Magandang araw sa inyong lahat.

Tayong lahat ay gusto natin ang pagbabago. Sa aking paglilibot, sa karaniwang Pilipino naunawaan ko na ang pagbabagong hangad ng taong bayan ay tungkol sa mas mabuting buhay, lalo na sa bagay ng pangkabuhayan gaya ng trabaho, presyo, hanapbuhay, pagkain sa bawa’t mesa, kalusugan, edukasyon, t’yak na tahanan, at malinis na tubig.

Ngayong taon, patuloy nating ipinaglalaban ang pagbabago sa mga bagay na ito para sa karaniwang Pilipino. Bagama’t umiinit ang takbo ng pulitika sa ating paligid tinitiyak ko sa ating mga kababayan na hindi ito hadlang sa ating pagpapatupad ng mga programang pangkapayapayaan at pangkaunlaran.

Sa maikling panahon na ako’y Pangulo, nakagawa tayo ng malakas na simula sa pagbabagong hinahangad natin. Nagkaron din ako ng mahalagang kapangyarihan at karanasan para itaguyod ang ekonomiya, manghikayat ng puhunan para makalikha ng mas maraming trabaho at lumaki ang sweldo, magpatayo ng mahalagang imprastraktura, sugpuin ang krimen at ibang karahasan, at siguruhin ang kaligtasan ng mamamayan.

Sa kabila ng mga krisis at pagsubok na kinahaharap ng ating bansa, ipinaglalaban ko ang matapat na pamamahala para bawasan ang perwisyong dinaranas ng karaniwang mamamayan sa kanyang mga transaksyon sa pamahalaan. The international community recognizes our vigilant advances in fighting corruption, especially through our lifestyle checks and procurement reforms.

Ang mga ebidensyang nanggaling sa lifestyle check ay nakatulong sa mga kasong kontra sa maraming presidential appointees. Sinampahan ng kaso ang mga huwes, prosecutor, higit isangdaang opisyal ng BIR at higit pitong daang presidential appointees. Pinasa ang E-procurement law na nakabawas sa katiwalian sa pagbili ng mga gamit ng gobyerno.

The people’s dissatisfaction about government services are being addressed, too. There have been dramatic changes in the Land Transportation Office.

Nguni’t hindi pa ako kuntento, ito ay down payment pa lamang na nagawa sa maikling panahon na ako ay Pangulo. Kailangan ang karagdagang installment para sa pagbabagong makakatanggal sa katiwalian.

As an economist, senator, trade official, vice president and President, I have learned the complexities of the bureaucracy. I have learned that fighting corruption is not like Saint Michael slaying the dragon with one swing of the sword.

Fighting corruption is like healing an infected wound that must be constantly cleansed and disinfected. Kaya ipinaglalaban kong mapalitan ang kultura ng katiwalian para mawala na nga ito.

The down payment that we have made on anti-corruption can gradually lead to the fundamental reforms, if we work hard enough on governance reform. At the same time, we must use our fiscal reforms to the better compensated civil service.

Once and for all, we must end graft with the mighty hand of political will and a change of values among our citizenry.

Pagtibayin ang asal… change of values. Magtulungan tayo sa ganitong pagbabago.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo said today that politics is heating up with the approach of the national and local elections in May, but this will not be an obstacle to her administration’s implementation of programs for peace and prosperity.

In her weekly radio address to the nation, the President said that in the short period of her presidency, she has gained the power and experience to bring to fruition the changes and reforms desired by the average Filipino.

"Sa maikling panahon na ako’y Pangulo, nakagawa tayo ng malakas na simula sa pagbabagong hinahangad natin (In the short time that I have been President, I have taken a forceful initiative towards reforms)," she said.

The President said that her administration has so far turned around the economy, attracted foreign investments for the creation of more jobs and higher pay, implemented infrastructure projects, and launched drives against illegal drugs, kidnappings, robberies and other crimes to ensure peace and security of the people.

"Sa kabila ng mga krisis at pagsubok na kinahaharap ng ating bansa, ipinaglalaban ko ang matapat na pamamahala para bawasan ang perwisyong dinaranas ng karaniwang mamamayan sa kanyang mga transaksyon sa pamahalaan (Despite difficulties confronting our country, I have fought for good governance to lessen the people’s burden in their dealings with the government)," she said.

Mrs. Macapagal-Arroyo noted the progress of her administration’s efforts to rid the government of corruption. "The international community recognizes our vigilant advances in fighting corruption, especially through our lifestyle checks and procurement reforms," she said.

The lifestyle checks have bolstered the graft cases against more than 700 presidential employees, l00 officials and employees of the Bureau of Internal Revenue, judges and prosecutors, she said.

"There have been dramatic changes in the Land Transportation Office," she added.

The President reminded that "fighting corruption is like healing an infected wound that must be constantly cleansed and disinfected," adding that she won’t stop until the "culture of corruption" is vanished.

She said that "the down payment that we have made on anti-corruption can gradually lead to the fundamental reforms, if we work hard enough on governance reforms."

In her travels around the country, she has recognized the desire of the average Filipinos for reforms, particularly for bringing about more jobs, food and potable water, health, education and shelter.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo today led the ceremonial switch-on of a water project in Tondo, Manila as part of her program to ensure the health and well being of thousands of poor Metro Manila residents who do not have access to safe and potable water.

The President was warmly welcomed this morning by the Tondo residents and local officials led by Manila Mayor Lito Atienza and Barangay Chairman Joaquin Confesor when she inspected and switched on the static water tank in Barangay 217, Zone 20 in the 2^nd District of Manila.

The provision of the water tank, which would benefit some 16,225 households in Tondo, is part of the "Patubig ni Pangulong Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo" project aimed at solving the water problem in identified 300 "waterless" communities in Metro Manila.

The President said that during the EDSA consultation period last year some 160,000 households in 300 poor communities in Metro Manila have been identified as having no access to potable water.

The problem of residents in Barangays 217, 218 and 213 in Zone 20, which are near the railway tracks, is that the Philippine National Railways (PNR) has not granted them right-of-way (ROW) for their water interconnection.

The President immediately called up Transportation and Communications Secretary Leandro Mendoza and instructed him see to it that the right-of-way problem with the PNR be resolved immediately.

Before the ceremonial switch-on, the President was briefed on the status of the Patubig project at the barangay hall of Barangay 217.

We shall push for a parliamentary and federal form of government because it will give peace, unity and progress to the average Filipino.

Whatever the means eventually threshed out by Congress, this will be an integral part of my platform of security in terms of peace and the rule of law, of social change and political transformation.

While the President has stated her personal position on this matter, she does not want to comment further nor act in any manner that could be interpreted as interfering with deliberation of the Supreme Court.