Fidel V. Ramos began his presidency at noon on June 30, 1992, following his inauguration as the 12th president of the Philippines, succeeding Corazon Aquino. He is the first Protestant president of the country, and the first Christian Democrat to be elected, being the founder of Lakas–National Union of Christian Democrats (Lakas–NUCD). He was included as one of the most influential leaders and the unofficial spokesman of liberal democracy in Asia.

The first few years of Ramos' administration (1992–1995) were characterized by economic boom, technological development, political stability and efficient delivery of basic needs to the people. Under Ramos' presidency, the country's Gross National Product averaged 5 percent annually. Ramos pushed for the deregulation of key industries and the liberalization of the economy; he encouraged the privatization of public entities to include the modernization of public infrastructure through an expanded Build-Operate-Transfer law. This marked the beginning of the presence of Neoliberal ideology in the Philippines.

Ramos forged a peace agreement with military rebels and the secessionist Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF). In 1993, he ended a power crisis that crippled Filipino homes and industries for two years. He implemented a comprehensive Social Reform Agenda (SRA) to address poverty.

1992 presidential election

In the 1992 presidential election, retired general Fidel Ramos of Lakas–NUCD narrowly defeated populist candidate Miriam Defensor Santiago of the People's Reform Party. Ramos also got the lowest plurality in the Philippine electoral history, and beat the previous election for the closest margin of victory, percentage-wise (this record would later be beaten by the 2004 election).

Administration and cabinet

Office Name Term President Fidel V. Ramos June 30, 1992 – June 30, 1998 Vice-President Joseph Ejercito Estrada June 30, 1992 – June 30, 1998 Executive Secretary Peter Garrucho July 1, 1992 – September 13, 1992 Edelmiro Amante September 14, 1992 – June 30, 1993 Teofisto Guingona, Jr. July 6, 1993 – May 19, 1995 Ruben Torres May 20, 1995 – January 8, 1998 Alexander Aguirre January 9, 1998 – June 30, 1998 Secretary of Agrarian Reform Ernesto Garilao July 1, 1992 – June 30, 1998 Secretary of Agriculture Roberto Sebastian July 1, 1992 – January 31, 1996 Salvador Escudero III February 1, 1996 – June 30, 1998 Secretary of Budget and Management Salvador Enriquez, Jr. June 30, 1992 – February 1, 1998 Emilia Boncodin February 1, 1998 – June 30, 1998 Secretary of Education, Culture and Sports Armand Fabella July 1, 1992 – July 6, 1994 Ricardo Gloria July 7, 1994 – December 1997 Erlinda Pefianco February 2, 1998 – June 30, 1998 Secretary of Energy Rufino Bomasang June 30, 1992 – January 11, 1993 Delfin Lazaro January 12, 1993 – September 19, 1994 Francisco Viray September 20, 1994 – June 30, 1998 Secretary of Environment and Natural Resources Ricardo M. Umali (Acting) July 1, 1992 – August 31, 1992 Angel Alcala September 8, 1992 – June 30, 1995 Victor Ramos July 1, 1995 – June 30, 1998 Secretary of Finance Ramon del Rosario, Jr. July 1, 1992 – June 1, 1993 Ernest Leung June 2, 1993 – January 31, 1994 Roberto de Ocampo February 1, 1994 – March 30, 1998 Salvador Enriquez April 1, 1998 – June 30, 1998 Secretary of Foreign Affairs Roberto Romulo July 1, 1992 – April 1995 Domingo Siazon, Jr. May 1995 – June 30, 1998 Secretary of Health Juan Flavier July 1, 1992 – January 30, 1995 Jaime Galvez Tan January 30, 1995 – July 5, 1995 Hilarion Ramiro, Jr. July 10, 1995 – March 22, 1996 Carmencita Reodica April 8, 1996 – June 29, 1998 Secretary of the Interior and Local Government Rafael Alunan III July 1, 1992 – April 15, 1996 Robert Barbers April 16, 1996 – February 3, 1998 Epimaco Velasco February 4, 1998 – May 30, 1998 Nelson Collantes June 1, 1998 – June 30, 1998 Secretary of Justice Franklin Drilon July 1, 1992 – February 1995 Demetrio Demetria February 1995 – May 1995 Teofisto Guingona, Jr. May 1995 – February 1998 Silvestre Bello III February 1998 – June 30, 1998 Secretary of Labor and Employment Nieves Confesor June 30, 1992 – June 30, 1995 Jose Brillantes July 1, 1995 – January 16, 1996 Leonardo Quisumbing January 16, 1996 – January 26, 1998 Cresenciano Trajano January 26, 1998 – June 30, 1998 Secretary of National Defense Renato de Villa June 30, 1992 – September 15, 1997 Fortunato Abat September 16, 1997 – June 30, 1998 Secretary of Public Works and Highways Jose de Jesus June 30, 1992 – March 1, 1993 Eduardo Mir March 1, 1993 – June 1, 1993 Gregorio Vigilar June 1, 1993 – June 30, 1998 Secretary of Science and Technology Ricardo Gloria July 1, 1992 – July 6, 1994 William Padolina July 7, 1994 – June 30, 1998 Secretary of Social Welfare and Development Corazon Alma de Leon July 1, 1992 – June 1995 Lilian Laigo 1995 – June 30, 1998 Secretary of Tourism Narzalina Lim June 30, 1992 – September 10, 1992 Vicente Carlos September 11, 1992 – July 3, 1995 Eduardo Pilapil July 4, 1995 – March 29, 1996 Evelyn Pantig March 29, 1996 – April 7, 1996 Guillermina Gabor April 8, 1996 – June 30, 1998 Secretary of Trade and Industry Rizalino Navarro July 1, 1992 – 1996 Cesar Bautista 1996 – June 30, 1998 Secretary of Transportation and Communications Jesus Garcia July 1, 1992 – April 1, 1996 Amado Lagdameo, Jr. April 1, 1996 – April 16, 1997 Arturo Enrile April 16, 1997 – January 14, 1998 Josefina Lichauco January 15, 1998 – June 30, 1998 Presidential Spokesperson Rodolfo Reyes July 1, 1992 – May 10, 1993 Jesus Sison May 11, 1993 – June 20, 1995 Hector Villanueva June 21, 1995 – June 29, 1998 Chief of the Presidential Management Staff Ma. Leonora Vasquez-de Jesus, Ph.D. 1992–1998 Cabinet Secretary Ma. Leonora Vasquez-de Jesus, Ph.D. 1992–1998 Director-General of the National Economic and Development Authority Cielito Habito July 1, 1992 – June 30, 1998 Chairperson of the Commission on Higher Education Ricardo Gloria May 18, 1994 – June 30, 1995 Angel Alcala July 1, 1995 – June 30, 1998 Solicitor General Ramon Desuasido June 30, 1992 – July 5, 1992 Eduardo Montenegro July 6, 1992 – August 10, 1992 Raul Goco August 11, 1992 – September 22, 1996 Silvestre Bello III September 23, 1996 – February 3, 1998 Romeo de la Cruz February 4, 1998 – June 8, 1998 Silvestre Bello III June 9, 1998 – June 30, 1998 Chairman of the Metropolitan Manila Authority Ismael Mathay Jr. July 1, 1992 – 1994 Prospero Oreta 1994 – March 1, 1995 Chairman of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority Prospero Oreta March 1, 1995 – June 30, 1998 National Security Adviser Jose Almonte July 1, 1992 – June 30, 1998 Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Haydee Yorac July 1, 1992 – August 9, 1993 Oscar Santos August 20, 1993 – March 22, 1994 Manuel Yan March 22, 1994 – June 30, 1998 Chairman and Administrator of the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority Richard J. Gordon July 1, 1992 – June 30, 1998 Chairman of the National Centennial Commission Salvador H. Laurel 1993–1998

Judicial appointments Ramos appointed the following to the Supreme Court of the Philippines:

Justice Jose Melo - August 10, 1992 Justice Jose C. Campos, Jr. - September 3, 1992 Justice Camilo D. Quiason - February 1, 1993 Justice Reynato Puno - June 28, 1993 Justice Jose C. Vitug - June 28, 1993 Justice Santiago M. Kapunan - January 5, 1994 Justice Vicente V. Mendoza - June 7, 1994 Justice Ricardo J. Francisco - January 5, 1995 Justice Regino C. Hermosisima, Jr. - January 10, 1995 Justice Artemio Panganiban - October 5, 1995 Justice Justo P. Torres, Jr. - March 11, 1996 Justice Antonio M. Martinez - November 10, 1997 Justice Leonardo Quisumbing - January 15, 1998 Justice Fidel P. Purisima - January 20, 1998 (his last SC justice appointee)

Major issues of presidency Speeches

Inaugural Address, (June 30, 1992) First State of the Nation Address, (July 27, 1992) Second State of the Nation Address, (July 26, 1993) Third State of the Nation Address, (July 25, 1994) Fourth State of the Nation Address, (July 24, 1995) Fifth State of the Nation Address, (July 22, 1996) Sixth State of the Nation Address, (July 28, 1997)

Major acts and legislation First RP-US Visiting Forces Agreement Republic Act No. 7653 - The New Central Bank Act Republic Act No. 7638 - Charter of the Department of Energy Republic Act No. 7648 - Electric Power Crisis Act Republic Act No. 7832 - Anti-electricity and Electric Transmission Lines/Materials Pilferage Act of 1994 Republic Act No. 7881 – Amended certain provisions of RA 6657 and exempted fishponds and prawns from the coverage of CARP Republic Act No. 7905 – Strengthened the implementation of the CARP Republic Act No. 8179 - An act further liberalizing foreign investments, amending for the purpose Republic Act No. 7042, and for other purposes Republic Act No. 8293 - The Intellectual Property Code of the Philippines (Philippine copyright law) Republic Act No. 8435 – (Agriculture and Fisheries Modernization Act) Plugged the legal loopholes in land use conversion Republic Act No. 8532 – (Agrarian Reform Fund Bill) Provided an additional Php50 billion for CARP and extended its implementation for another 10 years

Pardons As president, Ramos issued pardons to the following: Actor and future senator Robin Padilla (1998) - convicted for illegal possession of firearms.

Domestic policies

Economy

Ramos embarked on an ambitious development plan dubbed "Philippines 2000". Under the plan, several industries critical to economic development were privatized or deregularized, such as electricity, telecommunications, banking, domestic shipping, airline, and oil. The taxation system was reformed, and external debt was brought to more manageable levels by debt restructuring and sensible fiscal management. By 1996, the country's GNP and GDP were growing at a rate of 7.2 percent and 5.2 percent respectively. The annual inflation rate had dropped to 5.9 percent from its high of 9.1 percent in 1995. By the late 1990s, the Philippines' economic growth gained favorable comparisons with other Asian countries such as Taiwan, Thailand, South Korea, and Malaysia.

The Philippine economy took a sharp downturn during the 1997 Asian financial crisis. Its fiscal deficit in 1998 reached P49.981 billion from a surplus of P1.564 billion in 1997. The peso depreciated (fell in value) to P40.89 per U.S. dollar from its previous rate of P29.47 to a dollar. The annual growth rate of the GNP fell to 0.1 percent in 1998 from 5.3 percent in 1997. Despite these setbacks, the Philippine economy fared better than that of some of its Asian neighbors, and other nations praised the Ramos administration for its "good housekeeping."

Philippines 2000

During his administration, Ramos began implementing economic reforms intended to open up the once-closed national economy, encourage private enterprise, invite more foreign and domestic investment, and reduce widespread corruption. Ramos was also known as the most-traveled Philippine president compared to his predecessors with numerous foreign trips abroad, generating about US$20 billion worth of foreign investments to the Philippines. To ensure a positive financial outlook on the Philippines, Ramos led the 4th Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Leaders' Summit in the Philippines in November 1996. He also instituted reforms in the tax system which includes a forced increase on VAT (E-VAT law) from 4% to 10% mandated by World Bank and the International Monetary Fund.

Under Ramos' administration, the Philippines experienced economic growth and stability. Ramos' visions of "Philippines 2000" led the country into a newly industrialized country in the world and the "Tiger Cub Economy in Asia". Ramos ended the government's monopoly over the skies and opened aviation to new players.

Power crisis