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Philippines: SONA Highlights - Economic Gains, Drive vs Corruption |
| Source: |
mb.com.ph |
| Source Date: |
Friday, July 20, 2012 |
| Focus: |
Knowledge Management in Government
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| Country: |
Philippines |
| Created: |
Jul 24, 2012 |
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The Aquino administration has made modest gains in promoting economic development, fighting corruption, improving peace and order, among others, in its second year. These achievements – submitted by five Cabinet clusters to President Benigno S. Aquino III – will form part of the President’s third State of the Nation Address (SONA) before a joint session of Congress on Monday, July 23. Yesterday, President Aquino spent the entire day finalizing and practicing his third SONA. The President had no official schedule in the Palace yesterday, except putting the final touches on his annual speech. In promoting good governance, the Cabinet cluster cited the filing of electoral sabotage cases against former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and former Commission on Elections Chairman Benjamin Abalos as well as the impeachment of then Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez and Chief Justice Renato C. Corona.
At least 119 cases against tax evaders and smugglers were also filed as of end of 2011. The Cabinet also claimed that the government was able to improve the business climate, particularly in easing business registration and other permits, resulting to improved investor confidence. On human development and social alleviation, the Cabinet noted that more than 3 million poor families are covered by the conditional cash transfer program. The local economy also expanded 6.4 percent in the first three months of the year. Unemployment rate decreased to 6.9 percent last April, from last year’s 7.4 percent. Foreign direct investments approved in 2011 reached P256 billion, the highest since 1996. In terms of infrastructure development, the Cabinet reported that more than 4,600 roads and 337 bridge projects have been completed at the end of 2011. Several airports and seaports are also being upgraded to ensure safe and fast transportation of people and goods. Tourism traffic also increased following the implementation of pocket open skies policy and improvement in infrastructure network.
The government also remained cautiously optimistic a final peace agreement will be forged soon with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF). It is also committed to jumpstarting peace talks with the communist rebels. Criminality also supposedly decreased 16 percent in the first three months of 2012, compared to the same period last year. Improved police efficiency also resulted to higher crime solution rate. In protecting the environment, the administration also imposed a logging ban in natural and residual forests across the country. Also suspended was the approval of new mining contracts until a new law raising government share in mining revenues is passed in Congress. Church leaders, however, enumerated some of the issues that they want the Chief Executive to address in his speech. They are particularly looking forward to what the President will have to say regarding what the administration has done on issues concerning the environment and extrajudicial killings in the country among others.
“I want a balanced report that is not only flaunting the achievements but also mentioning the challenges such as peace with rebels, solution to extra judicial killings, degradation of environment by mining and logging, hunger, poverty, lack of health care…” Sorsogon Bishop Arturo Bastes said in an interview. It’s the same with Philippine Council of Evangelical Churches (PCEC) national director Bishop Efraim Tendero. “I want to hear sharper economic program, definite time frame on the peace processes with the NDF- MILF, addressing corruption in the bureaucracy, extra judicial killing reduction,” he said. Retired Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Oscar Cruz, for his part, is interested in hearing the President tackle Hacienda Luisita as well as his position on Charter change.
At the Senate, Sen. Panfilo Lacson said there’s nothing wrong if President Aquino brings up the name of former President Arroyo in his speech when he delivers his third SONA. Lacson said he has high expectations on President Aquino’s SONA, especially after the Philippines achieved an unprecedented 6.4 percent Gross Domestic Growth (GDP) and an improved credit rating from Standard & Poors. Thus, Lacson said Aquino should ignore critics and sectors who urge him to skip mentioning former President Arroyo in his speech. At the House of Representatives, not even cats and dogs straying inside the compound escape the measures already being implemented to secure Batasang Pambansa Complex for the SONA. A team from the Animal Control in the Quezon City Hall yesterday trooped to the Batasang Pambansa Complex to catch stray dogs and cats to make sure they would not loiter nor litter trash inside the compound. Around 17 stray dogs and cats were caught and eventually brought to animal impound facility in Payatas, Quezon City on Friday.
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Philippines: SONA Highlights - Economic Gains, Drive vs Corruption The Aquino administration has made modest gains in promoting economic development fighting corruption improving peace and order among others in its second year
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