PAPER FOR THE LECTURE SERIES ON GRAFT AND CORRUPTION

6TH FLOOR, AUDIO-VISUAL ROOM, DAP, PASIG CITY

2:30 P.M. OF 31 JULY 2005
by
Dr Constancia P. de Guzman, MNSA
Chairman, Presidential Anti-Graft Commission

A pleasant afternoon to everyone!

I consider it a blessing to be given the opportunity to make a presentation before

you, as regards the anti corruption programs and activities of the government,
specifically, trough the Presidential Anti-Graft Commission as this gives us the
chance to make you aware of the government’s anti-corruption efforts, through our
Commission. I see the need to do this advocacy because of the reality that the fight
against corruption is considered to be the moral challenge of our time.

We are always asked if we can still stump out corruption. And to this, I tell you,
both as an invitation and a challenge --- we must say YES --- not only because
saying NO means giving up and thus causes us to do nothing, but because giving up
becomes very destructive and is considered to be a self-fulfilling prophecy

No country is actually spared from the sting of corruption. If we go back to history –

way back to the biblical times – we see a lot of examples of corruption – starting from
the devil’s move to tempt Eve at the Garden of Eden.

In our country, the trigger points of this malaise would include our historical
experiences from the hands of our colonizers for 508 years and 20 years from a
dictatorial ruler, each of which had marked practices that have been
institutionalized in the country’s systems and processes and some imbibed by the
citizenry.
This tells us one thing – that controlling corruption is a tough job indeed but
someone has got to start doing it, then, have more people do it!

We have been doing anticorruption work for decades. The country’s official war
against graft and corruption started as early as 1950 yet we have not really
succeeded as evidenced by the ill effects of graft and corruption we see around us –
this is why, the fight against this malaise has become top in the President’s agenda
from her first day of assumption to office, as President of this country, in January
2001.

A kind of fight through a platform of good governance.

Several initiatives to counter corruption and all its pernicious effects have been
launched under her administration, reform measures pointing to the adoption of
stepped-up campaign that includes administrative measures, legislative action, and
greater people participation - like the lifestyle checks, procedural reforms aimed at
cutting red tape in government transactions - these include streamlining,
manualization of procedures and posting of flowcharts in frontline agencies,
enhancing delivery of infrastructure services, creation of feedback mechanisms
through the use of SMS, DETxt, GAWIn 1345, TextGMA, nullification of the NAIA
Terminal III contract, among others.

At no other time in the history of our country has this level of political will, is seen,
as regards the hows of carrying out the fight against graft and corruption, that is,
with greater courage, vigor, conviction and commitment to succeed in this fight.

Among the initiatives that our President immediately implemented to address this
concern are:

Putting in place administrative mechanisms in the form of Presidential issuances,

both executive and administrative orders that address graft and corruption -

Three Administrative Orders (A.O.) –

+ A.O. 1 Prohibition to Transact with the First Family and their Relatives,
+ A.O. 53 Banning from Government Service the Board Members of Public Estate
Authority, and
+ A.O. 70 Creating Internal Audit Service (IAS) Units in all Government
Instrumentalities;

14 Executive Orders (E.O.) –

+ E.O 25 Creating the Governance Advisory Council,
+ E.O. 72 Rationalizing Agencies under the Office of the President,
+ E.O. 109 Streamlining Rules and Procedure on Review and Approval of
Contracts,
+ E.O. 235 Creation of Single BAC at the AFP,
+ E.O. 240 Creation of the Office of Undersecretary for Internal Control at the
DND to address Procurement and Fund Disbursement Concerns and Facilitate the
Establishment of IAS at the DND and AFP,
+ E.O. 251 Requiring BIR to Furnish the Office of the Ombudsman copies of Filed
Income Tax Returns,
+ E.O. 314 Creating the Presidential Commission on Values Formation, and
+ E.O. 12 as amended by E.O. 327 Creating the Presidential Anti-Graft Commission

Retooling and energizing the Office of the Ombudsman to strengthen capacity to

sanction corrupt practices by providing additional funds to enable it to hire more
prosecutors resulting to an improvement in the conviction rate.

Making the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) and the Bureau of Customs (BOC)
showcases in the fight against corruption through the establishment of new tax
administration measures to minimize opportunities for corruption and abuse and
formulation of a Customs Integrity Action Plan as a working guide for
anticorruption programs.
Other initiatives like the timely implementation of Procurement Law and the Anti-
Money Laundering Law as well as filing of cases, suspension and dismissal of erring
government officials and employees.
And the most recent action of the President is on PAGC reorganization to enable
her to build an anti-corruption commission that is patterned after the Hongkong’s
Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC).

We see the mobilization of the entire government machinery and enlisting the
support of the civil society and business organizations, professional and religious
groups, the mass media, the academe and the citizenry – to ensure successful
implementation of anticorruption programs and sustainability of positive results
from these programs.

Yes, I said, positive results. And the positive results are real – not just lip service,
not just propaganda… as there are proofs, there are very clear manifestation of the
results on this area. But, these don’t reach you. Most often than not, these are not
captured by the press. These don’t get to be printed in the front pages of the daily
papers nor in the airtime of the different tv and radio stations. But here, I want to
take this rare opportunity to share some with you. But before going into that, I see
the need to first introduce to you our Commission, the creation of which is another
proof of the President’s sincerity in the fight against graft and corruption.
The Presidential Anti-Graft Commission (PAGC) was created by virtue of Executive
Order No. 12 issued on 16 April 2001 to serve as the President’s arm in the exercise
of her disciplining power over her appointees in the executive branch of government.
As such, PAGC’s authority is focused on the following:

Investigate and hear administrative cases or complaints against all presidential

appointees (position of Assistant Regional Director, Salary Grade 26, or higher) and
non-presidential appointees in conspiracy with presidential appointees alleged to
have violated any of the following laws:
 a) Republic Act No. 3019 as amended, otherwise known as the “Anti-Graft
and Corrupt Practices Act”;
b) Republic Act No. 1379 on the unlawful acquisition of property by a public
officer or employee;
c) Republic Act 6713, otherwise known as the “Code of Conduct and Ethical
Standards for Public Officials and Employees”;
d) Presidential Decree No. 46, making it punishable for public officials and
employees to receive gifts on any occasion, including Christmas;
e) Any provision under Title Seven of Book Two of the Revised Penal Code
(Republic Act No. 3815, as amended); and,
f) Rules and Regulations duly promulgated by competent authorities to
implement any of the foregoing laws and issuances

Submit recommendations to the Office of the President on the factual findings for
graft and corruption at all levels of the bureaucracy.

Conduct studies on new measures to prevent or minimize opportunities for graft

and corruption at all levels of the bureaucracy.

In September 2004, the President directed PAGC to transform the Commission into
an institution similar to that of Hong-Kong’s Independent Commission Against
Corruption (ICAC), which uses a three-pronged approach in fighting corruption.

The three areas are deterrence, prevention and education, ensuring that strategic
partnership is factored in, cutting across along these three areas.

PAGC crafted its Vision, Mission, Goals and Strategies and captured all these in the
first-ever Medium Term Plan for 2005 to 2009, highlighting key result areas that are
measurable to serve as guide in ensuring that the Commission is efficient and
effective in the implementation of its activities within measurable timelines.
 + For our vision, we say, we want to see a graft and corruption free
Philippines characterized by transparency and accountability in governance,
honesty and integrity in the bureaucracy in a corruption in-tolerant society.
+ For our mission, we say, we want to be the President’s arm in eradicating
graft and corruption through effective deterrence, prevention and education in
partnership with all stakeholders.

+ For our goals:

On Deterrence, we want to make graft and corruption a high risk and low
reward activity;
On Prevention, we want to minimize opportunities for graft and corruption;
and,
On Education, we want to have zero tolerance for graft and corruption
In all these, PAGC’s strategic partnership with its stakeholders, the other members
of the executive department, the civil society organization, the business community,
the youth, the faith-based organizations, the donor community and the academe – is
further enhanced as this is viewed to play a crucial role in the overall anti-
corruption efforts of the government.

And now, the specific anti-corruption programs of the government:

1. On the area of lifestyle checks, which even the World Bank applauded as
an effective tool in fighting corruption, the government managed to handle
a number of cases that were investigated and a number of officials (close to
50) slapped with punitive actions, ranging from suspension, dismissal from
service with forfeiture of retirement benefits and perpetual disqualification
from public office – involving, among others, two very high ranking
officials from the Department of Public Works and Highways, four from
the Bureau of Customs, and six from the Bureau of Internal Revenue.
 2. The unprecedented Presidential Anti-Corruption Workshop last December
2004, where the government adopted the Executive Anti-Corruption
Strategy Framework covering prevention, education, deterrence and
strategic partnership.

This is called Integrity Development Action Plan or IDAP or the 22 doables,

meaning, 22 specific measures believed to address corruption.

We have 7 for prevention, 4 for education, another 7 for deterrence and 4 for
strategic partnership. We have likewise provided the indicators to monitor
agencies’ progress, not just in terms of compliance in putting in place the anti-
corruption measures, but in terms of impact - the value-added in governance’s
thrust resulting from such measure. And it is in this area where we likewise see
your role, how you could help us in our endeavors.

The 22 doables are:

UNDER PREVENTION:

Doable No. 1: strengthening of internal control through the

institutionalization of internal audit service.

Internal control talks about checks and balances and when put in place, a
culture of compliance and governance is encouraged. Any agency which does not
have proper internal controls, is high risk, basically

The desired outcome is the revival and strengthening of systems integrity in

all agencies in the executive department.

We got commitment from 17 agencies and reports that this is in place in 19

agencies.

To further ensure success in this area, PAGC tapped the World Bank
Group’s Institutional Development Fund (IDF) in obtaining a grant for US$
300,000.00 equivalent to approximately P16.5 million, on the strengthening of the
country’s internal audit units, initially, using procurement governance as an entry
point. When implemented, this will translate to the development of a quality
assessment program on internal auditing functions, development of a generic
internal audit manual, development of a national training program and certification
for internal auditors, and development of procurement records management and
monitoring system…all taken to contribute to corruption reduction.

Our proposal was approved, we had the signing of the grant agreement last
June 14 and this weekend, we expect the publication of our advertisement inviting
would be consultants for expressions of interest. By October this year, real work on
this will commence.

Doable No. 2: conduct of Integrity Development Review or IDR.

The targeted outcome is the institutionalization of a structured

comprehensive, systematic and continuous assessment and improvement in all
agencies.

While we targeted its implementation for the year in at least 5 priority

agencies (PNP, BOC, DPWH, LTO, BIR with extra offer for DND), to date, we are
assured of the conduct of IDR for 16 agencies within the next 20 months to be
funded by the European Union through the Office of the Ombudsman’s Corruption
Prevention Project launched on 12 May 2005.

Doable No. 3 is on the fast tracking of the electronic New Government

Accounting System and electronic bidding for the procurement of goods, services
and infrastructure projects.

Outcome being hoped for: greater transparency, correct, reliable, complete

and timely recording of government financial transactions and financial reports.
 We got commitment from 16 agencies and reports of eNGAS roll out in 9
agencies.

Doable No. 4 is incorporating integrity check in recruitment and promotion

of government personnel.

Desired outcome: greater awareness on the fact that integrity is a crucial

factor in recruitment and promotion in the government

We got commitment from 20 agencies and 11 reported to have adopting the

process.

Doable No. 5 is the institutionalization of a multi-stakeholder personnel and

organizational performance evaluation system.

Desired Outcome: a more objective assessment of individual employee

performance

We got commitment from 9 agencies, 5 claimed to have put this in place.

Doable No. 6 is protection of meager income of government employees by

ensuring a level for take home pay.

Agencies are looking at how this can best be implemented in accordance with
the existing laws on the matter.

The desired outcome here is for the agency officials to be more discerning in
entertaining credit schemes offered to employees.

Doable No. 7 is on the adoption of a single ID system for government officials

and employees.

This is dependent on the IRR for E.O. 420

UNDER EDUCATION:

First is the dissemination of compendium of anticorruption laws, rules and

regulations.

The desired outcome here is to have an increased awareness of anti-

corruption laws, rules and regulations among government employees.

Second is the preparation of agency-specific code of ethical standards.

Outcome: Institutionalization and internalization of the code of ethics by all

employees.

We got commitment from 18 agencies. 7 reported to have codes.

Third is the conduct of ethics training, spiritual formation, and moral

recovery program for agencies and stakeholders.

The desired outcome is to have more government employees with renewed

sense of idealism

17 agencies committed to this measure and another 17 reported to have

undertaken training of this type.

Last on the Education Strategy is the integration of anti-corruption modules

for elementary and secondary levels.

This has earlier been targeted for 2006 implementation but with the
presentation of the teaching exemplars prepared by the DepEd and the Office of the
Ombudsman, we shall be seeing implementation within this school year.

ON DETERRENCE

First measure is the development of agency Internal Complaint Unit

(including the protection of whistleblowers).
 The desired outcome is to facilitate exposure of graft and corruption within
an agency as more informants manifest willingness to come out

We have commitment from 12 agencies and per reports, this is already in

place in 11 agencies.

Second is on the setting up/strengthening of agency Internal Affairs Unit.

Outcome talks of a stronger investigative capability within the agency and

faster resolution of graft and corruption cases

Commitment from 11 agencies was registered with 7 reporting to have put

this in place.

Third is on the need to publish blacklisted offenders and maintain on-line

central database for public access.

Desired outcome is to have greater perception of corruption being a high

risk, low reward activity

Here, we got commitment from 7 agencies.

Fourth measure talks of holding superiors accountable for corrupt activities

of subordinates.

The desired outcome is for superiors to become conscientious in preventing

corrupt activities of their subordinates.

We got 11 commitments.

Fifth is the effective use of existing agency administrative disciplinary

machinery and publication of results of administrative cases handled.

Outcome is for greater adherence to and a more proactive implementation of

the administrative disciplinary machinery
 We got commitment from 9 agencies with 11 claiming to have put this in
place.

Sixth measure is on the advocacy for the submission of Income Tax Returns
as attachment to the Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Networth.

The desired Outcome is to have an increased transparency of the income and

net worth of government employees.

10 agencies committed to advocate for this measure, and 3 have reported to

have actual adoption of this measure.

Last strategy is PAGC’s carrying out of an independent survey to check

anti-graft and corruption program effectiveness.

This paved the way for the development of a monitoring template that shall
capture impact of the measures on a per agency requirements.

The template, is basically the indicators, which shall now be used as the basis
for monitoring and gauging agency compliance starting this 2nd semester of 2005.

ON STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP with four measures:

We have the first measure, that is, on linking of existing databases of

complementary agencies and sharing of information.

Outcome: greater sharing of information and increased incidences of

collaborative undertakings among agencies in education, prevention, and deterrence

We got commitment from 11 agencies and reports that this is already being
practiced in 12 agencies.

Second is the need to enlist or enhance participation of private sector and

civil society in various areas of governance.
Outcome is greater vigilance and strategic investments in various forms by the
private sector and civil society

We got commitment from 12 agencies and reports that this is actually in

place in 15 agencies.

After 6 months of work on this area, we forged the following memoranda of

agreement and/or understanding:

+ On 25 February 2005 with the Coalition Against Corruption through the

Transparency and Accountability for the provision of qualified volunteers to PAGC
in its lifestyle check crusade against erring officials and employees in the executive
branch of government

+ On 05 April 2005, with the Office of the Ombudsman, the Transparency and
Accountability Network and Heads of selected agencies to ensure implementation
and sustainability of the corruption prevention reform programs in covered
agencies, to wit: BIR, NLRC, DLR, DPWH, DEPED, DOH, DENR, BOC, DILG
and DOJ

+ On 12 May 2005, with the Office of the Ombudsman on PAGC’s participation as

a collaborating agency in the implementation of the former’s corruption prevention
project funded by the European Union.

+ on 01 July 2005, with the Association of Government Internal Auditors to ensure

the institutionalization of internal audit service as provided for by existing laws on
the matter.

We maintain an enhanced involvement with our partners like the Inter-

Agency Anti-Graft Coordinating Council (IAGCC).

Third is the need to tap international development agencies and private

sector for support.
 The desired outcome is for greater external resources mobilized and
improved perception on the resolve to fight graft and corruption

Here, we got commitment from 6 agencies and 4 reported to have gone

through this measure.

Likewise, PAGC for the first time has become recipient of USAID through its
Rule of Law Effectiveness (ROLE) and the World Bank’s technical and financial
assistance, all of which are geared towards a more positive stance on anti-corruption
thrust.

And last is on the institutionalization of the participation of stakeholders in

agency activities.
Outcome is greater involvement by the stakeholders, like the employees’
union, guided by the principles of stewardship
10 agencies committed to do this measure with 15 reporting to have actual
incorporation of the measure in their systems of operations

Here, we have forged a MOA with the Philippine Government Employees

Association (PGEA) in the implementation of the “Dulugan ng Bayan” Project and the
creation of a Dulugan ng Bayan National Coordinating Council to coordinate on the
various activities of the project to ensure honesty, integrity, and discipline among
workers and officials in the government, consistent with the norm that public service is a
public trust.

Given all these, one might say, “How come that the country is regrettably
perceived to suffer among the highest levels of corruption in Asia?
 How come that both local and international surveys of public opinion have
consistently painted a depressing picture of the Philippine’s corruption perception
index?

By and large, the survey results send the message as if, nothing is happening,
as if, nothing can be done to improve the situation. The results of the surveys
conducted by both international and local groups, as these are released, most often
than not, dampen ones’ spirits. This is because, the negatives are the ones
highlighted. The positives are often set aside.

Let us take the 2005 SWS Survey of Enterprises on Corruption which

covered 701 companies in the five areas of Metro Manila, Metro Cebu, Metro Davao,
Cavite-Laguna-Batangas (CALABA), and Cagayan de Oro/Iligan City (CDO-I)

When the results were discussed in the 01 June 2005 presentation, it was
reported that the results show the views of Filipino managers and on certain matters
can be compared to the views of the general public from national SWS surveys.

After the presentation, what was captured in the news was the report
depicting “public sector corruption as very high and non-diminishing with 66
percent expressing it to be very bleak.”

The same survey results contained exceptional bright spots – but not picked
up. And these are:
+ the decreasing bribe solicitation on local government permits/licenses and
income tax payments
+ private sector’s willingness to fund an anti-corruption program, which
accordingly, has risen steadily
+ managers’ enthusiasm to participate, even personally, in monitoring
government projects and in government’s Bids and Awards Committees
 + conditions look favorable for ultimate success of the Coalition Against
Corruption

Very specific statistics to back up my earlier claims on the positive results of

the Macapagal-Arroyo’s anti-corruption thrust were captured in this SWS survey
results.

Accordingly, managers were asked if they had been asked for a bribe in the
past year, and found that:
+ 36% had been asked in connection with a local government permit/license,
+ 30% concerning income taxes,
+ 28% concerning a national government permit/license

This table for example has been lifted as Table 3 at page 3 of the SWS report. The
question asked was:
“In which of the following transactions has your company been asked for a bribe by
anyone in government the past year?”
2000 2001 2002/03 2003/04 2005
(NCR) (NCR) (NCR) (NCR/C/D) (5
areas)
Local government permits or 55% 54% 50% 41% 36%
licenses
Payment of income taxes 52 50 43 39 30
National government permits or 42 34 37 28 28
license
None of the above 21 20 26 30 39
Don’t know/refused 2 2

Compared to 55% in 2000 during then President Estrada’s time, statistics reveal
that on the first year of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s term which
prioritized the fight against graft and corruption, a 1% decrease in the number of
businessmen in Metro Manila were asked for bribes when getting local government
permits/licenses has been registered. On its second year, the administrative
mechanisms put in place triggered further decrease of statistics, by 4 %, on this area.
On her third year, we have 41% which is actually a decrease of 14 %. in 2004, and
as what we all see here, for the June 2005 report, it is down to 30%, thus, registering
19 % decrease for only 4 and a half years of hard work on this aspect. only 45% of

In 2005, only 30% of NCR businessmen were solicited for bribes when paying
income taxes, compared to 52% in 2000 – this marks a 22% decrease – enough to
claim that bribe solicitations have declined very significantly in relation to income
taxes of businesses in NCR for the past 5 survey rounds.

There was also a downward trend in the solicitation of bribes from NCR enterprise
managers regarding national government permits and licenses: 28 % asked for a
bribe in 2005, compared to 42% in 2000. This is 14%.

The highest achievement is in the payment of income taxes, with 22%, yet, in the
report proper, it reads: “there appears to be a slight decline in the reported
solicitation of bribes in relation to income taxes in particular.
Further on the positive side, solicitation of bribes from Cebu enterprises
regarding income tax payments registered a large decrease .

Cavite-Laguna-Batangas, also surveyed for the first time,

appears to have the lowest rate of bribe solicitation among the five areas surveyed.

Indeed, these tell us that the anti-corruption efforts are not just lip service –
not mere rhetoric. For we get results. And these results are not plucked from thin
air by the administration but are picked out from the same source used by others
who say that the anti-corruption program of the government failed.

For almost a year now, we have been barraged by exposes on graft and
corruption. But, these should not be taken as if nothing is being done.
 The situation that often happens on anti-graft efforts is that, as you go heavy
on these type of activities, more corruption – related activities are being exposed.

It is because, the improved systems and procedures, the quick wins in other
areas, the cultural transformation that makes the public servants vigilant over
guarding the public resources entrusted for their management and making the
other stakeholders to be involved by observing the lifestyles of the public servants as
a means to deter abuses from amassing illegally gotten wealth, by being vigilant
about the quality of work rendered by the public servants, - all of these will be
enough basis for more whistleblowers to come out and report irregularities that they
see in public offices or experience when dealing with government transactions.

So that, exposes would instead mean, signs of an increasing trust and

confidence of the citizenry on the government’s role as stewards of public resources
and this will lead to the attainment of zero tolerance against corruption.

But sad to say, that today, the exposes, most often than not, are thus
perceived, as if such corruption reports happen at the time of exposure…In a way,
the exposes should be looked into as manifestation of an improved system that
captures irregularities; of an improved system that listens and acts on complaints.

The PAGC is headed towards its desire to make a difference in the

implementation of the revitalized anti-corruption program because of the belief that
our faith mandates us to act anchored on our spiritual dimension and guided by the
Holy Spirit working in us.

The success of our anti-corruption efforts’ implementation and in achieving the

desired results will definitely not just be dependent on how well PAGC will carry
out its anti-corruption programs. A greater weight must be credited to the level of
support and cooperation of the other stakeholders, your group included, in ensuring
that the objectives are met…and thus, we can achieve, if everyone will be very
vigilant as regards how operations are in their respective places of work and in
respective communities – be it in school or in residence.

And on this, I would like to solicit your involvement. As to how you can help…

For DETERRENCE, we hope to encourage more whistleblowers from your

group. PAGC has also set up our SMS / Text Hotline (0920 895-3709), email, and
webpage (www.pagc.gov.ph) where people can send in their complaints.

For PREVENTION, we are in the process of forming Integrity Teams in

which Civil Society Groups can actively take part in carefully monitoring the
implementation of agency-specific Anti-Corruption measures of government
agencies, the 22 doables I explained earlier.

For EDUCATION, you can help us by raising awareness among your

respective groups on the ills of corruption and the need to be vigilant in your watch
as regards abuses committed, specially by public servants, and in reporting
observed irregularities which the anti-corruption bodies and law enforcers can
address. In this way, we are really building a corruption intolerant society – a key
to achieving our vision of a graft and corrupt free Philippines.

Another area is your active participation in our Anti-Corruption Initiative:

Early Awareness. Children aged 3-9 years old will be target market for this
initiative, which will make use of mass media (tv, print, radio, etc.) to reach out to
the young ones and help mould this group towards good citizenship by instilling the
basic values enshrined in the Preamble of our 1987 Philippine Constitution. Side by
side with our anti-corruption campaign amongst ourselves, we are also preparing
our children for the good future and good government that they deserve and
eventually, they will create for themselves.
You may also help us by not only sending in your complaints, but as well as
your commendations for the best practices of government agencies.
 In this challenging task, we are committed to do our roles…not really
knowing what lies ahead….but with the reassuring trust that GOD will hold our
hands and lead us to fulfill our mission in this new assignment.

For now, we are aware that it is still a long way from our targets and much
farther from the realization of our vision. We may not have quick wins on the
horizon, but we would rather that we move on.

Every committed stakeholder must never tire of doing good, of wanting to

give up no matter how difficult the environment has become.

We are asking for full support and cooperation, for patience and
understanding.

We have been through a lot as a nation. Filipinos know how to fight for
freedom. Freedom from corruption.

Filipinos know how to fight for love. Love for our country which is innate in
each one of us. Filipinos know how to struggle to survive.

The day will come when our country will be corruption-free.

I am confident that we Filipinos can do this. I am confident that we will

succeed.

The government cannot do it alone.

You cannot do it by yourselves.

We need each other.

God bless you all!! Good day and Thank you!