DU30 likely to talk again about war vs drugs in 2nd SONA
MANILA — In his second State of the Nation Address (SONA) on Monday, it is expected that President Rodrigo Duterte will again mention with fervor his administration's continuing war against drugs.
But will the chief executive also discuss with passion the country's decades-old war against poverty, specifically his campaign promise of returning to small coconut farmers billions of pesos worth of coco levy money that was stolen from them during the Marcos regime?
This is what Senator Francis "Kiko" Pangilinan, president of the Liberal Party, hopes Duterte will do as the lawmaker noted that the president's promise of returning the fund within his first 100 days in office remains unfulfilled.
"Nitong nakaraang kampanya, nangako si dating mayor at ngayo'y Pangulong Duterte sa harap ng mga magniniyog sa agarang pagpasa ng panukalang batas na ito. Isang taon na ang lumipas, ngunit hindi pa rin ito naipapatupad gaya ng inaasahan," Pangilinan said in a statement issued Thursday.
The senator was referring to the Supreme Court's condition for Congress to pass an enabling law so that the P71-billion coco levy fund recovered from San Miguel Corp. (SMC), (now amounting to P75 billion), which the high tribunal awarded to the farmers through a 2014 ruling, can be utilized for their welfare.
THREE PROMISES
In March 2016, Duterte went to Quezon province with then vice presidential running mate Alan Peter Cayetano and promised coconut farmers that he would return the fund to them if God wills that he become the president.
"'Pag ako'y nahalal na presidente, ipagpala ng Diyos, ibabalik ko sa inyo 'yong coco levy," then presidential bet Duterte told the farmers.
Duterte and Cayetano then signed the manifesto, Panata para sa Maliliit na Magniniyog in front of the farmers wherein they promised three things:
(1)In the first 100 days of governing, they will make sure coconut farmers benefit from the coco levy fund.
(2)Aside from the coco levy fund, they will make sure there will be more funds for infrastructure, research, and marketing to strengthen the coconut industry.
(3)They will support efforts to recover the remaining funds.
Also, during their visit to Quezon, Duterte told farmers that he was the only candidate who could fulfill the promise as other bets were allegedly beholden to SMC chair Eduardo "Danding" Cojuangco Jr. (InterAksyon.com)