Phillipines Become US State

8/6/2019 Phillipines Become US State

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Phillipines Become US State

Can anyone think of a realistic scenario where the Phillipines could become one or morestates

although perhaps they would have to be several states or else the population would be toolarge for one state

JJ18160

His Holiness, Pope Guilty I

Perhaps if there was no Filipino Insurrection. Even then, racism was so casual back then

that I'm kind of skepitical that the Phillipines would be a state before Hawaii; White Manhad a firmer control on those little islands.__________________Find all my works from here, the new Central Command for the AHN Universe, StardustSequence, and WC reboot:

If we didn't annex Cuba, why would we annex The Philippines. This isn't a fairstatement, we annexed Hawaii, but not Cuba.

The war was shown to the public as a war of liberation. We were "Liberating" theCubans from Spanish oppression. We were helping their rebels fight against a foreignpower thousands of miles away. This idea appealed to Americans. In order to have this


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happen, you need to make the U.S. government and the U.S. people feel like this was thefinal step of Manifest Destiny.

How you convince the U.S. government to annex the Philippines instead of just adding itto the U.S. commonwealth is beyond me.

IchBinDieKaiser

His Holiness, Pope Guilt

On the other hand, the Phillipines were kind of American (controlled/ruled) territory in1942, where Americans died defending it, and still ours in 1944 when Americans died

liberating it. You know what? America is a kind Imperialists. Europeans would have hadthe attitude that if they shed blood for it, then it is theirs.

But, I must ask, what would be the advantage to America to make the Phillies a State?What would we gain from it?__________________Find all my works from here, the new Central Command for the AHN Universe, StardustSequence, and WC reboot:

Originally Posted by The KiatOn the other hand, the Phillipines were kind of American (controlled/ruled) territory in

1942, where Americans died defending it, and still ours in 1944 when Americans died

liberating it. You know what? America is a kind Imperialists. Europeans would havehad the attitude that if they shed blood for it, then it is theirs.

But, I must ask, what would be the advantage to America to make the Phillies a State?

What would we gain from it?

A quarter more people? Some natural resources? A strong presence in East Asia?


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I don't see the Philippines becoming a state before, like, the 60s at least - perhaps in areaction to Vietnam, as we want an even stronger presence in that quadrant to keep theCommies at bay. Making this happen...I dunno. Most of the Filipinos didn't hate theAmericans more than most colonial peoples, but things weren't exactly buddy-buddy._

Originally Posted by TheDarkServantUncle Ho would be an awesome pimp name.

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For starters there would have to be a huge pro-statehood movement in the Phillipines.Very big. The Statehood party would need to gain control of the legislature and therewould need to be a plebiscite where statehood won a landslide victory. How does thathappen? It's an even bigger hurdle to overcome than the racism.

alphaboi867View Public

#8January 26th, 2010, 12:27 PM

Corbell Mark IVMember

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Quote:

Originally Posted by alphaboi867For starters there would have to be a huge pro-statehood movement in the Phillipines.Very big. The Statehood party would need to gain control of the legislature and there

would need to be a plebiscite where statehood won a landslide victory. How does that

happen? It's an even bigger hurdle to overcome than the racism.A local oligarchy that convinces itself that it can milk big money through US statehood?

Perhaps a fear of spreading communism leads to a Marshall II? Giving them a taste forUncle Sugar?
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#9

January 26th, 2010, 01:25 PM

HrnlaMember

Join Date: Aug 2009Location: Dorsten, GermanyPosts: 410

We should take the question of a POD into account.

#1 The POD shouldn't be prior to WW1. For the reasons given in the threat, statehoodseems ASB in the aftermath of the conquest of the Phillipines.

#2 There has to be a POD prior to Phillipine independance in the 1940s. If you reckon

the island are going to reach statehood in the 1950s or 1960's, independance has to beaverted somehow beforehands.

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#10January 26th, 2010, 03:03 PM

GreenlanterncorpsMember

Join Date: Sep 2009Location: Cincinnati, OhioPosts: 144

Statehood would take a while. However, awhile back there was another thread on asimilar subject and it got me thinking. I worked out a very rough proto-timeline that doesnot get statehood, but does get the Philippines Commonwealth status, like Puerto Ricoand the Northern Marianas (Though CNMI gets butterflied away.)

Here is a very rough time line:

1930-1941 US and Filipinos begin negotiations on a path to independence, like in our

timeline. However instead of passing in 1935, the legislation gets bogged down overdetails and languishes in the Congress. Congress starts to act in the fall of 1941 but theoutbreak of war puts the Philippines situation on hold.

1941-1945 World War II fought on schedule. MacArthur is still involved and the US stillloses the Philippines to Japan. Japan sets up a puppet republic that is not recognized.

1945 -1950 Philippine efforts concentrate on reconstruction, independence is on the back
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burner.

1946 Former Japanese territories in the Pacific become the Trust Territory of the PacificIslands

1947 US Air Force born. Clark Field becomes Clark Air Force Base.

1950-1953 Korean War breaks out as in OTL. Philippines useful as a forward supplypoint for Korea, economy grows as a result of US military spending. Clark Air ForceBase, Subic Bay Naval Station, Cavite Naval Station, Camp O'Donnell all seeconsiderable growth.

1952 Puerto Rico becomes a Commonwealth.

1955 In a hostile Pacific, with Red China close by and a war in Vietnam former pro-

independence Filipino politicians find themselves looking at Puerto Rico's situation withenvy.

1956 After much lobying, Congress passes a law allowing the Philippines to write theirown constitution. In the fall of 1956 the Constitutional Convention convenes in Manila.

1957 The Constitution of the Commonwealth of the Philippines is sent to the voters ofthe Philippines and passes overwhelmingly. The Congress approves the constitution andalso give Filipinos US Citizenship.

1958 On January 3rd, 1958, the Governor, Lt. Governor, members of of the General

Assembly (consisting of a House and Senate), and Supreme Court of the Commonwealthare sworn in. Many are carry overs from the previous territorial legislature.

(I'll have to post an additional update later, real life calls...)

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#11January 26th, 2010, 04:11 PM

Dathi THorfinnssonDai orfinnsson

Join Date: Apr 2007Location: Syracuse, Haudenosaunee, VinlandPosts: 1000 or more

I suspect that if the US had no plans for Philippines independence by WWII, that theFilipinos would be much less pro-US and more pro-Japan. I suspect strongly that they
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would demand independence at the end of WWII, and as the US was pressing so hard forthe European nations to give up Imperialism, they could hardly deny independence to thePhilippines.

Ya, there was a thread recently, and a few before that IIRC, but I can't get the Search

function to work today. Nor is it in the last 30 pages of this forum...__________________David Houstonun Canadien errantmy TL: Canada-wank (99% ASB-free) http://alternatehistory.com/discussi...d.php?t=130408Turtledove 2010

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#12January 26th, 2010, 04:12 PM

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#13January 26th, 2010, 04:30 PM

The KiatHis Holiness, Pope Guilty I

Join Date: Aug 2009Location: At an undisclosed location.Posts: 1000 or more

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dathi THorfinnssonI suspect that if the US had no plans for Philippines independence by WWII, that theFilipinos would be much less pro-US and more pro-Japan. I suspect strongly that they

would demand independence at the end of WWII, and as the US was pressing so hard

for the European nations to give up Imperialism, they could hardly deny independenceto the Philippines.

Ya, there was a thread recently, and a few before that IIRC, but I can't get the Searchfunction to work today. Nor is it in the last 30 pages of this forum...

Considering how the Japanese treated conquered peoples, it's kind of hard imagininganybody being Pro-Japan and Anti-America.__________________Find all my works from here, the new Central Command for the AHN Universe, StardustSequence, and WC reboot:http://kiatspace.blogspot.com/

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#14January 26th, 2010, 07:38 PM

Dathi THorfinnssonDai orfinnsson

Join Date: Apr 2007Location: Syracuse, Haudenosaunee, VinlandPosts: 1000 or more

Quote:Originally Posted by The KiatConsidering how the Japanese treated conquered peoples, it's kind of hard imagining

anybody being Pro-Japan and Anti-America.

"much less pro-US" and "more pro-Japan" were, I believe, my words. Perhaps I shouldhave said, "less anti-Japan" or "more willing to work with Japan" or some such.
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Note that if the Navy was in charge, as in Taiwan, the oppression was relatively gentle.Certainly, if the Army was in charge, as Korea, the oppression was awful. OTOH, lots ofAsian nationalists believed Japanese rhetoric, and sided with them (see Burma,Thailand), and others believed it long enough for the Japanese to get their foot in thedoor, at which point they regretted it (Indonesia?).

How the Japanese would have treated the Philippines if at least some of the Philippinearmy had been on their side is an interesting question...__________________David Houstonun Canadien errantmy TL: Canada-wank (99% ASB-free) http://alternatehistory.com/discussi...d.php?t=130408Turtledove 2010

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#15January 26th, 2010, 09:21 PM

proximefactum

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Statehood for the Phillipines would require a noticeable overhaul of the House seatingchart given the very large population of the islands. I suspect that the Phillipines wouldget a set number of House seats regardless of population fluctuations.

Could "Protestant America", especially in the 50's and 60's, tolerate a populouscommonwealth or state that is overwhelmingly Roman Catholic? It's true that Phillipinestatehood would probably not create the religious friction that JFK's candidacy produced.Still, an admission of the Phillipines to the Union could bring back religious bigotryand/or nativist fears. Then again, racism would also play a sizeable role in the status ofthe Phillipines in a commonwealth/statehood ATL. What would be the combined effectsof nativism, religious bigotry, and racism on Filipinos?

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#16January 26th, 2010, 09:54 PM

GreatScottMartyjust voted: Jay-Jefferson 1800

Join Date: Oct 2009Location: United Soviet Socialist Republic of MinnesotaPosts: 1000 or more

Quote:

Originally Posted by JJ18160Can anyone think of a realistic scenario where the Phillipines could become one or

more states

This never would have happened. never ever. We took it because we could in a momentof imperial vision, that we never really took to its maximum extent. in the Early 1900swhen the Phillipines were taken the country was entirely to rascist to make that area intoone state let alone several states. Maybe if they were majority christian than it enters therealm of what if, but a bunch of muslims as Americans, with the likes of TR, McKinley,Nelson Miles, Taft, Wilson, possibly in charge during the Phillipines statehood debate?

Maybe if there was open space for a settler colony than that colony would be a state butthere is entirely to many people who are white christians for that place to be consideredfor statehood. Also in OTL I believe the Platt Amendment which forbid CubanStatehood, might have included a provision for the Phillipines. Sorry to rain on your

parade.

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#17January 26th, 2010, 10:14 PM

WhanztasticBohemianAmerican Defenestrater

Join Date: Apr 2009Location: Free City of DearbornPosts: 874

Commonwealth status seems much more likely. Going withGreenlanterncorps' TL in 1960 the US population was 179,323,175

while the Philippines were at 27,087,685, or more than 10 millionmore than New York, the largest state at the time. Individual

statehood is pretty much out of the question, not wanting any state to

have that much sway, especially such a remote one.

Given today's populations (falsely assuming parallel development and

growth), The Philippines is still nearly three times as large as
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California. So if statehood would ever be considered, it would have tobe as multiple states. The most obvious answer is to divide it by the

three traditional regional divisions: Luzon, Visayas and Mindano. This

however would still leave Luzon with a massive population andperhaps requiring yet another division.

The argument against so many divisions is that with each state carved

out of The Philippines is another two senators which may be opposed

by more conservative elements in the continental United States.__________________"As nature abhors a vacuum, history abhors changes without origins, whether

immediate or remote." - J. Salwyn Schapiro

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tony Stark

Don't think, drink.

HYPERLINK "http://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/newreply.php?s=0ffac35663d9d771df43e6e4cf33f78a&do=newreply&p=3073702"

Quote:

Originally Posted by GreatScottMartyThis never would have happened. never ever. We took it because we could in a momentof imperial vision, that we never really took to its maximum extent. in the Early 1900s

when the Phillipines were taken the country was entirely to rascist to make that area

into one state let alone several states. Maybe if they were majority christian than it

enters the realm of what if, but a bunch of muslims as Americans, with the likes of TR,McKinley, Nelson Miles, Taft, Wilson, possibly in charge during the Phillipines

statehood debate?

Aren't the Philippines majority Catholic?

The 51st state, in American political discourse, is a phrase that refers to areas eitherseriously or derisively considered candidates for addition to the 50statesalready part of

the Union. Before 1959, when Alaska and Hawaii joined the U.S., the term "the 49thstate" was used. Right now, the possible 51st state in discussion is the territory incommonwealth status of Puerto Rico.

"51st state", when used in a negative sense, can refer to independent nations which are, orare perceived to be, under excessive American influence or control. In various countriesaround the world, people who believe their local and/or national culture has become tooAmericanizedsometimes use the term "51st state" in critical reference to their respective
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countries.[1] The term 51st staterusually refers to non-U.S. residents who emulatemannerisms and culture of an American, or a non-American politician who is a supporterof the United States, especially its foreign policy.

Legal requirements

UnderArticle IV, Section Three of the United States Constitution, which outlines therelationship among the states,Congresshas the power to admit new states to the union.The states are required to give "full faith and credit" to the acts of each other's legislaturesandcourts, which is generally held to include the recognition of legalcontracts,marriages, and criminal judgments. The states are guaranteed militaryandcivil defenseby the federal government, which is also obligated by Article IV, Section Four, to"guarantee to every state in this union a republican form of government." New states areadmitted into the Union by the precedents and procedures established by the NorthwestOrdinance. Following the precedent established by theEnabling Act of 1802, anEnablingAct must be passed by Congress as a prerequisite to admission. The act authorizes the

people of a territory to frame a constitution, and lays down the requirements that must bemet prior to consideration for statehood.

[edit] Possible candidates

[edit] District of Columbia

Main article: D.C. statehood movement

The District of Columbia is often mentioned as a likely candidate for statehood. In

Federalist No. 43 of the Federalist Papers, James Madisonconsidered the implications ofthe definition of the "seat of government" found in the United States Constitution.Although he noted potential conflicts of interest, and the need for a "municipal legislaturefor local purposes,"[2] Madison did not address the district's role in national voting. At thetime, some believed that giving the district full voting rights would be like givingCongress its own separate vote, increasing its power at the expense of the citizens.However, the city's population has grown to almost 600,000 people (larger thanWyoming's and comparable to those of several other states), and the calls for suffragehave increased.

Of the potential candidates for statehood, citizens of the District of Columbia tend to be

most supportive[citation needed]

of their statehood movement which could be achieved by anact of Congress or by an amendment to the US Constitution. D.C. residents who supportthis movement sometimes use the Revolutionary War protest motto "Taxation withoutrepresentation," denoting their lack of Congressional representation; the phrase is nowprinted on newly issued D.C. license plates (although a driver may choose to have theD.C. website address instead). President Bill Clinton'spresidential limousine had the"Taxation without representation" license plate late in his term, while President GeorgeW. Bush had the vehicle's plates changed shortly after beginning his term in office.[3]
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This position was carried by the D.C. Statehood Party, a minor party; it has since mergedwith the local Green Party affiliate to form theD.C. Statehood Green Party. The nearestthis movement ever came to success was in 1978, when Congress passed theDistrict ofColumbia Voting Rights Amendment. Two years later in 1980, local citizens passed aninitiative calling for a constitutional conventionfor a new state. In 1982, voters ratified

the constitutionof the state, which was to be calledNew Columbia. The drive forstatehood stalled in 1985, however, when the D.C. Voting Rights Amendment failedbecause not enough states ratified the amendment within the seven-year span specified.

Statehood will likely remain a highly contentious political issue due to the politicaldemographics of the city. D.C. has long voted overwhelmingly Democratic, and theaddition of another state would likely guarantee two Democratic Senators in a closelydivided Senate.

Another proposed option would be to have Maryland, from which the current land wasceded, retake the District of Columbia, as Virginiahas already done for its part, while

leaving theNational Mall, the United States Capitol, and the White Housein a truncatedDistrict of Columbia, thereby preventing any Congressional favoritism toward any state(as was the Founders' reason for the District in the first place).[4] This would give D.C.residents the benefit of statehood while precluding the creation of a 51st state.[edit]Puerto Rico

See also: Commonwealth (United States insular area),Politics of Puerto Rico , andPolitical status of Puerto Rico

Puerto Rico statehood referenda have been consistently, though narrowly, unsuccessful.In each referendum, statehood supporters are matched almost equally by supporters of

maintaining the status quo (the balance of the votes being cast by supporters of fullindependence), although support for statehood has risen in each successive popularreferendum.[5]

The Puerto Rico Democracy Act(H.R. 2499) is a proposed United States federal statutethat would provide for referendums to be held in Puerto Rico to determine the island'sultimate political status. It has been introduced twice in the United States Congress, firstin 2007 and again in 2009.

On April 29, 2010, the United States House of Representatives voted 223169 to approvea measure for a federally sanctioned process for Puerto Rico's self determination. The

measure would allow Puerto Rico to set a referendum on whether to continue its presentform of commonwealth political status or move to a different political status. If PuertoRicans vote to maintain its current political status, the Government of Puerto Rico isauthorized to conduct additional plebiscites at intervals of every 8 years from the datethat the results of the prior plebiscite are certified. If Puerto Ricans vote to have adifferent political status for the territory, a second referendum would determine whetherit becomes a U.S. state, an independent country, or a sovereign nation associated with theU.S. that will not be subject to the Territorial Clause of the United States Constitution.[6]
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During the House debate, a fourth option to retain its present form of commonwealth(status quo) political status was added as an option in the second plebiscite.[7][8]

Immediately following U.S. Houseof the U.S. Congress passage, H.R. 2499 was sent tothe U.S. Senate, where it was given two formal readings and referred to the Senate

Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. H.R. 2499 has been scheduled for ahearing before the aforementioned committee at 9:30 A.M., on Wednesday, May 19,2010. This hearing will be for gathering testimony on the bill.[9]

If Puerto Rico were a U.S. state, it would rank 27th in population, and have six seats inthe House of Representatives.[10][11][12] Puerto Rico has been under U.S. sovereignty forover a century and Puerto Ricans have been U.S. citizens since 1917; but the islandsultimate status still has not been determined and its 3.9 million residents still do not havevoting representation in their national government. Puerto Rico currently has limitedrepresentation in Congress in the form of aResident Commissioner, a nonvotingdelegate, and the current Congress had returned the Commissioner's power to vote in the

Committee of the Whole, but not on matters where the vote would represent a decisiveparticipation.[13]Puerto Rico has elections on theUnited States presidential primary orCaucus of the Democratic Partyand the Republican Partyto select delegates to therespective parties national conventions although presidential electors are not granted onthe Electoral College.

Contrary to common misconception, residents of Puerto Rico pay U.S. federal taxes:import/export taxes, federal commodity taxes, social security taxes, etc. Most residentsdo not pay federal income tax but pay federalpayroll taxes (Social Security andMedicare). However, federal employees, or those who do business with the federalgovernment, Puerto Rico-based corporations that intend to send funds to the U.S. and

others also pay federal income taxes. Puerto Ricans may enlist in the U.S. military.Puerto Ricans have fully participated in all U.S. wars since 1898. All persons born inPuerto Rico after 1941 are legally natural born citizens of the United States, one of theconstitutional requirements to be President of the United States.[14][15][16]

President George H.W. Bush raised the statehood before Congress in his first State of theUnion message:

Theres another issue that Ive decided to mention here tonight. Ive long believed thatthe people of Puerto Rico should have the right to determine their own political future.Personally, I strongly favor statehood. But I urge the Congress to take the necessary stepsto allow the people to decide in a referendum.[17]

Bush issued a memorandum on November 30, 1992 to heads of executive departmentsand agencies establishing the current administrative relationship between the FederalGovernment and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. This memorandum directs allFederal departments, agencies, and officials to treat Puerto Rico administratively as if itwere a State insofar as doing so would not disrupt Federal programs or operations.[18] OnDecember 23, 2000, President Bill Clinton signed executive Order 13183, which
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established the President's Task Force on Puerto Rico's Statusand the rules for itsmembership. Section 4 of executive Order 13183 (as amended by executive Order 13319)directs the Task Force to "report on its actions to the President ... on progress made in thedetermination of Puerto Rico's ultimate status." President George W. Bush signed anadditional amendment to Executive Order 13183 on December 3, 2003, which

established the current co-chairs and instructed the Task Force to issue reports as needed,but no less than once every two years.[10][11]

The statehood position is carried by theNew Progressive Party of Puerto Rico. Both theDemocratic Partyand Republican Party, in their respective 2008 party platforms, haveexpressed their support of the rights of the United States Citizens in Puerto Rico todetermine the destiny of the Commonwealth to achieve a future permanent non-territorialpolitical status with government by consent and full enfranchisement.[19][20]

The Republican Party platform of 2008 says:

We support the right of the United States citizens of Puerto Rico to be admitted to theUnion as a fully sovereign state after they freely so determine. We recognize thatCongress has the final authority to define the constitutionally valid options for PuertoRico to achieve a permanent non-territorial status with government by consent and fullenfranchisement. As long as Puerto Rico is not a state, however, the will of its peopleregarding their political status should be ascertained by means of a general right ofreferendum or specific referenda sponsored by the U.S. government. [21]

The Democratic Party platform of 2008 says:

We believe that the people of Puerto Rico have the right to the political status of their

choice, obtained through a fair, neutral, and democratic process of self-determination.The White House and Congress will work with all groups in Puerto Rico to enable thequestion of Puerto Rico's status to be resolved during the next four years.[22]

Its population in the 2000 census was 3,927,776. (Kentucky ranked 26th, with 4,206,074,and Oregon ranked 27th, with 3,700,758.)

A hypothetical merging of several former and current Pacific US territories into a singlestate.

[edit] Other U.S. territories or former territories

Other less likely contenders are Guam and the United States Virgin Islands, both ofwhich are unincorporated organized territories of the United States, although the lattercould merge with Puerto Rico due to their proximity (although they have very differenthistories, cultures & languages). Also theNorthern Mariana Islands, which is acommonwealth like Puerto Rico, and American Samoa, an unorganized, unincorporatedterritory could attempt to gain statehood. Some proposals call for the Virgin Islands to beadmitted with Puerto Rico as one state (often known as the proposed "Commonwealth of
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/President's_Task_Force_on_Puerto_Rico's_Statushttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/President's_Task_Force_on_Puerto_Rico's_Statushttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_W._Bushhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/51st_state#cite_note-autogenerated2-9http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/51st_state#cite_note-autogenerated2-9http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/51st_state#cite_note-autogenerated3-10http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Progressive_Party_of_Puerto_Ricohttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Progressive_Party_of_Puerto_Ricohttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Democratic_Party_(United_States)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Democratic_Party_(United_States)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Republican_Party_(United_States)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/51st_state#cite_note-18http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/51st_state#cite_note-19http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/51st_state#cite_note-20http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/51st_state#cite_note-21http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=51st_state&action=edit&section=5http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guamhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Virgin_Islandshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Virgin_Islandshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Territories_of_the_United_States#Incorporated_and_unincorporated_territorieshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northern_Mariana_Islandshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Commonwealth_(United_States_insular_area)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Samoahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Samoahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/President's_Task_Force_on_Puerto_Rico's_Statushttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_W._Bushhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/51st_state#cite_note-autogenerated2-9http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/51st_state#cite_note-autogenerated3-10http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Progressive_Party_of_Puerto_Ricohttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Democratic_Party_(United_States)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Republican_Party_(United_States)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/51st_state#cite_note-18http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/51st_state#cite_note-19http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/51st_state#cite_note-20http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/51st_state#cite_note-21http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=51st_state&action=edit&section=5http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guamhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Virgin_Islandshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Territories_of_the_United_States#Incorporated_and_unincorporated_territorieshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northern_Mariana_Islandshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Commonwealth_(United_States_insular_area)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Samoa


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Prusvi," for Puerto Rico/U.S. Virgin Islands), and for the amalgamation of U.S. territoriesor former territories in the Pacific Ocean, in the manner of the "Greater Hawaii" conceptof the 1960s.Guam and theNorthern Mariana Islands would be admitted as one state,along with Palau, the Federated States of Micronesia, and the Marshall Islands (thoughthese latter three entities are now separate sovereign nations, which have Compact of

Free Association relationships with the United States). Such a state would have apopulation of 441,171 (slightly lower than Wyoming's population) and an area of 911.82square miles (slightly smaller than Rhode Island). American Samoa could possibly bepart of such a state, increasing the population to 506,040 and the area to 988.65 squaremiles. Radio Australia, in late May 2008, issued signs of Guam and the Northern MarianaIslands becoming one again and becoming the 51st state.[23]

I've been a supporter of this movement since I was in college. Sometimes I'm thinking ofprinting leaflets to distribute it to the people to gain widespread support includingpoliticians. I think this is the best thing to do. European Union is a good example andwhy not for Philippines to rejoin United States and become the 51st state.

sheraton hernandez

hey george! are u filipino?George wrote:The Philippines is now on the verge of US Statehood. Historically, the archipelagicnation belongs to the United States. If not for Japan, the Philippines should have been a"state" of America long befoe Alaska and Hawaii. With recent political turmoils andfalling republic, Filipinos today want to return to the motherland.

fairness

S

for some of us it already is the 51st state. we come and go as we please provided we dontget in trouble and infringe our freedom in any way.True American

fairness wrote:for some of us it already is the 51st state. we come and go as we please provided we dontget in trouble and infringe our freedom in any way.

People can't come and go from the philippines to the USA without special circumstances.We can go from the USA to the philippines with just our passport but the philippinescitizens can't just use their passport to visit the USA :( I wish they could.lusty Laraza

San Diego, CA
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pacific_Oceanhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pacific_Oceanhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guamhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guamhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northern_Mariana_Islandshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palauhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Federated_States_of_Micronesiahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Federated_States_of_Micronesiahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marshall_Islandshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Compact_of_Free_Associationhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Compact_of_Free_Associationhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wyominghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wyominghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rhode_Islandhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Samoahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/51st_state#cite_note-22http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pacific_Oceanhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guamhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northern_Mariana_Islandshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palauhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Federated_States_of_Micronesiahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marshall_Islandshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Compact_of_Free_Associationhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Compact_of_Free_Associationhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wyominghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rhode_Islandhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Samoahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/51st_state#cite_note-22


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Good Topic I like it!But some, especially the Military come only be in the Philippines for 21 days. Does thatapply to U.S. Civilians also? Japanese can come to the U.S. with less to no issue at all. Ibelieve its a type of country to a type of country. Countries now a days are profiled.

True American wrote:People can't come and go from the philippines to the USA without special circumstances.We can go from the USA to the philippines with just our passport but the philippinescitizens can't just use their passport to visit the USA:( I wish they could.thats what i said. "for some of us"

I remember when I was in Grade 4 [Elementary Education] our English teacher taught usto sing the United States National Anthem. I really thought during that time thatPhilippines is part of United States that's why I feel oblige at that time to memorize theAmerican Anthem and sing it with respect & loyalty.

I am a pure blooded Filipino but it seems like I have a close heart to the Americans.Maybe its because historically we are closely connected to the Americans though wequarrel sometimes during the Philippine-American War and the post World War II eraespecially when the military bases wasn't renewed by the Philippine Senate. But to me, Ijust consider it as a brother-like quarrel and in the end we usually make up. We Filipinosconsider the Americans as our Big Brother. One proof of our true loyalty to theAmericans is the acceptance of the VFA agreement and our 100% support to the war onterror. I just hope the American population do consider Filipinos as a part of their familytoo.How I wish the Americans didn't gave us Independence in July 04, 1946 but instead gaveus the Statehood.

I hope America will propose to the PhilippineGovernmentto rejoin United States. I am sure if a referendum will be held, it will get a majority voteof the Filipino people.

GEORGEG'day mate and thanks indeed for your interest. To answer your query, I am a Filipino in'vein' with oozing Filipino blood pumping in my heart sensitive and worried of the bleakfuture of the "Filipino" today. I am a proud Australian by necessity. I love Australia andI have called it my home but the Philippines is my special home the land of myforebears and the place of my birth. I am Australian. I am Filipino through andthrough ..... thus, I do not wish to be a Filipino in vain but in vein.

Sheraton,

Welcome to the Fold. Just like you, I have read and witnessed the intense corruption ofthe Philippines since the inception of Emilio Aguinaldo in Kawit, Cavite. Hisassassination of Andres Bonifacio is a living testament of more contemporaryassassinations in Malacanang Palace today. It is a republican recycle an endlessrepublican decay. Manuel L. Quezon Sr. created Filipino Diaspora and we as Filipinos
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from our stolen generations are now living in hell. We are like rats and cockroaches;some are dogs; others are flies. Well, I guess real dogs in the US, UK and Australia livea more luxurious life than our fellow human dogs in the Philippines. If MLQ lives inheaven now then happy he is to see us all living in hell. He would rather see thePhilippines run like hell by the crocodile Filipinos (like him) rather than like Heaven by

the Americans. Yes, he was right, his grandson, MLQ III is running the Philippines likehell yet he lives a selfish sheltered prosperous heavenly life. People of the Philippines, Icall upon you all to please wake up. Look at Malacanang Palace it has become a cozyhome of neonepotismalcolonialists and oligarchs from the same breed of assassinatorsand corruptors.

s hernandez wrote:I hope America will propose to the Philippine Government to rejoin United States. I amsure if a referendum will be held, it will get a majority vote of the Filipino people.Sheraton,

Please do not wait for Washington DC or White House to propose to the corrupt andmoney-starved infested Philippine government in order to rejoin the United States. AsIve said, historically, the Philippine Islands belong to the US. Let the people of thePhilippines destroy the sick and rotten REPUBLIC and revive and debate the deadTydings-McDuffie Act and Jones Law. The Filipino masses must be united. We will stillbe Filipinos and proud Americans at the same time protected by the Constitution of theUnited States of America with sincere Preamble and righteous Bill of Rights. GloriaArroyo can still be our representative to Washington as temporary congresswoman or asinterim governor of the 51st state until such time that an honest election shall be ruled byWashington.

Sheraton, if you wish to join and become part of the Philippine Statehood USA TopParty, I can send you an email address to link with. Who knows you might even becomethe secretary general for the United Kingdom-based Filipinos. What do you think?

FAIRNESSi dont believe it is in the interest of either countries to make philippines the 51st state. toomany complications politically economically and socially. its hard to go back to yourparents house when youre middle age.

fairness wrote:i dont believe it is in the interest of either countries to make philippines the 51st state. toomany complications politically economically and socially. its hard to go back to yourparents house when youre middle age.fairness,

we don't go back to our parents arms when we reach middleage. we take their wisdomsand teachings. in most ways, we follow their ways good or bad. The US created ademocratic nation. The US educated an ignorant nation. Spaincreated a fearing illiterateFilipinos for nearly 400 years. It took only 50 years for America to civilise a nation. The
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Philippines learned democracy, freedom and wisdom from the Americans. I would loveto take them with me wherever I go.

fairness wrote: that would increase the population of the united states to 400,000,000 right

away. united states is on the verge of curving influx of foreign nationals to controlpopulation growth. also itll make the wages lower in the usa and the vocal majority wontlike that. filipinos need to get their act straightened to improve their standard of living.fairness,

Well and truly said. Indiahas more than 1 Billion people and they are now the Top 3economic giant of Asia. China has even bigger population with 1.1 Billion and bothcountries are the economic tigers of Asia. Japan and Singapore are sinking simplybecause Singapore could not swallow to support a bigger multicultural population andJapan is slowly corrupting. The United States is still the most powerful nation on earthhence the population must be maintained. Thousands of Americans are dying from

sicknesses and natural causes every year and many more thousands are dying from warsand military involvement. As a powerful nation, Washington needs to maintain itsmilitary force. There are about 50 million strong young men and women in thePhilippines enough to protect the United States mainland in case of another war in theMiddle East or elsewhere. The Philippines is an archipelago strategically positioned inthe Asia-Pacific region and closed to the Indian Ocean near Middle East. Just likeAmerica's largest installation outside the US, the former Clark airbase, Subic navalbase,and Sangley Point, we can control again the entire Asia-Pacific region. Hawaii is notenough because Hawaii is too small and too far to protect the entire US jurisdiction. Withcombined Guam, Hawaii and The Philippines FORCE, the US will have no problem inthe Middle East, Southeast Asia and the entire Pacific. The Filipinos will not be liabilitiesto Washington. We have 85 million highly skilled and prominently educated English-speaking people. The islands are naturally rich in sugar, coffee, mine, oil, gas, coconuts,fruits, veggies etc. The US will become self-sufficient in terms of these needs. ThePhilippines was the second most powerful country in Asia after Japan five decades agojust after the commonwealth government. The Philippines and the Filipinos are notforeigners to the United States. We are part and parcel of her history. We can not rub outthat history. Filipinos will always be American-tagged no matter where we go. Here inAustralia, I am called the 'brown flip yankee doodle' and I am bloody proud of it.

George wrote:Sheraton,Please do not wait for Washington DC or White House to propose to the corrupt andmoney-starved infested Philippine government in order to rejoin the United States. AsIve said, historically, the Philippine Islands belong to the US. Let the people of thePhilippines destroy the sick and rotten REPUBLIC and revive and debate the deadTydings-McDuffie Act and Jones Law. The Filipino masses must be united. We will stillbe Filipinos and proud Americans at the same time protected by the Constitution of theUnited States of America with sincere Preamble and righteous Bill of Rights. Gloria
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Arroyo can still be our representative to Washington as temporary congresswoman or asinterim governor of the 51st state until such time that an honest election shall be ruled byWashington.Sheraton, if you wish to join and become part of the Philippine Statehood USA TopParty, I can send you an email address to link with. Who knows you might even become

the secretary general for the United Kingdom-based Filipinos. What do you think?

FAIRNESSlotsa goats in america. mmmmmm! and variety of dogs too. yuuuummy!filipinos move into mainland usa and some if us move in to philippines for more room and less pollution.that works. whatll happen to the prez? become a governor?

CHIQUITOWITH THE IMMENENT ECONOMIC RECESSION FACING THE US GOD FORBIDTHE PHILIPPINES WILL MAKE ANOTHER US STATE.

SPACE 1It's not going to happen. Too much Pride in the philippines, that is why the philippines isstill as what it is.

Let us all become one

By BENIGNO SIMEON C. AQUINO III President of the PhilippinesJuly 26, 2010, 5:16pm

(English translation of the State-of-the-Nation Address of President Benigno S. Aquino

III before the Joint Session of the Congress of the Philippines at the Batasang Pambansa,Quezon City, July 26, 2010.)

Speaker Feliciano Belmonte; Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile; Vice President JejomarBinay, Chief Justice Renato Corona, Former Presidents Fidel Valdez Ramos and JosephEjercito Estrada; Members of the House of Representatives and the Senate; distinguishedmembers of the diplomatic corps;

My beloved countrymen:

Our administration is facing a forked road. On one direction, decisions are made to

protect the welfare of our people; to look after the interest of the majority; to have a firmgrip on principles; and to be faithful to the public servants sworn oath to serve thecountry honestly.

This is the straight path.

On the other side, personal interest is the priority, and where one becomes a slave topolitical considerations to the detriment of our nation.


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This is the crooked path.

For a long time, our country lost its way in the crooked path. As days go by (since Ibecame President), the massive scope of the problems we have inherited becomes muchclearer. I could almost feel the weight of my responsibilities.

In the first three weeks of our administration, we discovered many things, and I willreport to you some of the problems we have uncovered, and the steps we are taking tosolve them.

This report is merely a glimpse of our situation. It is not the entire picture of the crises weare facing. The reality was hidden from our people, who seem to have been deliberatelyobfuscated on the real state of our nation.

In the first six years of this year, government expenditure exceeded our revenues. Ourdeficit further increased to P196.7 billion.

Our collection targets, which lack P23.8 billion, were not fully met, while we wentbeyond our spending by P45.1 billion.

Our budget for 2010 is P1.54 trillion. Of this, only P100 billion or 6.5% of the totalbudget can be used for the remaining six months of the current year. Roughly 1% of thetotal budget is left for each of the remaining month.

Where did the funds go?

A calamity fund worth P2 billion was reserved in preparation for anticipated calamities.

Of this already miniscule amount, at a time when the rainy season has yet to set in, P1.4billion or 70% was already spent.

The entire province of Pampanga received P108 million. Of this, P105 million went toonly one district. On the other hand, the province of Pangasinan, which was severelyaffected by Typhoon Pepeng, received a mere P5 million, which had to be used to fixdamages inflicted not even by Pepeng, but by a previous typhoon, Cosme.

The funds were released on election month, which was seven months after the typhoon.What will happen if a typhoon arrives tomorrow? The fund has been used up to repairdamage from typhoons that hit us last year. Our future will pay for the greed of yesterday.

This is also what happened to the funds of the MWSS. Just recently, people lined up forwater while the leadership of the MWSS rewarded itself even though the pensions ofretired employees remain unpaid.

The entire payroll of the MWSS amounts to 51.4 million pesos annually. But this isntthe full extent of what they receive: they receive additional allowances and benefits


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amounting to 81.1 million pesos. In short, they receive 211.5 million pesos annually.Twenty four percent of this is for normal salaries, and sixty six percent is added on.

The average worker receives up to 13th month pay plus a cash gift. In the MWSS, theyreceive the equivalent of over thirty months pay if you include all their additional

bonuses and allowances.

What we discovered in the case of the salaries of their board of trustees is even moreshocking. Lets take a look at the allowances they receive:

Attending board of trustees and board committee meetings, and you get fourteenthousands pesos. This totals ninety eight thousand pesos a month. They also get an annualgrocery incentive of eighty thousand pesos.

And thats not all. They get a mid-year bonus, productivity bonus, anniversary bonus,year-end bonus, and financial assistance.

They not only get a Christmas bonus, but an additional Christmas package as well. Eachof these amounts to eighty thousand pesos. All in all, each member of the board receivestwo and a half million pesos a year exclusive of car service, technical assistance, andloans. Let me repeat. They award themselves all of these while being in arrears for thepensions of their retired employees.

Even the La Mesa watershed wasnt spared. In order to ensure an adequate supply ofwater, we need to protect our watersheds. In watersheds, trees are needed. Where thereshould be trees, they built homes for the top officials of the MWSS.

We cannot remove them from their positions quickly because they are among themidnight appointees of former president Arroyo.

We are investigating all of these things. But if they have any shame left, they shouldvoluntarily relinquish their positions.

Now lets discuss funds for infrastructure. The DPWH identified two hundred forty sixpriority safety projects to be funded by the motor vehicle users charge. This needs abudget of P425 million. What they ended up funding were only 28 projects. Theydisregarded 218 projects and replaced these with seventy projects that werent in theplans. The P425 million originally asked for became P480 million, increasing because of

projects allocated for a favored few.

These projects make no sense: unstudied and unprepared for, sprouting like mushrooms.

The era of such projects is at an end. Under our administration, there will be no quotas,there will be no overpricing, the funds of the people will be spent for the people.


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Even if you multiply for more than three times the amount of shortage, they again boughtmore than what was needed.

What hurts is, because they keep purchasing more than what they need year after year,the excess rice that had to be stored in warehouses ended up rotting, just like what

happened in 2008.

Is this not a crime, letting rice rot, despite the fact that there are 4 million Filipinos whodo not eat three times a day?

The result is NFAs current debt of P177 billion.

This money that was wasted could have funded the following:

The budget of the entire judiciary, which is at P12.7 billion this year. The Conditional Cash Transfers for the following year, which cost P29.6 billion.

All the classrooms that our country needs, which cost P130 billion

This way of doing things is revolting. Money was there only to be wasted.

You have heard how the public coffers were squandered. This is what is clear to me now:change can only come from our determination to stamp out this extravagance andprofligacy.

That is why starting now: we will stop the wasteful use of government funds. We willeradicate projects that are wrong.

This is the point of what we call the zero-based approach in our budget. What used to bethe norm was every year, the budget merely gets re-enacted without plugging the holes.

Next month we will be submitting a budget that accurately identifies the problem andgives much attention on the right solution.

Those that I have mentioned were only some of the problems we have discovered. Herenow are examples of the steps we are undertaking to solve them.

There is a case of one pawnshop owner. He purchased a vehicle at an estimated cost of 26million pesos.

If he can afford to buy a Lamborghini, why cant he pay his taxes?

A case has already been filed against him. Through the leadership of Finance SecretaryCesar Purisima, BIR Commissioner Kim Henares, Customs Commissioner Lito Alvarez,and Justice Secretary Leila de Lima, every week we have new cases filed againstsmugglers and against those who do not pay the right taxes.


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We have also already identified the suspects of the cases of Francisco Baldomero, JoseDaguio and Miguel Belen, 3 of the 6 incidents of extralegal killings since we assumed thePresidency.

Fifty percent (50%) of these incidents of extralegal killings are now on their way to being

resolved.

We will not stop the pursuit of the remaining half of these killings until justice has beenachieved.

We will hold murderers accountable. We will also hold those who are corrupt that workin government accountable for their actions.

We have begun forming our Truth Commission, through the leadership of former ChiefJustice Hilario Davide. We will search for the truth on the alleged wrongdoing committedin the last nine years.

This week, I will sign the first ever Executive Order on the formation of this TruthCommission.

If the answer to justice is accountability, the answer to the dearth in funds is a new andcreative approach to our long-standing problems.

We have so many needs: from education, infrastructure, health, military, police and more.Our funds will not be enough to meet them.

No matter how massive the deficit is that may keep us from paying for this list of needs, I

am heartened because many have already expressed renewed interest and confidence inthe Philippines.

Our solution: public-private partnerships. Although no contract has been signed yet, I cansay that ongoing talks with interested investors will yield fruitful outcomes.

There are some who have already shown interest and want to build an expressway fromManila that will pass through Bulacan, Nueva Ecija, Nueva Vizcaya, until the end ofCagayan Valley, without the government having to spend a single peso.

On national defense: We have 36,000 nautical miles of shoreline, but we only have 32

boats. These boats are as old as the time of (US General Douglas) MacArthur.

Some had this proposition: they will rent the Navy headquarters on Roxas Boulevard andthe Naval Station in Fort Bonifacio.

They will take care of the funding necessary to transfer the Navy Headquarters to CampAguinaldo. Immediately, we will be given $100 million. Furthermore, they will give us aportion of their profits from their businesses that would occupy the land they will rent.


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In short, we will meet our needs without spending, and we will also earn.

There have already been many proposals from local to foreign investors to provide forour various needs.

From these public-private partnerships, our economy will grow and every Filipino will bethe beneficiary. There are so many sectors that could benefit from this.

We will be able to construct the needed infrastructure in order to help tourism grow.

In agriculture, we will be able to have access to grains terminals, refrigeration facilities,orderly road networks and post-harvest facilities.

If we can fix out food supply chain with the help of the private sector, instead ofimporting, we will hopefully be able to supply for the needs of the global market.

The prices of commodities will go down if we are able to make this efficient railwaysystem a reality. It will be cheaper and faster, and it will be easier for travelers to avoidcrooked cops and rebels.

A reminder to all: creating jobs is foremost on our agenda, and the creation of jobs willcome from the growth of our industries.

Growth will only be possible if we streamline processes to make them predictable,reliable and efficient for those who want to invest.

We make sure that the Build-Operate-and-Transfer projects will undergo quick and

efficient processes. With the help of all government agencies concerned and the people, aprocess that used to take as short as a year and as long as a decade will now only take sixmonths.

The Department of Trade and Industry has already taken steps to effect this change,under the leadership of Secretary Gregory Domingo:

The never-ending horror story of registering business names, which used to take aminimum of four to eight hours depending on the day, will be cut down drastically tofifteen minutes.

What used to be a check list of thirty-six documents will be shortened to a list of six, andthe old eight-page application form will be whittled down to one page.

I call on our local government units to review its own procedures. While we look formore ways to streamline our processes to make business start-ups easier, I hope theLGUs can also find ways to implement reforms that will be consistent with the ones wehave already started.


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All will certainly benefit from this streamlining -- be it businessmen, soldiers, rebels andordinary Filipinos. As long as the interests of Filipinos will not be jeopardized, we willexplore all available avenues to make this a reality. We must start now, and we should allhelp achieve this and not stand in each others way.

The time when we will no longer be made to choose between our peoples security andthe future of our children is upon us now.

Once we implement these public-private partnerships, we will be able to fund publicservice in accordance with our platform.

This will enable us to fund our plans for education.

We will be able to expand our basic education cycle from seven years to the globalstandard of twelve years.

We can build more classrooms, and we will fund service contracting under theGovernment Assistance to Students and Teachers in Private Education Program(GASTPE).

Conditional cash transfers that aim to lessen the burden of education on parents will alsobe funded if this partnership becomes a reality.

Our plans for improving PhilHealth can now be within reach.

First, we will identify the correct number of Filipinos who sorely need PhilHealthcoverage, as current data is conflicting on this matter. On one hand, PhilHealth says that

eighty-seven percent (87%) of Filipinos are covered, then lowers the number to onlyfifty-three percent (53%). On the other hand, the National Statistics Office says that onlythirty-eight percent (38%) of Filipinos are covered by Philhealth.

Even as we speak, Secretary Dinky Soliman and the Department of Social Welfare andDevelopment are moving to implement the National Household Targeting System thatwill identify the families that most urgently need assistance. An estimated 9 billion pesosis needed in order to provide coverage for five million poor Filipinos.

Our country is beginning to see better days ahead. The private sector, the League ofProvinces headed by Governor Alfonso Umali, together with Governors L-Ray

Villafuerte and Icot Petilla, are now ready to do their share when it comes to shoulderingthe financial burden. I know that the League of Cities under the leadership of MayorOscar Rodriguez will not be far behind.

If the local governments share in our goals, I know that I can surely count on Congress,the institution where I began public service, to push for our agenda for change.


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Our Cabinet has already showed its skill by identifying not just problems but alsoproposing solutions in a matter of three weeks.

In the aftermath of Typhoon Basyang, we were told by those in the power sector that wewould be without electricity for four days. The quick action of Secretary Rene Almendras

and the Department of Energy resulted in the restoration of power to almost all thoseaffected within twenty-four hours.

The so-called water shortage in Metro Manila was quickly attended to by SecretaryRogelio Singson and the Department of Public Works and Highways. Secretary Singsondid it without prodding, which alleviated the suffering of those affected.

We also witnessed the competence and initiative of those we appointed to be part of ourCabinet. It is but just that they not be forced to go through the eye of a needle to beconfirmed by the Commission on Appointments. Should this happen, competent Filipinoswill be encouraged to help our country through service to the public.

In the soonest possible time, we will convene the Legislative Executive DevelopmentAdvisory Council (LEDAC) to discuss the important bills that needs to be addressed.Rest assured that I will keep an open mind in order for our relationship to be true to ourpeople.

We will push for the Fiscal Responsibility Bill, where we cannot push for bills that willneed funding, rather only those that have already identified its sources of funding. Weneed 104.1 billion pesos to fund those laws already passed but whose implementationremains pending because of lack of funds.

We will re-evaluate fiscal incentives given in the past. Now that we are tightening o

Phillipines Become US State

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