President Aquino asks Filipinos in Japan to support government reforms even after his term

JUNE 3 — President Benigno S. Aquino III has encouraged members of the Filipino community in Japan to continue supporting the reforms he has initiated even after his term of office, which ends next year.

In his message during his get-together with Filipinos living and working in Japan, held at the Okura Hotel here on Tuesday evening, President Aquino highlighted the developments in the country that resulted from the reforms undertaken by his administration.

Through prudent spending and efficient management of the government, he said, his administration was able to advance reforms in the bureaucracy, education, social services, infrastructure, and health care, among others.

“Kaya ang tama po yatang pananaw at akin pong mungkahi: ‘Di ho ba kayo ang gumawa nito; kayo ang nagdala ng pagbabago, at kayo ang magpapatuloy nito?” he said.

“Marami na po talaga tayong narating, pero marami pa rin tayong kailangang gawin.”

Warning against a return to the old system when there were rampant abuses and corruption, the President said the fate of the country lies in the hands of the people, especially as the country gears up for next year’s presidential election.

“Uulitin ko po: Kayo ang gumawa ng pagbabago, at kayo ang magpapatuloy nito,” he told his compatriots.

“Nasa inyo ang pagpili ng tapat at matuwid na pinuno, na talaga namang gagamitin itong tinatamasa nating mas mataas na estado, upang lalo pang paangatin ang Pilipinas tungo sa katuparan ng ating mga pangarap.”

The Filipino people have the opportunity to continue the country’s positive transformation, he said.

The people should sustain these gains so that the future generations of Filipinos would benefit from these positive changes, he said. PND (Tokyo, Japan)