PNOY'S U.N. SPEECH FOUND LACKING, WANTING / FULL TRANSCRIPT OF SPEECH
MANILA, SEPTEMBER 27, 2010 (ABS-CBN) By Caroline J. Howard, ABS-CBN News Channel - Hopes were high for what should have been a historic opportunity to make an impression before the international community.
But while President Aquino may have delivered on performance as he spoke before the UN General Assembly in New York City, former National Treasurer Leonor Briones said the speech itself was unimpressive, "bland" and "lacking in specifics".
Speech wanting
"In terms of content, it was bland, non-controversial. Walang politically wrong pero kulang in details. Halimbawa, nag-focus siya on private-public partnership, cooperation pero sana ma-remind yung rich countries na we are not asking anything from them. We are just asking them to fulfill their promises. May commitment sila na 0.7% of their gross national income should go to developing countries to help them. So, it�s not as if nanghihingi tayo. And that should've been emphasized when he asked for cooperation," Briones said.
In an interview on ANC, Briones said President Aquino could have made a stronger speech before the UN by urging rich nations to deliver on their promise to help their poor neighbors.
"Kung ang maliliit na bansa hindi maka-fulfill dahil sila dapat ang nagbibigay ng resources, hindi nila ginagawa. We should make a greater emphasis on that. Pangako 'yan, hindi hingi. It's a commitment which they made in all UN declarations," Briones said.
Millenium Development Goals (MDG) status
While the country's efforts at reducing infant mortality have improved, Briones said maternal mortality, the fight against dreaded diseases, and poverty in the Philippines are at risk.
"Education for all, medyo endangered din 'yun kasi bumababa indicators natin. Housing, environment and water, medyo endangered din because nandoon 'yung climate change. 'Yung global cooperation, medyo malaki 'yung role ng rich countries doon. 'Di natin ma-measure dahil wala 'yung indicators," said Briones.
�Low ang possibility of reaching maternal mortality, which should be a source of embarrassment to us. Cause for concern 'yung pagtaas ng level ng dreaded diseases like HIV, AIDS, and then environment and climate change," she added.
Citing government figures, Briones said the Aquino administration faces a bigger challenge as poverty levels and unemployment remained high despite positive government indicators.
"We'll have to cooperate in spite of the fact endangered goals na 'yan. Overall kasi, 5 years to go in the reduction of poverty. Pinakamalaking objective ay 'yung reduction of poverty. 'Yun ang pinaka-endangered dahil tumataas and levels ng poverty. Compared to 2003, nung 2006 tumaas 'yung levels ng poverty in spite of the fact tumaas 'yung levels ng ekonomiya. So walang reduction to poverty despite the growth in the economy. And unemployment naman ay stagnant," explained Briones.
Briones noted that Vietnam and Thailand have overtaken the Philippines in terms of meeting the MDGs, adding it is lagging behind its Asian neighbors and is on the same level as Indonesia, Bangladesh and Pakistan.
Playing catch up
Briones said the government should infuse more resources and work double time in achieving the 8 global targets, or risk losing international assistance.
"Standing natin sa international community maa-affect at 'yung access to resources and assistance from rich countries, ma-aaffect. We should put more resources to the MDGs. Mas tighter 'yung monitoring. Bantayan mo talaga ng todo-todo. Asikasuhin ibang problema sa governance. Busy tayo sa ibang bagay. Nakakalimutan na mayroon tayong deadline."
But more than putting the country in a good light, Briones said government should prioritize meeting the 8 global targets for the sake of the country.
"Hindi na makahintay ang Pilipino na 2015 pa ma-achieve ang goals na ito. Kasi 'yung nagagawa ng ibang bansa, ba't di natin nagagawa?" Briones added.
FULL TRANSCRIPT OF PRESIDENT NOY AQUINO'S SPEECH AT THE U.N. GENERAL ASSEMBLY
The full transcript/text of President Noynoy Aquino's UN General Assembly speech.
"Allow me to convey the greetings of the Filipino people to you and the delegates gathered for the 65th session of the UN General Assembly.
The United Nations was founded on the belief that in collective action lies collective security. It is when nations reach across their borders that the immense problems of our age begin to be manageable.
In a world that has become increasingly globalized, the challenges that we face have become globalized as well. Climate change; pandemics; terrorism and weapons of mass destruction; transnational organized crime such as human trafficking and the illicit drug trade; the continuing vulnerability of migrants, women, persons with disabilities, and the poor; and the challenges posed by increasingly interconnected economies all call for a further strengthening of international cooperation.
All of us here, representing our respective nations, are stewards entrusted with the well-being of our respective peoples. We are also called to be responsible and responsive members of the community of nations. Clearly, we are already aware that the problem of one poses a problem for all. Any solution, then, depends on us recognizing that each of our nations does not exist in a vacuum, but rather, in an increasingly interdependent global milieu.
The central revelation here is that for humanity to progress, all nations must progress as one. The quest for universal human dignity should not be defined by geographical, racial, or cultural boundaries, nor should it be set back by our desires to move our own nations forward. Global progress means equitable progress. The industrialized nations of the world can look with pride on the living standards their peoples enjoy. But, as one of my distinguished predecessors once said, �Those who have less in life should have more in law.� This basic principle of social justice is also the most basic humanitarian challenge of our times. The wealth of nations must become an instrument to move the world further along the straight and righteous path of compassion and communal responsibility.
The message is clear: there are those who need help, and acting with compassion toward those who need help is a response that is both humane and necessary.
This idea has been trumpeted for decades, and yet, combating inequality remains one of the greatest challenges of our times. The chasm between the powerful and powerless, the haves and the have-nots, remains to be bridged. The past century has demonstrated, in terms so stark that it inspired the creation of this organization, that when the mighty clash, those who have less end up trampled. This is true where conflict exists, and true where markets exist; true in our nation, and true in an international context.
The concept of vulnerability and inequality is all too clear in the global effort to address climate change. Those who stand to lose much, if not everything, from the effects of man-induced climatic conditions are those who did little to cause it. There is an enormous need to ensure, as a matter of justice, that countries, particularly the vulnerable, are assisted in their adaptation and disaster risk-reduction efforts and are provided the necessary resources to build climate- resilient communities. This should go hand-in-hand with ambitious commitments by major economies to significantly reduce global greenhouse gas emissions.
Many of you may say you have already given mightily of your resources. But surely we do not need flood and famine to remind ourselves that there is so much more that must be given, because there are so many more who deserve the hope of a better life.
The most immediate focus of cooperation demanded of us today is to collectively ensure that the eight Millennium Development Goals will be achieved by all in the remaining five years. This is a daunting task; and we are all aware that national resolve has to be complemented by bilateral, regional and multilateral cooperation.
Rising to the challenges of our era requires, within each of our countries, a strengthened regulatory system. This does not mean a cumbersome, intrusive government, but rather a government that allows private enterprise to thrive, while ensuring that they remain cognizant of their social responsibilities, and empowers them, in turn, toward fulfilling these responsibilities. Many governments are tackling this challenge, including the government of the Philippines. Our administration�s pledge: To channel the gains we might reap from Public Private Partnerships into social services, like those in health, education, and poverty alleviation.
Across boundaries, the battle against inequality requires a balanced approach from those in authority: to be conscious of our responsibilities to our own people, and of our duties to regions and the globe. Already we are witnessing a rethinking of traditional paradigms, a shifting of our focus towards ensuring that the global system does not leave anyone behind.
And while my nation continues to benefit from the compassion of those who are more able to help, this does not mean that we, or our friends in the developing world, will be entirely dependent on the largesse of the developed world. We will not be passive players in our quest for development. My nation remains active in the G77 and other efforts toward enhancing South-South cooperation, and articulating and promoting our collective economic interests.
This is what our people put us in power for. This is what the world expects of us as leaders�to be exemplars of what it is to be compassionate human beings, and vanguards of hope for our common humanity.
For is not this hope also the hope that unites us as human beings? It is the same hope that allows us to break down walls of mistrust, which may take the form of intolerance, fear, or violence. It is the same hope that leads us to gather in this hall as our predecessors did.
It is the same hope that will give our generation of leaders the strength to elevate this global assembly to a place where, collectively, the nations of the world could find ways to make a better life possible for all.
For so many times in our history, my people have shown that, united, nothing is impossible. We called it People Power. It is my earnest hope�and in the greatest interest of humanity�that we harness the energies of dialogue, solidarity, and communal responsibility, so that a global People Power toward equitable progress may be achieved.
Thank you."
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Chief News Editor: Sol Jose Vanzi
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