MANILA (Mindanao Examiner / Mar. 31, 2013) – The Philippines has progressed a lot when the true power of government was given back to the people, President Benigno Aquino III said in his Easter message Saturday, adding the resurrection of Christ mirrors the hope of the Filipino people to rise from the ill effects of corruption and despair.
“Mula nang naibalik sa mga Pilipino ang tunay na lakas ng pamahalaan, at naiwaksi ang kultura nang pagkakanya-kanya at panlalamang, nagawa nating buhatin sa landas ng kaunlaran ang ating bansa,” the President said.
He said for the past several years ago, many Filipinos left the country to find better opportunities elsewhere, but today there is a renewed interest for them to return to the Philippines because of an improving economy.
He said millions of marginalized and poor people are being prioritized by government to improve their living condition through the Pantawad Pamilyang Pilipino Program.
More than three million households are receiving assistance from the government under the program. The government also has made strides to remedy the shortage in classrooms in the country, the President said. The government has been expecting to eliminate the 66,800 classroom backlog before the end of this year, he said.
Aquino said there is now sufficient food supply for Filipinos today while in the past, the country was importing millions of metric tons of rice that eventually rot in government storage facilities.
“Kung dati, ilang milyong metrikong toneladang bigas ang inaangkat at binubulok lang sa mga bodega, ngayon, natatanaw na natin, hindi lang ang pagiging self-sufficient sa bigas kundi ang pagiging exporter nito,” he said.
Aquino said his government is now truly a government by the people that selflessly focuses on their welfare, the chief executive said. With the ongoing initiatives, the government was able to save the country from chaos and hopelessness and in the future will start to reap the fruits of its labor, he said.
The President also highlighted in his message the spirit of volunteerism that strengthened the country’s unity.
“Ang pagtulong ay nagbibigay-lakas at kalayaan hindi lamang sa natulungan, kundi maging sa nag-abot ng tulong. Muli’t muli nating pinatutunayan: wala tayong hindi makakamit kung imbes na magkakanya-kanya ay magsimula tayong magbigayan. Sa ating kolektibong pagtutulungan, tiyak na magdudulot ito ng pag-asa at kaunlaran para sa lahat ng mamamayan,” he said
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