The final year

He still has 11 months to go, but it was the last time that he would address the joint session of Congress. So President Aquino delivered his longest ever State of the Nation Address yesterday, taking the occasion to thank everyone – from congressional leaders to his Cabinet to his fashion designer and housekeeper – who helped him in his challenging job.

The President enumerated his achievements in the past five years, notably on the economic front, which saw the nation earning investment grade for the first time and becoming Asia’s second best performing economy after China. And he attributed the gains to his focus on the campaign against corruption and push for meaningful reforms.

If the people wanted to maintain the momentum, the reforms of the straight path or daang matuwid must be nurtured beyond his term, he said. This is expected to be his pitch in endorsing a successor. He skipped corruption scandals under his watch, in which officials known to be close to him have been implicated.

The President must not allow partisan political activities overwhelm his final year in office. In a global economy, nations compete with each other. There’s much that a chief executive can still do in 11 months to make the Philippines more competitive and an easier place to do business, so that the nation can catch up with its neighbors in attracting job-generating foreign direct investment.

The anti-corruption campaign has led to sustained high business confidence in the past five years. In his final year in office, the President can do more to translate that confidence and the investment grade into actual investments. He must pave the way for other reforms long suggested by investors, and break ground for much needed infrastructure to stimulate economic activity all over the country.

After five years, President Aquino can cite significant achievements. He can achieve more until his final day in office.