President Benigno S. Aquino III converses with Davao City Vice Mayor Rodrigo Duterte during the Meeting with local leaders and the community at the Rizal Park in San Pedro Street, Davao City on Wednesday (March 06, 2013). (MNS photo)
DAVAO CITY, Mar 7 (Mabuhay) — President Benigno S. Aquino III cited the people of Davao for supporting his administration’s reform program saying that with their help, his agenda of ridding government of graft and corruption is now bearing fruit.
In his speech during a meeting with local leaders and the community at the Rizal Park here on Wednesday, the President said that after a little over two years in office, the benefits of an efficient and effective government that is made for the people is nearing realization.
He said that through the implementation of infrastructure, education, and business programs in the province, more prosperity has been coming to the people and the province of Davao.
“Mula po sa ipinagkaloob ninyong tiwala noong nakaraang halalan, hanggang sa patuloy ninyong pakikiisa sa tuwid na daan, lagi po tayong makakaasa sa suporta’t pakikiisa ng mga Davaoeño. Daghang salamat sa mga kabag-uhan na inyong gihimo ug padayon pa nga ginahimo,” the President said to delight, loud applause and cheer of the residents of Davao.
“Mulat po ang mga Davaoeño sa mga tagumpay na nakamit natin dahil sa pagtitiwala ninyo sa ating agenda ng mabuting pamamahala,” he added.
For infrastructure, the President said that since July 2011 to April 2012, the Department of Public Works and Highways has been able to repair and upgrade the five-and-a-half kilometer Digos-Makar Road, the Davao-Cotabato Road and the Fatima-Malabog Road that has helped make travel time to and from the province faster and more efficient.
The President, also mentioned the construction of the Davao River Flood Control project, “Patitibayin natin ang mga river bank upang maiwasan ang pagragasa ng baha sa mga mababang lugar na nakapaligid sa Davao river. Kasalukuyan pong umaarangkada ang proyektong ito upang matapos ito sa Hunyo, he said.”
For education, the President said that the Department of Education has already constructed 220 kindergarten and elementary school classrooms to augment the existing 150 classrooms for the secondary level that forms part of the 66,800 classrooms backlog that the President expects to be completed by the end of this year.
“Malinaw ang hangad natin: bigyan ng sapat na kakayahan ang ating mga kabataan upang handa silang punan ang mga pagkakataong inilalatag natin para sa kanila,” the President said.
On the business front, the President said that the passage of the Common Carriers Tax and Tax on Gross Philippine Billings would pave the way for more positive economic activity and entice more investors to invest in the province and the country in the fields of aviation and tourism.
“Sa paglagda natin sa batas na ito, inaasahan nating magdudulot ito ng paglago sa ating ekonomiya, at makakahikayat ng mas marami pang namumuhunan, partikular na sa larangan ng aviation at turismo,” the President said.
“Patunay lang po ang magagandang balitang dala natin ngayon na walang espasyo ang panlalamang at kapabayaan sa tuwid na daan. Sa mabuting pamamahala, tinatapalan natin ang mga tagas sa pondo, at idinidiretso sa mga serbisyong panlipunan na taumbayan ang nakikinabang. Sinisiguro nating bawat estatistikang pahiwatig ng kaunlaran, ay may katumbas na pagkakataong umasenso si Juan dela Cruz,” he concluded. (MNS)