Platform of Pres. Erap

PLATFORM OF JOSEPH EJERCITO ESTRADA Vision: A democracy that is truly pro-poor. A country with peace and order. A government of transparency and accountability. Economic Agenda REVIVING THE ECONOMY Steady economic growth that is felt by the masses. GNP growth is meaningless if poverty and hunger levels and other measures of quality of life remain poor. An Estrada Administration will increase growth while also increasing the country's human development index. This will be achieved by strengthening the country's domestic economy, specifically in the field of agriculture, instead of relying on overseas remittances to increase GNP; and by ensuring that the bulk of the budget goes to services that trickle down to the poor, such as social services and education, instead of to debt servicing or overpriced infrastructure projects. National Security Agenda PEACE AND ORDER Ending criminal, insurgent and secessionist movements President Joseph Estrada's primary goal is to achieve peace and order nationwide, especially in Mindanao, because he believes that peace and order is a prerequisite to economic development. His top priority is to bring down crime rates in Metro Manila, especially drug-related activities; end insurgency in the Visayas and other provinces infested with rebels; and end the secessionist movement in Mindanao. Aside from the obvious benefits of peace, ending the secessionist movement is a top priority because the country must send out the signal to the international community that we are nation that can keep its own laws in its own land, with the underlying objective of removing travel bans or advisories against the Philippines in order to entice investors and tourists to come. Negotiations will still be the priority means to achieve this objective . However, should the MILF continue to renege on peace agreements and sow terror against Filipinos in Mindanao, war may be considered as a last resort or final means to attaining lasting peace. Social Agenda FOOD