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PGMA's Opening Statement during the National Anti-Poverty Commission (NAPC) Cabinet Group Meeting |
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Aguinaldo State Dining Room, Malacañang |
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13 November 2007 |
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Maraming idadahilan sa mga
trahedyang sinapit nina Mariannet at Dalaig, at isa ang ibig natin tutukan:
ang mga kalabisan ng politika. Maraming naghihirap dahil may mga pinuno na pamumulitika at pansariling hangarin ang binibigyang-halaga, higit sa pag-angat ng bayan. Samantala, may mga politiko at grupo na walang puso at budhi, at handang gumamit ng dahas upang makamit ang ambisyon at layunin. The preoccupation with politics, past and present, does not promote the stability, policy continuity, security and peace and order that we will need to continue to move our country forward. The people want results, not rhetoric, action not political posturing. Let us get on with the people’s work. The people of the Philippines are tired of negative political rhetoric that does nothing to bring about legislation that will create a new future for our people. We call on legislators to stop political wrangling and start legislating. Congress has demonstrated that when it sets aside self interest it can produce legislation that improves the quality of life of all Filipinos. The most notable recent example is the bill that reduces the cost of medicines commonly needed by the poor and the 2008 budget especially for healthcare and education. But much more needs to be done to improve human rights, invest more in peace and order and to advance our national interests with other nations on trade, economy and security issues. Kailangang pagtulungan ng buong sambayanan, simula sa ating liderato, na malabanan ang mga kalabisan ng politika: ang karahasan, katiwalian, at pagbale-wala sa karaingan ng maralita. Hindi ito madali, subalit dapat nating pagsikapan ito upang hindi mas lumala ang kahirapan, karahasan at hidwaan sa ating bansa. It is time for the nation to move on and focus on the issues that are important to our future: creating more jobs, lowering prices, providing affordable housing, and providing access to education for all our children. Sa araw na ito, magpupulong ang Gabinete upang isulong ang kapayapaan, at maghatid ng serbisyo sa mahihirap, lalo na ang malinis na tubig, mahusay na edukasyon, at isang bilyong piso para sa mga programang kontra sa gutom. At sa mga linggong darating, makikipag-ugnay tayo sa iba’t-ibang pinuno ng politika, relihiyon, at iba pang sector upang labanan nating lahat ang karahasan sa politika, at isulong ang kapayapaan at mas masigasig na pagsaklolo sa maralita. Mapalad tayong patuloy ang paglago ng ekonomiya. Sabi ng Standard and Poors, na tinitingalang tagasuri ng mga ekonomiya sa buong mundo: “The Philippines (is) apparently shifting to higher growth trajectories. Political stability, microeconomic reforms, and a dramatic improvement in the fiscal position, are now translating into better growth prospects, underpinned by increased infrastructure spending.” Ngayon naituwid na natin ang ekonomiya, panahon namang isulong ang reporma sa politika. Bawasan ang hidwaan, labanan ang katiwalian, itigil ang karahasan, at unahin ang kapakanan ng karaniwang mamamayan. Alang-alang sa bayan, ipagdasal at pagtulungan natin ito. |