INTRODUCTION
We stand at the end of a proud year of achievements that saw the substantial fulfillment of our vision of lasting peace and development for our country with the establishment of the Zone of Peace and Development (ZOPAD) in Mindanao and our successful hosting of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit. As the same time, the whole nation looks forward to a new year of continued growth and social progress.

What better way to welcome the new year than to start it right with the approval of four new laws all aimed to ensure the continued enjoyment by our people of the gains and benefits of our development efforts.
UPGRADING THE CIVIL SERVICE
The first law is Republic Act (RA) No. 8244 which appropriates the sum of p27 billion to fund the fourth-year implementation of the salary standardization law of government personnel.

Effective January 1, 1997, fifty percent of the said amount will be paid to the designated recipients. The remaining fifty percent is to be paid effective November 1, 1997.

This new law is intended to further upgrade the efficiency, effectiveness, and quality of our civil service.

The act also authorizes the salary adjustment of government-owned or controlled corporations (GOCCs) and local government units (LGUs), chargeable to their respective corporate and local funds.

Its benefits extend to all national government personnel, including the uniformed personnel of the Department of National Defense (DND) and the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG).
DEVELOPMENT THROUGH DEVOLUTION
The second law, RA No. 8245, provides for the appropriation of some p14.5 billion representing the increased share in 1997 of LGUs in the internal revenue collections pursuant to Section 284 of RA No. 7160, otherwise known as the Local Government Code of 1991. It shall be released directly by the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) to the LGUs concerned.

The said amount shall be apportioned among our local government units after deducting the actual cost of devolution of governmental functions and the cost of city-funded hospitals as of December 31, 1992.

As mandated by Section 285 of the Local Government Code, 23% of the Internal Revenue Allotment (IRA) shall be allocated to the provinces, 23% to the cities, 34% to the municipalities, and 20% to the barangays. And the share of each unit shall be determined on the basis of population, land area, and equitable sharing.

Our LGUs derive a substantial portion of their funds for their various functions and operations from their share of nationally collected revenues.

We are counting on our LGUs to continue contributing to our development efforts through the wise application of these additional funds and the effective devolution of specific functions and operations from the central government.
SPEEDY DISPENSATION OF JUSTICE
The third is RA No. 8246 which increases the divisions of the Court of Appeals and establishes new divisions outside the National Capital Region.

This law is significant because, for the first time in the history of our judicial system, there will be a Court of Appeals division or divisions in the major cities throughout the country from Baguio City, down to Legazpi City, Iloilo City, Cebu City, Cagayan de Oro City, and Davao City.

Not only does this new law respond to the clamor from the provinces that the Appeals Court be dispersed across the country but it also brings the country’s second highest court within easier reach of our people.

From now on, appellate cases shall be decided not only in Metro Manila but also in other parts of Luzon, as well as in the Visayas and Mindanao. Hence, judicial cases will be resolved more expeditiously and effectively.

The Court of Appeals acts as a sieve for the Supreme Court by eliminating a great bulk of litigation work that would otherwise clutter the highest court’s calendar and delay its work as the final and ultimate arbiter of controversies.

The thrust of this new law is to reduce to zero the backlog of cases that had accumulated in the court of appeals mainly because of the imbalance created by the increase in the number of appellate cases on one hand and the inadequacy in the number of justices on the other hand. I have been told that there is, presently, a backlog of about 15,000 cases before the court of appeals, all of which need immediate attention.

An added benefit is the improvement in the quality of law practice in the regions outside Metro Manila because of the new opportunities afforded lawyers in the provinces to practice in our regionalized Court of Appeals. This will definitely uplift the standards of the legal profession and consequently, the entire judicial system in our country.
SOCIAL COHESION AND NATIONAL SECURITY
The fourth law is RA No. 8247 which extends for another year the Alien Social Integration Act (ASIA).

This law which grants legal residence status to qualified aliens through a social integration program is in pursuance of our state policy of ensuring national security and protecting national interest by controlling and regulating the admission and integration of aliens into our land.

Towards this end, qualified aliens shall be integrated into the mainstream of Philippine society subject to our national security interest and in accordance with international conventions on human rights.

One of the important provisions of this law is the eligibility for citizenship of aliens who may be granted legal residence status. Five years from the approval of their application for naturalization, said aliens may avail of the privilege to be naturalized Filipino citizens.

There are still a great number of illegal aliens in our county who are engaged in profitable and job-generating businesses and industries. For the past years, they have been the so-called invisible partners in business whose status must, therefore, be finally legalized.
CLOSING
A new year always reminds us of new beginnings, new hopes, and new opportunities.

The past year has indeed been a landmark year, with one success after another achieved in terms of peace, development and social progress.

I thank the leadership of both houses of Congress, led by Senate President Ernesto Maceda and Speaker Jose de Venecia, respectively, for these new pro-people measures.

Let us pray to the Good Lord that 1997 be another fruitful year of our working together — not only to preserve our achievements thus far, but even surpass our gains as a national community — for the greater benefit of our people and our beloved Philippines.

But as we pray, let us perform, and as we perform, let us pray.

Maligayang Pasko, masaganang Bagong Taon at mabuhay kayong lahat! Maraming salamat.