Aquino missed key issues in 2014 Sona—political analyst

President Aquino deliving his Sona on Monday, July 28, 2014. AP

MANILA, Philippines—President Benigno Aquino III missed the opportunity to tackle “equally deserving” issues in his fifth State of the Nation Address (Sona) on Monday, a political analyst said Tuesday.

Political analyst Clarita Carlos said Aquino missed to mention important issues like the Freedom of Information Bill (FOI), electricity and water shortage, the plight of Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) and the country’s economic integration in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, among others.

She said Aquino’s speech was too long, citing too many names were identified, which left out the equally deserving issues.

“It was very long. Nakakasuya na, ginasgas masyado (it was detestable, tired),” she said in an interview on Radyo Inquirer 990AM saying his speech was “too scripted.”

She gave the content of Aquino’s speech a three out of 10 grade, six for the effort and zero for being lengthy.

Carlos also reacted on Aquino’s message calling for “faith in good governance.”

Carlos said instead of the Aquino administration doing a “countdown” on the president’s remaining days in Office, they should focus more on addressing key issues affecting Filipinos.

She said there are still a lot to be done with the remaining 700 days of Aquino in office.

She urged the President to show “political courage” especially the Philippines has reached a 100 million population.

“What change we want from him is to have a fire in his belly and to have the political courage to do other things for the next two years which is a rather long time.” she said.

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