Joseph Estrada

“ The problems we face are of such magnitude as to require nothing less than heroic and concerted action. We must move upon them as a single community, bound together by common rules that we all agree to respect and obey. ”

“ But let us not forget that privatization is mainly an emergency response to an emergency situation.
Panandalian at pansamantalang solusyon lamang ito. Higit na mahalaga, sa pangmatagalan, dapat tayong magsagawa ng mga bago at mas masinop na patakaran ng pamamahala.
It is therefore my intention to initiate institutional reform of the entire budget process. My administration has just completed its first three-year budget framework, which the national government will soon propose to Congress as our budget accord. ”

“ Two administrations have declared sugar a sunset industry, doomed to die. Maybe. All I know is that, sunset industry or not, I cannot leave three million families who depend on sugar in the dark, with nothing to eat after the sun goes down. ”

“ I wish that I could say that we shall set up a job security fund soon. But I don't want to add to the inventory of unfunded laws and bills that now amount to four hundred billion pesos ( (₱400 billion) worth of promises that will never be fulfilled.
According to statistics, in the past six years, as the Philippine economy grew, the richest 10 percent got 40 percent of the national income.
And the poorest 10 percent? Wala pang dalawang porsiyento.
It is worse in the countryside, where 40 percent of Filipinos still work for one third of wages in the city. That is why they come here. ”

“ One lost job is one hungry family, and one cold statistic I cannot accept.
Statistics claim that the number of poor people has gone down in the past decade. I wonder if the people believe these statistics. ”

“ We will establish a large taxpayers unit at the BIR. We will suspend the implementation of certain BOI exemptions granted to companies under laws and executive orders that expired in 1997.
The fiscal reforms forced upon us by the economic crisis will continue to serve us well even after the crisis is over. I will take this opportunity to establish fiscal discipline in the spending habits of government. Although we have to tolerate a certain amount of deficit this year, we will try as best as possible to pursue a balanced budget for the National Government in the coming years. ”

“ Walang lakas ang mahihirap upang tulungan ang kanilang sarili ngunit ngayon, kahit ang gobyerno ay kapos sa pondo. So we must straategize to maximize.
Dole-outs are out, but basic social services are only just and right. That means basic health care, basic nutrition, and useful education for those who want it, but cannot afford it.
We will speed up the program to establish one Science high school in every province. We will give education subsidies straight to deserving students and teachers without passing through the schools. That way they can choose where to study and where to teach. ”

“ Only 57 percent of target areas have been distributed, while productivity has become lower.
This does not mean that the land should have been left with the landlords, but that the farmers should not have been left to fend for themselves.
This is where we are now. Add anarchy on the peace and order front, where the only thing organized is crime, and the only thing systematic is kidnapping. The result: capital flight, yet some officials think they can attract foreign funds with tax incentives for potential kidnap victim. ”

“ Halos double-digit na ang ating inflation rate. Napakataas ang interes na sinisingil ng mga bangko kaya naman hindi makautang ang maraming negosyante. At lalo namang hinigpitan ng mga bangko ang kanilang pagpapautang, kaya't maraming kalakal ang nagsasara.
Dahil sa debalwasyon at sa El Niño, tuloy-tuloy ang pagbagsak ng ating piso. Ito ay lubhang mabigat para sa mga kababayan natin na isang kahig, isang tuka ang kinagisnang pamumuhay.
Unemployment is now 13.3 percent and growing; underemployment, 20 percent and also growing. 4.3 million Filipinos need a job. ”

“ In 1998 alone, we can save as much as thirty four billion pesos from pork barrel.
4.6 billion pesos went to the centennial celebration, but the Department of Social Welfare had to beg for one hundred million pesos in emergency food aid to drought victims in Mindanao, and did not get it.
The 1997 World Development Report ranks the Philippine Civil Service as among the most politicized in the world, with politics deciding appointments down to janitor. The 1992 Corruption Index ranked the Philippines as the second most corrupt country in the region. ”

“ Traffic tells us that we need more roads and we need to finish them faster. One reason for delay are TROs. I will not interfere with the judiciary, but I urge the supreme court to remind judges of the lawyer's oath to delay no man for money. ”

“ Debt service took 27 percent of the national budget last year. 26.4 billion pesos in the first semester of 1998 alone. The total external debt, including the private sector, is 45.4 billion dollars or 1.9 trillion pesos.
Nang ako'y maupo bilang Pangulo, nagulat ako nang ipaalam sa akin na umabot na pala sa 2.3 trillion pesos ang kabuuang utang ng pampublikong sektor.
Hindi na bilyun-bilyon ang usapan ngayon, kundi trilyun-trilyon.
We know where we are: in an economic slowdown, deep in the Asian crisis.
We know that we don't have much to work with. ”

“ This year, despite formidable odds, we still expect some economic growth. Our gross national product is targetted to expand this year by 2 to 3 percent. We believe we can keep inflation based on 1998 prices in the single digit, at around 9.5 percent. ”

“ Second, we will continue to withhold 10 percent from the internal revenue allotment of the Local Government Units (LGUs) .
Third, I believe that congress shares my conviction that we have to abolish the pork barrel. In the face of our fiscal position, our people ask no less.
Lastly, I will postpone the implementation this year of various programs earmarked for funding from the military camp sale proceeds, including the AFP modernization program.
We will also move quickly to dispose of the burden of government-owned corporations. ”

“ The consolidated deficit for the entire public sector will be limited to no more than one percent of the country's GNP.
Makikinabang ang lahat sa mga gagawin nating ito: Hindi lamang ang pamahalaan, kundi ang karaniwang mamamayan na rin. ”

“ We will push for a tax amnesty that will give peace of mind to delinquent taxpayers and tax credits to honest ones. Pagkatapos ng tax amnesty, I will assure you that we will apply the full force of the law against tax evaders. ”