Allied Services (TUPAS).

The President also told the group that the Employers Confederation of the Philippines (ECOP) has committed to pay for any increases in workers’ contribution in Social Security System premiums for as long as there are still no wage increases.

The President said that while government works hard at creating new jobs through investment as well as through tourism and the encouragement of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) to build up domestic demand, it must also put in place job preservation mechanisms at a time when the world is in economic difficulty.

The President earlier called LSM’s decision as a patriotic act and one such mechanism by which existing jobs can be preserved.

During the luncheon meeting, the President and LSM discussed ways to improve the plight of the workers. Among these are: the need for the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) to strictly enforce existing labor standards so workers may get their lawful due, how the National Food Authority (NFA) could assist workers to get cheaper rice and other basic necessities, how the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council (HUDCC) could intensify its drive to provide affordable housing to workers through rent-to-own and similar schemes to allow workers decent dwelling places.

Finance Secretary Jose Isidro Camacho proposed changes in Meralco’s management structure in order to address concerns over the company’s financial stability in case it would have to implement the Supreme Court’s decision for a consumer refund.

Camacho made the proposal on the basis of the success of the recent program to turn around the then financially-distressed Philippine National Bank, majority-controlled by the tycoon Lucio Tan. One of the program’s most important features, which restored the financial community’s confidence in the bank, was the change in its top management and directors of the bank, and not changes in ownership.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has emphasized repeatedly that the greater private capital is the crucial element to develop the power industry so that it would meet the country’s requirements, and not a reversion to the government’s former domineering presence in and control of the electricity sector.

Secretary Camacho felt that the firms creditors and the financial market in general would find comfort in the entry of new set of professionals, and independent managers and directors.

It was not at all a proposal for a government takeover but simply a plan to upgrade Meralco’s corporate standing in the financial market.

Secretary Camacho’s "proposal" in fact was preliminary working draft for discussion purposes only and certainly not a demand. It had emerged out of his conversations with Eugenio "Gabby" Lopez III, a member of the family who was his classmate during their Harvard years. Camacho candidly discussed with Gabby Lopez his view of the financial markets’ worries and the beneficial impact of a change in Meralco’s management structure.

Gabby Lopez gave the Finance Secretary the impression that his family was open for discussions for such changes. Camacho therefore proceeded to write down his view of the changes required, using as a pro-forma template PNB’s "memorandum of agreement" with the government, and gave it to Gabby. The Finance secretary repeatedly emphasized to him that the draft was merely a starting point for discussion and that the family could propose changes as they see appropriate.

As a very rough draft, the proposal had not even reached the level of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo for evaluation and decision.

It is quite unfortunate that the Lopez family have totally misinterpreted Camacho’s proposal. Camacho have never brought up a proposal for a change in ownership, only the entry of new set of professional and independent board of directors and managers. Such changes could also put a stop to perceptions of alleged lapses in corporate governance in the utility firm.

Two companies controlled by or allied with the Lopez family are the registered owners of 28.5% of Meralco, down from the family’s nearly 100% ownership before 1972. It’s beneficial ownership however – because there are other shareholders in these firms—amounts to 5%. The government and its agencies constitute the biggest single stockholder of Meralco, with its official and beneficial ownership amounting to 25.5% of the company.

The government does not need to "want Meralco". It already has a big stake in Meralco both as shareholder, and as a government duty-bound to ensure the stability of a public utility.