Pres. Aquino to focus more on building infrastructure, reforming bureaucracy

President Benigno S. Aquino III said he wants to build more infrastructure projects, reform the bureaucracy, and improve the country's justice system in the remaining days of his administration.

In the keynote interview during "The World in 2015" Gala Dinner held at the Four Seasons Hotel in Singapore on Tuesday (Nov. 18), President Aquino said he wants to speed up all of the government’s ongoing infrastructure projects.

"We’re targeting five percent of our GDP (gross domestic product) in terms of measures for infrastructure by 2016. We’re almost at four—3.5 to 4 (percent) this year," he told his audience.

“Reforming the bureaucracy is also a major (thrust). The judiciary is also another issue of mine from time to time,” he added.

The President noted that the government has been reinvigorated and is now in a position to empower the citizenry.

He further said that the government is putting heavy emphasis on education and health care, increasing their budget through the years.

"Again, we believe that our greatest resources are the people and the people now are exercising all of their freedoms and have belief in themselves, and belief in the ability of the country by the time we leave," he said.

Asked what he will do after stepping down from office, President Aquino said he would help strengthen his party since he is barred from joining any industry upon leaving office.

“My mother worked in microfinance, post her presidency, which was always the direct means of empowerment. There was always the challenge of the big group that is defused, or a very small focused group that you have very tangible results in. I guess, to a large degree, I was really helping the party to become that party of ideology that has a platform that is constant and we will continue,” he said.

"The World in 2015" forum was the latest in a series of business conferences held annually by the business magazine, The Economist, to share its predictions for the year ahead. The event was hosted by Executive Editor Daniel Franklin. (PCOO News Release)