SONA hits the 'heart' of Cebu businessmen

CEBU, Philippines - The fifth State of the Nation Address of President Benigno Aquino III boosted the confidence of Cebu business leaders not only because of its sheer honesty but also because it was a concrete report of accomplishments amid controversies haunting the present administration.

In a rating of one to 10, the Cebu business community gave Monday's SONA an average rating of eight.

"President Aquino's message was simple. His administration is focused on establishing reforms and transformation in governance.It will continue to implement changes in its systems - I think this one is important, and what we will be looking out for, said Mandaue Chamber of  Commerce and Industry newly elected president Jeruel Roa.

Aquino's report of the administration's savings in billions of pesos, in cutting the bureaucracy and other financial measures implemented by the President, was applauded by the Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

CCCI president Ma. Teresa B. Chan said the greatest accomplishment of the Aquino administration is its ability to recover public trust, emphasizing her belief that Aquino, despite the threatening issues that his administration is facing, still showed sincerity in leading the nation.

PNoy's emotional SONA hit the "heart" of Cebuano leaders who expressed their strong confidence that this administration has laid the foundation towards rebuilding its good impression to the international community, and hope that the next President in 2016 will continue the projects and programs that this administration has started.

"I really believe that most projects/programs are in the right direction, I just feel that people are being impatient," said tourism capitalist and business leader Jay Jonathan P. Aldeguer.

According to Aldeguer despite the efforts of the government, everybody is getting impatient.

The Yolanda rehabilitation program for instance, is moving slower than expected, the reason people are becoming impatient and blaming the government.

"It's not easy to rehabilitate the country that has been through several crises. He knows that he will not be able to finish the projects, and the 'honeymoon' is over. But he did all his best to jumpstart all the projects," Aldeguer said adding that the report on the movement of Public-Private-Partnership is good although the completion of the projects is yet to be seen.

Known for its proactive attitude, Cebuano business leaders chose to focus on the brighter perspective of the Aquino leadership, saying political detractors, issues, are always there and expected in any government and in any country.

"Counter-current has to be expected,"said Aldeguer.

MCCI past president Phillip Tan likewise said that although PNoy's accomplishments are not "okay"--not that big, "but we are already happy about that. At least we are moving, we are not deteriorating."

Aquino, in his one-hour and 25 minutes speech, started  by saying that his job as a president is not easy and that he is just a human being, he then went on reporting on his administration's accomplishments and projects on the pipeline. — (FREEMAN)