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Philippine President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo Wednesday delivered
an inaugural speech in Metro Manila as the newly-reelected
president.(Xinhua/Reuters Photo)
¡¡MANILA, June 30 (Xinhuanet) -- 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 appeared on 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. Enditem |