2002 SONA. PGMA Said So.... Part 2

“Before I became president, we had the second most expensive power rates in asia. Now we have gone down to number 6. This is the first fruit of a comprehensive ten-point plan we have put in place to reduce power costs.”

She said so 6 years ago.

“You have seen political will in the harsh interpretation of command responsibility with regard to illegal gambling. That draconian application was a dress rehearsal for enforcing command responsibility in the even more difficult challenges of kidnapping, drug-dealing, and smuggling.”

“At dahil ako ay naluklok sa pagkapangulo dala ng malawakang galit sa anomaliya, alam kong kailangan wakasan ang katiwalian. Naniniwala rin ako na pinahihina ng katiwalian ang daloy ng puhunan sa ating bansa.”

She said so 6 years ago.

"My working agenda for the coming year will focus on creating and improving job opportunities. Citizens with rewarding jobs paying decent wages constitute not just a stone in the edifice but the very foundation of a strong republic.

The basic macro signs indicate that things are under control. Inflation is at a low, driven down by stable food prices and now by declining power costs.“

She said so 6 years ago.

“Nang ako ay naging pangulo, ang presyo ng galunggong ay otsenta pesos ang kilo. Noong isang linggo , nakabili ako sa palengke ng sesenta pesos lamang. Ang presyo rin ng bigas na binibili ng mahihirap ay nananatiling p16 ang kilo sa palengke, at p14 sa mga rolling store , gaya pa rin nang isang taon.”

She said so 6 years ago.

“This year, what used to be camp abubakar became an authentic community of new hopes and dreams, where our flag flies and our soldiers protect those who have returned to their homes.

Beyond the symbolic significance of these accomplishments, we have brought back inter-faith solidarity, energized by the invaluable initiative of speaker jose de venecia, and sealed peace agreements with the moro islamic liberation front.”

She said so 6 years ago.

“Target natin: ibaba sa kalahati ang presyo ng gamot na madalas bilhin ng mahihirap. Nakamit natin: mahahanap ang mababang presyong gamot sa mga parmasya ng 80 hospital ng pamahalaan at sa mga outlet ng unilab. But sad to say, except for Unilab, the wider distribution network of commercial drugstores-under pressure from the multinational drug companies-will not sell our cheaper medicines. We are studying punitive measures to correct this unfair, unjust, and heartless situation.”

She said so 6 years ago.

Target natin: dalawampung bilyong piso para sa modernisasyon ng agrikultura. Nakamit natin: dalawampu't apat na bilyon.

She said so 6 years ago.

"Meanwhile, one shocking corporate scandal after another severely eroded public faith in the most promising system for conducting economic activity-the free market."

"Two essential features mark out a strong republic. The first is independence from class and sectoral interests so that it stands for the interests of the people rather than of a powerful minority. The second is the capacity, represented through strong institutions and a strong bureaucracy, to execute good policy and deliver essential services -the things that only governments can do."

"The results of these two features-good policies and empowered institutions-is faster economic development and social reform. A strong republic takes care of the people and takes care of their future. Thus, a strong republic is the bedrock of the victory we seek over poverty within the decade."

She said so 6 years ago.

2002 SONA. PGMA Said So.... Part 1

“the results of the review of the contracts of independent power producers are in. We have three months to carry out the concrete courses of action stemming from this review that will further ease the burden on our people.

"Soon we shall have the first-ever wholesale electricity spot market in Asia, without the pitfalls of California. In due time, we will give electric consumers the power to choose their electricity suppliers.. We are giving you the power of choice.

The power of choice will lead to lower prices and better service. With cheaper power will come a more competitive economy, and more investors."

She said so 6 years ago.

“Legions of ordinary Filipinos, many of them students, came, stood, and clamored at EDSA, for a better government. It is to them i look for validation.

I know that it is to me that those many Filipinos are looking for the vindication of their decision to go to EDSA. I shall not disappoint them.

It is for them that i am working hard on that stone that will fit just above my father’s, adding security to social justice, and prosperity to the promise of social equality in which he believed so much.

Ang malakas na republika ay para sa mahihina, para sa mahihirap, para sa walang trabaho, para sa nagugutom, para sa nanganganib ; para sa agrabyado, para sa mga api!”

She said so 6 years ago.

“I led our soldiers in defeating the Abu Sayyaf.”

She said so 6 years ago.

“Everywhere I go, I ask people about their electric bill. This is not just a pet concern for the moment. I think about it all the time.

You have seen your recent electric bills. You know they have gone down. Because I brought down the PPA.”

She said so 6 years ago.

Francisco Balagtas' Relevance

West Point classmate on Lim: He’s no rebel, just an idealist

Sa loob at labas ng bayan kong sawi

Kaliluha’y siyang nangyayaring hari

Kagalinga’t bait kimi’t nalulugmi

Ininis sa hukay ng dusa’t pighati.

McCain calls Obama insensitive to poor people

Not PGMA. They keep multiplying under her.

A Manila Times Editorial asks: WHAT if instead of lining up for rice and pushing against the crowd for one’s rations a person boycotts the grain? Or if a consumers group decides to call for a boycott? Or everybody?

Why not? Farmers would likely support the move, by not planting rice! Planting rice is never fun anyway. It is a losing enterprise. The more he plants, the more he gets into indebtedness. Try planting with capital borrowed from usurers. Try planting on land you do not own. Try selling to NFA that would rather buy from foreign sources.

Subsidies intended for farmers go to corrupt officials. Ask Jocjoc Bolante. Ask Quedancor. Rather than buy from local farmers, NFA would rather import rice and sell it to favored traders who make a killing by selling it as commercial rice. For years this has been the practice. Only the rice crisis exposed this anomaly.

Planting is an act of patriotism or plain stupidity. It raises the GNP, but not the farmers’ income. Let PGMA import rice at twice the cost it is willing to pay local farmers. Let’s plant and eat camote.

Lining Up for Noodles?

US ready to export rice to the Philippines. – Ambassador Kristie Kenney.

Hurry, please. We can’t rely on our neglected rice farmers.

GMA to Senate: Filipinos need food, not politics.

Well said, Ma’am. We need food, not your kind of politics.

RP vows action on political killings

Ma’am, no more please. We’ve had enough.

Many unconvinced by RP human rights report, says delegate

A diplomat’s talking! Victims would use stronger language.

Government warned against increasing NFA rice price

Warning's good! We have to eat, don't we?

DND, AFP recommend executive clemency for 9 Magdalo officers

Why not? A promise’s a promise. Keep it, for once.

GMA to endorse ratification of UN convention vs torture

No to torture. How about killings?

The country has enough rice this year to meet demands.

Yes, there's enough rice, but not on our plates. We can only afford so much.

GMA is thinking of withdrawing NFA rice from the public markets and instead have it distributed directly to the poor.

Those who line up for hours at the public markets for two or three kilos of NFA rice are poor enough. The poorer ones don’t fall in line. They try to get by with noodles.

Squash-cassava-flour mix for our bread.

Why not? Desperate situation calls for desperate measures.