Senate resolution honors PNoy's life, years of public service

In a resolution filed on Saturday morning, the Senate honored the late former President Benigno Aquino III’s life and his years in public service.

Senate President Vicente Sotto filed the measure, which also conveyed the Senate's profound sympathies to the family of the former President.

“Now therefore be it resolved by the Senate, to express, as it hereby expresses, its profound sympathy and sincere condolences on the untimely demise of Honorable Benigno Simeon “Noynoy” Cojuangco Aquino III, 15th President of the Republic of the Philippines (2010-2016), former Senator (2007-2010), and former Member of the House of Representatives (1998- 2007),” the resolution read.

“The untimely death of a true-blue Atenean who had lived his life with honesty, integrity, and simplicity so that others may simply live is a great loss not only to his family but to the Filipino nation as well, particularly those whose lives he had touched.”

A copy of the resolution will be furnished to the family of the former chief executive.

In the four-page resolution, Sotto recalled Aquino’s attempt to stay away from politics by working in different entities such as the Philippine Business for Social Progress, Mondragon Industries Philippines Inc., Nike Philippines Inc., Intra-Strata Assurance Corporation, and in their family-owned firms, Best Security Agency Corporation and Hacienda Luisita.

However, Aquino’s promise not to be involved in politics was broken due to the “persistent appeal” of the constituents of Tarlac's second congressional district.

Before holding the highest position in the Philippines in 2010, Aquino served in the legislature. He represented Tarlac’s second district in the House of Representatives from 1998 to 2007, after which he ran for the Senate and served in the Upper House from 2007 to 2010.

According to the resolution, Aquino had pushed for anti-corruption measures such as the Budget Impoundment and Control Act, the Preservation of Public Infrastructures bill which sought to raise standards in the construction of all public infrastructures and to penalize contractors of defective infrastructures, and the amendments to the Government Procurement Act.

Aquino also filed measures that introduced reforms to the Philippine National Police, Judicial and Bar Council, Commission on Appointments, and even in the corporations that were not compliant with the minimum wage and real property industry.

“Under his watch as President, the Philippines received several international recognitions, the most significant of which was the Philippines’ gallant stand and victory against economic giant China when the Permanent Court of Arbitration at The Hague ruled that China had no claim to the reef within Philippine territorial waters,” Sotto wrote.

He also credited the Aquino Administration for concluding the peace agreement with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) “where the government promised a significant amount of autonomy to a Muslim- majority region of southern Mindanao, to ultimately end four decades of deadly conflict.”

Under Aquino’s presidency, Sotto said the Philippines recorded “remarkable economic growth indicators that opened doors to the country’s economic recovery.”

Among the most notable economic achievements that the Aquino administration achieved was the rise of Philippine ranking in the Economic Freedom Index from 115 in 2010 to 70th in 2015; the country’s ranking from 85 in 2010 to 47 in 2015 in terms of Global Competitiveness Index of World Economic Forum, to name a few.

“The GDP growth had increased to an annual average of 6.2 percent, the highest in the last 40 years; the inflation rate was reduced to an average of 1.4 percent at the end of 2015, thus strengthening consumer prices; the employment rate increased from 92.7 percent in 2010 to 94.2 percent in January 2016,” Sotto mentioned.

“The unemployment rate decreased to 5.8 percent, the lowest in the last several decades; and the country’s investment in infrastructure was also increased from 1.8 percent of GDP in 2010 to about 5 percent of GDP in 2016,” he added.

The Aquino administration also launched important infrastructure projects that helped boost the country’s economy, particularly the Muntinlupa-Cavite Expressway, School infrastructure projects, Metro Manila Skyway Stage 3, and the automated fare collection system for Metro Rail Transit Line 3 and Light Rail Transit Lines 1 and 2.

Poverty alleviation and public health were also some aspects that were given importance under Aquino’s watch.

The Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) was launched by the Aquino administration, benefiting 7.7 million poor Filipinos, as well as the Universal Health Care Program which gave 93.45 million Filipinos access to quality health care.

In his resolution, the Senate President recounted Aquino’s commitment to his “Kung walang corrupt, Walang mahirap” motto after the former President introduced anti-corruption campaigns in all branches of the government.

Under the Aquino administration, Sotto said landmark measures were passed into law, such as the Sin Tax Reform Law, Philippine Competition Act, Enhanced Basic Education Act, otherwise known as K-12 Program, Domestic Workers Act or Batas Kasambahay, Cybercrime Prevention Act, Responsible Parenthood and Reproductive Health Act, and the Tax Incentives Management and Transparency Act (TIMTA).

Moreover, Sotto noted that Aquino’s “exemplary performance” as president was recognized by at least five countries:

• Japan: Grand Cordon of the Supreme Order of the Chrysanthemum (June 2, 2015)
• Sovereign Military Order of Malta: Collar of the Knightly Order pro merito Melitensi (March 4, 2015)
• Indonesia: Star of the Republic of Indonesia, First Class (October 10, 2014)
• Kuwait: Collar of the Order of Mubarak the Great (March 23, 2012);
• United States: City Council Resolution on welcoming the President to Chicago presented by Mayor Rahm Emanuel (May 6, 2015)

— DVM, GMA News