THE SONA OF THE PRESIDENT AND MY REACTION


                    

                       President Benigno Simeon “PNoy” Aquino III delivered his fourth annual State of the Nation Address in Batasang Pambansa Complex, Quezon City on July 22, 2013 with the theme, “Sa Gitna ng Daang Matuwid.”

                     PNoy’s speech was very comprehensive, covering a lot of areas which include the accomplishments of his administration in political and economic aspects, praises for public servants and government departments who made outstanding services for the country, and also strongly-worded criticisms against corrupt public servants and erring government agencies.

                    The President mentioned the fresh mandate from the people via domination of his senatorial candidates in May 2013 elections, the Bangsamoro peace framework, success of his Pantawid ng Pamilyang Pilipino Program, more TESDA scholars, housing program for informal settlers and the 7.8% GDP last year. He also hailed the passage of RH Law, Sin Tax Law, AFP Modernization Act and the K-12 Law.

               

                He ended his speech with words, “I am Noynoy Aquino, and I proudly say to the world: I am a Filipino. How wonderful it is to be a Filipino in these times.”

             In my own humble opinion, President Aquino was successful in relaying the inclusive growth of his administration and regaining the trust of the Filipino people in the presidency, and his SONA exuded the confidence he has with his accomplishments.                                         However, I felt that the speech was too long to miss on some important issues like the passage of Freedom of Information bill, amendment or repeal of Cybercrime Act, and especially the P10 Billion pork scam. True or not, he should’ve mentioned the scam, for anti-corruption is his main thrust in the Daang Matuwid platform.