CLARK FREEPORT – With only two years remaining in his term, President Aquino said he expects to leave a legacy of confidence among Filipinos that their government can be run with decency.
Asked in a press conference during the recent 67th anniversary of the Philippine Air Force here on what legacy his administration would leave Filipinos, the President said, “If there is a singular legacy, (ito ay) ang masanay ang kababayan natin na itong kaya ng gobyernong pinapatakbong matino at kung sino man ang susunod sa atin, ito yung platform, ito yung base kung saan mag-uumpisa.”
“Kung kami ang nagtanim, iba ang mag aani, okay yun, pero mas mataas na ang antas ng pagmumulan, kung kaya’t pwedeng asahan ng taong bayan na malayo pa ang mararating,” said Aquino who had vowed to work for “daang matuwid” early in his administration.
The President said that his administration has accomplished much in the last four years. He recalled that in 2011 despite enough budget for 8,300 classrooms, only 18 were constructed by the time he was to deliver his State of the Nation Address.
“Eventually that number rose to 66,800 and as you know we finished those last year. So the possible has been accomplished and we now have wherewithal to support the K-12 program which will need more classrooms, teachers, desks, etcetera,” he noted.
Aquino also said that by next year, the government will be ready for all facilities needed for the K-12 program in schools nationwide. He also noted his government’s accomplishments in infrastructure, noting that only recently, he motored through the Tarlac-Pangasinan-La Union Expressway (TPLEx) up to Carmen in Pangasinan.
“I understand it will be opened this year up to Urdaneta,” he added. “Before I step down there will be one connector for the NLEx and SLEx operational already,” the also said, adding that several airports in the country have also been upgraded.
“Actually the list is long. We started, we inherited all the problems without the wherewithal, without the capability to solve all the problems and when we look back in the past four years, we were able to accomplish many things we did not expect to happen,” the President also said.
Aquino also cited the purchase of a C-130 cargo plane needed for relief and rescue operations during natural calamities. “Now we have three operational and are negotiating for two more. We are also buying more, such as medium lift-capable aircraft which are already in the pipeline. We will be getting the first two by next year,” he also said.
Meanwhile, the President also warned violators of the Price Act, saying they would face legal charges amid strengthened campaign by the government against them. “I was told that if you go to any market, there is no question of supply. The supply is abundant,” he said, but admitted the rising prices of basic commodities.
“Is somebody manipulating the prices rather than the law of supply and demand taking course?” he asked.
The President said he has ordered “increased monitoring activities” by the Department of Trade and Industry which, he noted, is now enforcing “pertinent rules and laws as far as retail market is concerned.”
“I understand many have already been caught and charged,” he added. The President also expressed fears that fuels prices could again be affected by the turmoil in Iraq, but vowed to undertake measures to contain the prices of goods relaying heavily on fuel.
