Speech

Talk to the People of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte on Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)


Event Talk to the People on Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)
Location Malacañang Golf (MALAGO) Clubhouse, Malacañang Park, Manila

PRESIDENT RODRIGO ROA DUTERTE: Good day, my countrymen. We are here gathered to render a report weekly to inform the Filipino people of what’s — what’s in the air so that you would know and you would be educated and to know the truth not from sources that are polluted and/or contaminated but purely from your government officials who are paid to do their work and to do their work truthfully.

Kaya kami nandito at marami namang haka-haka palagi maski anong gawin ko and the Cabinet. Gawain mo na, masama ka pa rin. Kung hindi mo gawin, mas lalo kang masama. Either way, it’s not a matter of losing the battle of wits against the opposition and the left, who are out really to — and the NDF — are out to destroy the very government in which they are enjoying the blessings of democracy. They invent stories about being harassed, killed, oppressed. Eh wala namang kaming nakikita at wala namang dumadating sa akin. And this extrajudicial killing they have been harping for many years truthfully ha, truthfully, nagdududa rin ako and there was a time when I conducted a discreet hearing kung bakit.

Ang dumating sa akin is that sometimes there is a rivalry of the turf, ‘yung teritoryo niya, kung sino ang humahawak. Pangalawa, ‘yung who absconded, ‘yung tinakbo ‘yung pera. And third, ‘yung ninanakaw ‘yung ano nila sa street level kinukuha. Iyan ang hindi natin alam. Sabi nila pulis but you know kung ako ang pulis at ako daw ay magnanakaw, maalis na rin ako sa puwesto, eh todohin ko na. Bakit ko kunin ‘yang mga street-level peddlers o tinatawag nilang basurero? Iyan ang tawag ng ano ‘yung nagpapabili, the vendors. They are called in the talkatise parlance as “basurero”.

So dito ho kayo makinig sa akin. Ah sabi ko wala naman akong obligation na magsasabi ng sinungaling. Kung maniwala kayo, mabuti. Kung hindi, that is not my problem. That is what is happening in the nation.

So ganun ho ang nangyayari sa atin. And we are here to report especially about the money. Tandaan ninyo, disabuse your mind about corruption in government. I must admit and it would be stupid of me to invent lies na talagang nangyari ‘yung sa PhilHealth. And that is why the NBI after an investigation submitted their findings to the Ombudsman and recommended prosecution in court. Nandoon ‘yon. Pero I said to disabuse your mind there are two prominent issues in the forefront today. Coming to its head really ‘yung sa PhilHealth, which is really the culprit at ‘yon ang pinag-usapan at ‘yon ang pinagdebatehan ngayon. Iniimbestiga, hinuhusga.

Ito namang pera ng Bayanihan Act, I assure you that it has spent wisely, it has spent according to rules at sinigurado ko ‘yan at the start. Wala hong ano diyan, walang sindikato. Wala hong sabihin mo na may nakawan. And we will be careful with the next round of a Bayanihan. Is it three? Three. And there is still money to be well given to the people, to the poor especially. Iyon lang ho.

Before I give — I will give my part I would say it should come from penultimate portion of our program. At this time, we would like to read the report of well of course it is Secretary Duque. Secretary Duque is a hard-working government worker and they say that… Well, there has been a lot of things I have heard, I have read na — and even some advice na si — dapat daw si Duque, ikaw sir, ilaglag ko na because hindi maganda sa aking administration.

You know, may mga tao na puwedeng ganun. You go for the safe side. And there are a lot of people who do it ‘yang gusto na lang nila na mawalaan na ng problema. Ah basta na lang, “O sige, paalisin mo na lang sabihin mo.” Ako po’y hindi ganun. Ako’y abugado and I know what is probable cause and prima facie. These are two phrases that are important before you can file a case in court. Problem is, I have reviewed — hindi naman ‘yung — a cursory reading really — and I have yet to find ‘yung sabi nila na idedemanda si Duque dahil may kasalanan.

I have read the findings and for the life of me I cannot really find a good reason to prosecute an innocent man. Mine is to not really prosecute just for the sake of being somebody being prosecuted. My job is to see to it that the rule of law — the rules for or against a person — are followed. At maraming sinasabi “rule of law, hindi ka naman sumusunod, marami kang pinapatay.” Wala ho akong pinatay na tao. And I never, never — magtanong ka ng isang pulis dito sa Pilipinas, magtanong ka kay Secretary Año sa DILG, magtanong ka kay Delfin Lorenzana, at may inutusan ba akong taong sinabi, “Patayin mo ito si Mr. Santos, Edmundo Santos, o patayin mo ito si Juan dela Cruz.” I never do that and if I — I do not — I just keep it in my mind because I know that whether I like it or not there is a war going on. I cannot stop killing — the killing of criminals and the killing of my soldiers and policemen.

For after all, marami rin akong patay na pulis at marami akong napatay na sundalo, not necessarily in connection with the war against the Abu Sayyaf, but it is included and during the Ma — Marawi siege, kasali ‘yan. Those were the part of the contraband that were hold off from the place, tonelada po.

And once again, I am reminding whoever is in charge of these things, I will make a visit to the facilities saan ninyo tinatago ang droga.

Ganito na lang, kung isang bodega ‘yan ask — ako fiscal ha. So ganito na lang, ang ginagawa ko noon sabihin ko, “Your Honor, may I request for [an] ocular inspection? Why, Your Honor? Because of the huge amount of shabu that we cannot guard every day. Maski isang kutsarang mawala diyan, ang gobyerno ang may kasalanan.”

So — and I also ask that the forensic guys, ‘yung mga laboratory sa pulis, isama at magkuha ng sampling from everywhere. Ang judge ang — gusto niya siya. Magpili ka ng kung saan mo gustong kanto na judge.

And you give the judge a dozen, “Judge, 12, 12 pics wherever you want.” At kung nandiyan na, i-examine sa harap ng judge, madali lang naman ‘yan and if it turns blue, as what I have seen, I don’t know what’s the color now, shabu ‘yan. Sasabihin ng under oath, you place the policeman who conducted the examination, right there and then, “You swear to tell the truth and nothing but the truth?” And say, “Yes.” Tanungin sa’yo ng judge, “Is it shabu?” “Yes.” “Paano ko masiguro?” magtanong ang pulis. “Judge, kainin mo ng limang kutsara, kapag nahilo ka, shabu ‘yan.” Ganoon ‘yan.

So I want all the shabu residual or otherwise, however minimal, destroyed, the whole of it by next week. You have so many days to do it one week. Do it in one week. Destroy and get specimen.

Tutal to — kapag may ocular inspection may prosecutor ‘yan. There’s the PDEA, there’s the police, nandiyan lahat. At you can also invite the NBI and the forensic guys of the NBI will also conduct the examination at ganoon rin sabihin nila, “Ano, totoo ‘yan?” magtanong ang judge. “Totoo, sir.” “Paano ko masiguro?” “Sir, kung magkain ka ng sampung kutsara, hindi ka na titindig dito.” “Ah ganoon? O sige.” Ganoon na lang.

We go by science, there’s the experiment. Why do we have to put on our shoulder the burden of keeping a contraband or merchandise that can be stolen and used, and recycled?

So — hindi ako nag-ano, hindi naman lahat, few of them, far and wide in between the years itong shabu. Pero may mga pulis na ganoon. Ninanakaw o kaya hindi nire-report. Iyon ‘yon, ‘yung sila Acierto, ganoon ang style noon. Magnakaw 20 kilos, i-report ang one kilo, ‘yung 19 i-recycle, ipagbili ulit. And that is what was really f***** the system.

So we can more or less improve things, better protect the Filipino people while doing a concerted action immediately after just a few — I hope the Supreme Court will agree with me — just a few days after, they should be destroyed and be accounted for accurately. But as I said, sans the practice of stealing and recycling. But that is another thing. Iyan ho ang gusto kong masabi.

Bago ko makalimutan, you know, this is not — this is not the first time na nangyari ito sa ating bayan. I think that every new implementation of a rule or a measure, or a regulation, or something novel that is being introduced into the system of government, mayroon talagang nasasaktan unnecessarily.

Kaya ako nagp****** i** dahil — you know, all these things you can avoid just a little bit of maybe humanity in you. Alam mo itong — eh hindi ko binasa kasi ‘pag ayaw ko ‘yan nabubuwisit na ako.

Itong Beep, Beep, Beep card. This is not — wala si Tugade dito, ‘yung mga tao mo, Art. Mag-introduce ka ng card tapos i-publish mo sa newspaper, Manila Times or whatever, Daily — Daily Express — ah Mirror, basta kaibigan ko hirap ako mag-pronounce ng title nila — Tribune, isa ka pa. Tribune, lahat na.

Mabasa mo itong lahat, mga Pilipino, sa opisina nila, especially the working middle class, it’s easy for them to imbibe all of these things and know what to do next. Ang problema nitong l****** ito is you only publish it in newspapers and even radios na puro English. If at all, there is a time dedicated it for the vernacular.

Ang problema kulang. May mga taong hindi nakikinig sa radyo lalo na ‘yung mahihirap. Sa kanila par — ano ba sa kanila ‘yan? What is it in government that we — that really concerns us, that really bleed their hearts for us? Wala. Basta sila sunod lang. ‘Pag sabi ng pulis, “Diyan, huwag kayong dumaan. Diyan, oo. O ikaw huli ka.”

The poor guy, ‘yang wala masyadong means of the — ‘yung transmittal, ‘yung — the conveying of the news that are really worthy, ito ‘yon silang basta-basta nakasanayan na lang.

Now itong Beep na ito, Beep, Beep na ‘yan, okay ‘yan. Wala akong problema. Ang problema ko kasi itong maliliit at marami ‘yan. Mas marami ‘yan kaysa mga the so-called na mga edukado. Mas marami ‘yan sa daan.

Mas maraming ignoranteng Pilipino kasi walang panahon mag-aral, walang pera, o kaya wala talagang — there is no — nothing in life that would impel them to seek an education.

So ito sila pagpunta sa Quiapo, lalo na ‘yung mahihirap, dala-dala lang nila ‘yung tamang pamasahe. I don’t know the exact fare. I haven’t — I haven’t remembered — tried riding a public conveyance nowadays. Matagal na.

Magpunta ‘yan doon. Hindi alam ‘yang Beep card na bilihin mo tapos dala-dala nila na pera tamang-tama lang. Pagdating diyan sabihin ninyo na ano, “Eh sinabi na ninyo na… Sinabi na ‘yan. Binalita na.”

So tatanungin ko kayo: Sino ang recipient ng balita ninyo? Now, tell me, do you have a classification of the persons that you have transmitted to the new strategy or setup?

Ang problema niyan, ang masakit sa akin ‘yung walang — kulang ‘yung pera at hindi sapat ‘yung dala niya. Iyong iba naman, may pera hindi naman nakakasakay kasi Beep nang Beep nga eh.

Alam mo kung ganun — kung ganun ka, if that… If that is how it is being implemented hurriedly or it’s for public interest that it be implemented kaagad, make provisions for these people. Those who have not heard, those who will never hear it, and those who have really nothing in life.

Magpreparar kayo ng ano. Ngayon, sabihin ninyo, “Ah alam mo ba maski ‘yung mga loko-loko.” Alam mo, sa totoo lang, ganito ‘yan eh. Magdampot ka ng limang g***** diyan sa either pulis o ‘yung mga gangster diyan. Iyong may hawak.

Alam ng pulis ‘yan. Sigurado ako, 100 percent sigurado ako. Dati akong pulis eh. Mag-pick up ka ng lima diyan. “Ituro mo sino ‘yung mga g***.” Bantayan mo na hindi makahingi, hindi maka — no wriggle in by whatever style or reason. Ituro mo lang.

Magkuha ka lang ng lima, anim diyan. Mag-pick up ka. “Hali ka dito. Hali ka. Bigyan kita ng ano, isang araw na suweldo. Magkano ba kinikita mo? P***** i** ka.” Sabihin mo, “Sir, kumikita kami mga 500.” “O sige. Sabihin ko kay — sa chief ko, 500.”

Tapos ‘yon ang magbantay. Iyon ang magturo na, “Iyan, taga-rito ‘yan. Iyan, hindi taga-rito.” Madali ‘yan eh. Kung gusto mo talagang gawin, madali. There’s a host of ways to do it. Ayaw ko ng — ayaw ko ng makita sunod na you have failed to make some provisions for this. You have to have extra Beep na Beep diyan na magbigay kayo ng card na hindi mag-beep, mag-ek-ek lang, okay na ‘yan basta pasakayin ninyo ang mga tao. Iyan ang gusto kong mangyari.

Shabu and the riding public, and a lot of them, iyong iba maglalakad na lang. Ako, may experience ako sa ganun na bagay pero ayaw kong sabihin. Sabihin mo nagpapa-hero ako. But ‘yung mga kasama ko sa dormitoryo. There are times sa buhay. May panahon sa buhay mayroon ka. May panahon sa buhay wala ka talaga. Noong namatay ang tatay ko, wala talaga kami. So ayaw ko na lang ikuwento kung anong nangyari pero alam ko kaya ako nagpapasalamat. Hindi naman ako umaarte sa Pilipinas.

Iyong mga original na taga-Davao, alam nila ‘yan. Iyong mga taga-Davao ngayon, nakikita nila na sumasakay na kami ng kotse. Iyong taga-Davao, mga 1948-50, na kasabay namin, Sonny Dominguez, we practically had to come in, hacked the forest to survive. Eventually, kami ni Sonny Dominguez nagkapareho ng subdivision. But that was never really a thing that you would call a comfortable life [snaps fingers] just like that. Kaya kami pumunta ng Davao kasi mahirap lang kami.

Kay kung mayaman ang nanay ko, kung ‘yung niyogan noon sa Iligan… Alam mo man ang pamilya sa Muslim, sa lalaki man talaga lahat ‘yan. Ganoon rin sa Chinese. Sa Chinese, lalaki rin talaga ‘yan. So nanay ko decided to you know. But eventually, she had her share. Na-land reform naman. Natabla rin.

Just the same. Itong mga ito, huwag ninyong sabihin na — itong sa lamesang ito, huwag ninyong… May milyonaryo dito? Wala. Wala na sabihin mong mayaman dito na komportable ‘yung buhay.

Kaya sa katandaan namin nagtatrabaho kami. Kita mo ngayon. Iyan ang istorya. Kaya huwag ninyo akong lokohin kasi pulis ako. Pagka-mayor ka ng isang siyudad for 23 years, mas pulis ka pa sa pulis sa totoo lang. You are more than a police than a police.

Yes, ma’am?

DEPED SECRETARY LEONOR BRIONES: Mr. President, now that you have made a wise decision to convene the Cabinet on the matter of the economy, may I suggest — may I suggest, Mr. President, that I share with you the results of the opening of school because it’s also related in a manner of speaking…

PRESIDENT DUTERTE: Yes.

SEC. BRIONES: …to the economy. I made an opening statement where I said that COVID-19, which has destroyed our lives and destroying our economy and society, we will not allow COVID-19 to destroy our children’s education.

Today, Mr. President, we had 24.7 million learners. And this is 89 percent of last year’s numbers and is higher than the 80 percent adjusted number which was assigned to us by NEDA. So we surpassed the target of 80 percent of last year’s enrollment.

Ang public schools, Mr. President, halos 100 percent ang enrollment sa public school pero ang sa… [Next slide please, ah sandali. Sige pa, next slide. Next. Next slide. Ayun.]

Makita natin na  ang total enrollment ay 24.7 — every day, Mr. President, the number is going up. Sa public, 22.5 million, which is already a practically 100 percent of last year’s enrollment in spite of the pandemic.

Ang medyo mababa — and this is related to what we were discussing a while ago — is ‘yung Alternative Learning Systems natin, which is the program for workers, for those who are out-of-school, who go to school during weekend, and which we consider the DepEd’s favorite legacy program for you, Mr. President, bumaba nang husto.

This is because those who have jobs, who don’t have jobs anymore, cannot afford the costs already of education. At saka 52 percent — kalahati lang ang nakabalik. Ang medyo nakakabahala din, ang private schools — ang enrollment sa private schools — 2.1 million ngayon. And this is one half of last year’s enrollment from private schools.

At dito natin nakikita, Mr. President, ang maliwanag na koneksyon ng ekonomiya at ng edukasyon. Dahil ‘yung maraming walang trabaho, hindi na sila maka-afford ng pag-aaral sa private schools.

Kasi sa public schools halos 100% ang — ang nangyayari. Pero ang tumigil ay ‘yung nasa Alternative Learning Systems, ‘yung mga workers natin at mga out-of-school children at saka sa private schools na halos kalahati.

Ito na nga ay malaki na, Mr. President, dahil noong nag-umpisa kami last June hindi umabot ng 20 percent ang nag-enroll galing sa private sector. So unti-unti nang tumataas. Ang paniwala namin, Mr. President, nang kung unti-unti namang bubukas ang ekonomiya at saka dadami ‘yung mga tao natin, ating mga kapwa Pilipino na magkaroon ng trabaho maka-afford na silang makapag-aral ang kanilang anak sa mga private schools.

Noong beginning noong nag-declare kayo po ng countrywide lockdown ng buong bansa, ang immediate na reaction ay sabi nila — mga senador, mga opisyal, at saka mga maliliit na grupo sinasabi na hindi kaya ng DepEd ipagpatuloy ang education.

Sabi nila “‘di kaya”, isang very famous senator sinabi niyan “itigil ang edukasyon”. At saka while matindi ang debate natin sa coronavirus at saka ang bansa, ng ekonomiya, ang isang matinding debate din ‘yung edukasyon kasi mayroong tinatawag na movement na tinatawag academic freeze, itigil ang edukasyon. Hindi kaya ng departamento at kailangan hintayin kung kailan magiging possible na.

Kaya ang sinasabi namin ‘yung pagdeklarar ninyo ng September 5, iyon ang opening na magklase tayo, ay isang victory ‘yan para sa education dahil itong mga kalaban natin ay nag-i-insist na education freeze. Gusto nila isara lahat dahil hindi kaya ng DepEd, hindi kaya ng pamahalaan.

Ang nangyari, Mr. President, at ito ay nakaka-touch talaga dahil no less than the President nagsabi siya he’s willing to scrape the bottom of the barrel, you have the Department of Finance, the Department of Budget and Management, IATF, civil society organizations, lahat sila, sa Senado si congressman — si Senator Christopher Lawrence Go, ang dalawang committee sa Senate, they all came out and said na kailangan talagang ipagpatuloy ang edukasyon.

So hindi lamang DepEd ang nagsasabing ipagpatuloy and edu — ang edukasyon, ang Presidente nagsabi, ang legislature nagsabi, ang civil society nagsabi and even our foreign partners and Secretary Dominguez knows this, nagsabi silang hindi puwedeng itigil ang edukasyon.

Kasi iyong mga pag-aaral natin nagpapakita na ‘pag lalampas ka ng dalawang buwan na ang isang bata ay wala sa paaralan malilimutan na niya lahat ang kanyang — ang naturo sa kanya. Kanina, Mr. President, tuwang-tuwa akong mag-report na sa opening day lamang all over the country lahat naming officials, Mr. President, kumalat sa buong bansa tiningnan nila, minanman nila kung anong nangyayari dahil simultaneous opening, 1.5 million viewers sa Facebook pa lang.

At saka 371,000 engagements, napakaraming approval rating nationwide. At saka kung 24.7 million ka mga bata ang nag-enroll, Mr. President, ibig sabihin halos 50 million ka parents, mga grandparents, lolas, ates, kuya, lahat, ang gobyerno, nagkaisa. Hindi lamang ang Department of Education, talagang they came to the support of education.

DOF SECRETARY CARLOS DOMINGUEZ III: I’m happy to report ho na our collections — we have three sources of funds in the Philippines. The first source of course is the taxes, okay?

From Jan — the —  from January 1 to September 31, BIR and Bureau of Customs was able to collect 1.821 trillion pesos. That is higher than our estimate of 1.682 trillion. So we are 8.26 percent over our estimate. So our collections are good. The BIR and the BOC are doing their — a good job.

Of course, the total collections compared to last year are lower kasi mas less ang business activity ngayon.

PRESIDENT DUTERTE:  Expected.

SEC. DOMINGUEZ: Yes, so we are 12 percent below last year. The second source of funds we have is loans. Most of our loans are taken from the domestic market and I’m happy to say that since the BSP has provided a lot of liquidity to the banks and to the local market, we have been able to borrow from the local market.

About 70 percent of our borrowings come from the local market — pesos — and about 30 percent from abroad. So our loans from abroad are still coming in. We have signed up almost 9 billion dollars worth of loans. The interests of these loans are very low and the term is very long. So we have to thank our multilateral agencies and countries like Japan who have been providing good financing for us.

The third source of funds ho we have are dividends from our state-owned companies. Last year, the whole of 2019, we collected about 65 billion pesos from our state-owned companies as dividends. This year, we have collected already 130 billion from — from these companies.

So we are in good financial position ho and we can finance the deficit that we have. So we have not cut the budget. We also don’t cut the budget ho because if you cut the budget, you will make the situation even worse.

So people will lose their jobs and we cannot do our projects. So because we have prepared well, the TRAIN Law, the Rice Tarrification Law, and all the laws that you — you sponsored have helped us in managing this — this cri — this crisis.  So we are still — we are still — we are in a good financial position. We are not under stress.

We have a good economy. What is happening is that this — this very strict quarantine is holding it back. We have to really open the economy more.

DILG SECRETARY EDUARDO AÑO: Panghuli lang po kasi ito po’y isa sa mga ipinag-uutos ninyo iyong tungkol po sa rollout ng mga telcos. The world and the country have gone digital so kailangan po talaga natin itong pag-layout ng mga towers because sa klase natin puro online classes na.

Doon po sa base na ipinag-uutos ninyo, mabilis na po ‘yung pag-ano — pag-approve ng ating mga LGUs sa mga applications for permit and clearances. Last week po noong nag-usap tayo, 574 po ‘yung na-approve. Tumaas po ito, naging 1,171 this week. So ibig sabihin po doble po ‘no.

Ang natira na lang po ay 428 applications, puro bago na po ito. So ibig sabihin po ay complying at very commen — very commendatory po ‘yung Manila LGU under Mayor Isko kasi ginawa nila one time lahat talaga po ay in-approve nila, so no more pending in Manila. So I hope all other LGUs will follow.

Doon po rin sa Bayanihan 2, Bayanihan [To] Act as One part 2, pinakinggan din po ‘yung inyong utos po. May isang provision po dito sa Bayanihan 2, ang automatic rollout ng telcos sa pagtatayo ng PTTIs or Passive Telecom Tower Infrastructure. Ni-waive na po lahat ng mga requirements dito except building permit and night clearance permit.

Automatic po ‘pag ma-comply niyo ang permit, approved na po and this will go on since last month up to the next three years. So I don’t think may reason pa po ‘yung ating mga telcos na sabihing nahihirapan sila. Mayroon na po talagang provision sa batas para makapag-layout sila ng mga towers at magamit natin.

Iyon lang po, Mr. President, thank you.

PRESIDENT DUTERTE: Iyong may isang ano na lahat nandoon na. But I said I — ito I think it was approved by the barangay but it hit a snag again in the mill — in the grid of ano sa about four, five — four briefers ago. Ipahanap mo na lang sa ano sa staff mo. Nabasa ko lang.

SENATOR CHRISTOPHER LAWRENCE “BONG” GO: From eight months, 16 days na lang? May pinag-usapan kayo sa ARTA?

SEC. AÑO:  Yes, yes po. ARTA, DTI, DICT, DILG, and all other agencies. Mayroon na kaming MOA doon. And then this bagong batas, gagawa na po kami ng guidelines dito with ARTA, DICT, and DTI para automatic rollout na po ng mga towers. Tapos wala na po ‘yung mga ibang mga homeowners’ association na clearance, barangay clearance, wala na po ‘yung mga iyon. Talagang we will really expedite the rollout of the telco towers.

SENATOR GO: At saka mayroon ring Senate bill, Mayor, which seeks to authorize the President during times of national emergency to suspend the requirements for national and local permits, licenses, certifications and to streamline and expedite the processing for the issuance of the same. So bibigyan ka ng authority.

PRESIDENT DUTERTE: You know, including us — including us para walang masabi. It’s very sad that this country has been, you know, allowing this practice of delays and the promoting the — the laggard quality of our civil service. Totoo ‘yan eh.

Na ano ako na bakit pinayagan itong ganito na tag-two months? And nobody was really taking notice of it or raising a howl about these things na ano, kaya nasanay ang mga buang. So they just sit there nonchalant about the — what it — what would be the effect of their indolence to the overall picture of governance at saka…

Kaya naalala ko, bakit hindi nila naisipan ito? Why would they allow three months, six months, four years? Eh may ibang sa Cabinet I had to ask them to leave because despite of my pleadings, almost begging everybody to do it faster, nangyayari palang ‘yun. And why would they allow, for example, like one month when it can be done in one week, three days?

Ako hindi ako nag-ano but Inday, my daughter, has also followed it with more vigor and vitality. She has shortened it to one day. Ako naman sa Davao three days talaga. If it is more than three days, explain to me in writing why it took you more than three days or else I will file — diretso na ako sa Ombudsman. I will ask you for negligence or talagang tamad, not doing your duty.

And to say that these are — all of these things are available to everybody para wala na ring ano, including us, kasali rin tayo. At least we were able to realize before the — at least I have two years to make things faster. I need not see any success of the project because of the expedited. I only want to see things moving, that is enough for me.

Mga —  mga kababayan ko narinig naman ninyo ang pinag-usapan namin dito. Una, ang reklamo ko na — iyong mga Pilipino na hindi alam o walang kakayahan na maka — makalakad kung saan sila papunta, bahay, umuwi ng bahay, umuwi ng ano, kung saan and they were not prepared with this card.

Kaya iyang card na ‘yan, card lang naman ‘yan, ibigay na ‘yan libre. Bakit pabayaran pa ‘yan?  We have been wasting so many billions to corruption tapos hindi ‘yan, hindi mo maibigay. That’s why I would like to talk to Secretary Tugade next meeting because I would raise with him the possibility of giving it free.

Iyong first day of… Nakita ko kawawa ‘yung mga — ‘yung mga babae na ‘yun lang ang pera nila tapos they have to take two travels. Kulang na sila sa pera nila kung magbili pa sila. It was almost a nakaka — naka…

You know, it breaks your heart really to… For those na iyang day-to-day trabaho ninyo but kami dito sa itaas nakikita namin and how it affects the human person. Eh trabaho namin ‘yan eh. So if there is not — if there is no relief in sight, or if it cannot be done immediately, I suggest that we find the money and give it to the public free para walang gulo at saka lahat mayroon.

Kasi hindi lahat Pilipino may pera. Kung may pera ngayon, mahirap. Money is really hard to come by. Buti’t na lang makasakay sila, at least mayroon silang card. Give the card free ‘yung para ma… Hindi ‘yung pamasahe. Iyong card lang na i-swipe mo. Magbabayad ka doon. At least you have put on aware that you have the — you have this protocol, modality na gagawin mo.

Hindi sila — wala silang mahanapan ng card. Pupunta pa sila ng… Kalokohan. But ‘pag mag-swipe mo, mga mahal kong kababayan, ‘yung card lang i-swipe pero iyong card ibibigay sa’yo libre, ang utos ko kung masunod. Pero ‘yung pag-swipe mo, may babayaran ka, bayaran mo. Kailangan alam mo kung magkano. So wala ng pera. Alam mo Baclaran-Quiapo. Kailangan alam mo ang pamasahe diyan. O ‘di huwag ka mahiya magtanong.

Naalaala ko, ma’am, noong una kong ano sa Maynila, mga one month siguro, pinasyal ako ng mga Bisaya.

Alam mo, hindi ko alam, akala ko iyong “mama” Bisaya kay mama. So ang tawag ko doon sa — sa Carriedo kami eh, rubber shoes, sinabi ko doon sa babae, “ma, mama” [laughs] 

“Ano?” Mama sabi ko. “Hindi ako mama. Gusto mo ako tawagin ale, huwag mama”

Sabi ko, ano pala itong p***** i**** mama dito? Akala ko mama na — mama na you would chew the betel nut. Totoo iyan, totoong nangyari iyan na talagang Bisayang ignorante hanggang ngayon.

Well, anyway, I’d like to thank you mga kababayan ko for bearing with us, listening, trying to get the — the gist of what we are talking about.

So, Monday we will have a Cabinet meeting and there will be some far wide — far and wide decisions to make. I am not sure that it will succeed but at least it will be discussed for you.

Maraming salamat po. [applause]

 

 

— END —

 

SOURCE: PCOO-PND (Presidential News Desk)

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