Mixed reactions on Aquino’s SONA

CEBU, Philippines- As expected, the last State of the Nation Address of President Benigno Aquino III drew mixed reactions and assessments and, as expected, local officials had their say on PNoy’s valedictory speech.

At the Cebu City Hall, Mayor Michael Rama said the SONA never mentioned Cebu, thus, he will only give the president a passing grade.

“I don’t know if nakadungog mo about Cebu… precisely, way Cebu…  mention only sa Central Visayas. Actually, expecting for more numbers, more in data,” Rama said.

He said he was satisfied with Aquino’s report on the improved economics of the country with the increase of gross domestic product. He also observed that Aquino is consistent with his stand to make external aggression a priority.

“He was not even forcing. He was just saying it’s a priority. Wala lang gi-highlight. General ra kaayo,” Rama said.

The country has overlapping claims with China, Vietnam, Malaysia, Taiwan and Brunei.

For his part, Vice Mayor Edgardo Labella said what he missed from SONA is a mention on the country’s foreign policy situation.

“I expected that he will discuss more on the foreign policy on the external aggression because there is present danger,” Labella said, adding,protecting the country’s territorial jurisdiction should be priority.

And while Aquino’s call to pass the Anti-Dynasty Law drew a huge applause at the Batasan, Labella and Rama remain skeptical.

“Why only now when his term almost concludes? It should be in the onset,” Labella said.

Rama, on the other hand, said the existing proposal should be looked into further.

“Naglibog sad ko ana. How do you determine (dynasty)?”

Still, Labella said Aquino “was quiet successful in the fight against corruption. However, the officials, involved in PDAF and are allies of the administration should also be indicted.”

He added, “I also expected him to discuss on the solution of fight against illegal drugs since it is one of the social menaces in the country. He has not talked about it.”

Rama and Labella are under team Rama, ally of the United Nationalist Alliance. UNA is the political party of Vice President JejomarBinay.

For south district Representative Rodrigo Abellanosa, the data Aquino presented does not necessarily reflect the real state of the country.

“The impressive figures presented, however, do not project a clear picture of the real state of our country. The conclusion of his ultimate SONA is more valedictory, a farewell and thanksgiving speech, instead of a challenging vision as his prescription for the next leadership to pursue,” he said, in a text message.

Former   congressman  Tomas Osmeña has not watched the SONA live but said, “I’m sure it was thorough as PNoy accomplished a lot. If Cebu City did not get enough projects, that’s because Rama rejected P1.5 billion of projects including a P700 million mega drainage project. The president once whispered to me that Rama is the only mayor he knows which turns down projects.”

Osmeña is under the Liberal Party, the political party of the president.

Councilor Sisinio Andales said he will give Aquino a 90 percent mark.

“He made a significant achievement by going after corrupt officials in order to gain confidence to our foreign investors and businessmen towards economic growth, growing infrastructures, his desire towards hoses and simple governance, high employment rates and huge business opportunities,” Andales said.

Councilor Alvin Dizon also gave Aquino a passing mark but wants the president to continue pushing for the passage of the Freedom of Information Bill and Anti-Dynasty bills, stressing that it would be a “remarkable legacy.”

“It is undisputed that our country is picking up in terms of economic performance under the Aquino administration. But we want to see these economic achievements translated into the betterment of life of every Filipino especially the plight of the working class. I was expecting to hear more about the labor agenda of President Aquino,” he said.

Province

Cebu Provincial Board Member Christopher Baricuatro who attended the SONA in Manila said it inspired him to do better and continue the reforms the present administration started.

“I’m really satisfied and happy that our country is rising and the world is noticing. We are on the right track. Hope we continue our momentum of positive change,” he said in a text message sent to The FREEMAN.

He is also hoping for more infrastructure projects for Cebu and the approval of the Mega Cebu roadmap for sustainable urban development, which include the feasibility study of the 300-kilometer Trans-axial highway extending from Santander to Daanbantayan to stimulate economic activities, before Aquino’s term ends.

Unlike Baricuatro, however, Board Member Sun Shimura did not have much positive to say and described Aquino’s attacks against the previous administration as uncalled for.

“Maayo man ang accomplishments niya pero sige man siya og bira sa past administration. He should also give credits to the administration before his,” he said over the phone.

He further lamented that Cebu was never mentioned in PNoy’s SONA. He said he was expecting that Aquino would tackle the trans-axial highway.

“The super highway would boost our economy… He should have given more accomplishments sa Cebu kay daghan man ang miboto niya diri,” he added.

Board Member Raul Alcoseba, for his part, said he felt satisfied with the accomplishment of PNoy despite his failure to mention Cebu in his SONA.

“Cebu can stand on our own because we are progressing. We will  survive,” he added.

Alcoseba opined that Aquino was right to remind Filipinos of the ‘mistakes’ committed by the previous administration.

“I am hoping nga mapadayon ang Daang Matuwid, ma-minimize ang korupsiyon,” he said.

Unsatisfactory

Local militant groups, however, disagreed with Alcoseba.

Yesterday, separate rallies were held here against the SONA.

Labor party Partido Manggagawas aid inequality and joblessness are enduring legacies of the Aquino administration.

 “Walang naituwid at walang naitawid si PNoy sa kanyang panunungkulan. Economic growth has not tricked down to the masses as unemployment, poverty, contractualization, low wages and lackluster social services persist. Worse, GDP growth has been monopolized by big capitalists as the wealth of the richest 50 Filipinos has ballooned in the last few years thus the chasm between rich and poor swelled even more,” said  Dennis Derige, PM-Cebu spokesperson.

Nagkaisa, a broad labor alliance together with PM,  Sanlakas, Alliance of Progressive Labor Sentro and the Associated Labor Unions- Trade Union Congress of the Philippines gathered in downtown Cebu City for a counter-SONA protest.

Bayan Muna-Central Visayas together with PISTON and other militant groups questioned where funds for Yolanda survivors went and condemned oppressive transport policies.

Art Barrit, spokesperson of ALU-TUCP, gave Aquino a passing grade of 5.6 (in a scale of 10).

Derige said that as Aquino focused on his achievements in his SONA, his administration is essentially no different from past regimes in sacrificing the workers and the poor in the altar of globalization.

Derige added that Aquino’s good governance record is, at best, spotty, as many cri-tics have pointed out that the so-called anti-corruption campaign has only targeted well-known opposition leaders.

In a separate statement, Kabataan Partylist Representative Terry Ridon said no amount of sugar-coating, turn of phrase, or even a “magic mic” can cover for Aquino’s “catastrophic” presidency.

“Lest he be mistaken, Aquino can no longer fool the Filipino people with his cle-ver turn of phrase. The people are well aware of how his administration took the nation – not to the straight path – but to the path of disaster, corruption, and the deep quagmire of poverty. Not even a magic mic can make the platitudes in his final SONA sound convincing,” Ridon said.

In a message to The Freeman, lawyer Gonzalo Malig-on Jr., president of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines – Cebu Province Chapter, said, “Minus the usual blame on the previous administration and the extra effort to defend unpopular friends in the cabinet like DOTC Secretary Jun Abaya, it was a good SONA and, to a large extent, he was able to show that we are better now than five years ago.”

Police said no untoward incident was reported locally as Aquino delivered his speech in Manila. — With Ma. Fatima R. Secuya/JMO