S[Delivered at Rizal Hall, Malacañan Palace | 20 February 2019]
Salamat po. Kindly take your seats.
Former President and House Speaker Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and the other members of the House of Representatives; Senate President Vicente Sotto and the other honorable members of the Senate; Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea; Secretary to the Cabinet Karlo Alexei Nograles and the other members of the Cabinet; other distinguished guests; ladies and gentlemen
I am pleased with you — to be with you today…
Well, at least we have been — one of the eventful measures is the reapportioning of Leyte. This will end the communal wars between two cousins. [laughter] Iyan lang pala ang solusyon eh. You do not have to shoot the helicopter of the other guy.[laughter] That is not proper politics.
…in coordination with concerned agencies, in facilitating the passage of the key legislative measures which would further support this administration’s development agenda for inclusive growth where no one will be left behind. Hopefully.
The laws that we pass today will surely make a positive impact on the lives of our people and foster a business environment that is conducive for trade and investments. Two of these legislative measures will improve our existing healthcare and pension services which will benefit the poor and the vulnerable always the reason.
By automatically [enrolling] our citizens into the National Health Insurance Program and expanding PhilHealth coverage to include free medical consultations and laboratory tests, the Universal Healthcare Law that I sign today will guarantee equitable access to quality and affordable healthcare services for all Filipinos.
The Social Security Act of 2018 also expands the investing capacity of the Social Security Commission, enabling the SSS to generate better income for members and pensioners.
I also sign today the Revised Corporation Code which seeks to simplify corporate governance standards and establish a more business friendly environment that will enable corporations and other juridical entities to thrive.
The Amendment [to] the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Charter would also strengthen the BSP’s financial stability and grant it more flexibility in the exercise of its regulatory powers. The amendment comes at a fitting time when the BSP is remitting to the national government partial dividends amounting to 4 billion pesos. [applause] This will come a long way [in] funding priority programs of the administration.
We are also training — presenting today the Philippine Sports Training Center Act which would establish a center for athletic development that will help maximize the potential and competitiveness of our local athletes.
Lastly, the Act Reapportioning the Province of Southern Leyte will help ensure an even more adequate representation in Congress, enabling us to address the needs of the constituents from the two other legislative districts. And hopefully to promote peace and order in that province. I hope the last incident of shooting down a helicopter of your opponent will be the last violence in that province.
[Nandito ba si [Udong?] si…?]
Actually related ako sa kanila eh. Sabi ko sa kanila noong ano, “Sige, magpatayan na lang kayo para ‘yung ibang mga kadugo natin may panahon na umakyat.”
The passage of these laws attests to how much the government can achieve when the executive and legislative branches work hand in hand in achieving a common legislative agenda.
I hope that Congress will continue to be our steadfast partner in enacting laws that will significantly improve the lives of our people, especially those who need it.
Let us all work together in enabling our countrymen to lead more meaningful, productive, peaceful and prosperous lives that we all deserve.-end
