Aquino attributes growth to good governance
President Benigno Aquino III. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO
WASHINGTON, D.C.—President Benigno Aquino III stressed Thursday the causality between the country’s growing economy and his governance platform, saying that the former was due mainly to the latter.
In particular, he took note of the seven positive actions by international credit rating agencies over the last two years, with all of them citing the government’s anti-corruption efforts.
“Connections and the willingness to bend the rules went out the window; success became about hard work, ingenuity, and innovation,” he said in a speech to the new US-Philippines Society at the Mandarin Oriental hotel.
“We’re making sure that those who fall in line get what they’re lining up for, without anyone cutting in,” the President added.
Mr. Aquino reminded the assembled business personalities that the country’s first-quarter growth rate was the highest in the Asean for that period, adding that indications from his economic managers are that growth in succeeding quarters of 2012 will be just as good.
“But, of course, focusing on the economy requires a counterpart effort in fighting corruption, which is why I am glad to report that the good news extends to our crusade to bring back integrity in government,” he said, pointing out that the Senate recently removed Renato Corona as the country’s chief justice “through a constitutional, peaceful, and credible process worthy of a rapidly maturing democracy.”
“This is a giant, progressive step for our nation, especially since, in today’s global environment, a culture of transparency and accountability is a major competitive advantage,” Mr. Aquino said.
During the event, the President conferred the Order of Lakandula with the rank of Supremo on Sen. Richard Lugar who heads the US Senate’s Foreign Relations Committee.
Lugar played an instrumental role during the events leading to the 1986 Edsa Revolution, having been sent by the US government to observe the conduct of the snap election that preceded the popular uprising.
Lugar said that his report to then US President Ronald Reagan convinced the former to withdraw support for the late strongman, Ferdinand Marcos, and recognize the government of President Corazon Aquino.
