SONA to be ‘frank, hopeful’

MANILA, Philippines - President Duterte is expected to deliver a “frank” but “hopeful” State of the Nation Address (SONA) today, two days after Congress overwhelmingly approved his bid to extend martial law in Mindanao until the end of the year.

Presidential spokesman Ernesto Abella said Duterte’s second SONA would be rendered in “broad strokes,” review past achievements, state the country’s present situation and announce future prospects.

“On the whole it will be frank, challenging, realistic but hopeful,” Abella said.

The theme of Duterte’s address to the nation is “a comfortable life for all,” which officials said reflects his administration’s agenda on prosperity, law and order and peace.

Officials, however, are not discounting the possibility that Duterte, who rarely reads prepared speeches, may stray from script.

Duterte repeatedly ad-libbed during his first SONA, which lasted for almost two hours.

Abella said today’s SONA would be shorter and is written in English, which Duterte is comfortable with.

“If read straight, (the speech) should take approximately 50 minutes; given there will be pauses for applause and off-the-cuff remarks, the speech may take about an hour and 30 minutes,” Abella said.

The Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) has hired a language interpreter for those with
auditory impairment. An English translator is on standby to translate Duterte’s vernacular lines for attending foreign dignitaries.

Presidential Communications Secretary Martin Andanar said the draft of Duterte’s address was 15 pages long as of Saturday night.

Duterte started rehearsing for his SONA last Thursday and had his last full rehearsal Saturday night in his hometown of Davao City.

Duterte had to rehearse his speech since he is not used to reading from teleprompters.

The issues

The President is expected to discuss the situation in Mindanao, which has been under military rule since May 23 because of the terrorist attacks in Marawi City. He is also likely to thank Congress for extending his martial law declaration until Dec. 31.

“We thank members of the House and the Senate for their overwhelming vote in support of the extension of martial law in Mindanao. They have shown their solidarity with the entire nation,” Andanar said.

Asked to react to the plan of some lawmakers to question the martial law extension before the Supreme Court, Andanar said: “It’s their right to express their opposition but let’s see how the Supreme Court will decide.”

“It’s not different from the martial law declaration that was affirmed by the Supreme Court. So, it is part of our system of democracy,” he added.

On Saturday, the House of Representatives and the Senate voted 261-18 to extend the 60-day martial law in Mindanao, a development that officials said would allow the government to curb the security threats in the south.

The military rule, which was implemented through Proclamation 216, also involved the suspension of the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus, which requires arresting officers to present a detained person before a court.

Duterte is also seen to tackle during his second SONA his campaign against illegal drugs and crime, the peace talks with rebels and his plans on the economy and job creation.

He is likewise expected to submit to Congress his proposed P3.767-trillion national budget for 2018.

Ally lawmakers said Duterte will still deliver on his promises.

“We’re off to a good start, and we’re on the right track. And with the government’s build, build, build policy I think we have nowhere to go but up in terms of economic prosperity and domestic stability,” Quezon City Rep. Alfred Vargas said.

“Malacañang is on the right track in pursuing its multitrillion-peso ‘Build, Build, Build’ agenda that aims to fill our decades-old infrastructure backlog,” Camarines Sur Rep. LRay Villafuerte added.

House Deputy Speaker Raneo Abu of Batangas believes Duterte will fulfill his promise of change in the political system of government.

He said amending the Charter “will give us the chance to reexamine the provisions of our Constitution for fair distribution of the benefits of economic growth.”

“The problems plaguing the country, such as graft and corruption, poverty, insurgency, weak judiciary and others are due to our failure to restudy and revisit the 1987 Constitution,” he said.

Parañaque City Rep. Gus Tambunting, chairman of the House committee on games and amusement, said he is expecting an update from Duterte regarding the war against illegal drugs.

“Many of our people are suffering, so I think he could assure them that he has a certain timeframe to complete the battle in Marawi,” he said.

“I hope he can outline his plan to improve the traffic problem. Traffic is causing too much of a toll on our economy.”

Davao City Rep. Karlo Alexei Nograles, chairman of the House committee on appropriations, is also looking forward to Duterte laying out more legislative measures.

Nograles, a nephew of Duterte, is pushing the “Zero Hunger” bill in addition to proposals providing for universal healthcare and establishing free basic medicine assistance, as a means of reducing, if not totally eradicating, poverty.

Nograles said Duterte should include in his SONA other government priority House bills, like those on the traffic crisis as well as the universal ID system.

Another administration legislator, Citizens Battle Against Corruption (Cibac) party-list Rep. Sherwin Tugna, chairman of the House committee on suffrage and electoral reforms, hopes Duterte will tackle the bill on ease of doing business and fast permit.

“Simple and widespread red tape and slow action in processing permits and licenses in the LGUs and government agencies result in corruption and day-to-day under the table transactions,” Tugna said.

“If he talks about this and supplements this with removal and filing cases against corrupt government officials, this will send a strong signal to the whole government bureaucracy that he is serious and he has the political will to reduce corruption,” he said.

Preparations

The President is set to arrive at the Batasang Pambansa complex by air or land at 3:30 p.m., or about 30 minutes before the event.

Duterte will be accorded arrival honors by the military and the sergeant-at-arms of the Senate and House of Representatives, who will then escort him towards the rear entrance.

The Senate President, the Speaker and a welcoming committee composed of the Senate majority leader, House majority leader, Senate secretary, and House secretary-general will meet Duterte at the main door and lead him to the Legislators’ Lounge.

He will then proceed to the Plenary Hall to deliver the address.

Aside from lawmakers and their spouses, foreign diplomats, government officials and other dignitaries are also expected to attend the event.

Presidential daughter and Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio and her two brothers, Paolo and Sebastian will attend today’s SONA.

Duterte-Carpio earlier said she will be with her husband Manases Carpio while Paolo and Sebastian will go with their respective partners, January and Kate.

The President’s SONA will also be witnessed by two of his grandchildren.

The dress code, just like the previous year, is still business attire or barong for men, and business attire or Filipiniana dress at knee length for women.

“Departing from tradition and common practice, Duterte’s SONA dramatizes a simple and populist character. It shuns the usual pomp and pageantry.

Wearing tuxedos, evening gowns, or elaborate outfits, though not prohibited, is discouraged,” a Malacañang statement read.

Last year, Duterte donned a barong tagalog with rolled-up sleeves paired with dark-colored pants. He is expected to wear his signature-style barong this year.

Award-winning filmmaker Brillante Mendoza will again direct production of the presidential address. – With Delon Porcalla, Edith Regalado