From the Website of GPH - Government of the Philippines
President Aquino at the National Millenium Challenge Closing Event
Speech
of
His Excellency Benigno S. Aquino III
President of the Philippines
at the National Millenium Challenge Corporation Compact Closing Event
of
His Excellency Benigno S. Aquino III
President of the Philippines
at the National Millenium Challenge Corporation Compact Closing Event
[Delivered at Malacañan Palace, Manila, on May 24, 2016]
When I
was a university student majoring in Economics, one of my professors
defined our field of study as “the study of fulfilling unlimited wants
with limited resources.” The harsh reality of the difficulties involved
in this struck me when I first became a Congressman in 1998—just one
year after the Asian Financial Crisis. As a representative, I had to
champion my district’s needs. Unfortunately, back then, the refrain of
every government agency was, “We don’t have funds.” Those were the times
I truly felt that we were confronted with unlimited wants and virtually
no resources.
To be
frank, I felt much the same way when I first assumed the Presidency.
Instead of the wants and needs of one district, there were the wants and
needs of the entire country to fulfill. This is a gargantuan task,
especially given our conviction that no Filipino should be left behind.
Fortunately for us, the Millennium Challenge Corporation felt the same
way.
The
signing of the Millennium Challenge Corporation Compact in 2010 made
$434 million in much-needed funding available to the Philippines for
projects specifically targeted to reduce poverty. This was a
manifestation of the trust that the American government and the people
had in us. This was a commitment to help—a commitment we swore to match
by ensuring that every dollar spent would have a meaningful impact on
the lives of Filipinos.
I have
to admit: My personal desire to maximize the effects of the compact and
my training as an economist led me to wonder why the bulk of the grant
would be used in infrastructure projects in Samar. I even toyed with the
idea of proposing a renegotiation, so that even more communities in
different provinces could feel the impact of the compact-funded
projects.
At the
same time, the fact that Samar has consistently been listed among the
poorest provinces of the Philippines weighed heavily on me. I knew that
any project that would enhance their local economy was a project I must
throw my full support behind. The MCC Compact-funded project is just
that. $222.49 million went to the widening, rehabilitation, and
improvement of the more-than-200 kilometer Paranas-Taft-Borongan-Guiuan
Road, the construction or rehabilitation of 61 bridges, and slope
protection, drainage, and road safety projects. Once it is completed in
July this year, this project will provide access to 13 coastal
communities and will cut travel time by an hour between Tacloban, Leyte,
and Borongan City, Eastern Samar amongst its benefits.
This is
part of the large-scale improvement of the Samar Circumferential Road:
the construction and rehabilitation of almost 380 kilometers of road,
together with 64 bridges, through the combined efforts of our Department
of Public Works and Highways, the Millennium Challenge Corporation, the
Korea Economic Development Cooperation Fund, and the Japan
International Cooperation Agency.
Allow me
to give you a concrete example of the benefits of this massive
undertaking. The towns of Oras and Arteche are both located in Eastern
Samar. They are not too far from each other, but there was a time when
travel between the two towns was exceedingly difficult due to the poor
condition of roads where they existed. Before, you would have to pay
around P500 to travel 5 hours from Oras to Arteche—roughly the same
price as traveling from Manila to Oras via bus.
Now that
the Junction Taft-Oras-San Policarpio-Arteche-Lapinig Road has been
completed, the cost has shrunk P80 and takes 30 minutes to travel from
one town to the other. Everyone knows: having the basic facility of an
improved transport system creates a wealth of possibilities. More
efficient trade and transport creates a wealth of possibilities; more
trade and transport must take place; tourism potential is heightened,
and the delivery of services, facilitated. Greater accessibility also
means that it will be easier for the authorities to maintain peace and
order in an area where insurgency was once very high, due to the
difficulties in governing—as manifested by the poor condition of roads,
which contributed to the relative isolation of communities.
As an
added bonus, there were unintended benefits to the project as well. When
Yolanda struck in 2013, I am told that the heavy equipment used for the
Paranas-Taft-Borongan-Guiuan Road project was positioned in an area
where it could immediately help to clear and reopen roads quickly. This
afforded us the means to bring in the necessary relief and assistance in
the aftermath of Yolanda—the value of which cannot be underestimated
because the airport and port were likewise devastated by the storm.
I have
no qualms admitting now that my initial worries about the so-called
limitations of the compact were unfounded. Apart from our countrymen in
Samar benefiting from infrastructure development, millions of Filipinos
across the archipelago have felt your support through the Department of
Social Welfare and Development’s (DSWD) KALAHI-CIDDS program. This helps
communities spur local development through self-determined, designed,
and implemented projects. Through the compact, $132 million went to
3,984 subprojects: from community water systems, sanitation projects,
and new school buildings, health stations, and access roads.
The
valuable truth at the heart of this endeavor: No one understands their
needs better than the communities themselves. Our shared role has been
to empower them. Because we have done that, millions of Filipino
families are benefiting from ease of access to quality healthcare, a
dependable supply of potable water, increased farm production, and more
regular attendance to school, amongst many others.
Another
MCC Compact project is our Department of Finance’s Revenue
Administration Reform Project (RARP), which received $79.42 million in
funding. The compact has helped to launch campaigns such as “Register,
File, and Pay,” and “Angat pa, Pinas” to heighten the public’s awareness
of their civic duty. There is also the Electronic Tax Information
System, which will help the BIR to collect, track, and analyze data,
making for more efficient, transparent, and reliable audits.
I know
BIR Commissioner Kim Henares already has a reputation for being fiercely
dedicated to her duties, but those involved in the RARP can attest: All
our work paid off. Tax collections have never been more efficient. For
example, in 2012, we breached the P1-trillion mark for the first time.
Collections from the arrears management program have also drastically
increased: from P2.3 billion in 2013 to P8.4 billion in 2015. All this
has led to increased fiscal space for our administration and even our
successors. Apart from the good practices we started, more funds can now
be used for projects and programs that will benefit Filipinos.
In and
of themselves, the MCC Compact projects already represent good news to
millions of our countrymen. Even better news lies in the fact that, in
December of 2014, the Philippines was selected as eligible to develop a
second compact—the first time a country has been considered eligible
even as the first compact is still in progress. This without doubt was
another vote of confidence for the Philippines.
Everyone
who took part can take great pride in the fact that we were all good
stewards. We chose to work together, we kept our word, and we were able
to foster positive change. At the same time, and on a rather more
personal note, I am especially proud that we Filipinos did not rely on
your assistance alone. On the contrary: the large-scale transformation
of the Philippines you see today is the result of millions of Filipinos
engaged in reform, determined to give rise to a better future for all.
It is
because of our countrymen that we have made unmatched investments in the
Filipino people through health, education, and other social services.
It is because of them that we have been able to reform tax collection
and budgeting, and institute transparency and accountability as
hallmarks of government processes. It is because of our fellow Filipinos
that we have transformed our country. This is not only a literal
transformation of governance that empowers our people so that inclusive
growth becomes more and more a reality. Perhaps more importantly, there
has also been a significant change in attitude. Now, our people are
empowered to participate, to speak out, and to demand good governance
and true service from all succeeding administrations.
This
gathering takes on special meaning for me: it has, in a way, allowed me
to come full circle. We signed the MCC compact a few months after I took
my oath of office; we witness its end today, as my own covenant with
our people is coming to an end.
These
days, I am often asked, “How does it feel to have just over a month left
as President?” My answer is always the same: I have no cause for fear,
or worry. I will be leaving behind a Philippines renowned for its
economic resilience and for its commitment to inclusivity; I will be
leaving behind a citizenry ready to work with able, trustworthy partners
like the Millennium Challenge Corporation. I will be leaving my office
as someone who remained true to his Bosses: the Filipino people.
Today—perhaps the last time I will be facing many of you as President—I
tell you: it has been a distinct honor to have worked with you, and to
have served my countrymen.
Thank you. Good afternoon.
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