Thread by @mikenavallo

NOW: Stratbase ADR Institute holds townhall meeting looking back at the legacy of the late former President Benigno Aquino III.

Most of the speakers are former Cabinet officials of PNoy.

Ex-DFA Sec Albert del Rosario says that while the 2016 arbitral award in the South China Sea was the centerpiece of the Aquino administration, it is the "hallmark of shame" for the Duterte administration -- the "treasonous" policy of setting aside the award.

Del Rosario: In this coming 2022 elections, you must vote for leaders who will put Filipinoos first before China.

Del Rosario suggests: the South China Sea arbitral award must be raised before the United Nations General Assembly every year; PH Navy and armed forces must protect what is ours in the West PH Sea and conduct joint patrols and freedom of navigation exercises with other countries.

Del Rosario says China must be held accountable for the devastating destruction of the marine world in the South China Sea. Says UP Marine Science Institute estimates PH is losing at least P33.1B annually from damage to reef ecosystem, about P264B since 2014.

Del Rosario: Let us be vigilant against the traitor in our midst.

Former DPWH Sec Babes Singson touts increase of infrastructure projects under the PNoy administration, which led to better roads and bridges by 2015. Part of their focus is good governance reform and anti-corruption.

Singson says they improved the quality of the roads by building thicker and wider roads. Part of these were roads going to tourism sites.
National and local bridges were also built.

DPWH under PNo invested in flood control projects, including river wall from Manila Bay to Marikina, and built more than 35,000 classrooms.
Singson jokes that he's happy DWPH Sec Mark Villar has continued their plans and has benefited from inauguration of these projects.

Singson shows how PNoy admin distributed 2016 budget--biggest chunk (31%) went to Mindanao, not NCR. They created Mindanao Logistics Infrastructure Network which linked major ports in CDO, Nasipit, Sasa and GenSan to major production centers in Mindanao--a major devt for Singson.

Former NEDA Director General Manny Esguerra says PNoy admin managed to convert PH from an economic laggard to one of the best performers in the region. Says the average GDP growth from 2010-2015 is the highest 6-yr average growth since the 1970s.

Esguerra says investment and industry were major drivers of GDP growth during PNoy admin. Both had higher shares to GDP growth compared to previous years.

Esguerra says sustained growth and low inflation during PNoy admin contributed to reduction of poverty incidence that were sustained until about 2018.
Increase in conditional cash transfer program (4Ps) led to higher enrolment in school.

What made the gains under the PNoy admin possible? Esguerra cites fiscal soundness; robust external position of PH; a stable financial system; and high investor confidence and foreign direct investment.

Former Budget Sec Butch Abad says anti-corruption efforts, improved revenue collections and spending within means helped PNoy admin achieve economic growth. Attributes this to leadership provided by a "determined, knowledgeable, trustworthy and decent President."

Abad says PNoy had "experienced, dedicated and respectable people" in the Cabinet who worked in 5 key result areas, and who were willing to be judged against global standards. Says PNoy admin was also open to working with civil society, private sector, academe, intl NGOs, etc...

Abad says PNoy admin was also open to innovation and new technology:
-e-procurement and e-bidding
-CCT payments thru digital portals
-GPS in dredgers
-CCTV in monitoring of construction of farm to market roads

Former Energy Sec and CabSec Rene Almendras says PNoy "had a clear picture of what he wanted to do as President of the Philippines." Job generation was a priority and this was reflected in increases in budgets for DSWD, DepEd, DOH, Housing and DA.

Almendras says electrifying sitios all over PH was an anti-poverty measure and so was conditional cash transfer program (4Ps).

Says PNoy admin resorted to public-private partnerships because they would rather use govt money on social services rather than building infrastructure.

Almendras says PNoy would monitor progress on a quarterly basis and they had teams to check status of projects to the point of geotagging classrooms in different parts of the country.

Former peace adviser Ging Quintos-Deles talks about peace talks under PNoy which had to deal with 5: MILF, CPP-NPA-NDF, CPLA in Cordillera, RPA in Western Visayas and MNLF. Last 3 were continuations.
By end of PNoy admin, only 1 in serious contention - that with communist rebels.

Deles says government peace panel were guided by PNoy's letter of instructions:
-Constitution
-lessons from MNLF and ARMM experience
-govt’s capacity to deliver
-sensitivity to public sentiment

Deles touts achievements under PNoy admin when it comes to peace talks:
-security: robust ceasefire mechanism despite Mamasapano
-development program with a former rebel party participating
-women's leadership and participation (no women in current peace panel)

Deles says Bangsamoro peace process stands a crossroad. Bill extending Bangsamoro Transition Authority languishes in Congress. Marawi remains in ruins, "reopening wounds that were just beginning to heal."

Deles: The Bangsamoro peace process was not just PNoy's political legacy. It was deeply personal -- a product of his time, attention, his integrity and insight, even his dreams and always, his remarkable leadership

Deles on Bangsamoro peace process: Strong enough to survive presidential inattention in the past 5 years, it now needs urgent tending to endure and bear the fruits of our dreams.

Abad says that unlike resort to bottom-up budgeting during PNoy admin and engagement with civil society groups, there's a lack of involvement with CSOs now under current admin and more emphasis on relating with LGUs. Says this could raise concerns of patronage.

Deles says that for president w/ Maranao blood, it took 2 yrs to pass Bangsamoro Organic law. Says there's issue on fiscal autonomy of BARMM. Warns of new layer of historical injustice in Marawi and new generation of Moros w/ new grievance. Should pay attention to peace process.

On credit-grabbing, Deles says what's impt is for policy to be continued. "If they continued to do what is right, I don’t think anyone would mind sharing the credit." But says she's immensely disappointed, angry that so much of good governance has been squandered, done away with.

What would PNoy admin have done better to address coronavirus pandemic? Almendras recalls he had to cancel holiday break w/ family to address MERS.
"We don't know how Pres. Aquino would have addressed it. All I know is, he would have tried his very best to do the right thing."