Duterte rehearsing sensible, solid, forward-looking SONA – Palace
Malacañang yesterday said the public can expect that President Duterte’s second State of the Nation Address (SONA) will be sensible, solid, and forward-looking.
Duterte is rehearsing his speech for Monday in Davao City, according to Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) Secretary Martin Andanar.
According to Presidential Spokesperson Ernesto Abella, Duterte will most likely give the speech his personal take as it is not just an ordinary technical report.
“It comes from a very personal perspective as a leader, and looking forward, he will also give a sense of where we are going, where he is leading us to in the near future. So it should be sensible, solid, and forwardlooking,” Abella said.
Palace officials, however, are not sure how long the President’s SONA will be as he has both a long and short version of it.
“That [length of his speech] is his decision. He has several versions. He has a long and short version,” he added.
PCOO on Sunday said the public can expect a much longer yet meaningful speech with the theme centering on bringing comfortable life for all Filipinos.
“Ang (The) 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.
Andanar said the speech will include the projects completed or started during the first year of the Duterte administration and also the plans of the President for the next five years of his term.
“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 (Expect a much longer SONA because last year, the President did not have much achievements yet),” Andanar said.
The Palace official said Duterte may also mention his platforms and campaigns during the SONA, including results of the administration’s war against illegal drugs and corruption.
But despite having a draft of the President’s speech, Andanar said he can’t preempt what Duterte will say and just assured the public that the SONA this year would be meaningful and exciting.
He also said that it is possible that Duterte may have new policies to introduce during his second SONA. (Argyll Cyrus B. Geducos)