INTRODUCTION

The holding of this bill signing ceremony today further intensifies our drive towards global competitiveness and people empowerment by making our reform program more responsive and enduring through legislation.

Over the past five years, we Filipinos have been putting our house in order and clearing our path to sustainable development. With the economic and social reform getting equal priority, we continue our march towards sustainable progress and development into the 21st century.

The laws which I sign today reflect such quest for an even brighter tomorrow for our country and our people.

These laws are as follows:

1) “An act providing for the uniform powers and composition of the board of state colleges and universities, and for other purposes”;

2) “The Intellectual Property Rights Code”;

3) “An act codifying the laws on illegal/unlawful possession, manufacture, dealing in, acquisition or disposition of firearms, ammunition or explosives or instruments used in the manufacture of forearms, ammunition or explosives, and imposing stiffer penalties for certain violations thereof, and for relevant purposes”;

4) “An act providing for the proclamation of a lone candidate for any elective public office, and for other purposes”;

5) “An act declaring every second Sunday of December as national children’s broadcasting day.”

6) “An act converting the Municipality of Kabankalan into a component city of the Province of Negros Occidental, to be known as the City of Kabankalan”.
FURTHER STRENGTHENING OUR EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM
The first bill I sign into law is another landmark piece of legislation by which the government addresses multiple objectives consistent with our Social Reform Agenda (SRA), and the need to re-engineer our educational system.

RA 8292 institutionalizes the representation of students and faculty in the boards of regents of all state universities and colleges (SUCs).

With this new law, we also affirm our trust in the student and faculty associations in the setting of policies of the SUCs. We also set an example which private universities and colleges can learn from and possibly adapt to their particular circumstances.

This new law effectively and finally places all SUCs under the policy and development mandate of the Commission on Higher Education (CHED).

This law also assures that, from now on, merit and the quality of leadership will prevail in the selection of the heads of all SUCs, who are empowered further in terms of flexibility in resource generation and management.

SUCs can now implement the right-sizing of their bureaucracy because the boards of regents are now mandated to deliver cost-effective quality educational services. Indeed, we are hastening the process of making the Philippines a knowledge and education center in the Asia-Pacific in consonance with our pole-vaulting strategies.
ENHANCING COMPETITIVENESS
The second is the Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) Code of 1997, otherwise known as RA 8293.

The Senate’s ratification of our accession to the World Trade Organization (WTO) on December 14, 1994 prompted the Philippine government to effect major changes in our intellectual property laws based on two objectives:

First, for our country to harmonize its laws with other member-countries of the WTO, taking into account our commitments under the Trade-Related Aspects of the Intellectual Property Rights Agreement (TRIPS), if we are to be considered a committed member of the family of nations.

Second, for our intellectual property laws to support and address and sustain the competitiveness of our growing economy.

To survive and emerge as a capable player in the world economy, we need IPR laws which will push forward the innovative, creative and artistic talents of our people. We need to uplift our technological capability, encourage and facilitate the flow of local and foreign investments, and at the same time, safeguard the interests of consumers.

The Intellectual Property Code of 1997 will be an effective means for us to further emphasize and encourage innovation by promoting a culture of creativity, productivity and excellence in both public and private sectors — which are vital elements of our pole-vaulting strategy into the 21st century.
JUSTICE WITH COMPASSION
Our government has been relentless in its efforts to bring criminals and violators of our laws before the bar of justice. Nevertheless, it also sees to it that the punishment meted out to those convicted before our courts of law are given just and humane sentences.

In this regard, new RA 8294 mitigates the provisions of presidential decree no. 1866 which prescribed a penalty of 17 to 21 years of imprisonment for the illegal possession of firearms. This new law makes a distinction between low-powered and high-powered firearms, and stipulates corresponding penalties.

I trust that with this new law, our legislators will be further inspired to come up with enactments which seek to modernize our penal laws in keeping with the call of the times.
EFFECTIVE GOVERNANCE AND REPRESENTATION
The fourth law I approve today is RA 8295 which assures effective governance and representation of the people concerned if there is a need for a special election and only one candidate has filed his or her candidacy.

The law would save the government the time, expense and effort of conducting an election for a position contested by only one candidate. Also, it enables the affected constituency to have appropriate and prompt representation.

With the necessary safeguards incorporated into this law, we inspire confidence among our people in our determination to effect electoral reforms. Likewise, this law is further proof of our strong resolve and political will to work for the further improvement of our electoral processes, thereby manifesting the collective will of our people to strengthen our democratic institutions.
CHILDREN’S WELFARE
The fifth law I sign today concerns children.

It is a well-known fact that many nations are putting the needs and rights of children at the very center of their development — and our visions, plans, programs and strategies. The Philippines is among those who have placed the highest priority on children’s welfare.

Republic Act No. 8296 gives due recognition to the right of children to free expression and highlights the responsibility of the broadcast industry in calling not only attention to but also action for children’s welfare.

With this law, we are, therefore, giving our children their rightful chance to be heard and seen through the mass media so they can get the attention they need from government and from all of us.
A HOLISTIC APPROACH TO DEVELOPMENT
You have often heard me say that development is not exclusionary and that if our nation is to progress, we must move it as a whole along a holistic direction and goal.

The last but not the least of the six laws I approve today transforms the municipality of Kabankalan into a component city of Negros Occidental (republic act 8297).

Kabankalan symbolizes a rural town that has steadily grown through the years owing to the industry and dynamism of its people, who have positively responded to the call for progress and modernization. Kabankalan — once the hot bed of insurgency is becoming a vital center of trade and commerce in Negros Occidental. It has been identified as the district agro-industrial center and secondary growth center beyond Bacolod City.

It would be inspiring to all Filipinos to know the story of Kabankalan’s turnaround. The conversion of Kabankalan into a city should embolden its residents to do more and get more things done.
CLOSING
These acts of Congress are a solid showing of statesmanship and service to our people.

For all these, let me reiterate our appreciation to Senate President Ernesto Maceda and House Speaker Jose de Venecia and their colleagues — the authors, sponsors and supporters in both chambers for making all these possible.

Let me also commend the members of the technical staffs and all others who were involved from the initial bill-drafting up to the final stage of putting out the enrolled bills.

No doubt, the fruits of all our efforts will redound to the well-being of our people.

Let us enact more such laws that would hasten our pole-vaulting into the 21st century and move our beloved Philippines even faster, stronger and higher into the future!

Thank you and mabuhay tayong lahat!