MANILA, Philippines—The last word of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo will be on Charter change.

Apparently saving the “best” for last, the President has chosen to close her ostensibly final State of the Nation Address (Sona) before Congress Monday with a fresh pitch for amending the 1987 Constitution.

This is shown in an executive summary of her ninth Sona, whose last part spells out the programs that Malacañang thinks should be continued by the next administration.

The conclusion of the executive summary, a copy of which was furnished the Inquirer, reads: “Lastly, the push for constitutional reform has to be continued, to achieve a more effective basis for legislation that can hasten the advancement of the nation to its desired status in the global community.”

It adds that constitutional amendments will promote good governance and reconstruct institutions that have become “barriers to national harmony and peace, and sustainable development.”

Malacañang had earlier said Ms Arroyo would address in her Sona the issue of Charter change, as well as allegations that she was plotting to stay in power beyond June 30, 2010.

Critics say the passage of House Resolution No. 1109 convening a Senate-less constituent assembly (Con-ass) to introduce Charter amendments paves the way for the lifting of Ms Arroyo’s term limit or a shift to a parliamentary form of government that will allow her to rule as prime minister.

The other programs whose continuity in the next administration are “critical,” according to the Sona executive summary, are the Economic Resiliency Plan, the Main Education Highway, and measures against climate change, among others.

A major part of the Sona dwells on the administration policies and programs on the economy, specifically trade and investments, agribusiness, mining, tourism, environment, energy and technology.

It harps on the administration’s infrastructure projects to develop the regions, implementation of the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program, protection of workers, and investments in education, health, housing and poverty reduction.

It also mentions the reforms taken by the scandal-plagued administration to root out corruption in the bureaucracy, ease transactions in government, and enhance local governance, as well as efforts at achieving peace with rebels and flushing out bandits and terrorists.

Substance, not form

Press Secretary Cerge Remonde on Saturday said Ms Arroyo was busy rehearsing and reviewing her speech rather than fussing over what she would wear on Monday.

“[She] doesn’t mind what she’ll wear; she’s leaving it to her wardrobe consultant. She’s more concerned with the substance of her Sona rather than the way she appears,” he said over dzRB.

Remonde bristled at reports on the scandals that had rocked the administration being published in the run-up to Monday’s Sona, saying these were “a rehash of alleged scandals” that were not backed by evidence.

“After the passion of the moment, history will be the better judge,” he said.

But the group calling itself Former Senior Government Officials has urged the public to demand that Ms Arroyo declare in her Sona that she would relinquish her post and ensure credible elections in May 2010.

On Saturday, the militant Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) said she should “declare Con-ass dead” in her speech.

“The 90 million Filipinos want to see and hear Ms Arroyo delivering the death certificate to Con-ass and Charter change,” Pamalakaya said.

When the President delivers her final Sona, she should report only the truth and try to give the people hope in her remaining time in office, Manila Archbishop Gaudencio Cardinal Rosales said over the Church-run Radio Veritas.

Rosales said he hoped that when Ms Arroyo steps down from office in June 2010, she would not leave behind a legacy of hardship and loss of trust among the people.

“I hope that what she will say is the truth, and maybe it’s not too late. She should be able to show what her government has done so far and that before she leaves, she should do more so she will not leave the people with memories of hardship and loss of trust,” Rosales said in Filipino.

“If she will have any more message to convey, I hope it will be one of hope. She has only a few months left in her administration and I hope she works harder because there’s still hope for our country. She can still try to recover the people’s trust,” he said.

Although the surveys show that she is unpopular, more people than usual have signed up for the President’s Sona.

The attendance on Monday is expected to jump, and this may be because the event is Ms Arroyo’s valedictory address, according to House Secretary General Marilyn Barua-Yap.

“Since this is the last Sona, there are more people from the executive [branch] requesting to attend ... There are also more from the local government, the leagues of mayors and governors, even religious groups. We are flooded with requests, which is why we have an overflow provision [for the session hall of the Batasang Pambansa complex],” Yap said in a phone interview.

In Yap’s experience, attendance at a Sona usually rises when it is the last one to be delivered by a President. The number of requests for invitations has risen by “roughly 40 percent,” in her reckoning.

Capacity of over 1,500

The session hall, where Ms Arroyo will deliver her address, has a capacity of only 1,500. Add those who requested invitations as well as the usual attendees and their guests, and the number of people trooping there will be around 2,000, Yap said.

“This is like the final salute, or maybe [those who want to come] want to see people, or that’s their documentation of the event, or maybe it’s because of their sense of history,” she said.

Another reason for the increased attendance is the Supreme Court’s recent addition of 29 more party-list lawmakers, each of whom is allowed to bring three guests to the Sona.

But some seats in the session hall are expected to be free, with a number of lawmakers announcing their intention to boycott the event.

Their reasons include their concern over possibly being roped into convening the Con-ass, and their refusal to listen to what they said would be half-truths, exaggerations and lies. With a report from Dona Pazzibugan