President Aquino deliving his Sona on Monday, July 28, 2014: Both a winner and a sinner. AP
MANILA, Philippines—President Aquino is both a winner and a sinner, depending on who’s talking on either side of the political divide.
One hard-nosed assessment of the President’s State of the Nation Address (Sona) that reflected the views of the business sector came from Jose Mari Lacson, head of research at Campos Lanusa & Co.
“President Aquino continues to report his socioeconomic and political achievements which reflect many victories. However, the key issues that the market is seriously concerned with are the imminent power crisis and supply chain problems that are fueling the inflation threat. These were weakly discussed in the Sona,” Lacson said.
“It was interesting that President Aquino used monopolies as an analogy since many local industries follow an oligopolistic structure to which the government doesn’t appear interested in liberalizing. His statement on his successor comes as a surprise. This early on he appears to be campaigning. But for who? His own criteria appear to rule out everybody,” he added.
Buhay Rep. Lito Atienza, a member of independent bloc, said: “We didn’t hear what was right. What was right was not reported. Rice, commodities… brownout should have been discussed.”
Gut issues missing
Valenzuela Rep. Sherwin Gatchalian said: “The country’s economic growth should be felt by the poorest Filipinos and this is in the form of improved basic social services such as education, free healthcare and hospitalization, affordable medicine, low-cost housing, clean and potable water, low-cost electricity and cheaper transport fare.”
“These are actually the gut issues of majority of Filipinos who have long been reeling from the effects of inflation as seen in the latest Pulse Asia survey. I think the President missed on these in his Sona,” Gatchalian added.
Focus on scholars
Pasig Rep. Roman Romulo lauded the focus given by the President on technical education, particularly on scholars who were able to obtain jobs in the automotive and business process outsourcing sectors.
“It was also reassuring to hear the President report that the public school system’s basic resource shortages are now being addressed ahead of the initial operation of the K to 12 Program by 2016,” Romulo said.
Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV gave the President a grade of 7.5 on a scale of 1 to 10. He said the low points in the administration were the energy crisis, rising prices of goods and utilities, while the high points were the fight against corruption and the detention of Senators Juan Ponce Enrile, Jinggoy Estrada and Bong Revilla.
He said the controversial Disbursement Acceleration Program (DAP) and the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) were “communication problems.” The Supreme Court has declared both pork barrel systems of the President and the lawmakers unconstitutional.
Sen. Cynthia Villar said she would give Aquino a grade of 7 to 8. She said he had tried to do his best to help the people. Villar also said she did not support the impeachment of the President, since it would be better to work together and not tear the country apart.
Sen. Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III said he would give the President 80 to 85, because he was a supporter of the administration.
Budget Secretary Florencio Abad, the DAP architect, said the President became emotional because of frustrations over those who refused to see the good that had been accomplished during his term.
“I think it’s not about himself. It’s about the legacy of his parents. But even more important, it’s our refusal to acknowledge the hard work and sacrifice of the Filipino people. Never has the government been that close to its people and this has happened since 2010,” Abad said.
He said the President was disappointed that so many failed to see the close coordination between the government and the governed, which was why Aquino kept on repeating this.
Ghadzali Jaafar, vice chair of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), said his group did not expect much from the Sona. He pointed out that the draft Bangsamoro Basic Law on the comprehensive peace accord in Mindanao had not been transmitted to Congress. He said the draft law had been “heavily diluted.”
“The timeline is not moving as scheduled,” he said by phone.
The Philippine National Police said it was “humbled by the recognition of the modest accomplishments of the PNP” in the Sona.
In particular, the PNP was glad that its operations against wanted persons, organized crime groups and loose firearms were recognized in the President’s speech.
“It is with pride and honor that we would like to reciprocate the nation’s appreciation and gratitude with a deeper commitment to perform our duty to the highest degree of professionalism and performance,” said PNP spokesperson Chief Supt. Reuben Theodore Sindac in a text message.
AFP humbled
“We in the AFP are greatly humbled by the recognition that our President gave to the Armed Forces of the Philippines, especially in our mission in Zamboanga, our peacekeeeping operations, and of course, our miminum credible defense modernization,” said Lt. Col. Ramon Zagala, AFP Public Affairs Office chief.
The Kilusang Mayo Uno spokesman for Mindanao, Joel Maglungsod, said in Davao City that President Aquino manifested his insincerity to address social problems by refusing to heed the calls for the resumption of the talks with the National Democratic Front.
Solid accomplishments
In Sta. Cruz, Davao del Sur province, Mayor Joel Ray Lopez of the National People’s Coalition, said he believed that Aquino was telling the truth about the administration’s achievements. “It is backed by data and documents. Not a drawing. In Davao del Sur, more roads and infrastructure had been built under his administration,” he said.
Activist priest Robert Reyes noted how the President turned emotional toward the end of his address. “These tears do not reflect that of the masses,” he said, pointing to the existence of rice cartels.
In Nueva Ecija province, Edgardo Alfonso, president of the San Jose City Rice Millers Association, said Aquino’s statement on the rice supply problem was good news. “We welcome very much his warning to the rice hoarders.”–With reports from Leila B. Salaverria, Miguel R. Camus, and DJ Yap, Julie M. Aurelio and Cynthia D. Balana in Manila; Jeoffrey Maitem, Karlos Manlupig, Julie Alipala and Orlando Dinoy, Inquirer Mindanao; Maricar Cinco, Inquirer Southern Luzon; Anselmo Roque, Armand Galang and Greg Refraccion, Inquirer Central Luzon; and Leilanie Adriano, Inquirer Northern Luzon
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