THE 6th STATE OF THE NATION ADDRESS

Pres. Benigno Simeon C. Aquino III

Last July 27, President Benigno Simeon C. Aquino III had his 6th and final
State of the Nation Address held at Batasang Pambansa, Manila. This event is one of
the highly anticipated dates of the administration, as the head of state reports his
accomplishments and plans for the country. It started around 4 oclock in the
afternoon and lasted for 2 and 15 minutes.
Before the State Of The Nation Address, Communications Secretary Herminio
Coloma Jr. said Pres. Noy Noy will emulate his mother Cory Aquino who looked back
at history during her final SONA in July 22, 1991. As a result, PNoy made some rants
to the previous administrations.
"My bosses, this is the story of our journey along the Straight Path," Aquino started
his speech.
Aquino recalled the issues of former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo (PGMA)
administration that were inherited to him before his term in 2010 such as 'Hello
Garci'scandal, ZTE-NBN deal, MWSS bonus, Maguindanao massacre, and NFA
anomalies.
"May naalala ba kayong nagsabing, Sorry sa pagnanakaw at pang-aabuso, handa
na akong magbago? Ang sa akin lang po: Makaka-move on lang tayo kapag
nakamtan ang katarungan," Aquino said.
"The moment we assumed the presidency, we began to unearth anomaly after
anomaly," Aquino added.
The president boasts his accomplishments in fighting corruption and poverty under
his "Daang Matuwid" campaign and trumpeted economic gains. "The reforms we
have sown along the Straight Path will bear an even more bountiful harvest in the
future," Aquino said.
"Corruption was the root of our people's suffering. Our battlecry: where there is no
corruption, there will be no poverty," Aquino said.
He even highlighted Kung walang corrupt, walang mahirap."
Aquino lauded Commissioner Kim Henares as she spared no tax evader. 380 cases
have already been filed against those who attempted to evade taxes. In 2014, the
commission's collection went up to P1.3 trillion, this 2015, the collection up to P1.5
trillion.

Aquino said the Philippines is now called Asias Rising Tiger, Asias Rising Star,
Asias Bright Spot as the country was unanimously deemed investment grade by the
most prominent credit rating agencies. According to him, around 80,000 new
entrants join our labor force every year.
In the manufacturing sector, there's a 3% average growth from 2001-2009, up to
8% from 2010 to 2014.
President Aquino claims that our unemployment rate dropped to 6.8% last year and
considered as the lowest recorded in a decade.
Once again, Aquino highlighted the 'Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program' or 4Ps
which now have 4.4 million beneficiaries from 786,523 in 2010. In 2008, there were
2.9 million out of school youth in the country. In 2013, only 1.2 million out of school
youth remained.
On education sector, PNoy said that Alternative Learning System helped to ensure
that even indigenous peoples and street children are not left behind.
He also gave update and requirements for K to 12 program - backlogs of 66,800
classrooms, 145,827 teachers, 73.9 million textbooks already provided. The
president also explained why K to 12 was implemented, he said: "We implemented
K to 12 because it is not practical to cram learning in a 10-year basic education
cycle." For the 2016 proposed budget, around 103.2 million textbooks and 4.4M
chairs already included.
For TESDA program of the government, studies show that 71.9% [of TESDA
graduates] found employment right away, compared to the 28.5% recorded before.
In the health sector, 89.4 million Filipinos are already member of Philhealth
program. Beginning in 2014, for the poorest 40 percent of the population, treatment
in public hospitals is free.
In social welfare, PNoy said that in the Sitio Electrification program, 25,257 sitios out
of 32,441 were served.
In aviation, ICAO lifted the safety concerns it imposed to the Philippines in 2013. The
EU Air Safety Committee lifted the travel ban in all local carriers. Now, all our
airlines will be able to fly directly to the United Kingdom, Italy, and other countries
part of the EU.
For the unresolved problems on Metro Rail Transit (MRT), Aquino said plans of
purchasing of new MRT train coaches. He said that the process to obtain new MRT

rails underway, together with the upgrading of the signaling and

automatic fare collecting system but failed to mention the target timeline for the
project.
For Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) modernization, the government has plan
to buy 2 more C-130. There will be additional 6 landing craft utilities and 3 C-295
medium lift transport.
He also mentioned the PNP Capability Enhancement Program of which 2,523 patrol
jeeps and 577 utility vehicles were purchased. He also boasts the 'Oplan Lambat
Sibat' to arrest criminals. On his term, he said that 163,000 most wanted criminals
were seized including Marwan and Usman.
Aquino cited the long-awaited infrastructure projects such as Muntinlupa-Cavite
Expressway (MCX) and Tarlac-Pangasinan-La Union Expressway o TPLEX and the
ongoing projects including Cavite-Laguna Expressway, Skyway Stage 3, and NLEXSLEX Road. The Laguna Lakeshore Expressway Dike will be awarded this December.
Aquino mentioned the latest survey from SWS that 8 out of 10 Filipinos believed
that the country will be included in the list of developed countries. Based on Gallup
survey, the Philippines has the highest optimism in Asia Pacific and second highest
in the world.
The president also included on his SONA the update on car sales in the country
which is up in 27% in 2014.
PNoy also wish to pass the Bangsamoro Basic Law by the Current Congress. "Ilang
buhay pa ang kailangang ibuwis para magising ang lahat sa obligasyong baguhin
and sirang status quo sa Muslim Mindanao?"
When he mentioned his interest on Anti-Dynasty Law, it received the loudest
applause from SONA expectators. "Panahon na para ipasa ang isang Anti-Dynasty
Law."
PNoy also thanked Congress and Senate for other bills and acts such as Philippine
Competition Law, Sin Tax Reform Act and Responsible Parenthood Act.
The president also praised officials of the government for their contributions,
sacrifice and wellspring of inspiration to the nation. He lauded Interior and Local
Government Secretary Mar Roxas. "Mar, pinatutunayan mo: You can't put a good
man down."
Aquino highlighted the Gross Domestic Project (GDP) growth of 6.2 percent from
2010. "If we reach 6.8 percent this 2015, then we will have posted the fastest 6

year average growth period in almost six decades."

He added that the next administration should continue to promote the same
advocacy. "The next election is a referendum for the Straight and Righteous Path."
But PNoy did not mention his bet for the next presidential race.
"Taas-noo na tayong humaharap sa mundo at nasasabing, "Kaya ko. Kaya ng
Pilipino. #SimulaPaLangIto. This is only the beginning. We are only in the 1st
chapter of the great story of the Filipino people," Aquino concluded his speech.
SONA 2015 highlighted the achievements of the government in transportation and
communications, tax/revenue, labor and wages, international relations, education,
budget and finance, peace, social welfare, justice, disaster preparedness, national
security, economy, infrastructure, governance and reform.

Reaction: What Aquino missed on his Final SONA

The president didn't defend our claims against Chinas expansionism in relation to
West Philippine Sea dispute.
In addition, Aquino did not mention the issue on the Priority Development
Assistance Fund (PDAF) with many of the politicians are involved.
He has no words also for January 25 Mamasapano operation, which left over 60
people dead including 44 police commandos.
PNoy also failed to include the passage of the Freedom of Information (FOI) bill in his
SONA. The measure aims to eliminate corruption in the bureaucracy by giving the
public greater access to government transactions and records.
Despite of the said achievements and plans of the government, Anakpawis, Bayan
and other militant groups unfazed by heavy rain marched along Commonwealth
Avenue in Quezon City toward Batasan Pambansa on Monday morning.
Kung Mayo Uno nga, wala kaming napala, SONA pa kaya ng isang narcissistic na
pangulo, Bukluran ng Manggagawang Pilipino (BMP) chair Leody de Guzman said.
On Monday, Social Weather Stations (SWS) has released second-quarter survey
results which shows that 11.2 million families or 51 percent of Filipino families
considered themselves as 'poor'. In the survey, self-rated poverty was also at 51
percent the previous quarter, and was at 52 percent in the fourth quarter of 2014.