President Aquino: We have forged on. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines–Are you proud of the changes in the Philippines four years after President Aquino took office?
The President thinks the Filipinos should be, saying they “dared to go against the tide of indifference and braved the waters toward good governance and social justice” in 2010, the year he was elected.
“Despite seemingly insurmountable odds, we forged on, never letting those who continue to sow greed, doubt and negativism undermine our love of country and people,” he said in his message for the National Heroes’ Day celebrated on Monday.
Enduring reform
“Now, we stand proud of the nation that we have become, as we bear the greatest gift for our forefathers: We have launched a revolution for enduring change and reform. It is this transformation that we shall proudly bequeath to coming generations,” Aquino said.
Drawing inspiration from the “brave men and women who laid down their lives for the liberty that we cherish today,” Aquino sought to rally the public “through the most daunting circumstances.”
“In the face of the strongest storm to hit our land, in our continuing fight against poverty and corruption, or in our steadfast campaign for peace and equitable progress—we shall prove, time and again, that indeed, the Filipino is worth fighting for,” he said.
With two years left in office, the President has been trumpeting social “transformation” as a major accomplishment on his watch.
In his State of the Nation speech at a joint session of Congress on July 28, Aquino said the “transformation we are experiencing now, we can make permanent with the guidance of God.”
‘Inclusive growth’
But despite the country’s improving economy as shown by its improved credit ratings, the Aquino administration has been criticized for failing to curb joblessness and achieving its promise of “inclusive growth.”
Inclusive growth is defined under the Philippine Development Plan (PDP) as one “that is rapid enough to matter given the country’s large population, geographical differences and social complexity.”
“It is sustained growth that creates jobs, draws the majority into the economic and social mainstream, and continuously reduces mass poverty,” according to the PDP, the main blueprint for the Aquino administration’s development program.
Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Arsenio Balisacan has said that a “major reduction in poverty” could not be seen unless the Philippines maintained its gross domestic product growth targets within five to 20 years.”