Likas na katatagan ng Pinoy magliligtas sa RP sa krisis - Enrile

Naghayag ngayon si Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile ng optimism na makakaligtas ang Pilipinas sa kasalukuyang pandaigdigang krisis, at aniya ang mga Pilipino ay may likas na katatagan para bumawi mula sa pagkalugmok.

"Today's economic headlines may not be pleasant, but I see in your faces hope and enthusiasm to tackle these challenges," ani Enrile sa mga dumalo sa Second National Convention of the Philippine Cities na tinaguyod ng League of Cities in the Philippines (CLP) sa EDSA Shangrila Hotel sa Mandaluyong City.

"I believe that the Philippines can survive this global financial crisis. Filipinos are blessed with talent, intelligence and world-class skills," aniya. "We are gifted with resilience and the ability to bounce back after every debacle. I believe that no crisis is strong enough to shake our faith in God and in ourselves."

Sa kanyang talumpati, inudyukan ng Senate President ang mga lokal na opisyal na ihanda nila ang kani-kanilang plano ng pangmatagalang panahon kung papaano rumisponde sa international financial crisis.

"You will never go wrong with a development plan that includes health, education, employment, infrastructure, environment and security. Think out of the box," ani Enrile.

Bilang panimula, sinabi ni Enrile sa mga opisyal ng local government units (LGU) na dapat nilang alamin ang kanilang assets at resources at kung paano gamitin para makasabay sa hamon ng urbanization.

"Second, I encourage you to involve the private sector, civil society and the urban poor. Third, enhance human capabilities. Invest more in education, health and nutrition," sabi ni Enrile. "You have the power to bring the concerns of the grassroots to the attention of policymakers at the national level. You are the bridge between the national government and the people in the grassroots level."

Ang tema ng convention ay "Cities at the Crossroads: Development in a Rapidly Urbanizing World, na umaasang maipakita sa mga syudad ng Pilipinas ang kanilang kinakaharap ngayon. Ani Enrile na matapos ang 17 taon ng pagka-sabatas ng Local Government Code, ang mga syudad ng Pilipinas ay nasa krusyal na estado pa rin sa paghahabol na umunlad dahil sa lumalaking papulasyon.

Bilang Pangulo ng Senado, ani ni Enrile na siya'y nangangarap na makakita ng vibrant and dynamic cities sa buong bansa. "In a rapidly urbanizing world, local governments, especially the cities, grapple with a host of development problems such as unemployment, urban poverty, high crime rate and many more," ani Enrile.

Napuna ni Enrile na ayon sa isang pag-aaral, na sa pagsapit ng 2030, mahigit 60 percent ng papulasyon ng mundo ay maninitahan sa urban areas. "In low and middle income countries, population growth will be absorbed by cities and towns in the next 25 years. The significant increase in population and change in demography will surely apply intense pressure on the environment and local resources," aniya.

Nagbabala si Enrile na ang kasalukuyang worldwide economic crisis, walang bansa ang hindi makakaranas ng epekto. "Local governments will bear the brunt of a global economic turmoil as they have to absorb a growing number of returning Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs), not to mention the increasing demand for social services," anang Pangulo ng Senado.