• President Aquino trumpets achievements of 4Ps in his 6th State of the Nation Address
• President Aquino: Long-term solutions to Metro Rail Transit woes are underway
• President Aquino reports unemployment rate is lowest in a decade
• President Aquino cites continued efforts to improve education in State of Nation Address
• President Aquino commends women leading government reforms
• Passage of Pension Reform Law to improve uniformed personnel’s welfare 
• Palace says President Aquino has sufficiently explained MRT problem, rehabilitation to public
• Palace hopes Congress would pass proposed budget on time, despite Senator’s resignation from finance committee 
• Malacañang assures President Aquino is in good health
• Palace submits P3-trillion 2016 National Budget to Congress
• President Aquino urges Congress to pass Freedom of Information Act
• President Aquino says 2016 Budget prepares next admin, urges lawmakers to pass FOI bill

President Aquino said the government has expanded the program’s coverage to include poor families with high school-aged children.

“Pinalawak natin nang husto ang saklaw nito. Ngayon, nasa mahigit 4.4 million na ang kabahayang nakikinabang sa programa. Malayong-malayo ito sa dinatnan nating 786,523 lamang na kabahayan,” he said.

The President said 333,673 student-beneficiaries of the expanded Pantawid Pamilya completed high school this year. Of the figure, 13,469 graduated with honors and a variety of awards.

“Ang lahat po ng benepisyaryong ito, tataas ang antas ng kaalaman; sa halip na menial jobs ang pasukan ay malamang makakuha sila ng mga trabahong maayos ang mga suweldo,” he said.

“Income tax pa lang nila, bawi na ang puhunan ng estado, at maitutuloy natin ang siklo ng pagbibigay-lakas sa mga nangangailangan. Bonus pa po ang lalong magandang kinabukasang nag-aabang para sa mga honor students na pinagtapos ng programa,” he added.

Pantawid Pamilya is the government’s primary program in assisting the poor. Under the expanded CCT program, children of the beneficiaries get cash grants until they finish high school.

“Sa Pantawid Pamilya, kapalit ng tulong sa mga benepisyaryo, pangunahin nilang dapat tutukan ang pag-aaral ng mga anak,” President Aquino said.

The President said the program has already begun bearing fruit.

“Ayon sa pag-aaral ng Philippine Institute for Development Studies, noong 2008, mayroong 2.9 million na out-of-school children sa ating bansa. Lumaki ang ating populasyon, pero noong 2013, ang natirang out-of-school children, 1.2 million na lang po. Idiin po natin ang diperensiya: 1.7 million,” he said.

“Para po nating pinuno ng estudyante ang humigit-kumulang 42,500 na bakanteng classroom. Siyempre, bukod sa Pantawid Pamilya, may kontribusyon din ang Alternative Learning System para masigurong pati ang mga katutubo at street children ay hindi napapag-iwanan,” he added.

In his SONA, President Aquino also defended the Pantawid Pamilya from critics, saying the program is not a magic pill.

“May mga nagtatanong pa nga rin po: Nasaan ang resulta ng Pantawid Pamilya? Sagot po natin diyan, ‘Naman.’ Ang akala kaya nila, itong Pantawid Pamilya ay parang mahiwagang tabletang kapag ininom ng kinder, pagkatapos ng ilang oras ay college graduate na? Baka po kulang sila ng pagkakataong mag-aral kaya tululungan natin silang magbilang: 13 taon ang K to 12, samantalang 6 na taon lang ang aking termino. Nahahalata tuloy kung sino ang medyo matinding mambobola,” he said.

The Pantawid Pamilya is a human development program of the national government that provides conditional cash grants to underprivileged families to improve the health, nutrition, and education of children aged 0 to 18. PND (co)

The President noted that although Transportation Secretary Joseph Abaya’s efforts have led to the International Civil Aviation Organization’s (ICAO) lifting of the significant safety concerns it had imposed on the Philippines in 2009, the European Union’s lifting of the ban on the country’s airlines, the US Federal Aviation Administration’s upgrading the Philippines to Category 1, and the banning of boats from setting out to sea during typhoons, these accomplishments have been cast aside. “Lahat ng ito, naisasantabi dahil sa masalimuot na hamong hinaharap natin sa pampublikong transportasyon. Pinakamalaking halimbawa na nga po ang MRT,” he said.

He pointed out that the government has partners from the private sector in managing the MRT, who remember their entitlements, but seem to have forgotten their obligations.

“Ang katuwang na ito, sagot ang maintenance. Dapat, noong 2008, nagkaroon ng general overhaul ang MRT, pero nang suriin ng DOTC (Department of Transportation and Communications), halos pagpipintura lang ang pinagawang overhaul. Sa pagwawalang-bahalang ito, parang ginarantiyang masisira ang tren,” he said.

“Di po ba maski sinong kumpanya, dapat sinisigurong masusulit ang kanilang investment? Pero hinayaan lang nilang lumala nang lumala ang sitwasyon hanggang umabot sa puntong ipinasa na sa atin nang ora-orada ang pagsasaayos ng MRT.”

However, when the government moved to undertake improvements, suddenly, they wanted to take back the responsibility of maintenance, the President said, adding that their proposal was more expensive than the government’s, translating to more burden for the people.

“Hindi tayo pumayag, at kumilos na nga para makakuha ng mga bagong bagon. Ang problema, mapilit ang korporasyon, kaya’t pina-TRO (temporary restraining order) nila ang pagbili nito. Kaya umabot sa ganitong sitwasyon ang MRT,” he explained.

“Malinaw nang hindi magtatagpo ang agenda natin at ng MRTC. Ngayon na humahakbang na tayo para i-buy-out ang korporasyon, pag naayos ito, ang estado na lang ang tanging magdedesisyon,” he said.

The President assured that the government is already implementing immediate maintenance work, as bigger and more long-term solutions are set to arrive.

Next month, he said, the prototype for new coaches will be delivered, and once this passes scrutiny, three coaches will be delivered every month beginning January until the order of 48 coaches is completed.

The process to obtain new rails is underway, together with the upgrading of the signaling and automatic fare collecting systems, while the trains’ power supply will be upgraded before the end of 2016, he added.

Twelve escalators will be fixed before the end of the year, while the procurement for the rehabilitation of 34 more escalators and 32 elevators is ongoing, the Chief Executive said.

He however cautioned against shortcuts in these processes.

“Hindi puwedeng laktawan ang proseso sa mga bagay na ito; ayaw na nating maantala ng kaliwa’t kanang demandahan ang ating pong mga hakbang,” he said. PND (ag)

“Ito ang pinakamababa sa loob ng isang dekada. Linawin ko rin po: Permanenteng trabaho ang nalikha natin; hindi tayo nag-hire ng magwawalis ng kalsada tuwing survey period lang para kargahan ang resulta,” he said in his 6th State of the Nation Address (SONA) delivered before legislators at the Session Hall of Batasang Pambansa in Quezon City.

He noted that the figure was achieved despite the entry of 800,000 people to the labor force each year, and the return of Overseas Filipino Workers.

Together with creating real jobs, he said, the government is also fostering a good relationship between labor and management throughout the country. “Ikumpara po natin. Noong siyam at kalahating taon ng nakaraang administrasyon, ang natuloy na labor strike: 199, o halos 21 kada taon. Sa limang taon po natin, ang suma-total ng nag-strike: 15 lamang po. Noon nga pong 2013, ang nag-strike sa buong bansa: isa. Ito ang pinakamababa sa kasaysayan ng DOLE (Department of Labor and Employment),” he said, giving credit to Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz and the country’s labor and management sector.

The President further noted that the government has worked to address the so-called job-skills mismatch.

“Dati, maraming nagsasabing wala silang trabaho, kahit napakarami namang bakanteng posisyong nakatala sa PhilJobNet na hindi napupunuan. Ang simpleng dahilan: Hindi tugma ang kakayahan ng ating mga kababayan sa hinahanap ng merkado,” he explained.

The solution, he added, is equally simple — talk to prospective employers and ask them what skills are demanded by the positions they are opening.

“Dito naman tayo nagsasanay ng trainees, upang masagad nila ang oportunidad,” he said. PND (ag)

In his 6th and last State of the Nation Address (SONA) on Monday, President Aquino reported the government’s accomplishments and continuing efforts to improve the state of education in the country.

“Sa sektor naman po ng edukasyon: Sinisiguro nating napupunuan ang mga pagkukulang ng nakaraan, natutugunan ang mga pangangailangang dumarating sa kasalukuyan, at napapaghandaan pati ang para sa kinabukasan,” he said.

He said the backlog of 61.7 million textbooks and 2.5 million classroom chairs that he inherited from the past administration had been addressed as early as 2012.

In 2013, he added, the backlog of 66,800 classrooms was eliminated and the backlog of 145,827 teachers was resolved, with the help of local government partners.

President Aquino said the Department of Education has estimated that 4.7 million new students would enroll until 2017.

“Bunsod po ito ng pagdami ng enrollees at pagpapatupad natin ng K to 12. Para matugunan ito, kailangan nating magdagdag ng tinatayang 118,000 classrooms. 33,608 dito, naipatayo na. Ngayong taon, nakasalang na ang pagpapagawa ng mahigit 41,000 pa. Ang natitirang 43,000, nakapaloob na sa inaasahan naming ipapasa ninyong 2016 budget,” he said.

An estimated 130,000 teachers are needed, the President said, adding that last year, the government hired 29,444 teachers, and this year, it aims to hire 39,000 more.

“Ang natitira pang 60,000, nakapaloob na sa panukalang 2016 budget na sana po’y aprubahan ninyo,” the President said, addressing the legislators.

President Aquino said the government has already turned over 73.9 million textbooks that will be followed by an additional 88.7 million this year.

This year, 1.6 million classroom chairs were delivered to schools, and another 1.6 million will be delivered before the end of the year.

“Sa budget na isusumite natin para sa 2016; nakalagay na ang pondo para sa dagdag pang 103.2 million textbooks, at 4.4 million na upuan. Malinaw po: Hindi na tayo mag-iiwan ng sakit ng ulo sa susunod sa atin,” he said.

In his SONA, President Aquino also underscored the importance of the K to 12 Basic Education Program, saying it is not practical to cram learning in a 10-year basic education cycle.

“Linawin ko lang po: Nagpatupad tayo ng K to 12 dahil hindi praktikal ang pagsisiksik ng kaalaman sa 10-year basic education cycle. Tandaan lang po ninyo noong tayo’y nag-umpisa, tatatlo na lang tayong bansa na may 10-year basic education sa buong mundo,” he said.

“Kinukuwestiyon na ang credentials ng ating mga kababayan sa ibang bansa; mayroon na ring na-demote, dahil hindi raw sapat na patunay ng kakayahan ang diplomang tangan niya. Kung ang lumang kalakaran sa edukasyon ay maihahalintulad sa manggang kinalburo, ngayon, sinisiguro nating hinog ang kakayahan ng mga estudyante na magpanday ng sariling kinabukasan,” he explained.

The President further noted that 7.8 million students have graduated from various technical and vocational education and training courses offered by the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA).

Under the Training for Work Scholarship Program alone, 821,962 students have already graduated, the President said.

“Ano na kaya ang sitwasyon nila? Ayon sa pag-aaral, 71.9 percent na ang agad nakahanap ng trabaho, kumpara sa 28.5 percent dati. Ang ilang industriya pa nga, talagang pumapalo na dahil 91.26 percent po ang employment rate ng mga nasa semiconductors and electronics industry—konti na lang po, 100 percent na,” he said. PND (co)

He thanked Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales, Justice Secretary Leila de Lima, Supreme Court Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno, Commission on Audit (COA) Chairperson Grace Pulido-Tan, and Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) Commissioner Kim Henares for their no-nonsense approach in implementing government reforms.

Carpio-Morales, De Lima, and Pulido-Tan have been leading the administration’s efforts toward the prosecution of ranking public officials tagged in various allegations of corruption.

Henares, on the other hand, has helped improve the BIR’s collection by relentlessly filing cases against tax evaders, while Sereno bears the unenviable task of instituting changes in the Supreme Court, following the impeachment of her predecessor.

“Wala silang inatrasan sa pagtupad ng kanilang tungkulin,” President Aquino said of his female government officials. “Sa inyong lahat, isang taos-pusong pasasalamat.”

President Aquino said their efforts have helped the government regain public trust in the justice system, manifested by the number of influential people whom they have put behind bars, among them three senators and a former president in hospital arrest.

“Sa itaas, gitna, o ibaba ng burukrasya, napakarami nang sinuspinde, tinanggal sa puwesto, sinampahan ng kaso, o di kaya’y nasa piitan. Kung may nagdududa pang tunay nang nakapiring ang katarungan, maganda po sigurong ituon nila ang pansin sa tatlong senador na kasalukuyang naka-detain, at sa dating pangulong naka-hospital arrest,” the President said.

As he approached the final year of his term, President Aquino reiterated his vow to pursue justice until those who had abused public funds during the previous administration atone for their sins, no matter how hard they try to project themselves as victims of political persecution.

“May mga magsasabi: mag-move on na raw tayo. Ako naman po ay naniniwala sa sinabi ni George Santayana: ‘Ang makalimot sa mali ng nakaraan, garantisadong uulitin ito… Natutuhan ko nga po sa aking mga magulang, sa simbahan, at sa mga proseso ng batas:

“Anumang paghihilom ay nagsisimula sa pag-amin at pagsisisi ng nagkasala. May naalala ba kayong nagsabing, ‘Sorry sa pagnanakaw at pang-aabuso, handa na akong magbago’? Ang sa akin lang po: Makaka-move on lang tayo kapag nakamtan ang katarungan,’” President Aquino said. PND (hdc)

President Benigno S. Aquino III, in his State of the Nation Address (SONA) on Monday, said he is seeking the urgent passage of the Unified Uniformed Personnel Pension Reform Bill, so that a sustainable and just pension system for the country’s uniformed services could be set up.

“Ang binanggit po ng Pangulo na Unified Uniformed Personnel Pension Reform, may kadugtong po ito dahil ito ‘yung hinihintay na batas na kung mabuo, puwede na ring tukuyin ang matagal ng hinahangad na mapatupad na pagkonsidera na magbigay ng dagdag na pasahod sa burukrasya. Kaya po naantala ito ay dahil hinihintay ang pagbubuo nitong Unified Uniformed Personnel Pension Reform,” Communication Secretary Herminio Coloma, Jr. told reporters during a press briefing.

“Nabuo na po ng inter-agency committee ang mga mahahalagang probisyon ng batas. Natalakay na po ito kasama ang Pangulo. Nagkaisa na po ng posisyon ang pamahalaan kaya meron na pong handang ihain na draft bill sa Kamara at sa Senado,” he added.

“Ito rin po ang dahilan kung bakit nagkaroon ng balakid sa pagdadagdag ng tao sa AFP (Armed Forces of the Philippines) at sa kapulisan, dahil nga hindi pa nare-resolve itong issue ng pension,” Coloma said.

The 1997 financial crisis affected the pension funds of the country’s uniformed personnel, prompting the government to source their pensions from the national budget. PND (as)

“Kung mapapansin natin, mahalagang bahagi ng kanyang pagtatalumpati, bukod sa paglalahad ng mga accomplishments, ay ‘yung pagtalakay kung ano ang inabutang sitwasyon, dahil importanteng mabatid natin kung ano ba talaga ang pinanggalingan ng mga problema,” Communication Secretary Herminio Coloma, Jr. said during a press briefing in Malacañang on Tuesday.

He said the President believes that “correct analysis leads to correct solutions”, thus the administration has studied the problems of the MRT and has come up with appropriate solutions.

“Hindi natin mauunawaan kung bakit o paano nangyari ang mga kaganapang nasaksihan natin patungkol sa MRT kung hindi natin batid ang nakaraang pinagdaanan nito,” he said.

“At iyon ang pinagtuunan ng pansin ng ating Pangulo, na naging masalimuot ang pamamahala dati dahil ito naman ay under private sector ownership. Mayroong naging kakulangan na ‘yung mandatory maintenance or general overhaul na dapat ay isinagawa noong 2008 ay hindi natuloy at hindi rin nagkasundo hinggil sa terms ng maintenance contract, dahil nga pabago-bago ito at mataas ‘yung pagturing ‘nung private party,” Secretary Coloma explained.
He said the President, in his SONA, also detailed the solutions to the MRT’s problems, citing for instance the expected delivery of the prototype trains next month.

Once the prototype trains’ technical specifications are approved, the government will start purchasing the necessary coaches, he said.

“Ipinaliwanag din po ng Pangulo na sa ating sistema ng pamamahala, talagang merong lag time o lead time for procurement—at least four months po ito. Hindi naman off-the-shelf items ang ating ino-order,” Coloma said.

“Kaya sa aking palagay ay nagkaroon naman ng sapat na pagpapaliwanag at mahalagang aspeto nito ay ‘yung pagpapaunawa kung paano at kung bakit naganap ang kasalukuyang sitwasyon.” PND (as)

“Nananalig po kami na ang Senado at ang Kamara ay gagawin ang lahat ng nararapat para maipasa po ang panukalang General Appropriations Act sa takdang panahon,” Communication Secretary Herminio Coloma, Jr. said during the daily press briefing in Malacañang.

He noted that previous General Appropriation Acts were passed by the Congress on time.

“Maganda po ang naging karanasan natin noong nakaraang mga taon. Masinsin ang pakikipag-ugnayan ng ehekutibo sa lehislatibo. Maayos po ang daloy ng mga committee hearings. Iyong mga hindi malinaw na punto ay natatalakay ng maayos at nakita naman po natin na ang Kongreso at ang ehekutibo ay nakapagpasa sa takdang panahon ng national budget. Inaasahan po natin na ito ay magaganap muli para sa proposed 2016 budget,” Secretary Coloma added.

Senator Escudero also resigned as co-chairman of the Joint Congressional Oversight Committee on Public Expenditure.

In his resignation letter addressed to Senate President Franklin Drilon, Escudero said his resignation is related to his plan to run for higher office in 2016.

“Given my public pronouncements regarding a possible candidacy for higher office in 2016, I believe that it behooves me to step down at this juncture to ensure that deliberations on the General Appropriation Bill—considered the single most important piece of legislation passed by Congress each year—are untainted by suspicions or perceptions of partisan politics,” he said in his letter. PND (ag)

“Sa pagkabatid ko naman po ang kanya lang naging concern kahapon ay ‘yung vertigo at ito lang ang dahilan kung bakit dumiretso siya doon sa podium ng House of Representatives. Maayos naman po ang kanyang overall health condition,” Communication Secretary Herminio Coloma, Jr. told reporters during a press briefing in Malacañang.

Secretary Coloma also noted that the President might have coughed a few times while delivering his State of the Nation Address (SONA) on Monday but this was no cause for concern.

“Siguro po, naalala ko noong mga nakaraang SONA ay nagkaroon din naman ng ganoong incidents, pero hindi naman po seryoso ito,” he added.

Before delivering his SONA, President Aquino apologized, saying, “Bago po ako magsimula, hihingi ako ng paumanhin, dahil hindi natin nagawa ang tradisyonal na processional walk. Hindi na rin po natin nakamayan ang lahat ng nag-abang. Medyo masama po kasi ang ating pakiramdam sa kasalukuyan.”

The President’s final SONA lasted for more than two hours. PND (ag)

The proposed 2016 National Budget doubles the budget of the past six years, from P1.541 trillion of the 2010 General Appropriations Act (GAA) to the P3.002 trillion planned for next year.

This is also 15.2 percent higher than the 2015 enacted budget. On the other hand, the gross domestic product (GDP) share of 19.5 percent in 2016 will take up a larger share of the economy as compared to 18.7 percent of the GDP in 2015 and 16.4 percent of the GDP (actual obligations) in 2010.

“The National Budget is one of our major instruments in creating truly inclusive growth. Our spending blueprint for 2016 will therefore be integral in the administration’s continuing journey on Daang Matuwid,” Budget Secretary Florencio Abad said.

“With this budget, the National Government will try to widen its reach so that the benefits of our economic development will truly be felt by as many of our countrymen as possible,” Abad added.

He also said that the proposed spending program will also help the government consolidate and sustain the reforms instituted in the past five years.

Social services will have the biggest budget allocation of P1.1059 trillion, which is 36.8 percent of the proposed budget.

Covering education, health care, housing, and social welfare and employment, this allocation received a 16.1-percent expansion from the 2015 allocation of P952.7 billion.

The proposed allocation also supports the implementation of the Department of Education’s (DepEd) K to 12 program, as well as housing programs and health care projects for poor Filipinos.

Economic services took the second largest budget allocation with P829.6 billion—27.64 percent of the proposed budget—which had increased by 17.3 percent from its 2015 allocation of 27.13 percent.

Transport and communications infrastructure will get the bulk of the budget and bring expenditures to infrastructure to 5 percent of the GDP. As such, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) will receive P391.2 billion to enable the agency to complete the pavement of all national arterial and secondary roads.

National defense received P129.1 billion, which increased by 11.5 percent as compared to last year’s allocation. This allocation will fund the modernization of the Armed Forces of the Philippines in light of the country’s territorial dispute in the West Philippine Sea. PND (as)

“To ensure the permanency of transparency policies, we urge Congress to pass the Freedom of Information Act,” the President said in his message to Congress when the proposed P3.002-trillion 2016 National Budget was submitted to the legislative body on Tuesday afternoon.

The Department of Budget and Management submitted the proposed budget to Congress on behalf of President Aquino.

After delivering his State of the Nation Address on Monday, the President was criticized for failing to mention anything regarding the FOI.

During the press briefing in Malacañang on Tuesday, Communication Secretary Herminio Coloma, Jr. said President Aquino has long advocated the passage of the FOI.

“Matagal na pong ipinahayag ng ating pamahalaan ‘yung paniniwala nito at ang pagtalima nito sa freedom of information. Makatuwiran lang po na kilalanin din na sa aksyon na po ipinakita ng ating pamahalaan ito at hindi po umaasa lamang sa kung ito ay ire-require po o iuutos ng isang batas. Palagay ko ay makatuwiran namang sabihin na marami na po ang kongkretong manipestasyon na mas matimbang pa sa salita,” Secretary Coloma said. PND (ag)

In his budget message, the President encouraged lawmakers to remain faithful to the Social Contract with the Filipino People to ensure an honest and effective governance especially on how public money is spent.
“Ladies and gentlemen of the 16th Congress: today, I submit a proposed National Budget that is designed to consolidate the reforms that we have introduced since 2010 and provide a strong foundation for Inclusive Development,” the President said.

Through the Budget, the administration can set the pace and tone of governance reform: from establishing tighter controls against corruption, to improving the capability of public institutions to deliver services while being held accountable for their performance.

It can also use the budget to empower citizens in statecraft through greater transparency, accountability, and public engagement.

The P3-trillion Budget is anchored on four principles that define public financial management under the present administration.

This is in line with the following principles: spending within government means, investing in right priorities, delivering measurable results, and empowering citizens through the budget.

Among the government’s major thrust in spending the 2016 budget include ensuring good governance and continuing fight against corruption, making growth inclusive, sustaining the growth momentum, pushing for climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction and forging just and lasting peace especially in Mindanao.

The administration also firmly believe that greater fiscal transparency leads to a more responsive government, according to the President.

“To ensure the permanency of transparency policies, we urge Congress to pass the Freedom of Information Act,” the President said.

The President also said that through innovations, such as the Transparency Seal, Open Data Philippines, and the People’s Budget, Filipinos could understand the budget better and easily access government information on finances and operations. PND (as)