Malacañang: Reforms in place but there’s much to be done

Malacañang said yesterday that there were “genuine and meaningful” reforms during President Aquino’s two years in office and the country had taken off in the fight against corruption.

However, deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte admitted there was much to be done in so little time.

She said the Aquino administration would want change to be systemic and to continue beyond 2016.

“The Aquino administration continues to build on the momentum we have already gained. With everyone’s commitment, we are sure to lengthen our strides along the straight and righteous path. The message remains the same: honest and accountable governance is the anvil upon which our people can forge better futures for themselves,” Valte said.

She stressed that the government’s biggest achievement so far was that people were no longer as indifferent as before and that a momentum had been won to effect changes on various fronts, particularly on poverty alleviation.

“The President remains grateful to the Filipino people, whose unwavering support has allowed him the confidence to implement reform. They remain his fount of strength, and the focus of each program and policy advanced by his administration,” she said.

She said there would be no let-up in the fight on all fronts, but admitted that the weaknesses or the setbacks that could be considered were the fact that there was still much to be done.

“Poverty alleviation remained a priority and a lot of Filipinos staying poor is a reality that we have to accept. This was the reason why the conditional cash transfer program was being implemented with livelihood projects,” Valte said.

She said most of the positive feedbacks on the Philippines were the same and that they were grateful for the “outsider’s perspective.”

Reality check

However, organized labor said that life is far worse for workers nationwide since President Aquino assumed office.

“Workers’ wages are more depressed than before, contractual employment is more rampant, and joblessness is more widespread. Workers do not have anything to celebrate after Aquino’s two years in power,” Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU) chair Elmer Labog said.

Labog stressed that Aquino even implemented major policies that further pressed down the value of the country’s labor.

He criticized the Aquino administration for adopting the two-tiered wage system, which means a wage cut and wage freeze for workers and a policy that legitimizes contractual employment.

According to Labog, the government’s K+12 program in education would only confine the youth to contractual employment.

“The Aquino government has failed to seek the conviction and jailing of the former president. It was quick in ousting chief justice Renato Corona but excruciatingly slow in going after Arroyo,” he added.

The labor group also criticized the President for fast-tracking the return of US bases into the country and for violating human rights.

The group vowed to mount much bigger protest actions on Aquino’s third State of the Nation Address (SONA) on July 23.

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