State of the Nation Address (SONA) 2 Sets Clear Government Direction - Gains Praises

The Philippines President Benigno Aquino III delivers his State of the Nation Address (SONA) during the 15th Congress at the House of Representatives in suburban Quezon City, north of Manila, Philippines on Monday, July. 25, 2011.

President Aquino’s State of the Nation Address (SONA) drew praises from congressional leaders and other sectors not only for his statesmanship but also for the inspiration it gave to the Filipino people.

Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. said the SONA was inspiring to Filipinos, who now see clear and new directions on good governance in the Aquino administration.

“The speech of the President was good and inspiring because he said we have the power of change. We all can do it,” Belmonte told reporters, noting that the SONA was not “vengeful.”

Davao City Rep. Karlo Nograles and Cagayan de Oro Rep. Rufus Rodriguez said the SONA was very clear “on what the President wants, that is to stop corruption and abuse in government so that government funds can be used for the poor.”

“But Filipinos must pay the correct taxes, too. It’s every Filipino’s responsibility to help our country. Congratulations also on the initiative to make Filipinos accountable to the planting of trees and the support government will give to this initiative,” Nograles said.

“Thank you to the President for instructing DOJ (Department of Justice) to go after extrajudicial killings. The President wants a change in the character of Filipinos – that is very noble,” he said.

Eastern Samar Rep. Ben Evardone said the SONA “was very consistent in his good governance and pro-people agenda. The litany of concrete achievements that he mentioned can be summed up into one: there is hope for every Filipino. His agenda of good governance was highlighted by his announcement of the new ombudsman,” Evardone said.

Palawan Representative Antonio Alvarez, vice chairman of the National Unity Party, said the SONA “was an instruction to Congress and a bugle call to the people on what must be done.”

“In so far as the need to provide a sense of direction, the speech achieved it. It dealt with the future instead of dwelling on the past,” Alvarez said.

Ang Kasangga sa Kaunlaran party-list Rep. Teodorico Haresco said the SONA “reflected his parents’ legacy of deep moral upbringing,” while Valenzuela City Rep. Rex Gatchalian, who is also spokesman of the Nationalist People’s Coalition in the House, said “the President showed us his firm grasp of the country’s economic, and national security programs.”

“In the national security front he showed us significant investments in equipment that bolsters our capacity building efforts, while at same time pursuing international legal efforts to secure of territorial integrity,” Gatchalian said.

“P-Noy justified very well running after grafters in the past administration as this would result in better services for the poor,” Quezon City Rep. Winston Castelo said.

Misamis Occidental Gov. Loreto Leo Ocampos said Aquino showed his determination to rid the government of graft in his speech.

Isabela Rep. Giorgidi Aggabao rated the SONA at 85 percent. “I thought it was very substantive and the dollop of humor made the speech alive and interesting.”

Former Philippines’ Presidents were satisfied- SONA is Clear

Former President Fidel Ramos said Aquino’s SONA “was better” than last year’s.

“But we need to move faster because, although he (Aquino) show it, we are already at the bottom in the whole of Southeast Asia and in the whole Asia-Pacific region,” Ramos told reporters.

“We need to work now,” he said.

Former President Joseph Estrada also commended Aquino for his “clear” SONA.

“We need to give P-Noy time in restoring faith in government because of the immeasurable and insurmountable acts of corruption of the past administration,” Estrada said.

“So while we are eliminating corruption, we should also be empowering our citizens through nation building. I hope that in his second year, we see more results in the fields of peace and order, food security and social services, especially education,” he said.

The Black and White Movement renewed its support for Aquino’s year-old government but said it needs to know the President’s vision.

“We want to know what his vision is. He needs to spell it out,” group leader Leah Navarro told reporters. “Where does this government want to take us?”

Navarro said while the government had been coming up with tag lines like “Daang Matuwid” or “Kung Walang Corrupt Walang Mahirap,” it has yet to lay down plans on how it plans to achieve it.

In a statement, the group also noted that “corruption goes unabated” and that “the President’s message of matuwid na daan has not cascaded down to government’s subordinate offices.”

Navarro, who was part of the volunteer movement that campaigned for Aquino for the 2010 polls, reiterated that her group continues to support the President but they would appreciate it if the government could fast-track programs that will eradicate poverty and produce educated youth, among others.

Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) all praises for the President Aquino

Meanwhile, the military yesterday called President Aquino “a good planner” and is optimistic that he would remain supportive of the armed forces’ capability upgrade program.

Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) spokesman Commodore Miguel Rodriguez said they are inspired by Aquino’s vision for the country as well as his drive to implement reforms.

“The plan of the President on where he would lead us is very clear. The President is a very good planner and he wants us to tread the straight path,” he said in an interview.

Rodriguez said Aquino has given them direction through the internal security plan Bayanihan, which seeks to curb armed conflict through development.

“We also have a clear marching order to step up reforms. He brought back the honor and commitment of soldiers. The soldiers become more enthusiastic under his term,” he said. Rodriguez said they are confident that through Aquino’s guidance, the internal conflict with armed groups would eventually come to an end.

“We are optimistic that we will finally put an end to internal strife. We are considering the primacy of peace process. We’re making inroads in the peace negotiations with CPP (Communist Party of the Philippines) and the MILF (Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF),” he said.

Rodriguez also praised Aquino’s commitment to upgrade the capabilities of the military.

“He is providing us the necessary support. Under his leadership, we expect the upgrading of armed forces so we can be respectable force,” the AFP spokesman said.

Rodriguez said the AFP would remain supportive of Aquino’s development programs.

“We’re looking at being able to contribute to the development of the countryside especially in conflict areas.