President Benigno Aquino receives from Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation Chairman Cristino Naguiat, Jr., and President and Chief Operating Officer Jorge Sarmiento the dividend check amounting to P9.79-billion which is remitted to the National Treasury. (Photo by Benhur Arcayan)
MANILA (Mindanao Examiner / June 9, 2014)- Some P32 billion worth of dividends from 50 government-owned and controlled corporations have been turned over Monday to the national coffers.
Land Bank of the Philippines had the highest dividends remitted with P6.298 billion, while the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation had the highest total remittances with P9.791 billion.
Seven other GOCCs contributed more than P1 billion in dividends, among them the Development Bank of the Philippines, Manila International Airport Authority, Philippine National Oil Company – Exploration Corporation and the Philippine Deposit Insurance Corporation.
President Benigno Aquino witnessed the turnover of dividends to the National Treasury at the Rizal Hall of Malacanang Palace and in his speech, he attributed to good governance the increase in GOCC remittances since the enactment of Republic Act 10149 or the GOCC Governance Act of 2011.
“Bawat taon, naisasabuhay ninyo (GOCCs) ang inyong tunay na layunin: Ang maging tagapagtaguyod ng makabuluhang serbisyo at malawakang pag-unlad. Tapos na ang panahon kung kailan ang mga GOCC ay ginamit ng iilan para pakapalin ang sariling bulsa; kung saan ang mga GOCC ay ginawang tambayan at parking space ng mga kabarkada at alipores ng iilang makapangyarihan,” Aquino said.
“Nagpatupad tayo ng reporma, at habang umuusad ang panahon, lalo nating pinagtitibay ito; lalo nating ginagawang masigasig ang pagtatrabaho tungo sa pagbabago; at lalong nagiging imposible na bumalik pa sa dating sistema,” he added.
Aquino also recalled that his detractors said reform was impossible because of corruption in GOCCs, but he proved them all wrong.
“Sa araw na ito, malinaw na malinaw: Hindi tayo katulad nila. Tingnan na lamang po natin ang kabuuang halaga ng dibidendong nailagak natin sa kaban ng bayan mula nang maisabatas ang ating GOCC Governance Act of 2011,” he said.
In 2012, a total of P29 billion were remitted by 38 GOCCs.
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