MONDAY, JULY 21, 2008 | GOVERNMENT MANAGEMENT
Dagupan City -- After hearing the state of the province, city and municipal addresses by elected local officials, Pangasinenses now look forward to listening to President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo's State-of-the-Nation Address or SONA. Scheduled on the 28th of July in time with the opening of Congress, the SONA 2008 will revolve on investments made, investments being made and investments to be made by the government to ensure long term development for the nation.
With prices of oil and goods soaring, a milestone in Philippine governance was achieved in the health sector when President Arroyo urged Congress to step up the passage of the Cheaper Medicines Bill. Republic Act 9502 or the Cheaper Medicines Law was signed by the President on June 6, 2008.
Education, as one of the major keys to escape poverty, was well invested in by the present administration. A total of 53,026 teaching positions were created form 2002-2007 and 563,906 students were granted scholarships. The government allocated P1 billion to TESDA for its PGMA Training for Work Scholarship program in 2007 which produced 96,809 graduates For college students, a P4 billion fund for college loans was launched to increase beneficiaries from 40,000 to 200,000. "We are investing P3 billion in science and engineering research and development technology, including scholarships for masters and doctoral degree programs in engineering in seven universities," the President said.
An emergency employment program was also launched by the government which gives gainful employment to out-of-school and out-of-work youth every year. Another breakthrough in agriculture was achieved with the launching of the mariculture project or "palaisdaan sa dagat" in Tawi-Tawi on May 29, 2008. The project covers 1,000 hectares in Sibulu East and 25,000 hectares in North Lagoon, Sitangkal Agrarian reform will also be reformed so it can transform beneficiaries into agribusiness men and women. At present, 19 agribusiness venture agreements were forged involving 19,083 hectares benefiting 13,824 agrarian reform beneficiaries.
Investments in the transportation sector was also seen with the completion and opening of Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3 which is set to operate within the year. President Arroyo's flight was the first to land at the terminal on her return trip from the United States last June 30,2008. Although critics of the Arroyo administration make it a habit to criticize every decision of the present government, the President is keen on adopting measures that will benefit the majority of Filipinos especially the poorest of the poor. With good investments and public cooperation, Filipinos can be sure that government targets are on track and prosperity for the nation is not far behind. (PIA-Pangasinan)
Source: http://www.gov.ph/news/?i=21574
---So do you think I care? I've heard enough negative stories about GMA to not believe so much in her. When her term came, I think, our country has suffered more. There has been rallies every now and then, coup, the ZTE case, and of course the ultimate problem nowadays is the increasing of the oil prices.
---Every year, President Arroyo gives her State of the Nation Address that tells of her administration's accomplishments and goals. As I remember last year, she told about the increase in employment (the only employment I know which has improved a lot since last year was the Call Center business), and the building of the new LRT linking SM North to San Jose del Monte, Bulacan (which she said would be finished by around next year or 2010). I never really watch her SONA's so I don't remember so much. She has many dreams/goals for our country, but I think she should first start in improving herself.
---I've heard about the pork barrel issue, that most of the money are allotted to her children, or close constituents. I'm not really sure, but I understand it that way. So that's where our taxes go to, not in those projects that she ought to have done, like the fixing of the roads, adding more schools, adding more budget to Education. That way, many people would grow up to be literate, and have more jobs and better understand our situation. Because of the difficult times, more and more people, especially those newly grads, are going abroad to seek more opportunities because they believe that all their skills would be put to waste if they work here (low pay and compensation, oil prices are getting higher by day.) But hey more OFW's, more remittances. Kiddin.
---We call it "brain drain", and that's because more Filipinos think that they're better off somewhere else, first because of the rising poverty, the difficult life in our country (money, job, oil prices) and second because they know that whatever happens, our government would never change. We've gone through a number of Edsa Revolutions, but still when one issue has been through, everything would go back to the way it were. No matter how many presidents would take the seat, it would all be the same.
---So now, do you think I still care? I'd have to say no for the meantime. There's still hope, I know. I just think it's a bit hard being optimistic, with all these stuff going on, not just in the government, but with our country. It has been a cycle, and for now, I'm one of those who believe that their future can be found abroad.
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