Gloria Macapagal Arroyo (2001-Present)

Condition of the Philippines

The Philippines came close to a financial meltdown in 2001 during the impeachment of Former
President Estrada. The revenues were too low, with its $54.8 billion in foreign debt too high which
followed a lower nation credit rating. In addition to this foreign investors were reluctant to invest in
the Philippines at that time due to the political crisis the country was experiencing.
The impeachment case against failed to push through, the people marched to the streets and EDSA 2
was born. When Former President Estrada was finally removed from Malacanang, there was another
rally attempt by Estradas supporters. This attempt was supposedly EDSA 3 but it failed due to the
lack of supporters.
Former President Joseph Estrada left President Arroyo with a country which needed to recover due to
the political crisis and the economic crisis. Estrada has left Arroyo with a lot of problems. When
Estrada was forced out of office, there were numerous rallies by Estradas supporters; some resulted
into a bloody confrontation between Erap Supporters and the police. It was a challenge to Arroyo to
gain the trust of not only her people but of the trust of the investors as well. She needed to encourage
more investments to improve the economy and to improve the lives of the Filipinos. It was Arroyos
challenge to bring the Filipinos back to its feet.
PRIMARY PROBLEMS
Killings
There have been more than 840 killings in the Philippines since President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo
came to power.
One of the major problems of the Philippines are the arbitrary, unlawful and extrajudicial killings
which includes the death of journalists.
More than half of the journalists who were killed after Marcos time were killed during the Arroyo
administration. Only in three cases of killings were the killers been convicted but no mastermind was
brought to court.
The Philippines is now considered as the second most dangerous country to practice journalism next
to Iraq.
Even though there are intense efforts of the government to investigate and prosecute the cases of
killings, many cases were still unresolved and a lot of them are still not punished.
Corruption
Corruption scandals during the Arroyo Administration in the last seven years have cost the Filipinos
around 7.3 billion pesos.
With at least six corruption cases so far, President Arroyo has now been considered the most corrupt
president in the Philippines.
Corruption has greatly benefited the Arroyo Administration while it continues to worsen the condition
of the Philippines specifically contribute more to poverty.
Corruption is a problem in all the institutions of the Philippines including the criminal justice system
specifically the police, prosecutorial and judicial organs.
Budget Mismanagement
Education, health, and public infrastructure were not given much priority even though there were
large increases in the national budget.
The president relied on reenacted budget; none of the proposed regular budgets were approved on
time. In three of the nine years as president, she ran the government without an approved budget.
Poverty
Poverty is most rampant in the rural areas of the Philippines. Even though there is a share of poverty
in the National Capital Region, the rate of poverty in rural areas than urban areas is still a lot higher.
The rural poor are the unemployed or self-employed in agriculture or only casual labor who are
landless.
Poverty has worsened because of high inflation and unemployment. The Philippines has not yet
surpassed poverty unlike neighboring countries like Vietnam, Thailand, and Indonesia who are rapidly
reducing poverty at present.
Unemployment

 President Arroyo promised to create 10 million jobs from 2004-2010 but didnt reach this target. A
lot of decent jobs in the manufacturing sector disappeared and more less secure jobs emerged.
Since unemployment, poverty and hunger go together, this just shows the failure of the Philippine
social-protection program who doesnt
provide enough protection for the less fortunate and unemployed. All these three have worsened
under the Arroyo Administration.
PROMISES DURING THE ELECTIONS AND INAUGURATION
The 10-point agenda outlined by Macapagal-Arroyo during her inaugural address last June 30, 2001:
1. I shall have created more than six million jobs, perhaps, even 10 million jobs I shall have
supported three million entrepreneurs by giving them loans and helping them become good
managers I shall have developed one million hectares, if possible two million of agribusiness land by
making them productive and transporting their products to the markets efficiently.
2. Everyone of school age will be in school in an uncrowded classroom, in surroundings conducive to
learning. Hangad kong makapasok sa eskuwela ang bawat bata. Mayroong sapat na lugar sa silidaralan at may computer sa bawat aralan. (I wish for all children to be able to go to school. With
enough classroom and computers at every school).
3. I shall have balanced the budget by collecting the right revenues and spending on the right things.
4. The network of transport and digital infrastructure on which my government embarked in the last
three years will have linked the entire country.
5. Power and water will be regularly provided to all barangays (villages).
6. Metro Manila will be decongested with economic activity growing and spreading to new centers of
government, business and community in Luzon, in the Visayas and in Mindanao.
7. The Subic-Clark corridor will be the most competitive international service and logistic center in the
Southeast Asian Region.
8. Elections will no longer raise a single doubt about their integrity. The electoral process will be
completely computerized.
9. Peace will have come to Mindanao. All insurgence shall have turned their swords into plowshares.
They will have become so absorbed into one society that the struggles of the past will be just a stuff of
legend.
10. The divisive issues generated by EDSA I, II and III will also be just memories shared by friends
from every side in those upheavals Only the lessons of unity, courage and a just closure left alive in
their hearts.
(Gloria M. Arroyo, 2001)
LAWS AND PROGRAMS
Restoring Political Stability and Building New Politics
President Arroyo wanted to resolve the political crisis through restoring the confidence of the people in
the government through:
Making a Selection Committee to recruit a Cabinet team who is committed to the values of the
administration
Establishing partnerships with the civil society by involving people in governance.
Opening up peace initiatives to address threats specifically regarding the Muslim rebels to make
them obey the law and list them as soldiers in the war against poverty.
Restoring the rule of law in order to fight crimes such as smuggling, kidnapping, and corruption.
Building High Standards of Morality and Performance
These are the foundations of good governance.
Implementing anti-corruption programs starting with the Administrative Order No.1 which forbids
the relatives and top officials of the president to form contracts with the government.
Making a new Anti-Graft Commission which will promote integrity among the officials and
presidential appointees.
Promote Economic Revival through Social Equity
Implementing a monetary policy in order to keep the inflation rate low while providing liquidity for
growth.
Create new micro-financing guidelines so that loans may be more available to the poor.
Banking reforms to promote transparency, enhanced competition, financial soundness and
modernization with the help of expanded foreign participation in domestic banks.
By joining hands with business to strengthen information and communications technology (ICT)
while encouraging rural industries.

Battle of the Budget

Through keeping the budget deficit below P145 billion or 3.8% of GNP through different revenue
programs in order to make funds available for businesses.
Monitoring local government remittances, strengthening audit and tax reform programs by
computerization to improve tax collections.
The Anti-Poverty Strategy
The anti-poverty strategy is based on these five programs namely asset distribution, human
development services, protection from violence, more livelihood opportunities for the poor and greater
participation in governance and social life.
a. Asset Distribution
Land for the landless
Provide facilities for the poor by the improvement of the slums
Provide financial assistance for the housing of OFWs, the employees with low salaries, and the
AFP/PNP personnel
Address housing problems through restructured home loans
Spend 20 billion pesos to finance agricultural modernization to improve the productivity and
salaries/incomes of farmers and fishermen.
b. Human Development Services
Improve health care and education services for the poor.
c. Protection from Violence
Promote anti poverty programs to vulnerable groups including the children, women, elderly, disabled
and refugees from conflicts by handing them the resources they need to improve their lives.
Conduct entrepreneurial and livelihood seminars/talks/trainings for the rural workers, working
women and union members.
d. More Livelihood Opportunities
Finance agricultural projects
Provide employment assistance
Provide 17,000 jobs through the 38.7 billion pesos worth of new investments.
Finance and facilitate loans totaling 127 million pesos to improve the productivity of enterprises.
DOMESTIC POLICIES
Charter change
In the presidents SONA, she said that the system of government needs fundamental change and the
debate on Charter Change should start immediately. She initiated a movement to overthrow the
present form of government and make it into a federal parliamentary-unicameral form of government.
It still remains as a proposed policy because it is obviously not yet implemented
In the last 2006, her House of Representatives planned to revise the constitution through the
constituent assembly.
Executive Order No. 464 and Calibrated Preemptive Response
Arroyo issued Executive Order No. 464 which states that demonstrations or otherwise known as
rallies should have permits or they would be preemptively stopped.
Human Rights
Killings were rampant during the Arroyo administration that is why independent commissions were
assembled to investigate them.
Arroyo promised to bring peace through the anti-terrorism legislation
Amnesty Proclamation 1377
President Arroyo signed the Amnesty Proclamation 1377 which is for the Communist Party of the
Philippines and the New Peoples Army.
The amnesty would cover up the crime of rebellion and all other crimes fighting for political beliefs
but will not include the crimes against chastity, rape, torture, kidnapping for ransom, use and
trafficking of illegal drugs and other crimes leading to personal ends which violate international law
provided that they surrender/return their trust in the society.
Estrada Pardon
President Arroyo granted Former President Estrada pardon based on the recommendation of the
Department f Justice
Estrada was freed from his Tanay rest house on October 6.
Conversion Order (The Sumilao Farmers March)
President Arroyo rescinded the conversion order on the 144 hectare lot in Sumilao, Bukidnon so that
land owenership may be returned to 55 members of the Higainon tribe farmers

 The order signed by Eduardo Ermita, the Executive Secretary indicates that: Wherefore premises
considered and as recommended by DAR, the petition for cancellation and/or revocation of the
conversion order covering 144 hectares of landis hereby granted.
BENEFICIARIES OF THE LAWS AND PROGRAMS
President Arroyo promised to continue working on poverty alleviation until she is president and
expressed hope for her pro-poor programs and reforms which would be continued and maintained
until the next administration.
Among all of her projects and programs including housing, health, educational, agricultural,
development services and a lot more, she has only a fraction of Filipinos, an estimated 5,000
beneficiaries who benefited from them and showed support for them.
On the other hand, some say that since 2001-2006, the Arroyo Administration has not made
improvements and development of the Philippines especially in the rural sector. Those who only
benefited from her programs were the foreign big businesses and the pro-Arroyos including the big
compradors, landlords, and toped officials of the Armed Forces and National Police.
HOLES AND SHORTCOMINGS OF THE LAWS
3h Anti-poverty groups believe that President Arroyos policies regarding poverty are not effective. In
order to help and improve the lives of the less fortunate, they proposed policies such as supporting
the completion of the CARP by increasing public investments in health, education, water and
sanitation, and human development services.
Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP) problems during the Aquino Administration which
are still present today:
Extension of the land appraisal process
Very few and extremely vague guidelines for landowner compensation
Extended landowner-tenant negotiations
Lack of technical organization
Inconsistent execution/implementation of program
The Amnesty Proclamation 1377 cannot convince the hardcore communists to surrender because the
root cause of their rebellions which is to address their problems is still not answered and addressed by
the government. This program would only lead to graft and corruption because of the money being
given out to the returnees.
The governments implementation of the rice productivity program is very expensive, ineffective and
inefficient. The Hybrid Rice Commercialization Program (HRCP) is the new technology by the
government. However the results of this program were not very good. The rate of adoption of the
hybrid rice was very low and there is a high dropout rate of the farmers because the seeds of the
hybrid rice are very expensive and hard to get.
The liberalization, deregulation and privatization policies of the Arroyo administration made the
Philippine economy more vulnerable to the rampant monopolies (global and local). The administration
is the one to blame for the wrong national policies that have exposed the country and its people to the
cruel impact of the recent global crisis.
The Oil Deregulation Law which allows the local oil firm to increase their prices on top of the
monopoly imposed oil prices in the international market. Because of this the number of poor Filipinos
would increasingly grow up if the oil prices trends are there.
ISSUES AND CONTROVERSIES
Hello Garci Controversy (June 2005 Present)
The Hello Garci Controversy is about wiretapped recordings of Gloria Macapagal Arroyos
conversations with COMELEC Commissioner Virgilio Garcilliano. The conversations was about rigging or
cheating the 2004 national elections. Former NBI Deputy Director Samuel Ong released the
wiretapped tapes; he also claimed that he had the mother of all tapes which was released a few
days later. The National Telecommunications Commission initially banned the playing of the tapes in
the media, and threatened that any media group who plays the tapes will be forced to close. The tape
was then allowed by the Supreme Court to be aired by the media with a vote of 9 6, this was against
the NTCs decision.
In the tape a woman who sounds like Gloria Macapagal Arroyo was talking to Virgilio Garci
Garcilliano about by how many votes she would win in her run for the presidency. In the conversation
she asked if she would win by a million votes and Garci replied that she will; coincidentally or
suspiciously she did win by over a million votes in the 2004 presidential elections.

GMA admitted that she was the woman in the wiretapped conversations but said that she only talked
to Garci after the counting has been done. She also aired on national television her apology to the
public for her lapse in judgement, this act was supposed to reduce the tensions the issue has created
however this backfired and it created more tensions and more calls for her to step down.
Virgilio Garcillianos whereabouts were unknown right after the Hello Garci tapes came out. There were
even some rumors that he was able to escape the country. 5 Months later he resurfaced and admitted
that he was the one talking to GMA in the tapes but the conversation took place after the counting of
votes had been done. He also denied that GMA instructed him to cheat in the 2004 national elections.
The issue created a lot of tension and anger in the public. Thousands went to the street to call for GMA
to step down. There was even an attempt to create another People Power, this failed however due to
the lack of protestors that attended the peaceful gathering. GMA survived the storm; this issue was
the biggest issue that threatened her presidency. Until now the issue has not yet been solved, and no
one has been punished.
Oakwood Mutiny (July 27, 2003)
A group composing of more than 300 fully armed soldiers took over Oakwood Premier in Ayala, Makati
City. The soldiers were led by Navy Ltsg. Antonio Trillanes IV, Army Capt. Gerardo Gambala, Army
Capt. Milo Maestrecampo, Navy Ltsg. James Layug and Marine Capt. Gary Alejano.
The group called themselves the new katipuneros but they were dubbed y the media as the
magdalo soldiers. They claim that the taking over of the Oakwood Premier in Makati was
spontaneous, and that their goal was only to be able to air their grievances and complaints about the
corruption in the military and in the government. They also stated that the saw signs that GMA was
going to declare martial law.
One of the accusations made by the soldiers was that the Arroyo administration was selling arms and
ammunitions to the enemy forces. These enemy forces include the MILF and the Abu Sayyaf. Also they
claim that Arroyo issued the order to bomb Davao City so that Arroyo would be able to ask the United
States of America for anti-terrorist support. Arroyo also planned to bomb several areas in Metro Manila
so that she could declare martial law.
Some of the grievances include general cases like the corruption of the government and its officials,
low salaries of soldiers and the difference of salaries between the AFP soldiers and the Air Force Pilots,
insufficient supply of medicines in the army and the powerful comptroller family who is enjoying
promotions and positions and are manipulating funds and that the government funds for the soldiers
never or seldom reach them.
The bloodless mutiny ended after 18 hours. The soldiers surrendered as they failed to rally support
from the public. All the 300 soldiers were arrested and charged in the general court martial.
On September 24, 2004 the soldiers apologized to Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and took back the
accusations against top AFP officials. Currently majority of the soldiers have been released and some
soldiers have escaped military custody.
Proclamation 1017 (February 24, 2006)
I Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, President of the Republic of the Philippines and Commander-in-Chief of
the Armed Forces of the Philippines, by virtue of the powers vested upon me by Section 18, Article 7
of the Philippine Constitution which states that: The Presidentwhenever it becomes necessary,
may call out (the) armed forces to prevent or suppressrebellion, and in my capacity as their
Commander-in-Chief, do hereby command the Armed Forces of the Philippines, to maintain law and
order throughout the Philippines, prevent or suppress all forms of lawless violence as well any act of
insurrection or rebellion and to enforce obedience to all the laws and to all decrees, orders and
regulations promulgated by me personally or upon my direction; and as provided in Section 17, Article
12 of the Constitution do hereby declare a State of National Emergency.
On February 24, 2006, President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo used her emergency powers and issued
Proclamation 1017. The proclamation was called a state of national emergency and was similar to
Martial Law primarily because she will be able to order arrests without warrants. The proclamation
came after the Armed Forces of the Philippines received reports that some officials of the armed forces
will announce their withdrawal of support from GMA during the anniversary of the People Power Edsa 1
Revolution. To prevent this GMA issued the proclamation to ensure that there will be no rebellion or
violent coup attempts.
AFP Chief Generoso Sanga revealed that Danilo Lim, one of the commanders of an elite force in the
AFP was the one planning to withdraw his support of GMA. Lim then was relieved of his port and was
placed under Sangas custody. Police also suspended all gun carrying licenses and did not allow the
public to carry weapons.

The next day, police raided offices of the newspaper Daily tribune and also sent armed men in civilian
clothing to go around the offices of Abante a tabloid newspaper. The military was also sent to surround
the offices of ABS-CBN and GMA Network. The government claimed that they were only protecting
these establishments from potential takeovers from destabilizers.
16 people were arrested and charged with rebellion, these people included Bayan Muna Reps. Satur
Ocampo, Teddy Casio and Joel Virador of Bayan Muna, Anakpawis Reps. Beltran and Rafael Mariano,
and Gabriela Rep. Liza Maza.
Former President Cory Aquino was allowed to have a rally in Ayala but the rally was dispersed right
after Cory Aquino left.
The proclamation lasted for a week, after this President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo lifted the
proclamation. Petitions questioning the legality of the proclamation were raised by a number of groups
and people. A few months later the Supreme Court declared that the proclamation was indeed legal
however the acts done in implementing the proclamation were not.
NBN-ZTE Controversy (April 2007)
The NBN-ZTE controversy is about a deal between the Philippines and XTE Corporation, a company in
china. The deal was worth $329.59 Million and was aimed at improving the communication capabilities
of the Philippines. On August 29, 2007, Nueva Vizcaya Rep. Carlos Padilla, disclosed on his privilege
speech that COMELEC chairman Benjamin Abalos has been going to China not just for leisure but to
broker a deal with the XTE Corporation. He also said that there were two other corporations willing to
do the job for the Philippines at lower prices but was turned down. These two other private companies
offered cheaper prices than ZTE Corporation.
Abalos denied these accusations but also admitted that he knew some of the officials in ZTE
Corporation. A few days later on September 10, 2007, Jose de Venecia III issued an affidavit stating
that he was with Abalos in china and heard Ablaos demanding money from the officials of the ZTE
Corporation. The Supreme Court issued a temporary restraining order preventing the contract from
pushing through.
On September 18, 2007, while testifying to in the senate, Jose de Venecia III revealed that the First
Gentleman Mike Arroyo told him to back off from pursuing the deal. A few days later President Gloria
Macapagal Arroyo suspended the deal because of political criticisms. She also claimed that the
alleged corruption was investigated and that the reports after the investigation were uncorroborated.
During the hearings the Senate ordered Rodolfo Jun Lozada, who was the President of Philippine
Forest Corporation and was said to have knowledge that the deal was overpriced, to attend the senate
hearing. Lozada did not attend the hearing and was able to fly out of the country 2 hours before the
start of the hearing. The Senate then ordered the arrest of Jun Lozada. On February 5, 2008, Jun
Lozada arrived at the NAIA international airport and was taken away by unidentified men. Lozada
claims that the men blindfolded him and was talking about where he was supposed to be killed. This
was prevented however since text messages from his family to media revealed that there was going to
be something bad that was to happen to Jun Lozada. The next day the PNP admits that Jun Lozada
was in their custody.
On February 7, 2008, Jun Lozada appeared in a pre-dawn conference in La Salle Greenhills and
narrated his experience on how he was taken away against his will. In the following weeks Jun Lozada
testified in the senate, fearing for his life. He said that Abalos threatened to have him killed and that
when he left the NBN project the project was priced at $262 million but it ballooned to $329.5 Million
when it was approved.
The hearings were conducted; with Lozada as the whistleblower and a lot of government officials
were implicated and involved in the issue. This included First Gentleman Mike Arroyo, Former Mayor
Lito Atienza and Former COMELEC chairman Benjamin Abalos. Until now the controversy never
reached a conclusion and truth and justice has yet to be achieved.
Gloria Arroyos Expensive Dinners
The public began noticing the expensive dinners that President Macapagal Arroyo was having when an
article from the New York Post reported that GMA and her entourage to the US dined in the famous Le
Cirque in New York and spent $20,000 or almost 1 Million Pesos.
The report said that GMA ordered several expensive bottles of wine which pushed the tab to $20,000.
Considering the economic downturn in the Philippines and the continuous increase in unemployment
and poverty ratings, the expensive dinner resulted into a lot of criticisms against GMA. Makati Mayor
Jejomar Binay bashed GMA for her expensive dinner and said that $20,000 can already give 30,000
people 3 square meals in a day. He also noted that if GMA indeed used public funds to pay for the
meal then it should be deplorable. If she used her own money to pay for the dinner then it is really
insensitive to the millions of Filipinos who experience hunger everyday in the Philippines.

Bishops also criticized the expensive dinner and said that it was very imprudent and the public
deserves an explanation and an apology. Then Press Secretary Cerge Remonde said that it was
Romualdez that paid for the dinner however this was not believed by the public and called Cerge a
certified liar. Cerge said that this dinner issue was only a way to anger the people and turn them
against GMA, also to help ease the situation he ordered the financial statements regarding the trip to
be shown to the public.
After this issue several reports regarding a $15,000 dinner in Washington also came out. The issue
then was never resolved and now only exists as a memory.
SUMMARY OF GOVERNANCE
President Arroyo was named the 14th president of the Philippines during the People Power II, January
20, 2001 in Edsa when former President Joseph Estrada was forced out of office because of allegations
of plunder and corruption. The president faced a lot of challenges in her early presidency which
includes an unstable economy and protests by the supporters of Estrada. Another one of her problems
include the ongoing battle between the government and the rebels. Despite the problems and issues
regarding her administration, she has also done a lot for the Philippines including lifting the Philippines
out of its financial crisis.
In 2004, she won the elections and was elected to a full term presidency until 2010. During her
inaugural speech, she vowed to create 10 million jobs in the next six years, balance the budget of the
Philippines, improve tax collection through computerization, provide cheap medicine for the poor and
unite the country.
Until now, she has been arguably the most unpopular president of the Philippines. This is because of
her numerous unanswered issues and controversies like the Hello Garci scandal, expensive dinners
during her visit to the United States, and many more.
GRADE (DLSU SYSTEM)
President Arroyos failure to improve the economy and her government is considered as one things
that pulled her down. According to statistics, the Philippines rating on voice and accountability was
54.3% during 2000 and now dropped to 41.3% because of the killings, human rights violations, etc.
With regards to political stability, there was also a drop in the rating; the Philippines is only better than
one out of the 10 countries among the 212 countries surveyed. The control of corruption was the
deadliest one which had a sever deterioration of ratings. Government effectiveness and the rule of law
on the other hand, had a slight increase of rating.
Governance has indeed worsened because better governance should strengthen the development of
the country not worsen it. Because of poor governance, the Philippines is still experiencing poverty
and has not improved a bit. This is why Arroyo deserves a grade of only 0.0 because of her many
corruption cases and issues which just led to our country far worse than it ever is. She is a failure and
the worst president the Philippines had.

Presidency of Joseph Estrada

Presidency of Joseph Ejercito Estrada
13th President of the Philippines
In office
June 30, 1998 January 20, 2001
Vice President

Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo

Preceded by

Fidel Ramos

Succeeded by

Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo

Personal details
Born

April 19, 1937 (age 77)

Tondo, Philippines

Political party

PMP (1991)

Other political

Nacionalista (19691987)

affiliations

Liberal Party (19871991)

The Presidency of Joseph Ejercito Estrada spanned for 31 months from June 30, 1998 to January
20, 2001. Estrada reached the pinnacle of his political career when he was elected President of the
Republic .in the May 11, 1998 national elections. With almost 11-million Filipinos writing his name on
the ballot, his margin of victory was the biggest ever registered in Philippine electoral history.
Speaking before millions gathered at his inaugural address in Manila, the newly elected chief
executive said his presidency would serve the Filipino masses whose welfare had long been
neglected. A line from his speech, "Walang kaibigan, walang kumpare, walang kamag-anak", was a
stern warning against anyone who would attempt to undermine his administration with influencepeddling. Determined to bring his pro-poor platform to every facet of the government's operations, he
immediately ordered the removal of all sovereign guarantees on contracts for public projects which
would require the sovereign Filipino people to assume the financial losses of private companies
doing business with the government. Records will show that until January 20, 2001, he did not sign a
single government contract with a sovereign guarantee. Committed to cleaning the bureaucracy of
undesirable elements, he ordered the immediate relief of corrupt officials in the military and police
hierarchy. He ordered a wide-ranging investigation of all government contracts entered into by the
previous administration to ensure these were above-board and directly advantageous to the
citizenry. He ordered the investigation of suspected big-time tax evaders even if some of these
individuals had contributed to his presidential campaign. His pro-poor program of government bore
fruit in less than two years, with a significant improvement in the country's peace and order situation.
This likewise elicited a proportionate rise in the approval rating of the Philippine National Police. The
Estrada administration undertook an aggressive housing program on a national basis, targeting lowcost homes for the poor. Agriculture received greater priority, while the national government likewise
took steps to bring down the cost of medicine. Foreign investments grew exponentially, benefiting
greatly from the unsullied and esteemed reputation of the best and the brightest chosen to be part of
his Cabinet, and even more from his reputation as a strongly nationalistic yet progressive president.
The Senate impeachment trial, a constitutional process initiated to determine the truth behind the
allegations of corruption hurled by the false witness, ended abruptly in mid-January 2001 when
prosecutors staged a walk-out after senators voted against the opening of a document which had no
bearing whatsoever on the cases filed before the tribunal. With the second highest official of the land
and her husband working secretly with this group and courting the military sector's support, things
came to a head on 20 January 2001 with the leave of absence filed by Joseph Estrada and his
temporary departure from Malacaang. Following the Supreme Court's decision upholding the
legality of the Macapagal-Arroyo presidency, he was arrested at his San Juan home in the afternoon
of April 25, 2001 on the strength of a warrant of arrest issued by the Sandiganbayan for the crime of
plunder filed by his political enemies.

The 15th President of the Republic of the Philippines, Benigno Simeon Aquino III, has
come to stand for Filipinos reinvigorated passion to build a nation of justice, peace,
and inclusive progress.
Aquinothe only son of democracy icons Senator Benigno Ninoy Aquino and
President Corazon Aquinohas in different junctures throughout his life responded
to the challenge of acting with and serving the Filipino people.
In 1983 after the assassination of his father, he returned from exile to the country to
help show the way for the EDSA People Power Revolutionthe nonviolent and
prayerful revolution by ordinary people that toppled a dictatorship and restored
Philippine democracy.
In 1998, Aquino entered public service to make sure that the democracy his parents
fought for would bring changes in peoples lives. He served as Representative of the
2nd District of Tarlac from 1998 to 2007. In May 2007, he joined the Philippine

Senate, wherein he worked to bring about legislative initiatives anchored on the

protection of human rights and honest and responsible governance.
The most despondent days perhaps in Aquinos life took place in 2009 when his
mother passed away from cancer after suffering for nearly a year. Her demise
prompted mourning from all over the country. And yet it also awakened a
remembrance of the values she stood for. It stirred up the peoples yearning for a
leadership that is honest and compassionate, and a nation that trusts and works
with its government.
Immediately after her wake, people began to call on Aquino, urging him to run for
presidency in the 2010 elections to continue his parents work. Signature drives and
an outpouring of support through yellow ribbons and stickers went full blast,
convincing him to run. Moreover, candidates for president such as Senator Manuel
Mar Roxas II, Pampanga Governor Eddie Panlilio, and Isabela Governor Grace
Padaca gave up their presidential aspirations to support Aquino.
After a spiritual retreat at the Carmellite Monastery in Zamboanga City, Aquino
responded to the call to make the peoples passion for change the driving force
behind a new government. On September 9, 2009, the 40th day after former
president Cory Aquinos passing, he officially announced his candidacy for president
at the Club Filipino in Greenhills, San Juanwhere his mother took oath on the final
day of the EDSA People Power Revolution. I want to make democracy work not just
for the rich and well connected but for everybody, he said.
On June 9, 2010, the Congress of the Philippines proclaimed Aquino as the President
Elect of the Philippines. In his inaugural address on June 30, 2010, he told the
Filipino people: We are here to serve and not to lord over you. The mandate given
to me was one of change. I accept your marching orders to transform our
government from one that is self-serving to one that works for the welfare of the
nation.
The presidency of Benigno Aquino III has been marked by a hardy dedication to
bringing about shared progress by doing things the right way. Aquinos
determination to lead the government and the nation towards the straight path has
been the catalyst for unprecedented economic growth, which has trickled down to
the margins of society through improved government services, reforms in the
education system, and conditional cash transfers for the poor; an inspired campaign
for good governance and justice as evidenced by the prosecution of corrupt and
abusive government officials; and the empowerment of every citizen so that they
may participate in building a nation of hope and opportunity.
My hope is that when I leave office, everyone can say that we have traveled far on
the right path, and that we are able to bequeath a better future to the next
generation. Join me in continuing this

3.2 Who lives in Boarding houses?

In 1995/96 National Shelter profiled the boarding house sector across
Australia.17 In reviewing the available studies that had been conducted in
various States, it was concluded that the characteristics of boarding house
residents were as follows:
Gender: Boarding houses show a significantly higher proportion of males,
although some studies have indicated that the numbers of females living
in boarding houses is increasing.
Age: Commonly people living in boarding houses are aged between 18
and 40 years. Those aged over 50 years appear to be a minority.
Marital status: While marital status is difficult to ascertain, those people
living in boarding houses are not living with a partner.
Income: most studies cite the low income levels of boarding houses
residents, with the majority receiving government income support.
Length of residency: A significant proportion of boarding house residents
appear to stay in this form of accommodation for long periods of time.
While some residents are reasonably mobile, they often remain in the
boarding house sector. Some residents may become homeless and then
return to the boarding house sector.18
Thus the traditional view of boarding house residents as older males appears
to have changed with younger people and a proportion of women now
utilising this form of accommodation.
Horton19, in interviews with residents of rooming houses and private hotels
in inner Melbourne, examined peoples housing and personal histories to
discover a picture of people living on the margins, both materially and
socially. This study found many residents were single, and had never
married or had children. As well, most had limited or no contact with family
members, and the breakdown of relationships was a major contributing
factor
to their current living situation.
17 Luxford (1996) op.cit.
18 ibid.
19 Horton N (1990) Up, Down or Out? Property market pressures and the
Homeless in inner
Melbourne, A study of the users of inner Melbournes low cost single room
accommodation,
Econsult.
12Lack of disposable income (two thirds of residents sampled paid over 40%
of

their income on rent) was a major issue influencing ability to move into
another housing option. While some people clearly saw boarding houses as a
temporary arrangement, others indicated that they would continue to live
indefinitely in this form of accommodation, due to the lack of alternatives or
the motivation and skills required to seek out options.
Some people had lived in rooming house accommodation for a long time, so
that this had become their preferred (or at least normal) type of housing.
The connection between boarding house accommodation and homelessness
was evident, as was the precarious nature of many residents current
situation, with 20% of the sample group having previously been homeless (ie
sleeping out or living in a shelter or refuge) and 45% of the sample using
welfare services for help with food and money whilst living in a boarding
house.
Horton concluded that most people living in boarding houses fell into the
following groups:
The downward spiral those who had previously lived in what they
regarded as better housing, that was more stable, more respectable or
more comfortable. However, factors such as relationship or family
breakdown, or suddenly changed economic circumstances through
sickness or loss of employment, meant they could not maintain this
accommodation. These people saw themselves as having lost ground
and often exhibited low self esteem.
The upward spiral those who had stepped up from shelters or sleeping
rough, often with assistance from welfare agencies. Some needed
assistance to maintain their boarding house accommodation.
The immobile group those who had lived in boarding houses for several
years, possibly shifting from one boarding house to another but usually
not seeking any other form of housing. These people could not see
themselves living in any other form of accommodation.
The travellers those needing temporary accommodation, possibly
because they were working in the area or whilst they waited to move
elsewhere, for example for seasonal work interstate.
To what extent do people living in boarding houses experience illness or
disability? De-institutionalisation policies of the 70s and 80s saw many
people with psychiatric, intellectual or physical disabilities find
accommodation in boarding houses.20 For instance the Human Rights and
Equal Opportunity Commission Inquiry into Mental Health reported that
20 Foley A (1997), op.cit.
13approximately 70-80% of residents in boarding houses in the central
Sydney
area experienced serious mental illness.21
Hefferan identified that in Adelaide some boarding houses were extending
their services to provide care and support to the aged and disabled. A
parallel inquiry into intellectually and psychiatrically disabled persons living
in boarding houses found that at least 48% of residents in the boarding

houses surveyed were considered to be receiving treatment for an

intellectual
or psychiatric disability.22
In the same vein, service provision documented by the Boarding House
Social
Work team in the southern suburbs of Adelaide in 1991 confirmed the high
proportion of boarding house residents with psychiatric disabilities, as well
as those with brain injury and alcohol and substance addiction23.
The introduction of the Supported Residential Facilities Act in South
Australia in 1992 brought those boarding houses providing support services
to residents with disabilities and mental illness under a new regulatory
regime and provided a regulatory separation of the rooming house/ private
hotel/boarding house sector from the supported residential facilities sector.
It might be assumed therefore that people with disabilities and mental illness
would not be prevalent in the boarding house sector today. However
comparable interstate studies of rooming houses and private hotels suggest
that, despite other States also distinguishing between residential-only
boarding houses and boarding houses that provide support to persons with
disabilities, the residential-only boarding house sector still continues to
accommodate some people with a level of disability or illness.
For example, Horton identified that nearly 20% of a sample of persons living
in rooming houses and private hotels in inner Melbourne indicated they
received psychiatric treatment, and 30% had problems with alcohol. Close to
half of the sample group of residents were not able to work due to their
health or disability.24
In the City of Yarra study over half the proprietors surveyed reported that
they accommodated people with special needs resulting from age, disability,
mental illness, health, substance abuse and isolation from family. Service
providers reported that residents had become younger and illicit drug use
had become more visible, and that rooming houses accommodated persons
with psychiatric disabilities and health needs.25 At the same time service
providers also reported that residents with mental illness had been
squeezed
24 49% of the sample group received either Invalid Pension or Sickness
Benefits (Horton,
21 Cited in Maher et al (1997), op.cit.
22 South Australian Health Commission, (1988) Psychiatrically and
intellectually disabled residents
in boarding houses; Report for the Human Services Committee of Cabinet. 23
Chapman R & Provis J (1991) Fritz and White Bread, Report and Review of the
Community
Accommodation Support Service Southern Boarding House Social Work Team,
South Australia
(1990)
op.cit.). 25 Jope (2000), op.cit.

14out of certain boarding houses; therefore effectively reducing the

prevalence
of mental health issues in the boarding house population.
The evidence suggests that ill health, poverty, disability, as well as loneliness
and a lack of significant relationships and support, characterise the lives of a
significant proportion (although not all) of residents.
3.3 Views and housing aspirations of boarding house residents
Studies involving interviews of residents have typically asked residents for
their opinions about their current accommodation and their desired form of
accommodation. This information can sometimes be difficult to distil, as
residents satisfaction with their present accommodation, and their
aspirations for how they might like to live, are influenced by both real and
perceived constraints. Residents are likely to have low expectations based on
meeting their basic survival needs for food and shelter.26
Nevertheless it is apparent that residents will report both advantages and
disadvantages with boarding house accommodation. Boarding houses are
seen to be affordable and preferable to crisis accommodation. They offer
ease
of tenancy as residents are not required to have their own furniture or
household goods; privacy (where residents have their own room) and usually
a convenient location, close to transport, shops or services, or in a familiar
neighbourhood. Disadvantages reported include the poor physical
conditions of boarding houses and the behaviour of other residents.27 In the
City of Yarra study over half the residents interviewed reported that they
would prefer to live in a self-contained flat. Similarly Horton28 found that
most commonly boarding house residents stated they would prefer to live in
self-contained accommodation although a group were content to continue
living in boarding house accommodation.
3.4 Counting boarding houses in South Australia
The last metropolitan wide study of boarding houses in South Australia was
carried out by Hefferan in 1988. This study used Local Council records, the
ABS Census and Whereabouts (a register of rental/share accommodation) to
identify 125 establishments and 1543 beds in boarding and lodging houses.
The majority of this stock was located in four local government areas:
Adelaide, Port Adelaide, Glenelg and Unley, with the highest number of beds
(529) and properties (45) being in the City of Adelaide.
26 Chapman & Provis (1991) ibid; Cleary et al (1998) Boarding house life for people
with a mental
illness: an exploratory study; Australian & New Zealand Journal of Mental Health
Nursing vol 7. 27 Jope (2000), op. cit.
28 Horton (1990), op.cit