Be productive, Arroyo exhorts Filipinos in Independence Day speech

PHILIPPINE President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo stressed the need for economic reforms to free Filipinos from poverty in her Independence Day speech. She called on every Filipino to become productive and on every government agency to put the needs of the public first, so that the sacrifices of the heroes who fought and died for the country's freedom would not be in vain. Arroyo called for "pro-investment" policies that would help the Philippines continue its economic growth in the speech she delivered at the Quirino Grandstand at Rizal Park in Manila. Arroyo ended her speech with a prayer. The Independence Day parade has begun, with the Armed Forces of the Philippines performing the parade and review.