Aquino talks about being a mechanic
Life after presidency
The country’s most powerful man is considering a lucrative alternative career as a mechanic once he ends his term in 2016.
President Aquino, on the last day of his state visit to Canada, raised the possibility of enrolling at the government’s technical vocational program after sharing the success story of a Filipino mechanic during a meeting with the Filipino migrant workers in Vancouver, Canada.
Aquino said the Filipino graduate of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority
(TESDA) who works as a mechanic in Australia, earns twice the salary of a Philippine president.
“I think I’ll go to TESDA (Technical Education and Skills Development Authority) on July 1, 2016,” the President said in jest in Filipino, drawing applause from the audience.
President Aquino, who will end his term on June 30, 2016, has trumpeted his administration’s achievements in the economic and anti-corruption fronts during his visit to Canada. He also delivered a similar accomplishment report to the Filipino community in Chicago, United States.
Skills training programs The story of the TESDA graduate was just among the tidbits shared by Aquino to highlight the government’s efforts to improve the education sector, particularly the skills training program for Filipinos.
Since 2010, Aquino said 7.15 million persons have graduated from the technical-vocational program. At least 65.3 percent of them have found employment.
Government’s achievements Apart from the TESDA triumph, the President listed down other government achievements such as the impressive economic growth, modernization of the military and creation of 1.04 million jobs as of January 2015.
He said the administration also built infrastructure projects to boost development especially in the countryside as well as upgraded the government weather forecasting facilities for accurate and timely updates.
“Maglilimang taon pa nga lang po tayo sa Daang Matuwid, pero nakikita na natin ang transpormasyon ng ating lipunan. Nagagawa na nating posible ang mga dating imposible [We are already on the fifth year of the straight path but we have seen the transformation in our society. We have made possible what is previously impossible],” Aquino said.
“Itinututok natin ang paglilingkod, hindi sa sarili, hindi sa gawaing tiwali, kundi sa kapakanan ng mas nakakarami [We focused our governance not on ourselves, not on corruption but on the welfare of the majority],” he added. Pursuing justice He said the Filipino nation today is the government’s partner in pursuing justice and accountability to erring officials regardless of their wealth or influence.
“Hindi na kailangang may padrino para umasenso; basta tapat at nagsisikap, kaya nang iangat ang antas ng pamumuhay [You don’t need a godfather to achieve. As long as you are honest and hardworking, you can attain a better life],” he added.