Almost a week before President Benigno Aquino III’s last State of the Nation Address, an opposition lawmaker on Friday said the Filipino people did not benefit from the administration’s rule in the past five years.
Buhay party-list Rep. Lito Atienza said the Philippines attained progress over the years without the help of the administration.
“Wala naman tayong napala dito sa nakaraang limang taon, although he was given the full support by everybody, including us. Ako I was wising him well na gawin niya ang tungkulin, trabaho ng tama para naman po ’yung pangalan niya at pangalan ng ating dinadakilang pangulong Cory, bayani nating Ninoy ay huwag mamantsahan,” Atienza said in an interview with Radyo Inquirer 990AM.
Lamenting the situation of mass transport system in the country, Atienza says he is wondering what Aquino is going to report on July 27, adding the President has not fulfilled his mandate.
“Eh hindi po niya ginawa ‘yung dapat gawin eh. Ano ang ire-report niya, hindi ko po maintindihan. At hindi ko ma-appreciate, sapagkat … ang simpleng-simpleng bagay na transportasyon, traffic management eh hindi po nagampanan eh,” the former Manila mayor said.
Atienza also questioned the timing of the Department of Transportation and Communication’s North-South Rail Project, dubbed as the government’s most expensive public-private partnership project yet, which has been opened for bidders on Wednesday.
“Kailan pa nila gagawin ’yan? Patapos na sila. Somebody should remind them, I am reminding them, you should have done this five years ago. Binalewala ang kahalagahan ng efficient mass transport system, at marami pang iba,” he said.
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Atienza also said Aquino had nothing to do with the country’s economic developments, crediting it to consumerism and to overseas Filipino workers.
“So ano ang ire-report niya? Ang ekonomiya natin gumagalaw in spite of government … Ang Pilipino talagang bumibili, gumagastos, gumagamit sa pagsisikap ng bawat isa,” he said. “Nine million Filipinos are working abroad, binubuhay ’yung kanilang pamilya dito… Pero as far as government is concerned, traffic lamang hindi nila maayos.”
Nevertheless, Atienza said he would listen to Aquino’s last Sona and give his reaction afterwards.