Aquino: Filipinos starting to taste ‘true freedom’

MANILA, Philippines – President Aquino underlined on Sunday morning the key reforms that his administration had instituted in the past 12 months to give Filipinos a taste of “true freedom.’’

Mr. Aquino raised the flag from the balcony of the Emilio Aguinaldo Shrine in Kawit, Cavite at 7 a.m. as he led the country in marking the 113th celebration of the country’s Independence from colonizers.

In a speech that gave a preview of his State of the Nation Address before Congress on July 25, Mr. Aquino mentioned key reforms that addressed corruption, poverty, electoral reforms and tourism, among others.

These included the passage of the GOCC (government owned and controlled corporations) Governance Act, the synchronization of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao elections
with the May 2013 elections, the expansion of the conditional cash transfer program, and the implementation of the “pocket open skies policy,’’ he said.

“All of these are meant to give you a taste of true freedom. True freedom is first of all freedom from hunger, ignorance, poverty and joblessness,’’ he said.