President Aquino Vows Continued Focus On Education, Social Protection Programs

President Benigno S. Aquino III on Thursday vowed to continue focusing on the education sector and social protection programs that have lifted more Filipinos out of poverty.

In a speech delivered during the inauguration of the Pagcor school building of the Guadalupe Elementary School in Cebu City, President Aquino said his administration has erased the 66,800 classrooms backlog and addressed the shortage of textbooks and arm chairs.

“…Sa tulong ng PAGCOR (Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation), kasama na ang DPWH (Department of Public Works and Highways), local government units, ‘yung 66,000 hindi lang natin pinuno ‘yung 66,000 ‘yung kailangan ng K-12 (basic education program) ready na rin,” he said.

The President stressed that various initiatives under Daang Matuwid program would enable the government complete the construction and funding of 185,149 classrooms until his term ends in June.

“Talagang nakatutok tayo sa edukasyon, at gusto ko ho sana talaga –isa sa mga talagang pinakamatinding ipinangako ko sa taumbayan: Iyong oportunidad na ibigay sa akin ng mga magulang na makapag-aral nang maayos dapat ibigay natin sa lahat ng mga kababayan natin,” he added.

Further, the Chief Executive cited the government’s flagship anti-poverty program, the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps), that benefited more than four million poor families.

“Last year po, nakaabot na tayo sa 4.4 million na kabahayan at itong taon pong ito matatapos na natin ‘yung kabuuan ‘nung 4.6 million na target,” he said.

President Aquino stressed that 7.7 million households now no longer live within the poverty line.

The President noted the government is also gearing up to implement a program for “near poor”.

“Ano ba ‘yung near poor? Medyo naka-angat ka na, nakukuha mo na ‘yung pangangailangan mo sa araw-araw pero kapag dinapuan ka ng matinding sakit o nagkaroon ng isang delubyo kunyari bagyo, baka bigla kang bumalik doon sa hindi mo kakayaning mabuhay. So paano ang programang iyon hinahabol na ilayo ka nang ilayo doon sa tinatawag na poor conditions,” he explained. (PNA) RMA/LDV