President Noynoy Aquino's First SONA - July 26, 2010

State of the Nation Address
Benigno Simeon C. Aquino III
July 26, 2010
Batasan Pambansa

 

Plenary Hall is jam-packed. So much so, that the airconditioners were not enough and people had to use their fans. The draft of the SONA is about 14 pages long, in Filipino, expected to be delivered within 35 to 40 minutes. This is his first SONA after 26 days in office.

 

~3:45 PM: P-Noy arrives at Batasan Pambansa. We was greeted and welcomed by House Speaker Sonny Belmonte and Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile.

 

3:56 PM: P-Noy enters the Hall.

 

3:58 PM: National Anthem followed by National Prayer

 

4:02 PM: P-Noy approaches the podium and begins his SONA:

 

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Highlights

 

PNoy begins with differentiating "Ang Tuwid na Daan" vs "Ang Baluktot na Daan", stating that the previous government was in the "daang baluktot" for a long time, and that the nation was purposely deceived about the true state of the nation.

 

Status Quo: The Real State of the National Budget

Government spending was much larger than the revenue. 6.5% out of php1.5 trillion is all that remains of the national budget.

• Calamity Fund: The php2 billion calamity fund was never realized. His investigation learned that the large bulk of the the calamity fund went to one single district in Pampanga.
• MWSS Exposed: The board members are using the funds for themselves (through allowances, bonuses, incentives, etc), while the agency is still deep in debt. PNoy calls for the board members to resign if they still have any semblance of shame left; the audience agrees with a loud applause.
• Motor Vehicles User's Charge: only a handful of projects are allocated. The rest are junked and replaced with ad-hoc projects that benefitted only a select few.
• Napocor: In 2001-2004, the agency was told to sell power at a very low rate. It was almost election time. Still, Napocor's debt was passed to the public.
•  MRT: In order for the MRT owners to recoup their losses, Landbank and the Development Bank of the Philippines are told to buy MRT.
•  National Food Authority (NFA): The agency overbought rice, yet most of the supply rotted in the warehouses.

The Plan: President Noy's Roadmap to Recovery

• Improved Tax Collection: He will go after smuggler and all who do not pay their taxes. Care of Cesar Purisima, Laila Delima, and the Customs department.
• Justice for Extra-Legal/Judicial Killings: so far, 3 out of 7 of these killings have been resolved, and the remaining will be sought.
• Truth Commission: This new commission, to be headed by former Chief Justice Hilario Davide, will be approved soon and will dig into the last nine years of the previous administration.
• Public-Private Partnerships: P-Noy's solution to the lack of funds. As an example, he mentioned a proposed plan to build an expressway that spans from Metro Manila, Central Luzon, all the way to Cagayan Valley. Another example partnership involves the improvement of the Navy -- for a country with a very long stretch of coastline, we barely have enough ships to protect it.
• Agriculture/Transportation: improving railways, transportation, and infrastructure means reduced costs.
• Steamlined Process for Local Businesses: Department of Trade and Industry (c/o Gregory Domingo) will improve processing of Build-Operate-Transfer for local businesses. Simply means reducing the red tape, which would encourage local businesses to flourish.
• Improved Education: Improve Education Cycle and add more classrooms
• Improving PhilHealth Coverage: As a first step, Dinky Soliman/DSWD will identify and survey the number of families who need help from PhilHealth.
• Efficient Cabinet: P-Noy believes in his chosen Cabinet members, citing as an example Rene Almendras of DOE, who restored power in the aftermath of Bagyong Basyang within 24 hours instead of originally projected 5 days.
• Legislative Agenda: PNoy urges the House and Senate to look into Fiscal Responsibility Bill, Procurement Law Amendments, Anti-Trust Law, Whistle Blowers Bill, and Improved Witness Protection program.
• Peace-Talks: Believing that there is no progress without peace, PNoy encouraged peace-talks primarily to address two issues: the Mindanao issue (with MILF) and CPP-NPA-NDF. "Handa ba kayong mag-usap tayo?"

 

Final Words:

Ito ay Panahon ng Sakripisyo.

Tungkulin ng bawat Pilipino bantayan ang mga pinunong niluklok sa pwesto.

Tayo na ang tumungo sa katuparan ng ating pangarap.

 

Finished 4:39 PM