http://www.malaya.com.ph/02252010/news9.html
LIBERAL Party presidential candidate Sen. Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III yesterday allayed fears that politicians surrounding him will lord over his government and commit graft and corruption.
Speaking at the 33rd 553rd general membership meeting of the Philippine Management Association of the Philippines in Makati City, Aquino said he believes that apart from setting a good example, increasing the salary and benefits of public officials will lessen graft and corruption.
"Let’s give them the wherewithal to do that (maintain a decent lifestyle)," he said, on how he intends to prevent his allies from committing graft and corruption.
Aquino noted the President gets only P50,000 a month despite the amount of work the people expect from him or her, including presiding over the use of a trillion-worth national budget.
"Ngayon, aakuin mo ang problema ng RP tapos babaratin ka sa sweldo? Presidente na yang highest salary grade," he said. "Masyado tayo focus sa pagpapakukulong, etc., na ang pagpasok sa gobyerno e balak maging corrupt pero marami akong nakitang matinong pumasok sa gobyerno."
Aquino said that while his platform is based on fighting graft and corruption, he also understands the predicament of public servants whose salaries and benefits are far from being commensurate to the amount of work expected from them.
"Let us be realistic, you want good people and talent and for them to have integrity, give them the wherewithal. Raise the bar before they are tempted," he said.
Aquino stressed he would prioritize the fight against graft and corruption by adopting a carrot and stick approach.
Aquino said his track record and principles during his tenure in Congress will show that he has fought and stood for what he believes is right for the majority of people.
He noted that because of his support to the attempts to impeach President Arroyo over the "Hello Garci" scandal, he was removed as House deputy speaker for Luzon and his district suffered from non-release of pork barrel funds.
"I always opted to choose for the greater benefit of countrymen whom I swore to serve," he said. "I am not in this race because I salivated (at the prospect of the presidency).
Aquino also vowed to recover annual tax leakages amounting to P150 billion within the first year of his presidency, through a stricter system of "meritocracy" in the Bureau of Internal Revenue and Bureau of Customs.
"In one year yung P150 billion makukuha natin. Pero tinuruan tayo na huwag mapako sa pangako," he said.
He said contrary to what his rivals are spreading, he is competent enough to lead the country, being an economics graduate of the Ateneo de Manila.
He defended his mother, the late President Corazon Aquino, from attacks that she was incompetent, saying she improved the gross domestic product in 10 months.
"When economy starts contracting you don’t know up to what level. But in 10 months, she reversed it mostly out of goodwill of the people. In spite of coups, how many years nag-positive ang GDP? This is in spite of what they say na si Cory walang alam. Ako naman po ay may alam, maski paano ay graduate naman po ako ng Ateneo," he said.
Aquino took a swipe at President Arroyo, his economics teacher at the Ateneo de Manila, saying that while he still remembers her lessons, "she seems to have forgotten what she had taught us, her students."
He said the government’s tax collection efficiency rate has gone down to 12 percent from about 18 percent during the presidency of Fidel Ramos.
He reiterated that efficient tax collection is possible through strict enforcement of the lateral attrition law in the two revenue-collecting agencies, and adoption of a similar system of meritocracy in other government departments and line agencies.
The lateral attrition law provides for incentives for outstanding revenue collectors but also imposes sanctions, like dismissal, if they fail to meet targets.
Aquino jokingly likened the country’s economic problems to its "denuded forests" and his "receding" hairline which he said keeps on getting worse every time he wakes up.
He said the only way for the country to "survive" is through increasing its competitiveness in the business sector, which he said is only asking for "fair play."
Aquino said if the playing field is leveled and the determinant of success is purely skills and efficiency, "I would force myself to be that competitive person."
He said efficiency standards in government will be raised so that the "people dealing with them will also expect (a high standard of service).
"The bottom line is, level the playing field, increase competitiveness. Don’t expect extra favors that carry unfair advantages. That will be one of primary strategies. In bureaucracy we will implement meritocracy, clear-cut and insulated from political processes," he added.
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