Aquino extols DAP in opening his Sona

MANILA, Philippines – President Benigno Aquino III on Monday started his State of the Nation Address boasting the benefits of the controversial Disbursement Acceleration Program (DAP), which was declared partly unconstitutional by the Supreme Court.

He said the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (Tesda) was able to help more than 220,000 students through the allocated P1.6 billion DAP funds.

Aquino said that of the Tesda graduates, 66 percent already have work.

To prove that the funds indeed went to the students, the President showed stacks of papers listing the names of the students.

“Ito po ang mabuting pamamahala (This is good governance),” he said as he explained that the funds invested on the student an easily be earned by the government in taxes when they are employed in the business process outsourcing industry.

As he enumerated the achievements of his administration over the past year, Aquino said more businessmen are now encouraged to invest in the Philippines.

He said this was because of the country’s good economic performance.

Aquino said the country also performed well when it hosted the World Economic Forum a couple of months ago and that the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation, which will be held next year, will be another opportunity to showcase what the Philippines is capable of.

“Wala pong duda, more open for business na nga po ang Pilipinas (No doubt, the Philippines is more open for business),” he said.

Aquino also revealed that there are less occurrences of labor strike in the country the past few years because of the government program on conciliation and mediation.

“Sa 150 notices of strike and lockout noon 2014 isa lang ang natuloy na welga (of the 150 notices of strike and lockout in 2014, only one pushed through),” he said before thanking the Department of Labor and Employment.