The Philippine Online Chronicles

President Benigno Aquino III addressed questions about the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA), Reproductive Health (RH) bill, Freedom of Information (FOI) bill, and other pressing national issues during the YouTube World View interview streamed live on YouTube and ABS-CBN News today.

Aquino is the first Asian head of state to take part in the interview series. Other leaders who have participated include United States President Barack Obama, United Kingdom Prime Minister David Cameron and Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero.

Questions for Aquino were suggested and voted upon by YouTube users.

The president was asked what his plans are for NAIA, which was recently called 'the world's worst airport' by a popular travel website. According to Aquino, a makeover plan is in the works for the 30-year-old structure.

“The whole complex was designed for 32 million arrivals, or 32 million people who will be utilizing it and it is now approaching 30 million,” he said. “A plan for it, improving both structurally and aesthetically, would be presented to me by Tuesday next week.”

He added that although these plans would only be “stop-gap measures”, the government is looking into long-term alternatives to the old airport.

When asked about the RH bill, Aquino said that he continues to support the administration's version of the bill – the Responsible Parenthood bill.

He also noted that the “violent discourse” over the RH bill, which pitted members of the country's Catholic Church against critics, has since “toned down.” He added that one of the essential aspects of government is to empower people through education with regards to their options when it comes to raising families.

Aquino also addressed concerns over the FOI bill, which seeks to make government information available to the public.

Although he cautioned that “absolute freedom is the greatest imprisonment” with regards to releasing raw information that may be potentially misleading to the public, Aquino said that the government “has not hidden any information from citizens” and has been engaging civil society over government websites and other channels.

In addition, Aquino talked about tackling corruption in the government, as well as impunity and extrajudicial killings; improving the country's military strength; addressing pollution and overpopulation in cities; and the need to address “root causes” of unrest, such as poverty.

Aquino also responded to a light question posted by a 7-year-old boy, who was wondering if the president believed in Santa Claus.

"I believe in Santa Claus. Santa Claus is perhaps the personification of people's idea of generosity and caring. That comes out among Christians during this period most strongly," he said.

He added that his Christmas wish is for people to look out for one another, and not just themselves.

“We really have to shift, those of us who is left in the criticize-everything-and-anything phase to transforming ourselves to how we can assist our neighbor, our sister, our brother, somebody we don't even know, what can we contribute to the improvement of the whole rather than the whole."

The entire interview can be watched here.

Adobe Flash Player not installed or older than 9.0.115!