Aquino crows about gains, says his administration is ‘heaven’ compared to Arroyo’s ‘earth’

President Benigno Aquino lll. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines – Government owned and controlled corporations (GOCC) turned in a whopping P77 billion in three years, improving on their P96-billion total remittance in nine and a half years of the past administration, President Benigno Aquino III said on Monday.

“Indeed, the difference between the straight path and the crooked system of the previous administration is heaven and earth,’’ the President said after witnessing the turnover of GOCC dividends to the government in Malacañang.

The President noted that the P28-billion dividends surpassed the previous year’s P19 billion, and that the number of GOCCs has climbed to 38.

“This day is a symbol of the increasing momentum we’ve gained in our advocacy of the straight path toward good governance,’’ he told Cabinet and GOCC executives in simple ceremonies marking the GOCC Dividends Day at the Rizal Hall.

Aquino said his administration wasn’t even halfway through, but already, many GOCCs have made a clean break with the old “wang-wang (siren) and patronage system.’’

When he assumed office in June 2010, Aquino trained his guns on executives of GOCCs enjoying excessive perks. Promptly, Congress inquired into this, and crafted legislation to reform the government corporations.

At a House inquiry into the perks in November 2010, officials of the Metro Manila Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS) said bonuses, allowances and benefits of MWSS executives ballooned in 2007. These were approved by the government agency’s board of trustees.

The Commission on Audit had recommended to the agency in 2008 to stop granting unauthorized bonuses and allowances for lack of legal basis, but the MWSS still gave away some P150 million in 2009 alone.

It turned out the MWSS was among the 27 corporations exempted from the Salary Standardization Law.

Aquino specifically praised the Philippine Reclamation Authority (PRA) for contributing more than P2 billion to the government coffers in the first three years of his administration, noting that its remittance for 33 years before the Aquino administration never breached the P1-billion mark.

“It’s only proper to congratulate the PRA for the good example it is showing other corporations,’’ he said.

Aquino also recognized the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp., which has been stamping out corruption but has been helping fund the construction of classrooms; and the National Electrification Administration for its massive electrification of sitios (remote settlements) and barangays (villages).

He praised GOCC chair Cesar Villanueva and other officials for undertaking reforms such as the Fit and Proper Rule to ensure that the executives were

“We will not stop. In our policy on the right path, we will continue to strengthen our public institutions where the foundation is just and accountable governance,’’ he said.