Malacañang is giving itself a passing mark for the Aquino administration's first 100 days, presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda said Friday.
At a press briefing, Lacierda answered "oo naman (of course)" when asked whether the Palace thinks it has passed the 100-day test for every new administration. President Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III, who took his oath last June 30, will spend his 100th day in office next week.
"We have two programs, and that is poverty alleviation and eradication of corruption so we’re on track on those two levels," Lacierda said.
"As you know we have started also our poverty alleviation program so andun po yun. Pati pag waksi ng corruption, we have been filing cases on a weekly basis with respect to the BIR (Bureau of Internal Revenue) and Bureau of Customs so tuluy-tuloy po yun," he said.
The Budget Department proposed to allot P21 million for the Department of Social Welfare and Development's (DSWD) conditional cash transfer program, an amount nearly double the P12 million allotted for the program for this year.
Lacierda said the Aquino administration is on track towards achieving its goals even though it was "sidelined a bit" by the August 23 hostage crisis, where eight tourists from Hong Kong and the hostage-taker, dismissed police officer Rolando Mendoza, were killed. The administration's poor handling of the incident was widely criticized both here and abroad.
Failing mark
But for the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP), the Aquino administration got failing marks on 10 issues.
"The mystique whipped up around Aquino is fast being blown away by the realities of the socio-economic and political crises of the ruling state and system," the CPP said in a statement on its website.
The CPP listed 10 issues that it claimed show the "pro-imperialist, elitist, superficial, incompetent, militarist and rotten-to-the-core character" of Aquino's government:
1. Lack of drive in the criminal prosecution of former President now incumbent Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.
2. No intent to implement agrarian reform, as shown by the Aquino-Cojuangco clan's tightened monopoly hold on Hacienda Luisita.
3. Unbridled US interventionism in exchange for US political, military, economic, financial and other support, via strings attached to the $464-million fund grant from the US Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC).
4. No serious interest in the peace process.
5. Extension of the Oplan Bantay Laya "terror campaign" against the New People's Army.
6. Counterinsurgency, neoliberal, mendicancy, anti-people budget.
7. Massive push for more denationalization and privatization.
8. Increase in charges of public utilities and additional taxes.
9. Collossal incompetence in handling the Aug. 23 Manila hostage crisis.
10. "Rotten appointees" and political factions.
"These outstanding issues serve as a yardstick in projecting the further sufferings of the mass of the Filipino people in the next six years under the Aquino regime. With the emptiness of Aquino's promises and the shallowness of his political gimmicks exposed one after the other, the people are faced with no other option but to wage revolutionary and militant struggle in order to defend and advance their interests," the CPP said.
Contrary to some of the CPP's claims, however, the Aquino administration has created the Truth Commission which will investigate corruption scandals in the Arroyo administration. It will be headed by retired Chief Justice Hilario Davide Jr.
The government is also working on the resumption of its peace talks with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front. Aquino has also previously said a panel that will resume negotiations with the CPP will be formed. — RSJ,
