INTRODUCTION

You honor me by organizing this multi-sectoral conference of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry and by inviting me to open your meeting.

I had hoped to address this conference confirmed in our victory in the elections by Congress. But unfortunately, we must meet here like eloping lovers, not given yet their parents’ blessing to marry, although certain of it. The counting goes on — certificate by certificate — but as sure as day follows night, the triumph of our people in the elections will be proclaimed.

The elections are over. The hour of unity, solidarity and teamwork is at hand. Our labors will soon intensify.

To many of you in this chamber, I know I owe much more than words can ever repay. and I mean not only those who supported me, but all who shared their concerns and insights about the problems of our country during the campaign. For I will now confess to you that I drew from those insights and concerns in shaping the program I presented our people during the campaign. And I fully intend to redeem every promise and every pledge I made.

During the campaign I declared more than once that “more important than winning the elections is governing the nation.” We have done the first; now it’s time to do the second.

It is time to translate all our insights, ideas and hopes into a practicable program for governing the country.

With the battles done, there is only one business to engage us — and that is to lead our people from the valley of crisis into the summit of stability, recovery and growth.

With the rhetorics of politics laid to rest, the hour calls us now to the everyday language of work, work, and work.

There is no time to lose. so much of what we have to do should have been done yesterday. So many of the battles we must fight should have been won already by now.

DIALOGUE: REACHING OUT

This sense of urgency is aptly reflected by this conference. you are reaching out to me. I heartily respond as your apparent president elect by being with you today.

Your principal goal is to come up with urgent action programs for the new administration to consider. And I do not doubt for a moment that you will not rest until it is given proper hearing by me and those who will man the ramparts of government with me.

Let me say now in all candor and gratitude, that I welcome this initiative on your part. I will treasure the help that this will provide me in getting my administration into good working order and in designing my agenda of government.

This is consistent with all the efforts I have been lately engaged in: seeking out the counsel of all individuals and groups regardless of political sympathies and persuasions.

EMPOWERMENT PERSONIFIED

We have witnessed the ascendance of different forms of empowerment — the farmers’ cooperative movements in Central Luzon, the community development projects in Muntinlupa, the people-based economic recovery efforts in Negros Occidental, the livelihood programs for rebel returnees in Mindanao, the rise of the post-EDSA phenomenon of NGO’S and people’s organizations.

Let us also provide for the electric empowerment of our people by the acceleration of our energy development programs. this is most urgent and critical.

There is growing initiative to diagnose problems and prescribe solutions on a collective basis. There is increasing pressure on government to be more sensitive to the people’s aspirations and needs. high standards are being set for public performance.

For truly a president cannot govern alone. nor can he tackle the problems of the country with just himself and his team in harness. We need every mind and every hand willing to share the burden.

For now, let me just say this by way of guiding your discussions.

First, you may be assured that I fully recognize the magnitude of the problems we are confronted with. Although the country has gotten a lift from the elections, and the stock markets, an even bigger lift, you and I know that the greatest struggles are still ahead of us. The nation is at a dark hour. There is no quick fix for our basic ills.

Second, you may be assured that I will put together an administration that will fully take responsibility and will do the job. there will be no

averting our focus from the problems that must be rooted out and the conditions that must be changed. I will be a hands-on, take charge president.

Third, we will define our national goals, priorities, directions and strategies clearly. We will deal with the problems of here and now, but we will also project far into the future — what we hope this country will be like at the end of our term when we mark our first centennial of national independence in 1998 and even well into the 21st century. Ours will be an administration judged by the achievement of targets — from month to month and year to year.

GOVERNMENT AND BUSINESS: A FRESH RELATIONSHIP

I envision the continued and rapid decline in the role of government in business. you have prominently identified energy as a priority problem, and rightly so. For example, it will be quite natural to expect that private initiative will assume more of the ownership of the energy-generating capacity and support the restructuring and privatization of NAPOCOR. In the same vein, I foresee the continuing process of devolution, decentralization, deregulation and democratization.

I hasten to add that poverty alleviation must be the overwhelming concern of our country today. Poverty should no longer be the concern only of those who have been freed from it. The greater your freedom from poverty, the greater your responsibility over it.

Job generation, agricultural modernization, effective and productive land use, industrialization, infrastructure development and a host of related programs are part of poverty alleviation.

Our imagination, our purpose and our caring together will determine whether in the first 100 days of my presidency we shall succeed in generating a new momentum for change in our country — a momentum so strong that all our people cannot but rally behind us, a momentum so energetic that we shall not be denied the just, prosperous and free society we all dream of.

Again let me say to you today that I am truly grateful for your initiative in meeting here today, that I will cherish the product of your conference, and that I fully count on your help in the battles ahead.

Thumbs up, Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry!! Thumbs up, all of us!!

Mabuhay ang Pilipinas!!

Maraming salamat po!!