Speech of President Benigno C. Aquino III
Opening Ceremonies
August 19, 2010


This is, I confess, my idea of fun, and this is less a duty than it is a time to unwind. I must confess, driving peacefully on a smooth, empty highway is one of my favorite luxuries. I did manage to get behind the wheel a few times despite my hectic schedule – much to the horror of my security people. Nowadays, I am clearly deprived, and I know my passion for driving performance cars will have to take a backseat for now. I am told it will just be 70 months before I can drive again.

So you understand that it is a pleasure not only because of that, but because of your industry's performance, which has been nothing but short of exceptional. According to figures from the Department of Labor and Employment, 74,700 Filipinos are employed as vehicle assemblers, distributors, parts and components manufacturers. Most of these workers are breadwinners for over half a million dependent family members. Sa madaling sabi, higit sa 500,000 Pilipino ay may naihain sa kanilang hapag at salamat po sa tulong ninyo.

Your industry is helping us get our economy geared up for change. With a total investment amounting to P100 billion, you have contributed over P20 billion in duties and taxes to the national coffers. Your withholding taxes amount to an estimated P325 million annually. This means additional funds your government can devote to delivering services such as more classrooms or better hospital facilities for our countrymen. Katumbas po ng perang ibinubuwis ninyo ang classroom na maaaring magpunla sa kinabukasan ng 25,000 kabataan kada taon. Maraming, maraming salamat po rin para rito.

It is good to note that business is good. You have registered a 37.1 percent sales increase in the first six months of 2010, and it is good to hear that you continue to expect business to increase. You have increased your growth target to 11 percent, which is good in terms of quality and delivery to be at par with our Asian counterparts in your industry. May I add, that the 37 percent increase is reflective only of the perception that things will be better and we do believe that they are getting better, and I wonder what the figures will be by next year.

The story this numbers tell us is clear. It is a story of an industry that is resilient and stable. It is a story of an industry with increasing confidence. It is a story full of promise of further growth that will bring more opportunities in the coming years as a result of our improved capabilities to offer more competitive products in terms of cost and quality.

This includes finding ways to adapt to emerging technologies so that we can continue the positive trend in the industry. In 2009, industry sales reached 132,444 units for both motor vehicles and motorcycles, which is about a million units short of our plant capacity of about 1.19 million units. If our nation's recent history had taught as anything, all of us must draw our strength from others who surround us. Let us utilize the tools and facilities at our disposal. Let us maximize the partnerships to explore with local supplemental industries, such as those in steel, rubber, chemical, paint, just to name a few. These partnerships will not only generate employment and financial security for millions of our people but will also jumpstart the local production of reasonably priced passenger cars, empowering our small- and medium manufacturers toward ensuring a vigorous Philippine automotive industry.

The world we live in is confronted by a serious environmental crisis. To address this, many countries including the Philippines have opted for green technology. These include alternatives to fossil fuel such as liquefied petroleum gas, already used by most taxis in Metro Manila; compressed natural gas, used by some bus companies; ethanol-blended in gasoline fuel, and coco-methyl ester, a coconut-based fuel blend recommended for diesel engines.

Supportive of such efforts, you have chosen 'Driving the Green Road' as the theme of your motor show. This reflects also the government's commitment to ecologically sustainable programs. Aside from its resource-saving benefits, this is a chance for Filipino scientists to demonstrate their skills in innovation as countries compete to meet the increasing demand for advanced environmentally friendly technologies.

Your government will support efforts to enhance our motor development program that will promote export of motor vehicles and parts and components, support parts manufacturing and support auto industry development and establish standards and technical regulations. We want to ensure your success because your industry's success is the story of our people. One thing is clear: our people have come united under a single banner, and that is a banner of hope. Fueled by renewed optimism, we are shifting to a higher gear towards progress and prosperity. Our administration is eager to rebuild this nation with you. We are eager to show the world what the Filipino can do. We are eager to restore our national dignity. We are eager to write the next chapter in the story of our nation and our people.

How often have we heard that our nation is a jeepney? Outmoded but somehow chugging along. We have to rev things up, to go from the service road of slow growth to the expressway of high growth. I know this feeling. There's no greater sense of freedom than taking the wheel on a smooth highway. Panahon na upang humataw ang ating ekonomiya. The Philippines is once again open for business.

Gentlemen and ladies, start your engines, the race is on! Maraming salamat po.