State of The Nation Address 2019

State of the Nation Address 2019
President Rodrigo Duterte speaks during his fourth State of the Nation Address at the Philippine
Congress in Quezon City, Metro Manila, Philippines July 22, 2019. Senate President Vicente
Sotto III and House Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano are seen on the top row. (Reuters/Eloisa
Lopez)
Lengthy rants, vague stance on the West Philippine Sea territorial row, objectification of women
and reimposition of the death penalty are the most talked-about parts of President Rodrigo
Duterte’s State of the Nation Address on social media platforms.
Duterte arrived nearly an hour late for his fourth SONA on Monday, July 22. This will be the
third time he delivered a delayed address since 2017.
No surprises, no fiascos. President Rodrigo Duterte’s fourth state of the nation address (SONA)
has been smooth despite the more than one hour delay due to sudden rains.
Nevertheless, the annual event pushed through with the President starting his speech at 5:14 p.m.
and ending it at 6:47 p.m., an almost expletive-free 93-minute talk.
President Duterte opened his fourth SONA with the usual pleasantries and his expression of
gratitude “to all who kept faith with me in our most trying times.”
He noted that the landslide victory of administration candidates in the May 2019 polls as well as
recent survey results just proved the Filipino people’s support to his presidency as compared to
the only 3% disapproval rating, which he joked about with the members of Congress.
“I hope that the members of Congress – sana hindi kayo included sa 3%,” he said earning
laughter from the audience.
This amount of support, the President said, inspires him with determination to pursue relentlessly
what the government has started even at the beginning of his term as the highest leader of the
country.
No matter how controversial, the President said his policies on the fight against illegal drugs and
corruption will remain “whatever be the opposition.”
“For it is not the eagle in the fight but the fight in the eagle that matters,” he said.
“Believe me, I will end my term fighting,” the President said strongly to start his SONA.
For those who did not have the time to sit and watch the President’s SONA, here are some of the
highlights.
Illegal Drugs, Corruption, Death Penalty
The President acknowledged that the government still has a long way to go to fight the social
menace that is illegal drugs, which he believes is a by-product of corruption.
“The drugs will not be crushed unless we continue to eliminate corruption that allows this social
monster to survive,” he noted.
This is the reason, he said, why he advocates on the reinstatement of death penalty.
“I respectfully request Congress to reinstate the death penalty for heinous crimes related to
drugs, as well as plunder,” the President said.
Ease of Doing Business
The President, likewise, emphasized the necessity to ensure a responsive government to the
needs of the people.
Even after signing the Ease of Doing Business and Efficient Government Service Delivery Act,
he said, much has yet to be done.
Thus, he ordered specific government agencies to simplify their transactions and impose the law
“to improve service delivery and fight corruption.”
The agencies mentioned were the Land Transportation Office (LTO), the Social Security System
(SSS), the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR), Land Registration Authority (LRA), and the Pag-
IBIG Fund.
He also called the attention of local government units (LGU) to do the same.
“My directive to the government and instrumentalities, including the LGUs and the government
corporations: simplify,” he said warning those concerned to suffer sanctions if they again fail.
“Simplify and make your services responsive to — client-friendly. Your client is the Filipino,
our employer — from where the money in our pockets come from, from our salaries,” he
stressed.
Priority Legislation
Aside from the revival of death penalty, the President directed Congress to pass the creation of
new agencies vital to the accomplishments of the administration’s programs for development.
Noting natural disasters as ‘poverty creators,’ the President asked Congress to fast track the
establishment of a Department of Disaster Resilience that would focus on programs that would
mitigate the impact of natural hazards and climate change.
Recognizing the damaging effect of El Niño to the country’s agriculture sector and the
inconveniences it caused brought about by water crisis, he urged lawmakers to pass a bill
creating the Department of Water Resources and Water Regulatory Commission.
Similar to his appeal last year, the President called Congress to establish the Department of
Overseas Filipino Workers to ensure Filipino workers abroad access to government services as
well as protection from abuse in foreign lands.
The Chief Executive also urged lawmakers to enact the Magna Carta for Barangays and
to postpone the May 2020 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections to October 2022
to provide sitting barangay officials ample time to finish their programs and projects.
To encourage the country’s MSME sector, the President urged Congress to immediately pass
Package 2 of the Comprehensive Tax Reform Program also known as Trabaho bill which he
said would create more jobs for Filipinos.
In addition to these priority bills, President Duterte also asked Congress to pass a new Salary
Standardization Law to increase salary for government workers, including public school
teachers and public hospital nurses.
He also asked Congress to approve the National Defense Act, Uniformed Separation and
Retirement Pension Bill, and the revival of the mandatory Reserve Officers’ Training
Corps (ROTC).
“Very important,” the President said referring to military training to re-instill the spirit of
patriotism among Filipino students.
“Kapag mag giyera, 10 out of 10 hindi marunong maghawak ng baril (If war breaks out, 10 out
of 10 do not even know how to hold a gun) to defend even his father and mother and brothers
and sisters. Itong mga bata ngayon (youth nowadays,) they are bereft of the patriotism and the
love of country. Balik sila dito (Let’s encourage them on this),” he said.
Traffic woes
President Duterte specifically directed Interior Secretary Eduardo Año to suspend mayors or
governors who refuse to heed his order to “reclaim all public roads that are being used for private
ends.”
With the help of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA), the President wants
immediate action “to ensure speedy and smooth flow of vehicular traffic” in Metro Manila.
On China
True to his promise, the President did ‘educate’ the Filipinos regarding the West Philippine Sea
issue, how it started and why his administration cannot drive away China from Philippine waters.
Again, he reiterated that war is not an option as it leaves “widows and orphans in its wake.”
“More and better results can be reached in the privacy of a conference room than in a squabble in
public. That is why I will do in the peaceful way,” he said.
Amid criticisms, the President still promised that he would assert the country’s sovereign rights
over West Philippine Sea “in due time.”
A better Philippines ahead
Through the end of his SONA, the President assured the Filipino people that his government will
continue to propel towards a better Philippines.
“Our goal for the next three years is clear: a comfortable life for everybody, all Filipinos,” he
promised.
Prepared By: Ahce Sarabia

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