INTRODUCTION
We take giant steps today towards structural reforms in the mining industry, in labor management and industrial peace, in quality education for the masses, in meeting our energy needs, and in the peace process, and towards our shared vision of national progress through the high-impact and timely measures that we have adopted.
REDUCED MINING EXCISE TAX
RA 7729 which reduces the excise tax rates in mining — from the present high percentages to 2% for chromite and gold, non-metallic minerals, and quarry resources, and from 5% to 2% on a graduated 6-year schedule for copper and other metallics — is among our significant economic reforms. It should make the Philippine mining industry competitive internationally.

Being a heavily-mineralized country, the Philippines ranks second in gold endowment and fourth in copper throughout the world, and our mining industry used to be among the top dollar earners for our country. But despite our huge mine potential, we now rank 13th in gold and 4th in copper production in the world.

Three very important factors — low metal prices in the international market, high cost of production inputs, and heavy taxation — have caused the industry’s steady decline since the mid-80’s.

RA 7729 works two ways socio-economically. First, it ensures the continued viability of the mining industry. To the gains from mineral products are added the unquantifiable benefits of saving almost half a million jobs, including those of small-scale operators — through this timely rescue of the industry.

Second, it also opens our doors to more foreign investments — and consequently, to more jobs — in an industry whose capital-intensive nature has made many Filipino investors wary of venturing into it.

I am happy that Congress has considered the lengthy return of investment (ROI) in mining operations in this new law. We are not into a short-term bail-out of the industry, but into ensuring the industry’s continued viability now and in the future. It takes a minimum of six to seven years before a mine can successfully start production. Thus, the staggered increase within 6 years of the excise tax for metallic minerals, except gold and chromite, insures a fair return to existing firms and new investors.

The reduction of excise taxes in mining may mean a short-term loss in government revenues estimated at p343 million a year. However, such loss is going to be more than compensated for, not only by the security felt by the thousands of our countrymen whose jobs we shall have restored or saved, but also by the actual income and other revenues that we expect to collect from the continued long-term operation of our mines.

This new law is consistent with the present policy of the Ramos administration that the bottom line in government assistance to industries is primarily to attract and protect investments and generate jobs, and to create a recurring and ever-increasing stream of government revenues.
DOLE VISITORIAL AND ENFORCEMENT POWERS
Another law, RA 7731, strengthens the visitorial and enforcement powers of the Secretary of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) addresses the basic problems of the jurisdictional limitation imposed by the Labor Code (RA 6715) on the amount of money claims that the secretary of labor and employment (dole) can restitute, and the procedural flaws in the existing restitution processes that prevents the expeditious settlement of claims.

This law prevents the occurrence of time-consuming, repetitive, and expensive litigations in the labor restitution process.

This fresh display of congressional statesmanship brings our country closer to the realization of the constitutional injunction to afford full protection to workers, particularly in the aspects of security of tenure, humane conditions of work and just wages.

On the part of the executive, I assure you that we will strictly enforce these and other measures to uplift our workers.
ABOLISHING THE NATIONAL COLLEGE ENTRANCE EXAMINATION
RA 7731 abolishes the National College Entrance Examination (NCEE), steps up our drive to provide all our citizens equal access to higher education. By repealing PD 146, which made the passing of a college entrance exam a prerequisite for admission to any four-year post-secondary degree program, we give our citizens the freedom to choose their career paths.

We recognize that many of our youth, especially from the countryside are disadvantaged by a lack of exposure to events usually incorporated in these entrance exams. Hence, their performance falls below par, resulting in their rejection in college. With this disadvantage, the NCEE became an instrument of oppression because favored residents of urban areas.

This law enables our rural folks to develop their latent talents by giving them equal opportunities.

Likewise, those who failed in the previous NCEE exams shall no longer be denied admission to any college and university.

This is another triumph in democratizing our educational system and in our endeavors to enable our people to win the future through education.
JOINT RESOLUTION APPROVING THE NPC, PNOC & NEA BUDGETS
Today also, we rejoice in acknowledging the joint resolution of Congress approving the 1994 budget of the Philippine National Oil Company (PNOC), the National Power Corporation (NPC) and National Electrification Administration (NEA).

I heartily thank congress for this speedy action on the budgets of our vital energy agencies, and especially for the flexibility regarding realignment or reallocation of projects and programs. These special provisions will ensure that the priority programs of the PNOC, NPC and NEA will continue while unforeseen needs may immediately be addressed without making them undergo the long and tedious processes attendant to reallocation and realignment.

Through this resolution, our energy sufficiency program is fortified. We are assured once more that these agencies can adequately address present and future energy demands, and therefore contribute more to the realization of our vision.
THE AMNESTY PROCLAMATIONS
In behalf of our people, I also congratulate and thank the house of representatives and the senate for the timely passage of the resolution concurring in Presidential Proclamations 347 and 348, as amended, respectively granting general and absolute amnesty to all rebels who have fought the government, and conditional amnesty to officers and men of our military and police forces who may have committed certain crimes or omissions in the course of counter-insurgency operations except for serious human rights violations.

I acknowledge the unanimous support by both houses of Congress in acting speedily, pursuant to their constitutional duty, on these, as well as for earlier similar presidential proclamations.

It will be recalled that on September 22, 1992, upon my request, Congress repealed Republic Act 1700, otherwise known as the Anti-Subversion Law. On march 16, 1993, both houses passed a resolution concurring in Presidential Proclamation No. 10, as amended, granting amnesty in favor of persons who manifested their desire for such under the Aquino administration.

This determined step forward by the entire government signals the homecoming of thousands of our countrymen of various ideological persuasions and from all corners of the land. They are tired of fighting. They want work and dignified livelihood — they want to return home, to embrace their long-lost families and friends. They want to rejoin the mainstream of our communities, our law-abiding society and our democratic nation.

Former foes shall now cross the threshold towards normalcy at a high point in our national life, as we gather the collective energies of our people to address more capably the challenges of the next century, as we ride on the surge in the economy towards our shared vision of “Philippines 2000!!!”.

I have defined a four-step framework for the peace process, of which amnesty is just a part. The first is to stop the fighting; we have done this with the military rebels and the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF). The second is principled negotiation, which is also ongoing as far as these two groups are concerned.

The third is opening the parliamentary road to all who bring their ideological struggle within the realm of political debate and electoral participation. The fourth is national reconciliation and consolidation, wherein we all unite, under the democratic system, behind the great and noble quest of eradicating poverty, empowering the masses and strengthening the physical and moral ramparts of out republic.
CLOSING
Once again, through these new laws and congressional resolutions, the legislative and the executive demonstrate their political will and responsiveness to the needs of different sectors of our population and the interests of the nation at large.

Once again also, we demonstrate the sensitivity, harmony and effectiveness that derive from constant consultation, dialogue and the unity of purpose among the national leadership, regardless of party affiliation.

I thank and commend the authors, principal sponsors, members of the bicameral conference committees and all Senators and Congressmen who made possible the speedy passage of these bills, including the technical staffs that supported our legislators. Let us maintain our solidarity and teamwork!

Ipagpatuloy natin ang ating pagtutulungan, lalo pa at nakikita na natin ngayon na nasa ating pagkaka-isa ang katugunan ng ating minimithing “Philippines 2000!!!”.

Mabuhay ang Pilipinas!