A SONA of peace

Longer, more meaningful speech on a more comfortable life, law and order – PCOO

The public can expect an exciting, much longer, yet meaningful State of the Nation Address (SONA) of President Rodrigo Duterte on July 24 that will focus on providing Filipinos with a more comfortable life, prosperity, law and order, and peace.

Presidential Communications Secretary Martin Andanar said the President’s SONA, which is being drafted by a team of writers, will revolve around the theme: “a comfortable life for all.”

The President’s second SONA will be longer than his first since he is expected to outline the projects completed or started during the first year of his administration and also his plans for the next five years.

“The President does not want to be preempted in what he will say. Just expect a meaningful SONA and expect an exciting one,” he said.

“Ang comfortable life for all, sa ilalim nito ay (under this are) prosperity for all, law and order, at peace,” Andanar said.

“Ngayon, expect po natin na eh talaga namang magiging meaningful itong SONA na ito, sapagka’t

hindi po all technical (We can expect a less technical but more meaningful SONA),” he added.

“So expect that the SONA of course will be, siguro mas hahaba nang konti lang. Kasi noong last year po kasi eh wala pa tayong ganoong accomplishments dahil kauupo lang ni Pangulo, at ngayon marami nang accomplishment at marami na ring nag-benefit sa naging mga proyekto po ng ating Pangulo (Expect a much longer SONA because last year the President did not have much achievement yet unlike now that a lot of people are benefitting from his projects),” Andanar said.

The President may also mention his platforms and campaigns during the SONA, including results of the administration’s war against illegal drugs and corruption.

Andanar said it is also possible that the Chief Executive may have new policies that he will lay out before the people.

“Kilala natin si Presidente (We know the President). He is full of surprises and at the same time, kapag very passionate siya sa isang idea, biglang mag-a-adlib iyang si Pangulo (when he is passionate about something, he will go into adlib),” Andanar said.

Aside from detailing the achievements and plans for the next five years, the President is also set to submit the 2018 national budget proposal to Congress amounting to 13.767 trillion.

Budget Secretary Ben Diokno said the submission of the proposed national budget during the SONA will be the first in Philippine history.

“The President plans to submit the budget on the day of the SONA itself. So that’s a first in Philippine history. Why are we doing this? So we can have an early start for 2018,” Diokno said.

The budget chief said the biggest chunk of the proposed budget will go to education and infrastructure development.

The 2018 budget represents 21.6 percent of the projected gross domestic product (GDP) for next year and is 12.4 percent higher than the 2017 budget which is 13.35 trillion.

The President is also likely to appeal to the Senate to pass the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion Act during his SONA to propel the government’s ambitious “Build, Build, Build!” infrastructure program.

“I think that’s one of the contents of the President’s SONA – to appeal to the Senate to approve this bill because this is not only fair. I think we need it if you want to be competitive,” Diokno said.

Andanar earlier said that the PCOO would hire multilingual interpreters for the members of the Diplomatic Corps and an on-screen sign language interpreter to cater to the deaf-mute Filipinos.

Andanar said a booklet-like post-SONA report containing the administration’s achievements during the past year will instead be distributed to the legislators and also to regional offices.

Andanar also reiterated the President’s earlier appeal for the SONA to be as simple as his SONA last year.

“Sigurado ako na magiging simple ito na SONA kagaya ng nakaraang taon na hindi iso-showcase yung mga magagandang mga kasuotan (I am sure that this SONA would be as simple as last year – without the showcasing of extravagant attire),” he said.