Gloria’s promises on the economy

A quick run through on what Gloria promised during her recently-concluded State of the Nation Address.

• Marginalize poverty by 2010
• Increase the middle-class
• Continue to create one million jobs every year
• Stronger and wider social safety net
• Cheaper medicines
• More houses
• More good schools
• More well-paid teachers
• Good quality books
• More scholarships
• More language instruction to sustain the Philippines’ edge in the BPO industry
• Investing P150 billion in education this year, P29 billion more than last year
• Sending 600,000 scholars to school this year
• Create a P4 billion fund for college loans to increase beneficiaries from 40,000 to 200,000
• Set aside P1 billion for TESDA this year, up from P600 million last year
• Provide P1 billion for DoLE for trainings
• Set aside P3 billion for science and engineering research
• Set aside P50 billion for Pag-IBIG Fund’s home lending program until 2010
• No new taxes until the end of the year

Priority bills: Cheaper Medicines Bill Electric Power Industry Reform Act (EPIRA) *Amendment Quotable quotes:

“We have spent more on human capital formation than any time in the past. Why? If the government is not for the people, it is a mockery of democracy.”

“I would rather be right than popular”

As my seatmate here at the office said, Arroyo started her SONA sounding like a benefactor, a female Santa Claus in July giving everyone a gift, but her “strong personality” shone through towards the end. I totally agree, Mr. Nonoy Espina. This quote is quite interesting:

“I will not stand in the way of anyone’s ambitions; let no on stand in the way of national interests,” she said.

The media is abuzz about the implied meaning of this statement. Is this a clear sign she will step down in 2010? Abangan…Me? I just watch for comic relief. That circus is for those who still naively believe that the SONA is really about promises. I think a sincere government only needs to do its work quietly and effectively, SONA or not. But that's just me. In case you want to read about her previous SONA, click here. Our running account of the SONA here. My article here: Arroyo to pour money in developing human capital.