Battle over Cagayan de Oro airport: US base or new city center?

NEW CITY CENTER. Engineer Isidro Borja (left), Cagayan de Oro’s top planning and development officer; and Eileen San Juan, the city’s chief for Local Economics, Investment Promotion, discuss the planned Cagayan de Oro city expansion. Photo by Bobby Lagsa/Rappler.

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, Philippines – Is there a looming battle over the use of the old Lumbia airport?

The national government is not the only one eyeing the old airport, reportedly for use by the US military under the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA). The Cagayan de Oro city government has also expressed interest in developing 106 hectares of prime airport property in Barangay Lumbia.

The city’s top urban planners, with the help of the United Architects of the Philippines, created the Planned City Expansion (PCE) in Barangay Lumbia, an expansive uptown village deemed suitable for expansion as it is not prone to flooding and has potential as the new city center.

Cagayan de Oro Mayor Oscar Moreno said the PCE was conceptualized under the United Nation Habitat’s Achieving Sustainable Urban Development (ASUD) project with the assistance of Arcadis, a global design, engineering, and management consulting company.

The PCE covers 820 hectares of land including the Lumbia airport which is now under the control of the Philippine Air Force’s 10thTactical Operations Group, though the land is owned by the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC).

New growth area

Moreno said that the prime land, which is 180 meters above sea level, is a strategic area since future expansions under the Mindanao Logistics Infrastructure network (MLIN) pass through or near lumbia.

The MLIN is a long-term development plan for the road network in Mindanao. It includes new construction, and the upgrade and improvement of existing national roads and local roads.

All agencies, including the Department of Public Works and Highways, should use the MLIN plan as a guide for their own long and medium term development plans in the area covered by the plan.

EXTENSION. The conceptual plan of the planned Cagayan de Oro city extension. Map courtesy of the CDO government

The MLIN is intended to be used as a reference for agencies involved in the development of the Mindanao transport network.

A new national road is being constructed that will connect Iligan City to Bukidnon.

Engineer Isidro Borja, chief of the City Planning and Development Office, said that the PCE will be the new growth area of the city with its cluster of areas for development.

“It is like a self-contained community where everything is there, without having to go to other places to work or study,” Borja said.

Last year, Christopher Rollo, ASUD country program manager for UN Human Settlement, said that if the expansion of the city is left unplanned and unchecked, it is likely to be driven by real estate market that favors development for the rich.

“In Lumbia, it is where everything can be put in place like public spaces can remain public, road network connected to other districts without being blocked by private ownership of lands,” Rollo said.

Mixed-use modern district

Eileen San Juan, the city’s local economics and investment promotions chief said that she met with defense officials on January 11, 2016, to present the city’s PCE, which includes the Lumbia airport.

Moreno said the PCE was presented to President Benigno Aquino III and Cabinet officials as early as 2013 as part of the city government’s bid to promote the city.

San Juan said that the PCE is an exercise in urban planning which the city badly needed.

Under the PCE, there are 5 proposed clusters – Lumbia airport is under Prime Cluster A where local and national government offices are located.

“We will also replicate ‘Plaza Divisoria,’ which is a unique feature not found in any other city,” San Juan said.

Plaza Divisoria is a strip of 5 parks with statue of national hero Dr Jose Rizal, Andres Bonifacio, president Ramon Magsaysay, and mayor Justiniano Borja who first planned the city’s business district which Divisoria will be part of.

San Juan said the city wants a strategic and sustainable development node, a model for adaptive reuse, providing rural areas easy access to economic opportunities and social services.

“We want an institutional landmark with wide public parks and open space in harmony with medium to high density residential and commercial development which would showcase the city for livability and resilience,” San Juan said.

Borja said the PCE conforms with the approved Comprehensive Land Use Plan (CLUP).

“With the diverse housing market, low, medium, high end suitability for resettlement, this project will answer the housing shortage in the city,” Borja said.

Clusters

San Juan said each cluster under the PCE is designed according to use.

• Cluster A: Institutional and mixed use
• Cluster B: Farmstead/homestead villages
• Cluster C: Medium-density residential with community facilities, health and education, low intensity commercial area with at least 20% social housing with connection to town center and public spaces
• Cluster D: Residential villages in terraced fields, water retention ponds, soil erosion control and tourism activities with ecotourism (biking, trekking, adventure sports), mountain view resort with convention and meetings facilities
• Cluster E: Agri-processing Complex with waste management facility, mixed use Low–medium end housing, commercial, community facilities, value chain-considered efficient access to raw materials and markets

CLUSTERING. Cluster A is where local and national government offices would be located. Courtesy of the Cagayan de Oro city government

Borja said the PCE was designed considering road traffic. “All major roads will be 30 meters wide, while other roads will be at least 10 meters wide, both with provisions for pedestrian and cycling lanes.”

“We wanted the PCE is to be as walkable as possible; we want it to be environmentally and people friendly,” Borja added.

Adjustments

If EDCA enters into the picture and the airport is used by the US military, city officials said they would have to just adjust the design accordingly – but not without first exhausting efforts to convince the national government to favor the PCE.

Moreno said the long-term plan is for the common good.

“It is up to the national government if they’d allow the local government’s initial plan. We need them (national government) to cooperate because basically, the land belongs to to the Civil Aviation Authority and we cannot plan without them involved,” Moreno said.

Moreno added that the city government is taking steps to convince the national government on the expansion, as it is for the common good.

In its plan, residential areas will get 19.72% or 177.62 hectares; commercial area, 2.04% or 18.35 hectares; institutional 4.6% or 42.1 hectares; agro-industrial 2% or 17.87 hectares; mixed-used 15.8% or 142.9 hectares; commercial and transport facilities, 0.91% or 8.19 hectares; roads, 15.96% or 143.76 hectares; public spaces, 38.83% or 349.72 hectares.

“We will be expecting adjustments and needs to revisit the planning and resources needed to achieve our goal of the PCE,” San Juan said. – Rappler.com

Source: Bobby Lagsa/ http://www.rappler.com/nation/120224-battle-lumbia-airport-us-base-cagayan-de-oro-city-center

Elections to affect real estate activity; oversupply in vertical residential segment

AS THE PHILIPPINES “goes bananas” in an election year—in the year of the monkey at that—property experts see a number of challenges, and likely trends, flavoring and coloring the real estate industry in 2016. Here’s their fearless forecast:

1. There will be an oversupply in the mid-market vertical residential segment.

“I expect 2016 to be the most challenging year for the residential property sector. A looming oversupply in the mid-market vertical residential segment in Metro Manila is developing, and developers should expect a slowdown by as much as 10 percent in the average annual take-up rate of 50,000 units. Several developers are already holding back sales of new projects until supply balances out in 2018,” said Enrique M. Soriano III, Ateneo program director for real estate and senior adviser for Wong+Bernstein Business, in an Inquirer Property interview.

Soriano said that with this oversupply scenario, “we will naturally anticipate vacancy rates to go up in 2016 to double digits in the Makati and Ortigas CBD (central business district) area.”

2. The 2016 presidential elections will affect the market. Soriano said the presidential and national elections “is likewise expected to freeze any major real estate activity in the first two quarters of 2016. Naturally, investor sentiment will be on a wait-and-see attitude. This will not bode well for the property sector and the economy as a whole. Hopefully, after the elections, it will be followed by a possible uptick in transaction levels in the last two quarters of 2016,” said Soriano.

3. Business process outsourcing (BPO) growth continues. BPO companies, according to property portal Lamudi Philippines, will continue to buoy Metro Manila’s commercial real estate.

“Experts do not foresee the supply of office space surpassing demand soon, meaning commercial properties (and offices in particular) remain a beneficial investment for 2016,” said Lamudi

Philippines in a statement.

Soriano said that in 2016, Grade-A office rents in prime areas is expected to increase 5 percent, given strong demand for office space and low vacancy rates. Meanwhile, rents in non-CBD areas may slightly drop by 5 percent due to available supply in Makati and Bonifacio Global City.

4. Metro Manila land values will go up. Lamudi Philippines said that despite slower gross domestic product growth in 2015, land values still continue to appreciate, albeit at a slower pace.

Colliers International said that growth rates of land values in Metro Manila accelerated in the second quarter of 2015. In addition, land values in the Makati CBD, growing at only 0.85 percent during the first three months of the year, rebounded in the next three by growing at a rate of 2 percent. This raised the area’s average price to P452,704 per square meter. Values similarly rose in the business districts of Fort Bonifacio and Ortigas Center, increasing at 1.97 and 2.1 percent, respectively.

5. Retail property market will face a slowdown. Soriano said “the challenging retail environment is likely to persist next year due to diminishing inbound tourist arrivals. We expect prime rents outside of the shopping centers to slide by 10 percent in 2016, while shopping mall spaces are expected to escalate.”

“We can also expect a decline in premium retail market rents due to the expected drop in tourist arrivals as a result of the national elections happening in the first half of 2016. The mass retail market is expected to remain resilient as domestic consumption continue to grow, fueled partly by election spending nationwide,” said Soriano.

Source: by Tessa R. Salazar / http://business.inquirer.net/204872/elections-affect-real-estate-activity-oversupply-vertical-residential-segment

CCCI to push ahead with proposal to turn Cebu Province into ecozone

Tuesday, November 1, 2011By Katlene O. Cacho

THE Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI) will continue pushing its proposal to convert the entire Cebu Province into an economic zone, officials said.

“The proposal is still under study and evaluation,” said CCCI presidaent Samuel Chioson in a recent interview.

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Former CCCI president Francis Monera said the conversion of Cebu Province into an ecozone will create the right environment for business.

“We are looking at improving the business environment via an economic zone. What we are eyeing is similar to the eco-zones that have made the country attractive to investors,” Monera said.

Monera said firms located in ecozones enjoy income tax holidays and other incentives.
He cited as an example Hainan, a province in China that became successful after it was declared an ecozone. Hainan is now China’s largest economic zone.

“Why can’t we do the same? Hainan Province moved up fast because they opened the doors to foreign investors via an economic zone,” Monera said.

House Bill No. 1319 or the Cebu Economic Development Zone was filed in the House of Representatives three years ago. The bill was supported by congressmen and local business groups but was not tackled in the Senate due to preparations for the May 2010 elections.

Published in the Sun.Star Cebu newspaper on November 02, 2011.

Vice mayor on Ciudad: open those 4 roads and we’ll see

Friday, October 28, 2011

Young says they’re not against sale of SRP lots, want right buyers & there are even no offers yet

1. You’ve seen, and participated in, the running of Cebu City Hall: in the past setting with the mayor and the City Council under one party, and in the present setting, under two opposing political camps.

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As a veteran in Cebu City politics, you must know what’s good and what’s bad under each setup.

Services will always suffer if the mayor is from a party different from the party of the City Council.

Under the previous setup, where we belonged to the same party, it was much easier to get things done. With the mayor having left BOPK, it is harder as there is now mistrust and political “management” becomes more important for the executive.

2. While Mayor Rama and the City Council are now politically at odds with each other, there has been no actual gridlock yet, just occasional sparks from clashing opinions. How long can this hold, before what’s happening in Danao City, will happen in this city?

There has been no actual gridlock so far because, to the credit of the City Council, it has been very patient and understanding to the mayor despite his departure from the party. I think both sides have been very objective so as not to sacrifice basic services to the barangays.

I think it would be a waste of time for us to go the way of Danao City; 2013 after all is just around the corner. Most people have already made up their minds.

3. There are two major flash points, generally seen as potential sources of open conflict: the Ciudad project and the sale of SRP lots.

On Ciudad, while the City Council already set a policy against development in the north, other government agencies are slowly paving the way for the project by issuing clearances and certifications. It has come to a point that the city government policy seems to have been disregarded and you have gone to court to try to stop the project.

The City Council has made its stand on the Ciudad project. The only way they can make us change our stand is to show us how they’ll sove the traffic problem.

Why don’t they just open the four roads they’ve been talking about and see if that solves the traffic problem?

There is a case we filed in court during the term of then mayor Tomas Osmeña and we’re waiting for the restraining order.

4. On the sale of SRP lots, would the City Council approve sales that Mayor Rama would push to raise money for his huge budget? How would the stand of Rep. Tomas Osme¤a against selling at this time affect the City Council decision?

I’ve always clarified from day one that although as a rule we don’t want to sell any SRP lot until two to three years from now (at double the price of P30,000 per sq.m.), we’re open to selling if the right package comes along.

What we look out for is a proponent that doesn’t directly compete with Filinvest and SM. We should give these two investors a headstart.

Bear in mind that 40 hectares of our land are covered by the joint venture with Filinvest and we are supposed to get 10% from gross for any sale or rental, so it’s not in our interest to give it competition.

We also want to avoid buyers who’re speculators. We don’t want to happen what happened at the North Reclamation or have a buyer like Ayala that just parcels the land out like a subdivision. They’re both losing propositions for the city.
But if the right buyer comes along, like, say, MD Anderson that opens a hospital specializing in cancer treatment, we won’t say “no” to that. “Mag-dagan pa ta, apil si Cong. Tom.”

That’s why there’s really no reason for us to argue about the sale of SRP lots.
We don’t even have any offers yet. We’ll cross the bridge when we get there.

5. The more visible major problems of the city are garbage and filth, traffic congestion, and floods on streets and in subdivisions affected by hillside housing projects. How much has the City Council tackled these problems and how much has disagreement with the mayor’s plans and methods affected it?

The councilors and I have many ideas on how to solve those problems. And God knows how much we’ve tried to help the City and the mayor. Unfortunately, not only are we at odds with the mayor, he, from the start, hasn’t really tapped the councilors, except a few, for executive tasks.

That’s why the mayor is having difficulty in decision-making and in implementing the projects. It doesn’t help when he receives wrong advice from people who don’t have a level of experience on City Hall matters.

You can just imagine the difference that 18 councilors, with their knowhow and commitment, can bring.

6. You’ve hitched your political wagon to the BOPK stars but you must have charted your own course in public service. What may the public expect from Joy Young the public servant in the coming years?

I’ve been with BOPK for the last 25 years, starting as councilor. Coming from the civic and business sector, I tend to do things differently. As a public servant, I will always try to perform to the best of my ability.

7. As a legislator, you’ve worked for a long time with public schools. Even when you became vice mayor, you’ve held on to the education job. And you resented the taking away of the city scholarship program from you by the mayor. You’re aware of what your detractors say about this attachment. What’s your side on the issue?

There will always be critics and detractors. I always look for them as they’re the ones who give me credibility!

For the record, I didn’t resent the taking away of the scholarship program from my office. It’s not resentment but concern as to how the program will go on. That’s not to say, it will stop without me. Far from it, it will continue as responsible persons are already running it. I was able to set up the needed system. There’s just the need to continue what was started. I’ll also not allow it to fail.

My performance in education speaks for itself. The programs I started are still being implemented now and are in fact adopted by DepEd as national programs. Here are a few examples:

(a) The Night High School, which I started 20 years ago, has made it possible for almost 50,000 students in 25 night high schools to finish high school at a lower cost than it takes DepEd. You can see the difference it has made.

(b) The Pre-school Program was conceived in 2005 when I was education consultant to the mayor. We started requiring kindergarten as pre-requisite to enrollment to Grade One and came up with the summer kinder program to enable our schools to accommodate kinder classes without building additional classrooms and hiring more teachers.

Starting last year, DepEd has adopted the same program on a national level, with DepEd, no longer the school board, paying the summer honorariums.

(c) The Science Elementary School System, which I initiated 18 years ago, has been implemented on a national level by DepEd starting only six years ago. They were astonished to learn that we’ve been doing it for the last 18 years already. We’re also ahead with our eight Special High School Science Program, which DepEd still hasn’t started yet.

DepEd sent a team to study our system a few years ago. And starting last year DepEd made BrigadaSwela a year-round program, which has saved everybody a lot of money.

It’s about innovation and commitment, not about building classrooms.

MORE, AT A GLANCE

* Why no actual gridlock with executive department: councilors have been “very patient and understanding” with Mayor Rama

* Dismayed that Mayor Rama has not tapped councilors, except a few, for executive tasks; blames that, and poor advice, for mayor’s “difficulty” in making decisions and implementing projects

* Proud of his programs in public education that work in the city and are followed by DepEd on national level

SNIPPETS from, about Joy Young

* Cebu politics: “It’s a love-hate relationship.”

* Mantra in public service: “The best politics is good public service.”

* Local law-making “needs to be greatly improved”

* One wish? He has “several of those one-wish”

* How he describes himself: “low-key, actually a very private person”

* Life outside City Hall “centers on family and private business”

Published in the Sun.Star Cebu newspaper on October 28, 2011.

Rama wants politics-free SRP

By Princess Dawn H. Felicitas

Saturday, September 17, 2011

CEBU City Mayor Michael Rama will pursue the creation of a special body that will manage the 300-hectare South Road Properties (SRP) despite the criticisms of his predecessor Rep. Tomas Osmeña (Cebu City, south district).

Unlike his earlier statement, Rama said he will form the special body through an executive order and not through an ordinance, which still has to go through the scrutiny of the legislative body.

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“The special body will be like an adhoc committee that will be created through an executive order and I will give the council a copy of it,” he said.

As in his previous statements, Rama said the SRP should not be under the whims of one politician, as the City is investing billions of taxpayers’ money into the property.

The mayor believes that the special body will insulate the SRP from politics and keep it from becoming a milking cow.

“Kinahanglan ang SRP di kontrolahon sa usa ka tawo kay we are talking of billions diha. Ang atong huna-huna is ang pag-protektar niana kay after pila ka years pa na maimpas (The SRP must not be controlled by one man because we are talking about billions there. We must think of protecting the property because it will still take years to pay off the loan),” he said.

In 1995, the Japan International Cooperating Agency, formerly known as the Japan Bank for International Cooperation, lent the City 12.315 billion yen to implement the South Reclamation Project, which is now the SRP. The loan is payable in 30 years, ending in 2025.

Also, Rama said the special body will be created to craft a master plan for the 300-hectare property.

At present, Rama said the SRP’s master plan is only in the mind of one man, apparently referring to Osmeña. The SRP was a pet project of the congressman when he was mayor.

Osmeña, however, maintains the SRP has a master plan, saying it was a requirement in the City’s loan application for the implementation of the SRP.

Published in the Sun.Star Cebu newspaper on September 17, 2011.

President Benigno "Noynoy" S. Aquino (PNoy) SONA 2010 Transcript

The State of the Nation Address (SONA 2010) of President Benigno "Noynoy" S. Aquino (PNoy) has just finished. It took 32 applause, and some 45 minutes (not official) of speech. In his speech, PNoy has exposed a lot of anomalies in the government, budget deficit of the Philippines, corruptions, illegal contracts, illegal spending of budget, among others. Below is the full transcript of President Noynoy's SONA 2010:

President Benigno "Noynoy" S. Aquino III State of the Nation Address (SONA 2010)

July 26, 2010, Batasan Pambansa Complex, Quezon City

Speaker Feliciano Belmonte; Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile; Vice President Jejomar Binay; Chief Justice Renato Corona; Former Presidents Fidel Valdez Ramos and Joseph Ejercito Estrada; members of the House of Representatives and the Senate; distinguished members of the diplomatic corps; my fellow workers in government;

Mga minamahal kong kababayan:

Sa bawat sandali po ng pamamahala ay nahaharap tayo sa isang sangandaan.

Sa isang banda po ay ang pagpili para sa ikabubuti ng taumbayan. Ang pagtanaw sa interes ng nakakarami; at pagkapit sa prinsipyo; at ang pagiging tapat sa sinumpaan nating tungkulin bilang lingkod-bayan. Ito po ang tuwid na daan.

Sa kabilang banda ay ang pag-una sa pansariling interes. Ang pagpapaalipin sa pulitikal na konsiderasyon, at pagsasakripisyo ng kapakanan ng taumbayan. Ito po ang baluktot na daan.

Matagal pong naligaw ang pamahalaan sa daang baluktot. Araw-araw po, lalong lumilinaw sa akin ang lawak ng problemang ating namana. Damang-dama ko ang bigat ng aking responsibilidad.

Sa unang tatlong linggo ng aming panunungkulan, marami po kaming natuklasan. Nais ko pong ipahayag sa inyo ang iilan lamang sa mga namana nating suliranin at ang ginagawa naming hakbang para lutasin ang mga ito.

Sulyap lamang po ito; hindi pa ito ang lahat ng problemang haharapin natin. Inilihim at sadyang iniligaw ang sambayanan sa totoong kalagayan ng ating bansa.

Sa unang anim na buwan ng taon, mas malaki ang ginastos ng gobyerno kaysa sa pumasok na kita. Lalong lumaki ang deficit natin, na umakyat na sa 196.7 billion pesos. Sa target na kuleksyon, kinapos tayo ng 23.8 billion pesos; ang tinataya namang gastos, nalagpasan lang natin ng 45.1 billion pesos.

Ang budget po sa 2010 ay 1.54 trillion pesos.

Nasa isandaang bilyong piso o anim at kalahating porsyento na lang ng kabuuan ang malaya nating magagamit para sa nalalabing anim na buwan ng taong ito.

Halos isang porsyento na lang po ng kabuuang budget ang natitira para sa bawat buwan.

Saan naman po dinala ang pera?

Naglaan ng dalawang bilyong piso na Calamity Fund bilang paghahanda para sa mga kalamidad na hindi pa nangyayari. Napakaliit na nga ng pondong ito, ngunit kapapasok pa lang natin sa panahon ng baha at bagyo, 1.4 billion pesos o sitenta porsyento (70%) na ang nagastos.

Sa kabuuan ng 108 million pesos para sa lalawigan ng Pampanga, 105 million pesos nito ay napunta sa iisang distrito lamang.

Samantala, ang lalawigan ng Pangasinan na sinalanta ng Pepeng ay nakatanggap ng limang milyong piso (P5M) lamang para sa pinsalang idinulot ng bagyong Cosme, na nangyari noong 2008 pa.

Ibinigay po ang pondo ng Pampanga sa buwan ng eleksyon, pitong buwan pagkatapos ng Ondoy at Pepeng. Paano kung bumagyo bukas? Inubos na ang pondo nito para sa bagyong nangyari noong isang taon pa. Pagbabayaran ng kinabukasan ang kasakiman ng nakaraan.

Ganyan din po ang nangyari sa pondo ng MWSS. Kamakailan lamang, pumipila ang mga tao para lang makakuha ng tubig. Sa kabila nito, minabuti pa ng liderato ng MWSS na magbigay ng gantimpala sa sarili kahit hindi pa nababayaran ang pensyon ng mga retiradong empleyado.

Noong 2009, ang buong payroll ng MWSS ay 51.4 million pesos. Pero hindi lang naman po ito ang sahod nila; may mga additional allowances at benefits pa sila na aabot sa 160.1 million pesos.

Sa madaling sabi, nakatanggap sila ng 211.5 million pesos noong nakaraang taon.

Beinte-kuwatro porsyento (24%) lang nito ang normal na sahod, at sitenta'y sais porsyento ang dagdag.

Ang karaniwang manggagawa hanggang 13th month pay plus cash gift lang ang nakukuha.

Sa MWSS, aabot sa katumbas ng mahigit sa tatlumpung buwan ang sahod kasama na ang lahat ng mga bonuses at allowances na nakuha nila.

Mas matindi po ang natuklasan natin sa pasahod ng kanilang Board of Trustees. Tingnan po natin ang mga allowances na tinatanggap nila:

Umupo ka lang sa Board of Trustees at Board Committee meeting, katorse mil na. Aabot ng nobenta'y otso mil ito kada buwan. May grocery incentive pa sila na otsenta mil kada taon.

Hindi lang iyon: may mid-year bonus, productivity bonus, anniversary bonus, year-end bonus, at Financial Assistance. May Christmas bonus na, may Additional Christmas Package pa. Kada isa sa mga ito, nobenta'y otso mil.

Sa suma total po, aabot ang lahat ng dalawa't kalahating milyong piso kada taon sa bawat miyembro ng Board maliban sa pakotse, technical assistance, at pautang. Uulitin ko po. Lahat ng ito ay ibinibigay nila sa kanilang mga sarili habang hindi pa nababayaran ang mga pensyon ng kanilang mga retirees.

Pati po ang La Mesa Watershed ay hindi nila pinatawad. Para magkaroon ng tamang supply ng tubig, kailangang alagaan ang mga watershed. Sa watershed, puno ang kailangan.

Pati po iyon na dapat puno ang nakatayo, tinayuan nila ng bahay para sa matataas na opisyal ng MWSS.

Hindi naman sila agad maaalis sa puwesto dahil kabilang sila sa mga Midnight Appointees ni dating Pangulong Arroyo.

Iniimbestigahan na natin ang lahat nang ito. Kung mayroon pa silang kahit kaunting hiya na natitira - sana kusa na lang silang magbitiw sa puwesto.

Pag-usapan naman po natin ang pondo para sa imprastruktura. Tumukoy ang DPWH ng dalawandaan apatnapu't anim na priority safety projects na popondohan ng Motor Vehicle Users Charge. Mangangailangan po ito ng budget na 425 million pesos.

Ang pinondohan po, dalawampu't walong proyekto lang. Kinalimutan po ang dalawandaan at labing walong proyekto at pinalitan ng pitumpung proyekto na wala naman sa plano. Ang hininging 425 million pesos, naging 480 million pesos pa, lumaki lalo dahil sa mga proyektong sa piling-piling mga benepisyaryo lang napunta.

Mga proyekto po itong walang saysay, hindi pinag-aralan at hindi pinaghandaan, kaya parang kabuteng sumusulpot.

Tapos na po ang panahon para dito. Sa administrasyon po natin, walang kota-kota, walang tongpats, ang pera ng taumbayan ay gagastusin para sa taumbayan lamang.

Meron pa po tayong natuklasan. Limang araw bago matapos ang termino ng nakaraang administrasyon, nagpautos silang maglabas ng 3.5 billion pesos para sa rehabilitasyon ng mga nasalanta nina Ondoy at Pepeng.

Walumpu't anim na proyekto ang paglalaanan dapat nito na hindi na sana idadaan sa public bidding. Labingsiyam sa mga ito na nagkakahalaga ng 981 million pesos ang muntik nang makalusot. Hindi pa nailalabas ang Special Allotment Release Order ay pirmado na ang mga kontrata.

Buti na lang po ay natuklasan at pinigilan ito ni Secretary Rogelio Singson ng DPWH. Ngayon po ay dadaan na ang kabuuan ng 3.5 billion pesos sa tapat na bidding, at magagamit na ang pondo na ito sa pagbibigay ng lingap sa mga nawalan ng tahanan dahil kina Ondoy at Pepeng.

Pag-usapan naman natin ang nangyari sa NAPOCOR. Noong 2001 hanggang 2004, pinilit ng gobyerno ang NAPOCOR na magbenta ng kuryente nang palugi para hindi tumaas ang presyo. Tila ang dahilan: pinaghahandaan na nila ang eleksyon.

Dahil dito, noong 2004, sumagad ang pagkakabaon sa utang ng NAPOCOR. Napilitan ang pambansang gobyerno na sagutin ang dalawandaang bilyong pisong utang nito.

Ang inakala ng taumbayan na natipid nila sa kuryente ay binabayaran din natin mula sa kaban ng bayan. May gastos na tayo sa kuryente, binabayaran pa natin ang dagdag na pagkakautang ng gobyerno.

Kung naging matino ang pag-utang, sana'y nadagdagan ang ating kasiguruhan sa supply ng kuryente. Pero ang desisyon ay ibinatay sa maling pulitika, at hindi sa pangangailangan ng taumbayan. Ang taumbayan, matapos pinagsakripisyo ay lalo pang pinahihirapan.

Ganito rin po ang nangyari sa MRT. Sinubukan na namang bilhin ang ating pagmamahal. Pinilit ang operator na panatilihing mababa ang pamasahe.

Hindi tuloy nagampanan ang garantiyang ibinigay sa operator na mababawi nila ang kanilang puhunan. Dahil dito, inutusan ang Landbank at Development Bank of the Philippines na bilhin ang MRT.

Ang pera ng taumbayan, ipinagpalit sa isang naluluging operasyon.

Dumako naman po tayo sa pondo ng NFA.

Noong 2004: 117,000 metric tons ang pagkukulang ng supply ng Pilipinas. Ang binili nila, 900,000 metric tons. Kahit ulitin mo pa ng mahigit pitong beses ang pagkukulang, sobra pa rin ang binili nila.

Noong 2007: 589,000 metric tons ang pagkukulang ng supply sa Pilipinas. Ang binili nila, 1.827 million metric tons. Kahit ulitin mo pa ng mahigit tatlong beses ang pagkukulang, sobra na naman ang binili nila.

Ang masakit nito, dahil sobra-sobra ang binibili nila taun-taon, nabubulok lang pala sa mga kamalig ang bigas, kagaya ng nangyari noong 2008.

Hindi po ba krimen ito, na hinahayaan nilang mabulok ang bigas, sa kabila ng apat na milyong Pilipinong hindi kumakain ng tatlong beses sa isang araw?

Ang resulta nito, umabot na sa 171.6 billion pesos ang utang ng NFA noong Mayo ng taong ito.

Ang tinapon na ito, halos puwede na sanang pondohan ang mga sumusunod:

Ang budget ng buong Hudikatura, na 12.7 billion pesos sa taong ito.

Ang Conditional Cash Transfers para sa susunod na taon, na nagkakahalaga ng 29.6 billion pesos.

Ang lahat ng classroom na kailangan ng ating bansa, na nagkakahalaga ng 130 billion pesos.

Kasuklam-suklam ang kalakarang ito. Pera na, naging bato pa.

Narinig po ninyo kung paano nilustay ang kaban ng bayan. Ang malinaw po sa ngayon: ang anumang pagbabago ay magmumula sa pagsiguro natin na magwawakas na ang pagiging maluho at pagwawaldas.

Kaya nga po mula ngayon: ititigil na natin ang paglulustay sa salapi ng bayan.

Tatanggalin natin ang mga proyektong mali.

Ito po ang punto ng tinatawag nating zero-based approach sa ating budget. Ang naging kalakaran po, taun-taon ay inuulit lamang ang budget na puno ng tagas. Dadagdagan lang nang konti, puwede na.

Sa susunod na buwan ay maghahain tayo ng budget na kumikilala nang tama sa mga problema, at magtutuon din ng pansin sa tamang solusyon.

Ilan lang ito sa mga natuklasan nating problema. Heto naman po ang ilang halimbawa ng mga hakbang na ginagawa natin.

Nandiyan po ang kaso ng isang may-ari ng sanglaan. Bumili siya ng sasakyang tinatayang nasa dalawampu't anim na milyong piso ang halaga.

Kung kaya mong bumili ng Lamborghini, bakit hindi mo kayang magbayad ng buwis?

Nasampahan na po ito ng kaso. Sa pangunguna nina Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima, Justice Secretary Leila de Lima, BIR Commissioner Kim Henares at Customs Commissioner Lito Alvarez, bawat linggo po ay may bago tayong kasong isinasampa kontra sa mga smuggler at sa mga hindi nagbabayad ng tamang buwis.

Natukoy na rin po ang salarin sa mga kaso nina Francisco Baldomero, Jose Daguio at Miguel Belen, tatlo sa anim na insidente ng extralegal killings mula nang umupo tayo.

Singkuwenta porsyento po ng mga insidente ng extralegal killings na nangyari sa maikling taon ng ating panunungkulan ang patungo na sa kanilang resolusyon.

Ang natitira pong kalahati ay hindi natin tatantanan ang pag-usig hanggang makamit ang katarungan.

Pananagutin natin ang mga mamamatay-tao. Pananagutin din natin ang mga corrupt sa gobyerno.

Nagsimula nang mabuo ang ating Truth Commission, sa pangunguna ni dating Chief Justice Hilario Davide. Hahanapin natin ang katotohanan sa mga nangyari diumanong katiwalian noong nakaraang siyam na taon.

Sa loob ng linggong ito, pipirmahan ko ang kauna-unahang Executive Order na nagtatalaga sa pagbuo nitong Truth Commission.

Kung ang sagot sa kawalan ng katarungan ay pananagutan, ang sagot naman sa kakulangan natin sa pondo ay mga makabago at malikhaing paraan para tugunan ang mga pagkatagal-tagal nang problema.

Napakarami po ng ating pangangailangan: mula sa edukasyon, imprastruktura, pangkalusugan, pangangailangan ng militar at kapulisan, at marami pang iba. Hindi kakasya ang pondo para mapunan ang lahat ng ito.

Kahit gaano po kalaki ang kakulangan para mapunuan ang mga listahan ng ating pangangailangan, ganado pa rin ako dahil marami nang nagpakita ng panibagong interes at kumpyansa sa Pilipinas.

Ito ang magiging solusyon: mga Public-Private Partnerships. Kahit wala pa pong pirmahang nangyayari dito, masasabi kong maganda ang magiging bunga ng maraming usapin (ukol ditto).

May mga nagpakita na po ng interes, gustong magtayo ng expressway na mula Maynila, tatahak ng Bulacan, Nueva Ecija, Nueva Vizcaya, hanggang sa dulo ng Cagayan Valley nang hindi gugugol ang estado kahit na po piso.

Sa larangan ng ating Sandatahang Lakas:

Mayroon po tayong 36,000 nautical miles na baybayin. Ang mayroon lamang tayo: tatlumpu't dalawang barko. Itong mga barkong ito, panahon pa ni General MacArthur.

May nagmungkahi sa atin, ito ang proposisyon: uupahan po nila ang headquarters ng Navy sa Roxas Boulevard at ang Naval Station sa Fort Bonifacio.

Sagot po nila ang paglipat ng Navy Headquarters sa Camp Aguinaldo. Agaran, bibigyan tayo ng isandaang milyong dolyar. At dagdag pa sa lahat nang iyan, magsusubi pa sila sa atin ng kita mula sa mga negosyong itatayo nila sa uupahan nilang lupa.

Sa madali pong sabi: Makukuha natin ang kailangan natin, hindi tatayo gagastos, kikita pa tayo.

Marami na pong nag-alok at nagmungkahi sa atin, mula lokal hanggang dayuhang negosyante, na magpuno ng iba't ibang pangangailangan.

Mula sa mga public-private partnerships na ito, lalago ang ating ekonomiya, at bawat Pilipino makikinabang. Napakaraming sektor na matutulungan nito.

Maipapatayo na po ang imprastrukturang kailangan natin para palaguin ang turismo.

Sa agrikultura, makapagtatayo na tayo ng mga grains terminals, refrigeration facilities, maayos na road networks at post-harvest facilities.

Kung maisasaayos natin ang ating food supply chain sa tulong ng pribadong sektor, sa halip na mag-angkat tayo ay maari na sana tayong mangarap na mag-supply sa pandaigdigang merkado.

Kung maitatayo ang minumungkahi sa ating mga railway system, bababa ang presyo ng bilihin. Mas mura, mas mabilis, mas maginhawa, at makakaiwas pa sa kotong cops at mga kumokotong na rebelde ang mga bumibiyahe.

Paalala lang po: una sa ating plataporma ang paglikha ng mga trabaho, at nanggagaling ang trabaho sa paglago ng industriya. Lalago lamang ang industriya kung gagawin nating mas malinis, mas mabilis, at mas maginhawa ang proseso para sa mga gustong magnegosyo.

Pabibilisin natin ang proseso ng mga proyektong sumasailalim sa Build-Operate-Transfer. Sa tulong ng lahat ng sangay ng gobyerno at ng mga mamamayan, pabababain natin sa anim na buwan ang proseso na noon ay inaabot ng taon kung hindi dekada.

May mga hakbang na rin pong sinisimulan ang DTI, sa pamumuno ni Secretary Gregory Domingo:

Ang walang-katapusang pabalik-balik sa proseso ng pagrehistro ng pangalan ng kumpanya, na kada dalaw ay umaabot ng apat hanggang walong oras, ibababa na natin sa labinlimang minuto.

Ang dating listahan ng tatlumpu't anim na dokumento, ibababa natin sa anim. Ang dating walong pahinang application form, ibababa natin sa isang pahina.

Nananawagan ako sa ating mga LGUs. Habang naghahanap tayo ng paraan para gawing mas mabilis ang pagbubukas ng mga negosyo, pag-aralan din sana nila ang kanilang mga proseso. Kailangan itong gawing mas mabilis, at kailangan itong itugma sa mga sinisumulan nating reporma.

Negosyante, sundalo, rebelde, at karaniwang Pilipino, lahat po makikinabang dito. Basta po hindi dehado ang Pilipino, papasukin po natin lahat iyan.

Kailangan na po nating simulan ang pagtutulungan para makamit ito. Huwag nating pahirapan ang isa't isa.

Parating na po ang panahon na hindi na natin kailangang mamili sa pagitan ng seguridad ng ating mamamayan o sa kinabukasan ng inyong mga anak.

Oras na maipatupad ang public-private partnerships na ito, mapopondohan ang mga serbisyong panlipunan, alinsunod sa ating plataporma.

Magkakapondo na po para maipatupad ang mga plano natin sa edukasyon.

Mapapalawak natin ang basic education cycle mula sa napakaikling sampung taon tungo sa global standard na labindalawang taon.

Madadagdagan natin ang mga classroom. Mapopondohan natin ang service contracting sa ilalim ng GASTPE.

Pati ang conditional cash transfers, na magbabawas ng pabigat sa bulsa ng mga pamilya, madadagdan na rin ng pondo.

Maipapatupad ang plano natin sa PhilHealth.

Una, tutukuyin natin ang tunay na bilang ng mga nangangailangan nito. Sa ngayon, hindi magkakatugma ang datos. Sabi ng PhilHealth sa isang bibig, walumpu't pitong porsyento na raw ang merong coverage. Sa kabilang bibig naman, singkuwenta'y tres porsyento. Ayon naman sa National Statistics Office, tatlumpu't walong porsyento ang may coverage.

Ngayon pa lang, kumikilos na si Secretary Dinky Soliman at ang DSWD upang ipatupad ang National Household Targetting System, na magtutukoy sa mga pamilyang higit na nagangailangan ng tulong. Tinatayang siyam na bilyon ang kailangan para mabigyan ng PhilHealth ang limang milyong pinakamaralitang pamilyang Pilipino.

Napakaganda po ng hinaharap natin. Kasama na po natin ang pribadong sektor, at kasama na rin natin ang League of Provinces, sa pangunguna nina Governor Alfonso Umali kasama sina Governor L-Ray Villafuerte at Governor Icot Petilla. Handa na pong makipagtulungan para makibahagi sa pagtustos ng mga gastusin. Alam ko rin pong hindi magpapahuli ang League of Cities sa pangunguna ni Mayor Oscar Rodriguez.

Kung ang mga gobyernong lokal ay nakikiramay na sa ating mga adhikain, ang Kongreso namang pinanggalingan ko, siguro naman maasahan ko din.

Nagpakitang-gilas na po ang gabinete sa pagtukoy ng ating mga problema at sa paglulunsad ng mga solusyon sa loob lamang ng tatlong linggo.

Nang bagyo pong Basyang, ang sabi sa atin ng mga may prangkisa sa kuryente, apat na araw na walang kuryente. Dahil sa mabilis na pagkilos ni Secretary Rene Almendras at ng Department of Energy, naibalik ang kuryente sa halos lahat sa loob lamang ng beinte-kwatro oras.

Ito pong sinasabing kakulangan sa tubig sa Metro Manila, kinilusan agad ni Secretary Rogelio Singson at ng DPWH. Hindi na siya naghintay ng utos, kaya nabawasan ang perwisyo.

Nakita na rin natin ang gilas ng mga hinirang nating makatulong sa Gabinete. Makatuwiran naman po sigurong umasa na hindi na sila padadaanin sa butas ng karayom para makumpirma ng Commission on Appointments. Kung mangyayari po ito, marami pa sa mga mahuhusay na Pilipino ang maeengganyong magsilbi sa gobyerno.

Sa lalong madaling panahon po, uupo na tayo sa LEDAC at pag-uusapan ang mga mahahalagang batas na kailangan nating ipasa. Makakaasa kayo na mananatiling bukas ang aking isipan, at ang ating ugnayan ay mananatiling tapat.

Isinusulong po natin ang Fiscal Responsibility Bill, kung saan hindi tayo magpapasa ng batas na mangangailangan ng pondo kung hindi pa natukoy ang panggagalingan nito. May 104.1 billion pesos tayong kailangan para pondohan ang mga batas na naipasa na, ngunit hindi maipatupad.

Kailangan din nating isaayos ang mga insentibong piskal na ibinigay noong nakaraan. Ngayong naghihigpit tayo ng sinturon, kailangang balikan kung alin sa mga ito ang dapat manatili at kung ano ang dapat nang itigil.

Huwag po tayong pumayag na magkaroon ng isa pang NBN-ZTE. Sa lokal man o dayuhan manggagaling ang pondo, dapat dumaan ito sa tamang proseso. Hinihingi ko po ang tulong ninyo upang amiyendahan ang ating Procurement Law.

Ayon po sa Saligang Batas, tungkulin ng estado ang siguruhing walang lamangan sa merkado. Bawal ang monopolya, bawal ang mga cartel na sasakal sa kumpetisyon. Kailangan po natin ng isang Anti-Trust Law na magbibigay-buhay sa mga prinsipyong ito. Ito ang magbibigay ng pagkakataon sa mga Small- at Medium-scale Enterprises na makilahok at tumulong sa paglago ng ating ekonomiya.

Ipasa na po natin ang National Land Use Bill.

Una rin pong naging batas ng Commonwealth ang National Defense Act, na ipinasa noon pang 1935. Kailangan nang palitan ito ng batas na tutugon sa pangangailangan ng pambansang seguridad sa kasalukuyan.

Nakikiusap po akong isulong ang Whistleblower's Bill upang patuloy nang iwaksi ang kultura ng takot at pananahimik.

Palalakasin pa lalo ang Witness Protection Program. Alalahanin po natin na noong taong 2009 hanggang 2010, may nahatulan sa 95% ng mga kaso kung saan may witness na sumailalim sa programang ito.
Kailangang repasuhin ang ating mga batas. Nanawagan po akong umpisahan na ang rekodipikasyon ng ating mga batas, upang siguruhing magkakatugma sila at hindi salu-salungat.

Ito pong mga batas na ito ang batayan ng kaayusan, ngunit ang pundasyon ng lahat ng ginagawa natin ay ang prinsipyong wala tayong mararating kung walang kapayapaan at katahimikan.

Dalawa ang hinaharap nating suliranin sa usapin ng kapayapaan: ang situwasyon sa Mindanao, at ang patuloy na pag-aaklas ng CPP-NPA-NDF.

Tungkol sa situwasyon sa Mindanao: Hindi po nagbabago ang ating pananaw. Mararating lamang ang kapayapaan at katahimikan kung mag-uusap ang lahat ng apektado: Moro, Lumad, at Kristiyano. Inatasan na natin si Dean Marvic Leonen na mangasiwa sa ginagawa nating pakikipag-usap sa MILF.

Iiwasan natin ang mga pagkakamaling nangyari sa nakaraang administrasyon, kung saan binulaga na lang ang mga mamamayan ng Mindanao. Hindi tayo puwedeng magbulag-bulagan sa mga dudang may kulay ng pulitika ang proseso, at hindi ang kapakanan ng taumbayan ang tanging interes.

Kinikilala natin ang mga hakbang na ginagawa ng MILF sa pamamagitan ng pagdidisplina sa kanilang hanay. Inaasahan natin na muling magsisimula ang negosasyon pagkatapos ng Ramadan.

Tungkol naman po sa CPP-NPA-NDF: handa na ba kayong maglaan ng kongkretong mungkahi, sa halip na pawang batikos lamang?

Kung kapayapaan din ang hangad ninyo, handa po kami sa malawakang tigil-putukan. Kayo po ba ay handa na din? Mag-usap tayo.

Mahirap magsimula ang usapan habang mayroon pang amoy ng pulbura sa hangin. Nananawagan ako: huwag po natin hayaang masayang ang napakagandang pagkakataong ito upang magtipon sa ilalim ng iisang adhikain.

Kapayapaan at katahimikan po ang pundasyon ng kaunlaran. Habang nagpapatuloy ang barilan, patuloy din ang pagkakagapos natin sa kahirapan.

Dapat din po nating mabatid: ito ay panahon ng sakripisyo. At ang sakripisyong ito ay magiging puhunan para sa ating kinabukasan. Kaakibat ng ating mga karapatan at kalayaan ay ang tungkulin natin sa kapwa at sa bayan.

Inaasahan ko po ang ating mga kaibigan sa media, lalo na sa radyo at sa print, sa mga nagbablock-time, at sa community newspapers, kayo na po mismo ang magbantay sa inyong hanay.

Mabigyang-buhay sana ang mga batayang prinsipyo ng inyong bokasyon: ang magbigay-linaw sa mahahalagang isyu; ang maging patas at makatotohanan, at ang itaas ang antas ng pampublikong diskurso.

Tungkulin po ng bawat Pilipino na tutukan ang mga pinunong tayo rin naman ang nagluklok sa puwesto. Humakbang mula sa pakikialam tungo sa pakikilahok. Dahil ang nakikialam, walang-hanggan ang reklamo.

Ang nakikilahok, nakikibahagi sa solusyon.

Napakatagal na pong namamayani ang pananaw na ang susi sa asenso ay ang intindihin ang sarili kaysa intindihin ang kapwa. Malinaw po sa akin: paano tayo aasenso habang nilalamangan ang kapwa?

Ang hindi nabigyan ng pagkakataong mag-aral, paanong makakakuha ng trabaho? Kung walang trabaho, paanong magiging konsumer? Paanong mag-iimpok sa bangko?

Ngunit kung babaliktarin natin ang pananaw-kung iisipin nating "Dadagdagan ko ang kakayahan ng aking kapwa"-magbubunga po ito, at ang lahat ay magkakaroon ng pagkakataon.

Maganda na po ang nasimulan natin. At mas lalong maganda po ang mararating natin. Ngunit huwag nating kalimutan na mayroong mga nagnanasang hindi tayo magtagumpay. Dahil kapag hindi tayo
nagtagumpay, makakabalik na naman sila sa kapangyarihan, at sa pagsasamantala sa taumbayan.

Akin pong paniwala na Diyos at taumbayan ang nagdala sa ating kinalalagyan ngayon. Habang nakatutok tayo sa kapakanan ng ating kapwa, bendisyon at patnubay ay tiyak na maaasahan natin sa Poong Maykapal. At kapag nanalig tayo na ang kasangga natin ay ang Diyos, mayroon ba tayong hindi kakayanin?

Ang mandato nating nakuha sa huling eleksyon ay patunay na umaasa pa rin ang Pilipino sa pagbabago. Iba na talaga ang situwasyon. Puwede na muling mangarap. Tayo nang tumungo sa katuparan ng ating mga pinangarap.

Maraming salamat po.

Transcript courtesy of ABS-CBN News Online.