President Benigno Aquino III likened the 2013 to a basketball game that reached its “last two minutes,” but not without hurdles in the form of corruption and calamities.
In his year-end message released on Monday, the President emphasized Filipinos were able to go past the obstacles by the sheer spirit of “bayanihan” or the traditional Filipino value loosely translated as mutual cooperation or cooperative endeavor.
“Papasok na naman po tayo sa bagong taon ng pagtahak sa matuwid na daan… At gaya rin po sa basketball, hanggang sa huling yugto ay may hinaharap tayong barikada. Batid nating hindi basta basta titiklop ang mga latak ng lumang sistema,” he said.
“Manggulo man ang masasamang loob, yanigin man ng lindol, o hagupitin man ng bagyo, nangingibabaw pa rin ang lakas ng ating bayanihan,” he added.
Aquino’s year-end message came on the heels of Typhoon Yolanda that hit central Philippines in November – killing almost 6,000 people – and a magnitude-7.2 earthquake that jolted central Visayas in October and killed more than 200 people.
The government was criticized by the local and international media for the sluggishness of its aid and relief efforts.
The year was also highlighted by what was considered as the biggest government fund expose, the P10-billion pork barrel scam in which Senators Juan Ponce Enrile, Ramon Revilla Jr. and Jinggoy Estrada, along with other former lawmakers, were alleged to have plundered their Priority Development Assistance Funds through bogus foundations run by Janet Lim-Napoles.
“Habang lumalapit tayo sa tagumpay, lalo rin naman silang (detractors) magiging desperado at magtatangkang idiskaril ang ating agenda,” Aquino said.
“Sa natitirang yugto ng ating termino, wala tayong sasayanging sandali. Ang bawat makabuluhang ambag ng bawat Pilipino ay magpapanalo sa laban natin tungo sa pag-asenso,” he added.
The government has already lodged before the Office of the Ombudsman criminal charges against those implicated in the scam, while several other batches of complaints are expected to follow in the next few months.
The economy and corruption
In his message, Aquino boasted about the economy that earned increasing global confidence – especially in relation to the administration’s crusade against corruption.
He cited the latest Transparency International Corruption Index, where the Philippines went up 29 notches to the 105th spot this year from 134th in 2010 – the year Aquino assumed office.
The President noted the 7.8 percent growth in gross domestic product was the highest in Southeast Asia, and pointed out the investment grade rating given by three global debt-watchers that include Fitch Ratings, Standard & Poor’s, and Moody’s Investors Service.
Aquino singled out the synchronized national and Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao elections as among his administration’s accomplishments this year.
He cited the creation of an Annex to the power-sharing agreement in the framework pact for the Bangsamaro crafted between the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front. The Annex embodies the Parties’ agreement on the delineation and sharing of power between the Central Government and the Bangsamoro Government within the territorial jurisdiction of the prospective Bangsamoro political entity.
The Annex on Power Sharing is one of four annexes to the Framework Agreement on the Bangsamoro that both sides signed in October 2012.
The Bangsamoro Transition Commission will use the annex as a guide in drafting the Bangsamoro Basic Law.
“Dahil sa mas maayos na pamamalakad, natitibag na ang huling balwarte ng katiwalian,” Aquino said.
The President also lauded the Technical Education Skills Development Auhtority (TESDA) for its contribution in bringing up the general average of graduates who are able to land jobs from 28.5 percent to 62.4 in 2012.
Around 70.9 percent of TESDA graduates in the information technology and business process outsourcing industries were employed. A much higher employment rate of 85 percent was attained by TESDA graduates in the electronics and semi-conductor program.
Aquino said the unemployment rate went down from 7.8 percent to 6.5 percent in the third quarter of 2013.
“Kayo ang aming mga boss. Ang nagkukumpas ng direksiyong ating tatahakin. Magpatuloy lang po tayo sa pagkakapit-bisig,” the President said.
