PRESIDENT Benigno Aquino III reiterated Wednesday that the campaign issue for the elections in May 2016 would focus on who could continue the reforms that his administration has started.

Speaking in a forum in Japan, Aquino cited what his administration has so far accomplished such as the high economic growth, the increase in the number of conditional cash transfer program beneficiaries, and addressing the classroom backlog, among others.

"So, at the end of the day, our campaign next year will center on continuity; and our people will be asked: Do you want to go back to where it was or do you want to stay where we are now and perhaps even accelerate?," he said.

"And I don’t think anybody, except for a very few who benefited from the old system, will want to return to the old system," he said.

Aquino said that because of the people, his administration's reforms have become possible.

"So, at the end of the day, the people made it possible for me and our Cabinet and our government to effect these changes in their lives," he said.

The President is due to announce his preferred successor after his sixth and final State of the Nation Address on July 27. (SDR/Sunnex)