Palace answers why FOI, West PH Sea weren’t said in Sona
Philippine President Benigno Aquino III . AP FILE PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines – Why did President Benigno Aquino III not mention some of the country’s pressing issues during his State of the Nation Address (Sona) on Monday?
It was because he has tackled those topics in the past, Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. said Tuesday.
“The President may have felt there is sufficient public awareness on the West Philippine Sea issue, as well as an adequate level of support from the people, including endorsements from leading countries, to the country’s recourse to UN (United Nations) arbitration,” he said when asked about the lack of discussion on the Philippines’ territorial disputes with China.
Also missing from the Sona was the Freedom of Information (FOI) bill, which media and civil society groups have been pushing for.
Coloma said Aquino decided to forego mentioning the FOI because the President already made the promise that it would be enacted into law before his term ends in 2016.
“You are correct in surmising that he had already made the assurance…during the Daylight Dialogue that it would be passed before his term ends in 2016,” he told a reporter.
“He made a judgment call that, indeed, a word to the wise will suffice; hence, he deemed it no longer necessary to discuss it anew in the Sona,” Coloma added.
Two weeks ago, Aquino told businessmen that the FOI would be passed before his term ends.
However, he said, “I regret I cannot certify it as urgent because the Constitution requires an emergency.”
The President said he already suggested to Congress “certain amendments of the proposed measures that we will make it really a doable activity for government.”
Despite being among campaign promises of Aquino, the FOI bill has yet to become a law because lawmakers at the House of Representatives remain divided on what the consolidated version should look like.
In addition to the FOI, political analysts said among the topics missing from the Sona were the plight of overseas Filipino workers, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Sona) integration and the water and energy supply problem.
But Coloma pointed out that the electricity problem was sufficiently addressed.
“A review of the speech will readily show that he did address the power issue. He directed Secretary Petilla to consult with all important stakeholders, including the ERC (Energy Regulatory Commission), the Joint Congressional Power Commission, the industry players, and civil society organizations,” he said.
He added that Aquino mentioned the Kaliwa Dam in Quezon, the rehabilitation of Angat Dam and the improvements being implemented by water districts nationwide.
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