by Lira Dalangin-Fernandez, InterAksyon.com - MANILA, Philippines -- President Benigno Aquino III wants Congress to fast-track the proposed 2012 budget, and the bills granting compensation to Martial Law victims, pension to retired soldier, and higher salaries and benefits to household workers.
Aquino, however, left out controversial measures such as the Reproductive Health bill and the Freedom of Information Act (FOI) in his second State of the Nation Address (SONA) in the House of Representatives at the Batasan Complex in Quezon City Monday.
Malacanang will submit to Congress the proposed budget on Tuesday. He said he hopes it will be passed before the end of the year “so that we can build on our current momentum.”
“We have already made progress, but we must remember: This is only the beginning, and there is much left for us to do. Allow me to present to Congress some of the measures that will bring us closer to the fulfillment of our pledge to the nation,” he said.
“We aim to give due compensation to the victims of Martial Law; to grant our house help the salaries and benefits that they deserve; and to improve the system that awards pensions to our retired soldiers. We likewise support the expansion of the scope of scholarships granted by DOST to outstanding yet underprivileged students; the advancement of universal quality health care; the responsible management of the environment; and the formation of facilities that will ensure the safety of our citizens during times of great need and calamity,” Aquino said in Filipino.
The President said he hopes that Congress will also attend to measures to develop the Bureau of Corrections, National Bureau of Investigation, National Electrification Administration, and the government network NBN-4 “so that instead of lagging behind the times, they will better fulfill their mandate of public service.”
