Aquino twits Arroyo anew on first year speech

(Updated 8:52 p.m.) On his first year in office, President Benigno Aquino III once again lashed at the Arroyo administration by comparing the government he inherited to a house that is in total wreck, and enumerating the alleged anomalies committed by the previous administration. “Ipinasa po sa atin ang isang tahanang lumulundo ang kisame at bitak-bitak ang mga pader. Kinahoy na nga po ang mga muwebles, ipinangutang pa ang pamalit. Ang masaklap niyan, alam kong mamanahin natin ang mga utang na iyon, sampu ng lahat ng dumi na ikinalat nila," he said in a speech at the PhilSports Arena in Pasig City. He accused former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, now a lawmaker, of causing the debts of the National Food Authority to balloon to 1,000 percent —from P12.9 billion in 1972 to 2000, to P18 billion in her first year in office, to P177 billion when she stepped out of office. “Isanlibong porsyento po ang itinaas ng utang ng NFA: record-breaking po talaga ang ginawa nilang pagbabaon sa atin sa utang," Aquino said. He also mentioned the alleged anomalies of former officials of the Philippine National Construction Company (PNCC). “Ni hindi nga po nila magawang mag-remit ng disenteng kita sa taumbayan, may kapal ng mukha pa silang umentuhan ang kanilang mga sarili," he said.
Based on a five-page memorandum submitted to Aquino by the new officials of PNCC, the former officers allegedly created non-essential positions that have a monthly salary of P500,000, mobile phone plans, equipments sold at a much lower price, and fixed allowance of P100,000 a month. “Lahat po iyan ay itinigil natin. Kaya naman ang dating monthly expense na P22 million, naibaba natin sa P11 million," Aquino said. He also cited the alleged over-budgeted advertisements of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO), which shows the faces of politicians, at the time the PCSO fail to pay their P3-billion debt to government hospitals. “Dahil sa utang na di mabayaran—dahil sa katiwalian—ang mismong ospital na pinopondohan ng gobyerno, ayaw nang tanggapin ang garantiya ng kapwa nila sangay ng gobyerno," he said. He reiterated his gratefulness to Arroyo for pointing out their differences “Nagpapasalamat na lamang po ako sa pag-amin ni Ginang Arroyo na kabaliktaran niya ako. Sa wakas, nagkasundo rin po tayo." Aquino was referring to Arroyo’s statement last week stating that the current administration failed to capitalize on the gains of her administration. Aquino said he will not waste his time exchanging arguments with the previous administration, but will instead let the 21,800 families of military and police personnel who will be the beneficiaries of housing program and conditional cash transfer program (CCT) beneficiaries to respond. CCT He said four days from now, he will witness the signing of the two millionth beneficiary of CCT, which targets to cover 2.3 indigent families this year. “Hahayaan ko na lang din pong tumugon ang halos 240,000 magsasaka na nakikinabang na ngayon sa mahigit 2,000 kilometrong farm-to-market roads na nailatag natin sa loob lamang ng isang taon," Aquino said. He further said that his government was able to effectively use the irrigation fund, resulting in bigger harvest. “Pinalawak ang paggamit ng maiging klase ng binhi at pinalawig din ang upland rice farming. Lahat po ito,nagdulot ng dagdag na 15 porsyento sa ating inani noong huling taon, at ng pinakamataas na ani sa kasaysayan ng dry season cropping," he said, adding that this would allow the government to be rice sufficient by 2013. Aquino also stressed that his administration’s correct spending allowed the government to have additional fund for more projects without having to impose new taxes. He said many people cannot wait to see the result of the progress his administration has been boasting. “Di ko naman po masisi ang taumbayang dumaan sa isang dekada ng katiwalian, at ayaw nang maniwalang posibleng magkaroon ng gobyernong handang tumahak sa tuwid na daan," he said. Aquino also reiterated in his speech his promise that the Filipino people are his boss. “Sinabi ko po dati: kayo ang aking lakas, ang lakas na bukal ng mga tagumpay na inaani na natin ngayon, at ng tuluyan at napipinto nating pagpitas sa katuparan ng ating mga pinapangarap. Hindi kailanman magbabago ito: kayo pa rin ang boss ko," he said. Can’t relate The atmosphere during the event was festive with performances from bands, Gloc 9 and Cesar Montano. There were also cheer dance exhibitions by the students of Rizal Technological University and Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Pasay. The crowd, mostly high school and college students, hushed when the President started his speech. Asked for their comment on the speech of the President, freshmen Associate in Salesmanship students from the University of Makati said they were not able to relate to what Aquino said. "Hindi pumasok sa sikmura, parang walang koneksyon," 16-year-old Hazel Marie Hermano said. "Nasa kanya na yun kung talagang tutuparin niya," Christine Joy Senson said when asked if they will help the President to fulfill his promises. Among those present during the event were Vice President Jejomar Binay, Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa Jr, Presidential Communications Operations head Herminio Coloma, Video Regulatory Board Ronnie Rickets, Movie and Television Review and Classification Board Mary Grace Poe –Llamanzares. Defense Sec Voltaire Gazmin, Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim, Public Works Secretary Rogelio Singson, Labor Sec Rosalinda Baldoz, Energy Sec Rene Almendras, Camarines Sur gov L-Ray Villafuerte, Sulu Gov Abdusakur Tan were also present. - KBK, GMA News