Arroyo lists priorities in final year, says ‘thank you’

MANILA (3rd Update)– President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo said Monday “a year is a long time” as she outlined the remaining priorities of her administration in her last year in office.

In a State of the Nation Address (Sona) before Congress where she acknowledged her term will end next year, Arroyo also hit back at critics and thanked Congress members for their support in passing laws.

She said, “I never expressed the desire to extend myself beyond my term. Many of those who accuse me of it tried to cling like nails to their posts.”

“At the end of this speech, I will step down from this stage but not from the presidency. My term does not end until next year,” she also said. “A year is a long time. Patuloy ang pamumuhunan sa tinatawag na three E’s ng ekonomiya, environment at edukasyon. There are many perils that we must still guard against.” (more)

Arroyo made no mention, however, of reports that said she would seek a position in Congress as representative of a Pampanga district in an attempt to amend the Constitution.

Arroyo also expressed gratitude to Congress for several laws that were passed. These are measures on economic reforms, poverty alleviation, rent control, renewable energy, biofuels, and securitization.