Palace eyes last 2 years to lay foundations for growth, improved governance

Expect the Aquino administration to spend its last two years laying the foundations for “equitable” growth and a higher standard of governance, Malacañang said Saturday.

Presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda said on government-run dzRB radio this is part of the administration’s belief of inclusive growth for all.

“We would like to make sure as we leave, as the President leaves after 2016, he has laid the foundations for an economy that would provide equitable growth for all and a system na tumaas ang antas ng appreciation sa governance,” he said.

He said they want to instill in Filipinos the mentality of “not going back” to where they were before President Benigno Aquino III assumed office in 2010.

June 30, Monday, marks the fourth anniversary of Aquino’s assumption of the presidency. His term ends June 30, 2016.

Lacierda claimed the Aquino administration has “elevated” the level of governance such that people now expect a better government.

“’Yan ang isang bagay na gusto ma-realize ng Pilipino, mas maganda ang antas ng ating pamamahala. Despite the many issues that surround us and we have to handle on a regular basis, the Filipinos can expect standards of governance have risen and they should not allow (those standards) to go down again,” he said.

Meanwhile, Lacierda said that as far as selecting a standard bearer for the 2016 elections, “we will have to wait for process to proceed and take its course.”

He said one factor in the search is “who will continue the kind of government.”

“Kailangan ang hinihingi ni pangulo ipagpatuloy ang reporma … One way of making reforms irreversible is to find someone who can push the reforms even further,” he said. — Joel Locsin /LBG, GMA News