VP NOLI SAYS GOOD GOVERNANCE CAN FREE RP FROM POVERTY
June 13, 2008

Vice President Noli ‘Kabayan’ De Castro said good governance can defeat the ill effects of oligarchic practice in the Philippines and provide the country with genuine independence.

Speaking during the 110th declaration of Philippine independence at the Aguinaldo Shrine in Kawit, Cavite yesterday (June 12) De Castro said that the behavior of oligarchs of using economic power and political clout to promote only their vested interests, instead of the common good, have long been denying Filipinos of freedom from poverty.

Without freedom from poverty, De Castro said the country cannot claim genuine independence.

“We cannot deny that poverty is still in our streets, towns and every Filipino family that tries so hard to pay the rent, electricity bill, transportation fare and even tuition fees if they can still afford to send their children to school,” he said.

The Vice President said poverty will continue to persist in the country if there are ‘interest groups’ that influence policy making in the government to pursue their selfish motives.

However, De Castro found comfort on four approaches (consistent with the practice of good governance) which according to him can subject these interest groups to the laws of the government and make them follow the rules for the betterment of the majority of the people.

First of these, he said, is the advancement of transparency and accountability not only in government but also in the private sector.

Second is the strengthening of government agencies so they can perform their mandates in an objective and efficient manner which would promote the common good.

Third is the use of market forces and effective regulation to weaken monopoly power.

Last but not the least, according to De Castro, is the formation of a peoples' movement that will serve as the conscience of the government and the private sector to avoid abuse of power and wealth.

home   |   Press Release main page   |