Nov. 17--President Gloria Arroyo assured that she would continue working for the improvement of the lives of the poor until her last day in office, even as she expressed hope that her pro-poor programs and reforms will be sustained by the next administration. Scheduled elections in May 2010 will pick her successor and she is expected to formally leave the presidency a month or so after the national balloting.

In her message at the first-ever gathering of beneficiaries of government programs and projects at the "Government Beneficiaries Congress" held at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium in Manila on Monday, President Arroyo also thanked the beneficiaries of the reforms she initiated for recognizing her efforts.

''Together we will work to further uplift the lives of the Filipino people and I am happy you remembered to say 'Thank you,''' the President said in the vernacular.

She stressed that through the economic reforms she introduced, the economy improved, posting 34 quarters of growth, the fastest of which was in 2007, from an economy on the brink of bankruptcy in 2001.

''You supported our reforms so it is right for us to bring back to you the benefits derived from our reforms,'' the President said.

Among these programs and projects, she added, were the expansion of the coverage of PhilHealth, scholarships, jobs, good roads, agricultural reforms and infrastructure.

''Galing 'yan sa aking mga reporma [Those are the fruits of our economic reforms],'' Mrs. Arroyo said. The President added that the recognition of her efforts ''gives me strength to further improve our economy and continue to help the poor.''

Some 5,000 beneficiaries, a fraction of the millions of Filipinos who benefited from the Arroyo administration's housing, health and educational services, presented a covenant of support to the President and her programs and for the setting up of a government beneficiaries' organization.

''I ask you to believe in God and yourselves to realize our dreams for our country. I ask for your support,'' the President told them.

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