Arroyo delivers inauguration speech

Philippine President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo Wednesday delivered an inaugural speech in Metro Manila as the newly-reelected president.

The ceremony started at 7:45 a.m. when the president appearedon the Quirino Grand stand of Rizal Park in Manila city, wearing in green and facing almost 30,000 officials, supporters, media and foreign visitors.

In the over 20-minute speech in English and Filipino language, Taglog, Arroyo outlined a 10-point agenda in her next six-year presidency to boost the economy and unite the nation, including the creation of 6-10 million jobs by tripling loans for small business owners, providing clean water, cheaper electricity rates,cheaper education and automated elections, as well as having peace agreements with rebel groups.

Arroyo earlier said that she and her economic managers would begin formulating the Medium Term Philippine Development Plan based on the 10 outlined goals, in which she had incorporated her earlier six campaign pledges.

In the speech, Arroyo also repeatedly called the other losing presidential bets for unity and reconciliation and praised them for "serving the freedom and advancing our nation's progress" in the elections.

The Philippine Congress proclaimed incumbent Arroyo as the president-elect in the May 10 elections on June 24 with 12,905,808 votes out of the 32,269,100 votes cast for president, and her running mate Senator Noli de Castro, at the same time, was also proclaimed winner in vice presidential campaign.

However, the opposition supporters refused the request of the government for a "honeymoon" period during which the opposition and media should tone down their criticism towards the new administration and claimed to stage protest along with the inauguration ceremony especially against the alleged electoral fraud.

Different from the past inaugurations, Arroyo set the oath-taking ceremony not in Manila but in the capitol of the central province, Cebu, as a reward for the outstanding support of the local people, who helped her build a big lead of over 1.12 million votes against the closest rival Poe in the presidential election. Arroyo and de Castro will fly to Cebu city later the day for an inauguration oath-taking ceremony, with Chief Justice Hilario Davide, their families, over 100 foreign guests and thousands of supporters at present, and series of celebrations and meetings.

Source: Xinhua