Aquino: Did we not improve under ‘Daang Matuwid?’

Bea Cupin

This is AI generated summarization, which may have errors. For context, always refer to the full article.

Aquino: Did we not improve under ‘Daang Matuwid?’
In a speech, Aquino jokingly imagines life as a high-earning mechanic instead of a president ‘subject to the daily criticisms of attention-seekers’

MANILA, Philippines – With just over a year till he steps down, President Benigno Aquino III reminded the people of what his administration has achieved so far, citing “proof” that his Daang Matuwid (straight path) policy is working.

Speaking before a crowd of fresh high school graduates from beneficiary- families of the government’s Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program, Aquino counted the following as products of his administration’s central principle: the modernization of the military, improvements in the police force, job creation, and the country’s investment grade status.

 

Sa lahat ng ito, ang tanong ko: May makakapagsabi bang hindi kayo binigyan ng gobyerno ng tunay na oportunidad para umunlad? May makakapagsabi bang walang nagbago dahil sa estilo ng ating pamamahala? May makakapagsabi bang hindi tayo umasenso sa loob ng higit apat na taon sa pagtahak sa Daang Matuwid?

 

(Given all this, my question is: Can anyone say that the government did not give people opportunities to succeed? Can anyone say that nothing has changed despite our style of government? Can anyone say that we did not improve after 4 years of Daang Matuwid?)

 

He said since 2010, over P232 billion has been spent on the 4Ps program, where poor families get cash under conditions – family development sessions, pre- and post-natal care for pregnant women, check-ups and vaccines for children, and school enrolment and at least 85% class attendance per month for school-age beneficiaries.

At ‘yung bunga, klaro naman po: Isang batang may alam at may kakayahan…. Ganyan po sa tinatawag nating Daang Matuwid. Nasa murang edad pa lang ang bata, nagtataya at nagpupunla na tayo para sa kanyang hinaharap,” added Aquino.

(And the result is clear: A child who has knowledge and skills. That’s how Daang Matuwid works. We invest in a young person’s future.)

He added in Filipino that when it comes to poverty alleviation efforts, the government “does not take chances.”

The President also emphasized his administration’s belief that “trickle down” economics just won’t do for the Philippines.

Ang estratehiya po natin: Palakasin ang ating ekonomiya, kasabay ng diresto at agarang paghahatid ng tulong at serbisyo sa ating mga kababayan, para sa gayon ay magawa nilang makilahok sa pagpapaarangkada ng kalakhang lipunan. Talagang tinatanim natin ang puno na magdadala ng mapipintog na bunga,” Aquino said.

(Our strategy: Strengthen the economy while giving direct assistance and services to our countrymen so that they can be active members in improving our society. We’re starting to plant the seeds of a bountiful harvest.)

Aquino: I should’ve trained under TESDA

In his speech to the high school graduates, Aquino joked that he should’ve trained under the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) himself.

Aquino said among the program’s goals is to strengthen technical-vocational training in high school so students who opt to skip college still have skills to make it in the work force.

The President told the story of a mechanic who underwent TESDA training before eventually finding work in Australia. The mechanic, said Aquino, now earns twice as much as the President of the Philippines.

Photo by Benhur Arcayan / Malacañang Photo Bureau

Naisip ko nga po: Siguro, kung nag-training na lang ako para maging mekaniko sa ilalim ng TESDA, maaabot ko rin pala ang sahod niya, at hindi pa ako sasalubungin ng araw-araw na panlalait ng mga kulang sa pansin,” he quipped.

(It made me think: Maybe if I had undergone training as a mechanic under TESDA, I would have the same salary as he has now and I wouldn’t be subject to the daily ridicule of attention-seekers.)

The remark drew applause and laughter from the crowd.

The crowd in Araneta was a welcome respite for Aquino, who has had to deal with the aftermath of “Oplan Exodus,” the biggest crisis of his presidency.

A recent nationwide survey by the Soccial Weather Stations showed less than half of Filipinos were satisfied with the Aquino administration’s performance. Aquino’s trust and satisfaction ratings have also dipped following the botched police operation in Mamasapano town, Maguindanao, which claimed the lives of at least 65 individuals.

Despite the disappointing numbers, Aquino appeared to be anything but discouraged.

Pag tinitingnan ko nga po ang lahat ng nakamit natin – at ang kongkretong patunay nito ay kayong mga benepisyaryo ng Pantawid Pamilya na narito –  talagang naiisip ko na sulit ang lahat ng pagod, pang-aalipusta, at pagyurak na ating kinakaharap bilang Pangulo. Lalo po tayong ginaganahang magtrabaho at doblehin ang sigasig para lalo pang umasenso ang Pilipino,” he said.

(If you look at what we’ve achieved – and you, the Pangtawid Pamilya beneficiaries are solid proof of this – I realize that it’s worth the stress and criticism I face as President. In fact, I’m driven even more to work doubly hard so that Filipinos will see progress.)

He said this only strengthens his resolve that “the Filipino is definitely worth fighting for.”

More than 10,000 fresh high school graduates from different National Capital Region cities were present at the ceremony for beneficiaries of the program.

According to the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), some 4.4 million households are beneficiaries of the program. Families are entitled to  P500 monthly as health grants, and P300-500 monthly for grade school and high school students for 10 months a year.

Also in attendance were Interior Secretary Manuel Roxas II, Social Welfare Secretary Corazon Soliman, Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz, and TESDA chief Joel Villanueva, and Commission on Higher Education chairperson Patricia Licuanan. – Rappler.com

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Bea Cupin

Bea is a senior multimedia reporter who covers national politics. She's been a journalist since 2011 and has written about Congress, the national police, and the Liberal Party for Rappler.