President Benigno S. Aquino III delivers his speech during the Philippine Quality Award (PQA) 17th Conferment Ceremony at the Rizal Hall of the Malacañan Palace on Tuesday (September 22). PQA is a national performance excellence program that recognizes achievements of public and private organizations in their journey towards organizational performance excellence. Patterned after the prestigious Baldrige Performance Excellence Program of US, the PQA is the highest award that can be received by any Philippine organization. (MNS photo)
MANILA (Mabuhay) – With 280 days left before he steps down from office, President Benigno Aquino III said he believes majority of Filipinos would think he performed beyond what was expected of him.
“For the bulk, I think they will say that we went beyond expectations. And when we say bulk, talagang overwhelming majority,” Aquino said in an interview with ANC’s Tina Monzon Palma Tuesday night.
“But I submit that there is a contrarian group that exists anywhere in the world now and then of course the cottage industry of my critics,” Aquino added.
Regardless, Aquino, who was once a reluctant president, said it was “really an honor” for him to serve the Filipino people.
President Benigno S. Aquino III shares the stage with the Philippine Quality Award (PQA) awardees for a snap shot during the 17thConferment Ceremony at the Rizal Hall of the Malacañan Palace on Tuesday (September 22). PQA is a national performance excellence program that recognizes achievements of public and private organizations in their journey towards organizational performance excellence. Patterned after the prestigious Baldrige Performance Excellence Program of US, the PQA is the highest award that can be received by any Philippine organization. It sets the global standard to help our local organizations achieve world-class performance and serve as a template for competitiveness based on the principle of Total Quality Management. Also in photo are PQA Board of Judges chairman CristinoPanlilio; PQA Award Administrator for Private Sector and Philippine Society for Quality, Inc. vice president Ma. Teresa Bagaman; Trade and Industry Undersecretary Adrian Cristobal, Jr.; PQA Award Administrator for Public Sector and Development Academy of the Philippines (DAP) president Antonio Kalaw; PQA Foundation, Inc. president Angelito Sarmiento; and PQA Board of Judges vice chairman Ruy Moreno. (MNS photo)
Aquino said his administration’s “greatest achievement” is changing the public attitude towards its government.
“Before, people were so apathetic, they just gave up…Now, we have everybody’s inputs,” he said.
“I won’t say I’d like all of these criticisms but the point is the legitimate rights are indicative that they do believe that government can effect positive changes as oppose to what we inherited, which is apathy. That I think is the greatest achievement.” Aquino added.
Asked how he defines his leadership style, Aquino said he doesn’t micromanage.
“I’d like to think I am a consensus builder. Siguro, I really have an allergy to being dictatorial thereby, I really-we will have very, very thorough discussions,” he said.(MNS)