Hilton Hotel, Los Angeles, California
8 June 2012
President Benigno S. Aquino III was welcomed by Filipinos residing in Los Angeles and other cities in Southern California during the Filipino Community Meeting in Hilton Hotel, Los Angeles Airport.
President Aquino reported good news about the Philippines to more than one thousand Filipinos present in the meeting. He told that the country will be rice self-sufficient in 2013 and may also be an exporter if typhoons do not hit during harvest season. He also mentioned to them the North Luzon and South Luzon Expressway Connector project that will link Clark, Pampanga and Calamba, Laguna in a one and a half drive.
The President also discussed that his government has provided 21,800 housing units for the members of the Philippine National Police and Armed Forces of the Philippines and will add 31,200 more houses before the end of 2013.
He also mentioned the economic development of our country under his administration including the 6.4 percent GDP growth in the first quarter of 2012, the seven positive rating actions from different credit rating agencies and the 30.6 percent increase of our Foreign Direct Investment.
Furthermore, President Aquino also stated other social programs of the government for poor Filipinos such as the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) and the provision of 45,000 more classrooms in different areas of the country.
He said that all developments in the Philippines are attributed to good governance and incorrupt leadership. “Pagbabago po ang aking ipinangako; pagbabago ang tinatamasa natin ngayon; pagbabago ang gusto kong ipamana sa papalit sa akin sa puwesto at sa susunod na salinlahi ng Pilipino,” the President said.
In a 2010 census report conducted by the U.S. Census Bureau, a total of 322,110 Filipinos are currently residing in Los Angeles City, the largest number of Filipino community in the United States. Most of them are employed in the fields of accounting, engineering, government service, media and non-profit organizations.
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