Philippine President Benigno Aquino delivers his speech, as Senate President Franklin Drilon (top left) looks on, during his fourth State of the Nation Address (SONA) at the House of Representatives in Quezon City, Metro Manila yesterday. Right: Protesters and anti-riot policemen clash after protesters tried to break the police blockade leading to the house of representatives building in Manila yesterday.
DPA/Manila
Philippine President Benigno Aquino yesterday vowed to step up efforts to provide more opportunities for Filipinos to benefit from the country’s robust economic growth.
In his annual state of the nation address before Congress, Aquino said his government’s strategy was to “maximise opportunities for all” and ensure that progress in fighting corruption becomes permanent.
But Aquino stressed that all Filipinos must pitch in and do their part in transforming the Philippines into a prosperous country.
“Widespread opportunity is the key to comprehensive and sustained progress,” he said. “Let us not forget that these opportunities are but seeds. We must water them with diligence, nourish them with determination and cultivate them with dedication.”
The Philippines’ economy has been one of the fastest-growing in Asia, with gross domestic product (GDP) expanding 7.8% in the first quarter of the year.
But unemployment remains high at 7.5% and the poverty rate almost unchanged at nearly 30% for the past six years.
Outside, more than 7,500 protesters clashed with riot police as they attempted to break barricades set up to keep them away from the House of Representatives compound, where Aquino delivered his speech.
At least 26 demonstrators and 20 police officers were hurt, according to paramedics.
The demonstrators burned an effigy of Aquino as they called for better jobs for the millions of unemployed and denounced the government’s counter-insurgency campaign as having led to human rights abuses. Aquino said his government would extend a cash support programme for the poorest families to include those with children up to 18 years old to allow them to finish high school, giving them better opportunity to find better jobs.
The programme currently only covers families with children in elementary school.
Aquino urged Congress to pass laws “that will help us sustain and improve on the reforms we have established,” starting with the proposed budget for next year that he said would “accelerate our momentum towards long-lasting inclusive progress.”
Another key legislation that Aquino asked Congress to support is a basic law being drafted by a presidential commission to create a new Muslim autonomous region in the southern Philippines as part of a peace deal with rebels.
“I ask you to pass the Bangsamoro Basic Law before the end of 2014,” he said. “This way, we will have ample time to prepare for the election of a new Bangsamoro government come 2016.”
The Philippine government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front signed a preliminary peace deal in October that calls for the creation of the new autonomous entity before Aquino’s term ends in 2016.