Fruits of admin.’s good governance advocacy seen in increased budgets of 

gov’t agencies and approvals from int’l credit rating companies, Aquino says 

PRESIDENT Benigno S. Aquino III said on Wednesday that the fruits of his administration’s good governance advocacy can be seen in the increased budgets of government agencies that provide basic services and in the approval ratings accorded by international credit rating companies due to the country’s progress to break free from the shackles of graft and corruption that has long bound and prevented it from taking off. 

After only two years and nine months in Office implementing strict reforms to weed out graft and corruption, cut inefficient government spending and bring down the time to complete projects, the President said that the Departments of Social Welfare and Development, Education, Health and Public Works and Highways now enjoy bigger budgets which they can use for the benefit of the people. 

The President said the DSWD now has a 260 percent increase in its budget with which it can use to bring more beneficiaries to the government’s pro-poor program: Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps), which is now pegged at 3.85-million households; that the DepEd enjoys a 44 percent budget increase which it can now use to finally close the 66,800 classroom and books, tables and chairs deficit by the end of this year. 

The President added that the DOH, whose budget has been increased by 78 percent, has been able to register 86 percent of Filipinos to the government’s health care program – Philhealth while the DPWH, long thought to be the most corrupt of government agencies, holds above board bidding processes and has cut down unnecessary spending and the time to complete projects; with its budget increase of 23 percent. 

“Ang good news po: ang pinaka-kapuspalad nating mga kababayan ay makakapagpagamot na nang walang binabayaran ni isang kusing. Sa DPWH naman po, dalawampu’t tatlong porsyento na ang itinaas,” the President said. 

The President further said that Fitch credit rating agency has taken notice of the government’s good governance advocacy and has recently rated the Philippines investment grade status. (PND)