APEC SUMMIT 2015 SPEECH

7/21/2019 APEC SUMMIT 2015 SPEECH

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Speech

of

His Excellency Benigno S. Aquino III

President of the Philippines

at the APEC 20!" CE# Su$$it% &APEC's Inclusi(e )ro*th I$perati(e+

[Delivered at the Rizal Ballroom, Makati Shangri-La, on November 16, 201!

Some o" #o$ in thi% room ma# be "amiliar &ith the root% o" the health# 'hili((ine

demo)ra)# o" toda#* +n 16, million% o" o$r (eo(le gathered in .DS/o$r )a(ital )it#%

mo%t (rominent aven$eand other )itie% thro$gho$t the nation to overthro& a di)tator,

&ho had "or too long %$be)ted o$r )o$ntr# to hi% t#rann# and o((re%%ion* 'eo(le

armed onl# &ith ro%arie%, good intention%, and belie" in their )o$ntr#men %tood $( to

tank%, artiller#, and (lane%* 3hi% &a% the mira)le o" .DS/, &hi)h made (o%%ible that

&hi)h &a% im(o%%ible, and ret$rned demo)ra)# thro$gh 'eo(le 'o&er* /"ter "o$rteen

#ear% o" Martial La&, o$r (eo(le &ere %$))e%%"$l in li"ting m# mother into the're%iden)# to lead the reb$ilding o" o$r nation* 3hat era"rom the di)tator%hi( &hi)h

began &hen + &a% 12, $( $ntil the end o" m# mother% (re%iden)# &hen + &a% 42

$ndo$btedl# %ha(ed man# o" the vie&(oint% + hold toda#* + &ill never "orget one

(arti)$lar in%tan)e, &hen m# "amil# &a% in e5ile in Bo%ton, and + a%ked m# "ather 7+" &e

are in the right, &h# are &e the one% in e5ile89 :e re%(onded &ith a ;$e%tion o" hi% o&n

7:o& )an tho%e &ho )annot even eat, think o" )on)e(t% %$)h a% "reedom and dignit#8

3he "ir%t "reedom i% the "reedom "rom h$nger*9 3hat i% the "ir%t that ha% to be &on*

+ %hare m# "ather% &ord% toda# be)a$%e &hat &e &ill %(eak o" in thi% %$mmitand in

the meeting% that &ill o))$r in the da#% to )omei% dee(l# (er%onal to me* <e &ill

have im(ortant )onver%ation% abo$t ho& &e )an "ree o$r (eo(le "rom the o((re%%ion o" (overt#, and ho& to em(o&er them to take (art in %$%tainable e)onomi) gro&th* 3oda#,

(erha(% + )an tell #o$ abo$t the 'hili((ine %tor# &hat &e have done to a)hieve large-

%)ale tran%"ormation*

+ re)all a ver# earl# meeting + had &ith m# =abinet, in &hi)h &e di%)$%%ed &h# the

(overt# rate hardl# moved over the (a%t de)adeor &hat + %ometime% re"er to a% a 7lo%t

de)ade*9 3he n$mber% &ere alarming +n)ome gro&th &a% lo&, and ine;$alit# &a% at

in)redibl# high level%, in term% o" a))e%% to em(lo#ment and %o)ial develo(ment

o((ort$nitie%, (arti)$larl# in health, ed$)ation, and %o)ial (rote)tion* /ll thi%, de%(ite

relativel# )on%i%tent e)onomi) gro&th*

<hen one think% abo$t it, it i% ;$ite %ad* +" ten #ear% ago, i" m# (rede)e%%or had done

&hat &ere doing no&, + )an onl# imagine &here the 'hili((ine% &o$ld be* >" )o$r%e, +

am al%o a&are that (a%t i% (a%t, and nothing #o$ )an do in the (re%ent or the "$t$re &ill

)hange it* Neverthele%%, remembering the (a%t revitalize% $%and energize% $% to

make $( "or lo%t time*





.d$)ation and Skill% Develo(ment /$thorit#% B$dget in)rea%ed b# (er)ent* Might +

em(ha%ize that &e did all thi%, and more, &itho$t rai%ing an# ta5e%, a(art "rom the %in

ta5, the (ro)eed% o" &hi)h &ent to e5(anding medi)al %ervi)e% "or o$r (eo(le*

B$t &e didnt %im(l# thro& mone# at the (roblem* <e "ollo&ed a thoro$gh %trateg# to

re%(ond to all a%(e)t% o" (overt#, and to give o$r (eo(le a legitimate )han)e to retakea$thor%hi( o" their o&n de%tinie%* 'erha(% + )an give #o$ a brie" &alkthro$gh o" o$r

a((roa)h*

<e inve%ted in $(grading o$r ed$)ational in"ra%tr$)t$re* <ithin o$r "ir%t three and a hal"

#ear% in o""i)e, "or in%tan)e, &e ended an inherited ba)klog o" 66,00 )la%%room%, along

&ith inherited %hortage% in %eat% and te5tbook%* <e re"ormed o$r ba%i) ed$)ation )#)le

to )on"orm to global %tandard%, and to give o$r )hildren am(le time to dige%t their

le%%on% and ma5imize their learning*

<e al%o kne&, ho&ever, that even tho$gh elementar# and high %)hool ed$)ation are

%$((o%ed to be "ree in the 'hili((ine%, %ome o" o$r )o$ntr#men didnt have the

&here&ithal "or tran%(ortation, or "or (o)ket mone#, that &o$ld allo& them to )a(italize

on thi% "ree ed$)ation* Some &ere in %$)h dire (overt# that their bodie% )o$ld not %tand

the rigor% o" %)hooling* 3hi% i% &h# &e $ndertook the large-%)ale e5(an%ion o" o$r

)onditional )a%h tran%"er (rogram* +t give% )a%h grant% to (oor ho$%ehold%, a% long a%

their )hildren go to %)hool, are va))inated, among%t other )ondition%* 3hi% re%(ond% to

the t&in (roblem% o" "amilie% not being able to get b#, and )hildren not being able to

attend %)hool* 'erha(% &e )an li%ten to one o" the bene"i)iarie% %(eak abo$t the

(rogram

[==3 C+D.> 1!

?rom @$ne 2010, the n$mber o" bene"i)iarie% o" thi% (rogram ha% gone "rom le%% than

00,000 ho$%ehold% to * million, or ro$ghl# e;$ivalent to 22 million ?ili(ino%* +n 201,

&e began in)l$ding ho$%ehold% &ith high %)hool age )hildren, be)a$%e o$r in%tit$te o"

develo(ment %t$die% )ond$)ted a %t$d# that %ho&ed that high %)hool grad$ate% earn 0

(er)ent more than tho%e &ho onl# %(ent %ome #ear% in elementar# level* <hile thi%

(rogram &a% de%igned &ith the long-term e""e)t% in mind, &e have alread# eno#ed

earl# %$))e%%* +n "a)t, thi% #ear, 444,64 ==3 bene"i)iarie% grad$ated "rom high %)hool,

14,6 o" &hom grad$ated either &ith honor% or other a&ard%* + met t&o o" the%e

grad$ate%, both o" &hom &ere a))e(ted into one o" o$r )o$ntr#% mo%t (re%tigio$%%)hool%, the Eniver%it# o" the 'hili((ine%A on to( o" that, the# are taking =ivil

.ngineering, &hi)h i% a ;$ota )o$r%e* :ere i% one o" them talking abo$t her e5(erien)e

[==3 C+D.> 2!

+ )annot overem(ha%ize the im(a)t o" thi% (rogram* 3he %tati%ti)% rein"or)e m# (oint

?rom 200 to 2014, the amo$nt o" o$t-o"-%)hool #o$th in o$r )o$ntr# dro((ed "rom 2*



million to $%t 1*2 million, and &e e5(e)t that the%e n$mber% &ill im(rove even more*

<herea% on)e, %ome o" the%e grad$ate% &o$ld have been %$be)t onl# to the (o%%ibilit#

o" menial ob%A no&, the# )an move $( the val$e )hain and enter more (romi%ing

)areer%* >" )o$r%e, thi% i% the goal "or mo%t o" o$r %t$dent%and "or o$r )itizenr# at

large that the# )an take advantage o" the gro&ing n$mber o" o((ort$nitie% in o$r ob

market, mo%t o" &hi)h re;$ire %killed labor* 3hi% i% &h# o$r 3e)hni)al .d$)ation andSkill% Develo(ment /$thorit# ha% been &orking )lo%el# &ith the (rivate %e)tor to de%ign

and im(lement )o$r%e% that give o$r (eo(le the be%t )han)e to attain a %$%tainable

livelihood* Sim(l# b# doing thi%, &e rai%ed the em(lo#ment rate o" o$r %)holar% "rom

2* (er)ent to almo%t 0 (er)ent $nder o$r 3raining "or <ork S)holar%hi( 'rogram*

'erha(% the be%t e5am(le o" thi% i% o$r &ork &ith the Semi)ond$)tor% and .le)troni)%

+nd$%trie% in the 'hili((ine% ?o$ndation, +n)*, &here o$r grad$ate% (o%ted an

em(lo#ment rate o" 6 (er)ent*

/(art "rom hel(ing o$r (eo(le "ind long-term em(lo#ment, &e are al%o eno#ing a bon$%

ret$rn on o$r inve%tment* 3hink abo$t it ?or o$r te)hni)al ed$)ational (rogram,government inve%t% an average o" aro$nd ',1 "or ever# %)holar* +" a grad$ate, "or

e5am(le, "ind% em(lo#ment in the B'> %e)tor, a )on%ervative e%timate &o$ld have him

making aro$nd '24,000 ann$all#* /%%$ming he re)eive% the [ma5im$m! ta5 ded$)tion,

thi% mean% hi% ann$al in)ome ta5 &ill be ',00* +magine that* +n le%% than a #ear, &e

break even* /nd the%e individ$al &orker% &ill not be &orking "or onl# a #earA the# &ill be

(a#ing ta5e% $ntil the# retire, and their ta5e% )an hel( )reate even more o((ort$nitie%

"or other ?ili(ino%*

3he good ne&% i% 3hi% i% not the onl# %e)tor &here o$r brand o" good, )ommon %en%e

governan)e ha% %(arked a virt$o$% )#)le o" gro&th and in)l$%ivit#* 3here i% al%o o$r

ne&"o$nd )a(a)it# to inve%t in in"ra%tr$)t$re* <hen m# term a% a member o" =ongre%%began, %hortl# a"ter all o$r e)onomie% &ere reeling "rom the /%ian ?inan)ial =ri%i%* 3he

%it$ation &a% %o dire that, ea)h time + a((roa)hed a national government de(artment to

a%k "or a%%i%tan)e "or m# di%tri)t, their re"rain &a% )on%i%tent 7<e have no "$nd%*9

No&, the %it$ation i% e5tremel# di""erent* ?rom 1*4 (er)ent o" FD' in 2010, &e have

in)rea%ed o$r in"ra%tr$)t$re b$dget to *10 (er)ent o" a FD' that, might + em(ha%ize,

ha% e5hibited "a%t-(a)ed gro&th* 3he goal i% to have thi% "ig$re rea)h (er)ent o" FD'

b# ne5t #ear* +n "a)t, no& &e have to )ontend &ith a ver# di""erent (roblem )om(ared to

&hat + en)o$ntered in =ongre%%* + am told that a lot o" time% &e are nearing the

ab%or(tive )a(a)it# o" the government to im(lement the%e in"ra%tr$)t$re (roe)t%, &hi)hmean% that &e need more engineer%, more ;$ali"ied )ontra)tor%, (arti)$larl# in "ar-"l$ng

area%, and more b$ilding material%, among other%, to b$ild the road%, air(ort%, and

%ea(ort% ne)e%%ar# to give ri%e to the )onne)tivit# &e need to allo& ever#one to

(arti)i(ate in o$r gro&ing e)onom#*

+ndeed, o$r entire gro&th %trateg# hinge% on the idea o" em(o&erment* .m(o&ered

)itizen%, a"ter all, are em(o&ered )on%$mer%, &ho%e in)ome &ill go to the good% and



%ervi)e% (rod$)ed b# )om(anie%* 3he end re%$lt +n%tead o" having man# big "i%h in a

ver# %mall (ond, &e are moving o$r e)onomi) e)o%#%tem into a bigger (ond, &here

ever#bod# )an gro& and rea)h their "$ll (otential*

Ladie% and gentlemen, + believe thi% i% the mo%t )riti)al element o" %$%tainable gro&th

in)l$%ivit#* +" &e )an in)l$de o$r (eo(le in ($bli) li"e, in determining the (ath to o$r "$t$re, and in b$ilding o$r e)onom#, it redo$nd% to a more %table environment and to

greater e)onomi) (ro%(erit#* +n other &ord%, it boo%t% o$r (otential to level% never

be"ore %een* Go$ have %een the tran%"ormation o" o$r )o$ntr#"rom being kno&n a%

the Si)k Man o" /%ia to be)oming /%ia% Ne& Darling* Go$ have %een ho& o$r e)onom#

ha% be)ome one o" the "a%te%t gro&ing in the &orld, and ho& &e have ;$i)kl# ri%en in

global mea%$re% o" )om(etitivene%%* Go$ ma# have even noti)ed the )hange in o$r

(eo(le% attit$de, "rom being a(atheti) to (erha(% being a little too demanding, &hi)h

&e believe to be health# in a demo)ra)#, %in)e it give% government motivation to be

even more e""i)ient* 'erha(% o$r (eo(le% in)rea%ed (arti)i(ation i% not too %$r(ri%ing,

given that the# have like&i%e %een thi% tran%"ormation in their live%* 3he initial re%$lt% o" o$r De(artment o" So)ial <el"are and Develo(ment% mo%t re)ent a%%e%%ment reveal

that at lea%t 1*0 million ho$%ehold% have been li"ted "rom (overt#, &hi)h i% ro$ghl#

e;$ivalent to * million ?ili(ino%*

+ %hare o$r %tor# &ith #o$ toda# be)a$%e + believe &e )an do thi% on a regional %)aleA +

believe i" &e &ork &ith ea)h other% e)onomie%, and i" &e harne%% the %trength% o" all

o$r (eo(le%, &e )an give ri%e not onl# to in)l$%ive national e)onomie%, b$t to an /%ia-

'a)i"i) &here o$r )itizen% tr$l# kno& &hat &e talk abo$t &hen &e %a# 7gro&th*9

+ am a&are that thi% &ill neither be ea%# nor ;$i)k, b$t &e have rea%on "or o(timi%m*

3he more that (eo(le gain the "ir%t "reedom&hi)h i% "reedom "rom h$nger&e %et anenvironment that n$rt$re% the gro&th o" all the other "reedom%* 3he leader% o" o$r

e)onomie% have gathered here $nder the banner o" b$ilding in)l$%ive e)onomie%, and

b# %o doing b$ilding an in)l$%ive &orld* /nd + believe that, i" &e )an "$ll# engage the

(rivate %e)tor in thi% mi%%ion, o""ering the man# bene"it% bro$ght abo$t b# in)l$%ivit#, &e

)an a)hieve thi% %ooner rather than later* 3ogether, + am )on"ident &e )an a$thor the

ne5t great )ha(ter in the hi%tor# o" h$man )ivilizationA a% a )onne)ted, %#nergized /%ia-

'a)i"i), &e )an bring abo$t the advent o" a regionand a &orld&here no one i% le"t

behind*

3hank #o$* Food da#*

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APEC SUMMIT 2015 SPEECH