A Message From The Top

Leadership starts at the top. And for a country like the Philippines, whose officials have long been accustomed to little direction from above, a leader who wants to take charge must start by laying down the law. This is best done with an honest, hard-hitting statement, made to the entire country, to set the tone for the administration, and set the direction for the nation. If I were to write the speech, It might sound something like this...

"My fellow Filipinos. Today our country stands on the edge of a cliff. Lawlessness, corruption, and poverty are pushing us over the edge, and both our citizens and our leaders are just watching it happen. Today I say "enough is enough!" No one is going to help us until we help ourselves...and no one should. This is our problem and we have to solve it ourselves. The Philippines is our home, and it's time to clean house.

The place we're going to start, because it is the root of most of our trouble, is with law and order. Many of the problems we face, from corruption to traffic to general peace and order, result from the fact that we simply don't obey our own laws. This country is founded on the Rule of Law and we are going to start obeying our laws. It is the responsibility of every government employee, all the way up to Malacanang, to do his job to the best of his ability, without asking for favor, gratuity, or reward. That is the law. This country, and this administration, will not tolerate any more graft, corruption, cronyism, nepotism, or lawlessness of any kind. Any government employee who breaks the law, any law, will be relieved and prosecuted. Not placed on floating status, not transferred, but fired. One strike and you're out. Any private citizen who breaks the law will likewise be prosecuted. This applies to everything from parking in a no-parking zone to offering or accepting a bribe in the halls of government. And it applies to every citizen, regardless of rank, wealth, or position. No exceptions, no delays. Our country will never change unless we ourselves change. We have to start following our own rules and obeying our own laws.

There are no magic answers that will make our problems disappear without hard work. But there are simple solutions. Controlling traffic takes nothing more than a policeman standing in the street, enforcing the law. The whole law, not just the bits and pieces he wants to enforce. Stopping corruption requires nothing more than strict supervision and accountability. I expect every citizen of this country to get involved, either by taking action or by reporting inaction. The problems we face affect us all, and there can be no bystanders. If you know about a crime but you don't report it, then you are part of the problem. I urge you to be part of the solution.

The purpose of government is to manage the country's affairs and safeguard the welfare of its citizens. Public office is not a privilege, it is a responsibility. As your President, It is my duty to make sure that your government carries out that responsibility properly and efficiently. That means passing and enforcing laws that are in the best interest of the country as a whole, not just for the elite or influential. It also means spending your money wisely and carefully. There can be no individual or group whose interests take priority over the common good of our nation.

Our country is not hopeless. We still have a chance to lift ourselves up and become great. But we have to do it now, and we have to do it together. Like a family, we have to look out for each other. But also like a family, one of our biggest challenges is money. In order to function, our country needs to earn money and it needs to spend that money wisely. My job, as President, is to make sure that every peso the government collects is accounted for and put to good use. Among our citizens there is a widespread belief that much of the money we pay for taxes and government fees eventually ends up in someone's pocket. We don't have much faith that it will actually be used to operate the government and to improve our lives. We also believe that a good portion of that money is wasted by our terribly inefficient government. I think you are right on both counts. And I will stop it right now. As the Chief Executive, I am ultimately responsible for enforcing our laws. I promise you right now that I will institute a system of checks and balances that will make it almost impossible for a government employee to steal your money. And make no mistake, when a government clerk tells you that he can speed up your request for an additional "fee", that is not simply the cost of doing business. That person is stealing your money and putting it into his own pocket. I will not tolerate this, at any level. And I will stop it.

Your government, my fellow citizens, is responsible for spending your money properly. I guarantee that I will make that happen, but you also have a responsibility. Plainly and simply, you have to pay your taxes. I understand that life is hard for many Filipinos, and that an unforgivable number of you don't even know when your next meal is coming. It is unfair to ask the poorest among us to carry such a heavy load, but the load must be carried. I intend to revise our tax laws to ease the burden on those who are less able, and to shift it to those who can more readily afford it. For far too long, government has worked to the advantage of those with position and wealth, oblivious to those in need. I promise to improve government services so that the poor will not be overwhelmed by the simple act of living. Going into the hospital for routine surgery should not force a family to sell off their property or lose their business. Enrolling a child in school should not send a mother into debt. Government is responsible for providing basic social services like these, but somebody has to pay for it. I promise to use your money wisely, but you have to pay your taxes. I am talking to every citizen, but I mean for the rich to pay special attention. This country has given you a life of comfort and security, and your obligation is great.

When a car is running well, you can always improve its performance by making minor adjustments here and there. Cleaning the sparkplugs or using a higher quality fuel will give a little better mileage. But when the motor leaks oil and blows black smoke, then it's time for a major overhaul. My friends, our country doesn't need fine tuning or minor adjustments. That time will come a little later. Right now we need an overhaul. We need to make major changes to the way we operate, and we need to make them now. We need to concentrate on the most basic fundamentals of running the country. We need to make sure that every Filipino has a job, enough to eat and a proper roof over his head, as well as clean water, adequate health care, and education. The way we will do that is by accounting for our limited resources to guarantee that every peso is spent as wisely as possible. When a man can't afford to feed his family, he certainly shouldn't waste money on luxury items or expensive clothes. Today, the Philippines is very much like that family. For the next year, we must carefully consider every peso we spend. We must work from the bottom up, making sure that the basic survival needs of every Filipino are met. This will ensure that our country has a strong foundation. Only then can we build a strong republic.

The problems we face are great, but the solutions are simple. Our citizens don't take up arms against the government because of poor economic indicators or high foreign debt. The truth is, people are desperate because many of them can't feed their own families and because they can't turn to their own government for help. This is not right. And it has to change.

Time is running out. I will do these things, but I need your help. I need you to obey the law and to pay your taxes. I also need you to communicate with your elected representatives and demand that they work for you. As I said before, no one can be a bystander.

This country is our home. Let's clean it up and be proud of it."