91 minutes, 85 rounds of applause
President Aquino receives a standing ovation after delivering his 5th State of the Nation Address at the joint session of the 16th Congress at the Batasang Pambansa in Quezon City on Monday, July 28, 2014. Aquino’s 91-minute address was interrupted by at least 85 rounds of applause. RYAN LIM/Malacanang Photo Bureau
Length: 91 minutes interrupted by at least 85 rounds of applause
Not the longest Sona: Last year’s Sona was 102 minutes long.
Thanked foreign donors for their assistance during Super Typhoon Yolanda and garnered one of speech’s longer applauses
Cited Albay’s zero casualty during Typhoon Glenda; praised Albay Gov. Joey Salceda
Progress in high-profile killings—arrested those involved in the killing of Mayor Ernesto Balolong and businessman Richard King
Enumerated government acquisitions to modernize Armed Forces—new helicopters, country’s first landing craft utility ship BRP Tagbanua
1.65 million employed from April 2013 to April 2014
Yet to come
Complete Tarlac–Pangasinan–La Union Expressway until Urdaneta by 2014, and until La Union by 2015
Finish the Basilan Circumferential Road, which has been under construction since 2000
Open bidding for the Laguna Lakeshore Expressway Dike before end of 2014
Rehabilitation of families affected by Zamboanga siege—start of transfer of affected families to housing in Martha Drive Subdivision by August. Total of 7,176 houses targeted to be finished over the next year.
Fix 108.8 kilometers of roads, bridges and landslide-prone areas damaged by Yolanda
Continue to “Build Back Better” for those affected by Yolanda
AFP modernization: Two of 12 FA-50 lead-in fighter trainer jets coming in next year; the rest expected to be delivered by end of 2017; 17 refurbished UH-1 helicopters expected by September
Other target military purchases: Brand-new 8 Bell combat utility helicopters, 2 antisubmarine helicopters, 10 AgustaWestland-109 helicopters, 2 light-lift aircraft, 3 medium-lift aircraft and radar systems, among others
50,629 M4 assault rifles expected in the next months
Legislate pension reform in order to gain funds to hire more policemen and buy new equipment for PNP
800,000 MT of rice imported to fill buffer stocking requirement to be completed by September
Blamed rice hoarders for hike in rice prices, said importation is government response to counteract them, challenged rice hoarders to go up against the state and expressed confidence state will win. Promised to investigate suspected rice hoarders and their accomplices.
Agrarian reform: Completion of Cadastral survey by 2015 after 102 years
Will suggest legislation to extend delivery of notices of coverage
Bangsamoro: Working on Bangsamoro Basic Law and push for its passage
Progress in high profile killings—government following good lead on murder of race driver Enzo Pastor
Hits critics: My critics are those who don’t want transformation.
Only one criteria for successor: One who will continue my reforms
Quotes:
“The Filipino is worth dying for. The Filipino is worth living for. The Filipino is definitely worth fighting for.”
“Buong-buo ang tiwala ko: Nasa eksena man ako o wala, tutungo ang Pilipino sa dapat niyang patunguhan.”
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