Thank you Secretary Bunye.

Magandang umaga mga Kababayan:

Today, we witnessed a historic moment in our constitutional democracy -- the creation of the Judiciary, Executive, Legislative Advisory and Consultative Council or JELAC. With us now are the highest officials of our land, representing the three co-equal branches of government to affix our signatures to the agreement institutionalizing consultation, cooperation and coordination in pursuit of the rule of law and the advancement of our nation.

Sa ating pagharap sa maraming hamon sa ating bayan pagbabalikatan at pag-uunawaan ang pinakamahalaga kaya naman inilulunsad natin ngayon ang Judiciary, Executive, Legislative Advisory and Consultative Council o JELAC.
Ang kapulungan ng mga pinuno ng sangay ng pamahalaan, hukuman, panguluhan at batasan. The separation of power into three co-equal independent branches of government lies at the foundation of our constitutional system. With the division of labor in promulgating the rule of law.
Congress enacts legislation. The Executive implements it. And the Courts interpret it. Our different functions and duties serve to circumscribe our powers and enhance the liberties and interests of citizens.

At the same time, separation does not mean isolation, rather, among our co-equal branches there should be consultation and cooperation to advance shared priorities in the national interest and welfare of all Filipinos.
We envision JELAC to be the venue where representatives of the three branches can identify issues pertaining to the primacy of the rule of law and formulate and undertake solutions to strengthen due process and the institutions of justice, and implement our laws better for the betterment of every Filipino.

Maraming maitutulong ang JELAC upang mas makatugon ang pamahalaan sa mga pangangailangan ng bayan. Nang palakpakan ng United Nations Human Rights Council and ulat ni Secretary Eduardo Ermita sa Geneva noon Abril, ang tatlong sangay ng gobyerno, and the independent bodies like the Commission on Human Rights and the Office of the Ombudsman, ay binigyang puri sa ating sama-samang pagkilos upang pagtibayin at igalang ang karapatang pantao sa ating bansa.

We need Judicial-Executive-Legislative cooperation in other priority thrusts. Our fiscal efforts, cheered by global investors, are built on new tax legislation, strickter tax collection, and swift justice for violators of tax laws. In bringing adequate, affordable rice to our people, we harness the procurement law and the Agriculture and Fisheries Modernization Act, and we charge price manipulators in court.

Most crucial of all, our drive towards development will grind to a halt without the rule of law as its foundation. The JELAC’s mandate is centered on the rule of law.

Tulong-tulong sa pag-unlad ng sambayanan at pag-iral ng batas -- ito ang layunin ng JELAC.

Maraming salamat at Mabuhay ang tatlong magkapantay na sangay.