ACCEPTANCE SPEECH
To the dedicated men and women of the Public Attorney’s Office, led by Chief Persida Rueda-Acosta; my fellow awardees; distinguished guests; ladies and gentlemen—magandang hapon po sa inyong lahat.
To be recognized by the Public Attorney’s Office—an institution that has long stood as a lifeline for those who have little but hope—is something I will always carry with humility and honor. Maraming salamat po for this recognition.
Sa totoo lang, hindi ko po ito inasahan. Just like my assumption of office as Secretary of the Department of Budget and Management, this moment comes with a sense of quiet surprise—and even greater responsibility.
It has been nearly 38 years since I first walked into the DBM to serve the nation, until now, to what many would call the final chapter—a time to slow down, to rest.
But public service has a way of calling you back.
And when that call comes—not for yourself, but for the country—you answer.
You show up. You give what you can. And you do the work, as best as you know how, with discipline, integrity, and faith in something bigger than yourself.
Kaya para sa amin sa DBM, simple lang po ang prinsipyo: Dapat Bayan ang Mauuna.
This recognition, therefore, is not mine alone.
It belongs to the many quiet, hardworking men and women of the DBM—those who work behind the scenes, often unseen, but always guided by the same purpose: to ensure that every peso serves the Filipino people.
And it also belongs to institutions like the Public Attorney’s Office.
Because at the end of the day, the work we do in budgeting finds its true meaning in the work that you do—in courtrooms, in communities, and in the lives you help rebuild.
Kayo po ang nagdadala ng hustisya sa mga taong kadalasan ay walang boses.
Kayo ang nagpapatunay na ang katarungan ay hindi dapat ipinagkakait sa mahihirap—na ito ay karapatan ng bawat Pilipino.
We in the DBM recognize that truth. And we do our part to support it.
In 2024, we approved the creation of 178 new Public Attorney positions to help address the gap in legal representation across our courts. This was followed by 87 additional positions in 2025—small but meaningful steps toward strengthening access to justice.
And this year, under the FY 2026 General Appropriations Act, we continue that commitment through a P5.710 billion allocation for PAO—so that you may continue providing free legal services to those who need it most.
But beyond the numbers, what truly matters is the impact.
Every case you take, every client you defend, every life you help restore—that is where government service becomes real.
That is where justice becomes tangible.
And that is where hope begins.
As we move forward, please know that the DBM stands with you—not just as a funding institution, but as a partner in your mission.
We will continue to do our part to ensure that you are supported, that your work is sustained, and that the Filipino people are served.
Because we share the same belief:
Na walang Pilipinong dapat maiwan—lalo na pagdating sa katarungan.
Kaisa n’yo po kami sa pagsusulong ng isang lipunang makatarungan, makatao, at may malasakit sa bawat isa.
Maraming salamat po sa pagkilalang ito. I accept it with a grateful heart—and with a renewed commitment to serve.
Mabuhay po ang Public Attorney’s Office. Mabuhay ang sambayanang Pilipino.
Maraming salamat po.
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