Malacañang Hopes to Institutionalize Reforms in Government

The Palace hopes that the reforms initiated by the administration will continue and that changes will become permanent part of the bureaucracy.

The year 2015 is the penultimate year of the Aquino administration, and Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said they hope the government succeeds in its efforts to institutionalize the reforms in government.

“Hopefully we succeed in 2016 and the rest—for the remainder of the President’s term,” Valte said in an interview over dzRB Radyo ng Bayan on Saturday.

The administration will be busy in the first quarter of the year especially on pushing for the passage of the Bangsamoro Basic Law, which is already in Congress for deliberations, she said.

Lawmakers concentrated on passing the 2015 national budget in the last quarter of this year, Valte said noting that under the Aquino administration, Congress was able to pass the annual budget on time and even much earlier than previous approvals of the national budget.

“Umaasa tayong matutugunan nang tamang pansin ang mga priority pieces of legislation,” she added.

The government will also be busy in the first quarter of the year because of the five-day visit of Pope Francis to the Philippines in mid-January.

The Philippines is also hosting the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation in 2015, and will spearhead the APEC’s initial meetings in different locations in the country. The leaders’ meeting in late 2015 will cap the event.

Asked if they worry about important legislations being delayed in Congress because of the upcoming election next year, Valte said they will continue to work with lawmakers for the timely passage of those important legislations.

“Sana naman wala rin pong ma-delay. Of course, being a separate and co-equal branch of government, we will continue to work with them on the priority pieces of legislation that both sides would want to see coming to fruition for 2015,” she said.

“Siguro ‘yung iba nag-e-expect nga na dahil 2015 na, malapit nang mag-eleksyon, pero patuloy ang pagtuon natin doon sa trabaho kasi medyo marami pa ho tayong natitirang kailangan pang gawin.”

On the President’s bet for the 2016 election, Valte said President Aquino has not mentioned any candidate whom to support in the presidential election. (PCOO/PND (as)