Plus and minus

Yesterday, President Benigno S. Aquino III delivered his 4th State of the Nation Address (SONA). He has finished 3 years and 3 weeks of his term.

As always, there is a big debate as to whether he has a passing grade or not. For one, the Catholic Bishops led by Cubao Bishop Honesto Ongtioco and Sorsogon Bishop Arturo Baster declared the “poor remain poor” under President Aquino.

The Association of Concerned Teachers (ACT) gave him a failing mark. Let’s look at the record.

The Aquino administration can claim the following achievements:

1. The improvement of the economy by recording a 7.8% GDP for the 1st quarter.

2. The Philippines was upgraded to “investment grade” by the “Big Three” credit rating agencies: Fitch Ratings, Standard & Poor’s (S&P), and Moody’s Investor Service.

3. The signing of the peace agreement with the MILF including the first of 3 annexes.

4. The adoption of the K to 12 educational system and adding 2 more years of basic education including universal kindergarten classes.

5. The passage of the Reproductive Health (RH) law.

6. The passage of the Sin Tax law.

7. The start of the distribution of land to Hacienda Luisita farmers.

8. CCT program covering 3 million beneficiaries.

9. Increase in rice production.

10. Secured the support of President Barack Obama for the Philippines’ position on the West Philippine Sea dispute with China.

These are the plus points in the Aquino Administration record.

Now, let’s look at the minus side or the unresolved problems we have:

1. The NPA problem. The peace talks have collapsed. The NPA has stepped up its attacks on government forces, inflicting serious casualties.

2. The controversy with China on the West Philippine Sea.

3. The dispute with Taiwan on fishing rights and the killing of a Chinese fisherman by the Philippine Coast Guard. 10,000 OFWs in Taiwan lost their jobs.

4. The high unemployment rate recording at 7.5% in April. The underemployment was 19.2%.

5. The power crisis in Mindanao and some parts of Luzon.

6. High police corruption rate in the Philippine National Police, reported at 68% by Transparency International.

7. Continuing corruption in other government offices reported at 64% by Transparency International.

8. The continuing smuggling, especially of rice, sugar, computers, and cellphones in Manila, Subic, Cebu, Cagayan De Oro, Legaspi, Davao, and other ports.

9. Bad traffic problem in Metro Manila.

10. Deterioration of relations with the CBCP.

11. The Abu Sayyaf problem in Basilan and Sulu.

12. Flood problem nationwide.

13. Serious crime situation with kidnapping, carjacking, robberies and killings happening all over the country.

14. Unfinished irrigation projects. President Aquino has filed NIA Administrator Antonio Nangel for a low 60% accomplishment rate of projects started.

15. Controversy with Malaysia on the Sulu rebels and the refusal to extradite Amalilio, the pyramid scam artist.

16. Jueteng, bookies, masiao, and other illegal gambling operations still unchecked.

17. Slow implementation of the Agrarian Reform program.

18. The serious drug problem in the country with the shabu business proliferating.

19. Delay in DOTC contracts. No car plates for the last 3 years and  NAIA-3 airport still not fully operational. NAIA still downgraded by U.S. Federal Aviation Administration to Category 2.

20. Problem of illegal settlers. 100,000 in Metro Manila alone. Insufficient housing program for them.

21. Continuing cases of human rights violations and extrajudicial killings.

22. Failure to pass Freedom of Information (FOI) bill.

23. Failure to connect LRT and MRT. Delay in the extension of LRT-1 to Cavite and LRT-2 to Antipolo.

24. Continuing shortages of teachers, school rooms and school toilets. Sec. Armin Luistro admits 30,000 more teachers needed and 30,000 more classrooms needed.

25. Lack of doctors and nurses in the rural areas.

26. Corruption in the judiciary and the slow disposition of pending cases.

27. Abuse in the use of pork barrel funds.

28. No improvement in participation of Filipino athletes in international competitions.

29. Failure to dredge Laguna de Bay.

30. Congestion of flights at NAIA.

31. Failure to pass the Land Use Act.

Ugly

The ugly face of crime showed itself again when 2 men riding-in-tandem shot Letran point guard Franz Dysam, wounding him seriously and killing his live-in partner as they were going home after Letran beat Lyceum at the Filoil Flying V Arena in San Juan. The incident happened at the corner of N. Domingo Street and Araneta Avenue in San Juan.

On their election

Congratulations to Senator Franklin Drilon on his election as Senate President and to Rep. Feliciano “Sonny” Belmonte Jr. on his reelection as Speaker of the House of Representatives.

Also to Sen. Juan Ponce Enrile and Rep. Ronaldo Zamora on their election as Minority Leaders of their Houses.

Special greetings to Rep. Baby Arenas (Pangasinan, 3rd district), Gina De Venecia (Pangasinan ,  4th district), Eileen Ermita Buhain (Batangas, 1st district), Eufranio Eriguel (La Union, 2nd district), Victor Ortega (La Union, 1st district), Karlo Nograles (Davao City, 1st district), Anton Lagdameo (Davao Del Norte, 2nd district), Sherwin Gatchalian (Valenzuela, 1st district), Gus Tambunting (Parañaque, 2nd district), Sol Aragones (Laguna, 3rd district), Kimi Cojuangco (Pangasinan, 5th district), Wimpy Fuentebella (Camarines Sur, 4th district), Benhur Salimbangon (Cebu, 4th district), Dato Arroyo ( Camarines Sur, 2nd district), Sandy Ocampo (Manila, 6th district), Enrique “Tet” Garcia (Bataan, 2nd district), Gwen Garcia (Cebu, 3rd district), Arthur Yap (Bohol, 3rd district), Emil Ong (Northern Samar, 2nd district), Aurora Cerilles (Zamboanga Del Sur, 2nd district), Rufus Rodriguez (Cagayan De Oro, 2nd district), Roy Señeres (OFW Party-list), and Jonathan Dela Cruz (ABAKADA Party-list).

*      *      *

Greetings to avid readers Alex Sy of Dumaguete City, Atty. Archimedes Tiga, and Gov. Jonvic Remulla of Cavite.