Nancy Binay laments non-mention of OFW plight in Aquino’s SONA

MANILA, Philippines— President Benigno Aquino III’s State of the Nation Address (SONA) would have been “nice” if he also mentioned about overseas Filipino workers, Senator Ma. Lourdes “Nancy” Binay said on Tuesday.

Binay noted that the President’s close to two-hour speech Monday made no mention  about the plight of migrant Filipinos and  government’s programs for them.

“The State of the Nation Address would have been nice if the President acknowledged the hardships OFWs go through, or even mentioned the reintegration programs of the government,’ she said in a statement.

Binay’s father, Vice President Jejomar Binay, is also presidential adviser for OFW concerns.

The senator said she would  also have wanted to hear from the President his policies that would address incessant price increases in oil and other basic commodities though she said these issues might just be included in Aquino’s programs under the proposed 2014 budget.

Nonetheless, the neophyte senator expressed satisfaction over the government’s efforts in narrowing the development gap essential to achieving an inclusive economic growth that would create more jobs, increase exports and open more investment opportunities.

She said she personally believes that the President was sincere in cutting down poverty, strengthening economic fundamentals and seeking out new ways to sustain the gains of the Aquino administration.

“The SONA reasonably portrays the fruits of the President’s administration in the past three years. I believe that the President is sincere in creating an environment that would bring inclusive growth even to the poorest regions despite the many challenges it is facing,” said the senator.

Now that the President  has indicated  the priority measures he would like Congress to pass, Senator  Binay said the “constructive minority” bloc where she belongs would now take a cue “in what we believe are necessary in helping the Aquino administration’s plans in moving the economy forward.”

She said that she would support the speedy passage of the Bangsamoro Basic Law, help in reviewing existing laws to increase the benefits of soldiers and policemen, help in addressing the power shortage in Mindanao, and introduce needed reforms in the pension scheme of the Social Security System.

“The Senate’s legislative agenda will be building on the momentum of the President’s priority programs in the next three years. We will work to complement and reinforce the gains the Aquino administration has materially achieved in the last three years,” she said.

She also gave the President a high mark on the expansion of healthcare coverage through PhilHealth and allocating substantial budget to the health sector; the peace initiatives to end the war in Mindanao which has a direct impact on children, women and the elderly caught in the crossfires; efforts to curb graft and corruption at the Department of Education; rice self-sufficiency by 2014; and providing decent shelters to more than 7 million housing beneficiaries since 2010.