Aquino softens up, focuses on legacy
Philippine President Benigno Aquino III delivers his 5th State of the Nation Address during the joint session of the 16th Congress at the House of Representatives in suburban Quezon city, north of Manila, Philippines Monday, July 28, 2014. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila)
MANILA, Philippines – There were no threats this time. President Benigno Aquino III on Monday maximized his fifth State of the Nation Address (Sona) by focusing on the challenges surpassed by his administration and the legacy he will eventually leave behind.
Instead of the “combative” President who was bent on defending his administration’s programs, including the controversial Disbursement Acceleration Program (DAP), Filipinos saw a different side of Aquino on Monday.
While he didn’t miss the opportunity to slam his critics, Aquino did not, as expected, assail the Supreme Court’s decision declaring DAP partly unconstitutional.
Near the end of his speech, Aquino became emotional as he talked about his parents and his work as President of the country.
He choked when he said: “Patuloy nating mapapatunayan na the Filipino is worth dying for. The Filipino is worth living for. At idagdag ko, the Filipino is definitely worth fighting for.”
(We continue to prove that the Filipino is worth dying for. The Filipino is worth living for. And may I add, the Filipino is definitely worth fighting for.)
Aquino said that he could not shun the responsibility of leading the country because it felt like abandoning his father and mother, former Senator Benigno Aquino Jr. and former President Corazon Aquino, who were both key personalities in the downfall of the late strongman Ferdinand Marcos.
The President said he believes he is already on his second life, after he was ambushed during a coup ‘d’état in the late 1980s.
He said he sometimes wonders what would happen if someone who was threatening his life succeeded.
“Kung dumating nga ang panahon pong iyon, masasabi ko ho bang okay na rin?…Masasabi (kong) kuntento na ako,” Aquino said as his voice broke.
(If that time comes, can I say that everything was well? I can probably say that I am content with what I have achieved.)
Prompt response
Among the achievement he mentioned was the immediate relief given to victims of typhoon “Yolanda.”
Aquino said the government was able to send three C-130 planes to Yolanda-hit areas a day after the monster storm struck.
He also said they were able to send rapid health assessment teams of the Department of Health. Soldiers and police were deployed while relief services by the Department of Social Welfare and Development were delivered promptly.
Aquino pointed out that the three months transition to rehabilitation, from relief, was better compared to the experiences of other countries.
Improved Customs
Aquino said the Bureau of Customs (BoC) was also able to increase its collections by 22 percent from January to April this year, compared to the same period last year.
Aquino said the over-all collections amount to P117 billion.
The President congratulated recently appointed customs commissioner John “Sunny” Sevilla for the achievements.
In 2013, Aquino castigated the BoC during his Sona because he said its “personnel are trying to outdo each other’s incompetence.”
“Instead of collecting the proper taxes and preventing contraband from entering the country, they are heedlessly permitting the smuggling of goods, and even drugs, arms, and other items of a similar nature into our territory,” he said at the time.
Lower crime rates
Aquino said the crime statistics dipped 29 percent in the National Capital Region alone.
He added that the PNP was able to confiscate at least 29 firearms from unauthorized owners while 587 warrants of arrest were served over illegal ownership of weapons.
“Tunay nga po ang tiwala at pundasyon ng mabuting pamamahala,” Aquino said after showing in his power point presentation a photo of Interior Secretary Mar Roxas, who is perceived as his presidential bet come 2016.
Next leader
Although still mum on who he wants as successor, Aquino urged the public to ensure that his reforms will live on.
“Lalong magiging sulit ang pagod at sakripiyo natin kung ang nasimulan natin ay itutuloy ninyo.
Kayo ang magpapasya kung itutuloy ng pagbabago,” he said near the end of his fifth State of the Nation (Sona) address.
(The tiring work and sacrifices will all be worth it if you will continue what we have started. You will decide if change will continue.)
Aquino pointed out that he only has one Sona left and that in 2016, the people will have to choose a new leader of the country.
He said he hopes what his administration has achieved would be considered just the start of things to come.
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