PRESIDENT MARCOS: All right. Good morning and thank you for joining us here at the opening of this extremely important water treatment plant here in Mandaluyong — I’m sorry Muntinlupa. And it will become part of the system that we are trying to put in place to…
Well, the original purpose for this was not from — was really without El Niño in mind but it is — we have been a little bit lucky in the timing, in that it has been — we will start to operate it just at the time when we will have — we will begin to feel the effects of El Niño next year.
And so, we are very happy that these facilities are already in place. This is one of several that Maynilad will be doing. And I thank our private sector partners for coming to the fore and taking up the slack, helping us with making sure that our people have a sufficient water supply, as we know, it is life. And we cannot do without it and therefore, the adequate supply of clean, fresh water is extremely important.
So, that is what we have done today. Now, if there is anything else…?
Q: Good morning, Mr. President.
PRESIDENT MARCOS: Good morning.
Q: Vivian Guilla from ABS-CBN. Has the proposed 2024 budget reached your table and when are you expected to sign it? And also if you’re supportive of the push at the Lower House to…?
PRESIDENT MARCOS: Wala pa yatang report ang bicam. We’re waiting for that. So, they’re putting the finishing touches on it. Baka today or the day — in the coming days. But certainly, the minute it is finalized then we will immediately, of course, pass the budget.
We have been going through the consultations through the whole of the year for that matter and I would be very surprised if there are other issues that will suddenly arise that we hadn’t anticipated or hadn’t resolved, put it that way. So, I don’t see any problem to that.
Q: Before Christmas, are you expecting to sign it?
PRESIDENT MARCOS: Malamang, oo. But, you should really ask the bicam to see what their schedule is. But yes, I think before Christmas.
Q: Also, Mr. President. Are you supportive of the push at the Lower House to amend the 1987 Constitution?
PRESIDENT MARCOS: Well, it really… We’re just beginning to study because we keep talking about economic provisions that are getting in the way with some of the potential investors that we are trying to bring to the Philippines.
So, what we are looking at here is the opportunity cost of those who would like to invest here but somehow the laws that derived from the Constitution when it comes to the economic provisions do not allow them to or make it non-viable for them. So, that’s the study to see if it requires that or if we can do it any other way.
But in my interest — my primary interest is to try and make our country an investment-friendly place and… We’ll see… That’s why the study is really not about the Constitution. It’s about what do we need to do — what do we need to change so that these potential investors will in fact come to the Philippines.
All right. Thank you very much. Good morning. Merry Christmas.
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