Last July 24, 2018 at Session Hall of the House of Representatives, Batasang

Pambansa Complex, Quezon City the 3rd State of the Nation Address of Rodrigo Roa
Duterte President of the Philippines to the Congress of the Philippines happened. The
student will now evaluate and investigate whether the statements of the president is true
and if it is relevant. The things that will be discussed in this paper is based on the
student’s notes, researches, and understanding of the statements of President Duterte.

The first thing that President Duterte said was about the War for Illegal Drugs.
This is the main concern and one of the biggest issue in the Philippines today. On the
eve of his May 9, 2016 election victory, Duterte told a crowd of more than 300,000: “If I
make it to the presidential palace I will do just what I did as mayor. You drug pushers,
holdup men, and do-nothings, you better get out because I'll kill you.” Since June 30,
2016, Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has carried out a “war on drugs”. Based on
the statistics, 7,080 people already died since July 1, 2016. Many human rights activist
are not happy in this situation and President Duterte addresses them during the SONA
he said, that his concern is human life while the activists’ concern is human rights. He
also said that the war on drugs is far from over so the Filipinos should expect more
blood shed because it will not end any time soon.

The President also addresses the corruption that is happening in government. In

his remarks at the oath-taking ceremony of newly promoted generals and flag officers in
the military back in May 2018, he said, “I have removed many due to corruption. There
is a recent one.” Some of the government officials that was dismissed are: Department
of Interior and Local Government Secretary, Mr Ismael Sueno, Peter Laviña Chief,
National Irrigation Administration, Al Argosino and Michael Robles Immigration Deputy
Commissioners, and Undersecretary Maia Chiara Halmen Valdez. In his SONA, he said
that justice will catch-up to those people who steals money from the people. Truly, he is
removing all the corrupt government officials so the Philippine government will be free
from corruption.

During his SONA the president also talked about the government services. He
said that people deserve nothing less. He calls the attention of agencies that have the
red tape-related reports. During President Duterte’s term the no noon break policy was
strictly implemented. In accordance with this, he signed Republic Act 11032 or the Ease
of Doing Business and Efficient Government Service Delivery Act of 2018 in May this
year. This law promote integrity, accountability, proper management of public affairs and
public property as well as to establish effective practices, aimed at efficient turnaround
of the delivery of government services and the prevention of graft and corruption in
government.

President Duterte is from Davao which is part of Mindanao. A lot of people that
lives there said that they are not getting a lot of attention compared to Luzon and
Visayas. That is why in SONA 2018, the president said that he will never deny his
brother Muslims in Mindanao. In accordance with this he will sign the Bangsamoro
Organic Law. The bill, which is envisioned to grant wider self-rule to the Muslim minority
in the south, was supposed to be signed by Duterte during his third SONA. This,
however, did not happen, to Malacañang's dismay as the House failed to approve the
bill under the leadership of ousted Speaker Davao del Norte Rep. Pantaleon Alvarez.
The president also said that he will have a budget dedicated to Mindanao so that it will
be truly the “promise land”. He also tackled the war that happened in Marawi last May
23, 2017. He said that now, war is not an option because the people saw how
devastating it can cause. He also said that he will never let terrorist group set foot again
in the Philippines.

International Relationship is also tackled in SONA 2018. The president said that
he will continue to assert and pursue independent foreign policy. All in all, he already
visited 19 countries: Laos, Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, Peru, Cambodia, Singapore,
Myanmar, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar, Cambodia, China, Russia, Brunei, Japan,
Vietnam, India, and South Korea. He is still planning his future trips this 2018 in United
Kingdom, United States, Israel, and Papua New Guinea. He said that he will reach out
to all nations and tighten the bond with our ASEAN friends. He also congratulated
Executive Secretary, Salvador Medialdea for the success of the 50th ASEAN
Anniversary and the 31st ASEAN Summit last November 2017. The Philippines was the
host last year and he is the one who organized it. In terms of the Philippines relationship
to China, President Duterte clarified that improved relationship with the country doesn’t
mean that the Philippines will waver in our commitment to defend our interests in the
West Philippine Sea. People specially in Twitter are very worried that because the
president is getting too close to China, he will give away the West Philippine Sea but
now all the nation know that it will never happened.

Overseas Filipino Workers are also included in the President’s speech. They are
honored and he thank them for contributing in the economy of the Philippines and the
countries they are working at. When the President is visiting a country he makes sure
he will also meet the OFW that are working in that particular area. Last June 3 in South
Korea happened the issue of Duterte kissing an OFW in meeting a Filipino community.
The President said that he will condemn the abused and death of OFW in foreign
employers. Back in April 2018, the President made headlines for giving a financial
assistance and offering a job to Pahima Alagasi, the OFW scalded by her employer in
Saudi Arabia 4 years ago. During his speech in NAIA before going to Kuwait to address
the suicide case of Filipina who’ve been a rape victim by her employer he said, “And I’m
sorry, the Filipinos there, you can all go home. Tutal ‘pag… nag-alis kayo lahat na mga
Pilipino diyan (Anyway if all of you Filipinos there leave), they will also be having a hell
of a time adjusting to that.” In his SONA, he said that he will ensure the welfare of the
Filipinos in other’s nations.

End of contract or endo refers to the scheme that corrupt companies exercise to
abuse their workers. In the Philippines, the law requires companies to regularize their
workers after six months. The President said that there have been 300,000 who have
been regularized. He also said that ENDO will not satisfy all the sectors in the business
and that is not his territory anymore.

Currently, the internet connection provided by the PLDT and Globe Telcom is so
slow and the Philippines is so behind on how fast the internet is in the country.
President Duterte on his SONA, repeated his plan to have the entry of another telco
company that will provide the best possible services for the Filipinos. Based on some of
the information gathered, there are four foreign telco companies that are bidding to
enter in the Philippines: the China Telecom, LG U+ of South Korea, KDDI Corp. of
Japan, and companies from Vietnam and the US. Filipinos are very much looking
forward in the faster internet connection in the country.

The president also addressed the increase salary of the soldiers and the polices.
In Duterte’s administration it is very evident that he is prioritizing the welfare of the
workers in uniforms. Mr. President also mentioned the free tuition fees in State
Universities during College.

Last April 26, 2018, Boracay was closed to the public for 6 months rehabilitation.
This is decided by the President. In his SONA, he said that closing the world-famous
beach is the way to restore the environmental integrity of Boracay. According to the
information gathered, 10% of the businesses in the beach will not be re-opening again
after the rehabilitation. In accordance to this, the President urges the lawmakers to pass
the National Land Use Act. The president also said that the environment is the top
priority. He emphasized that the extracted resources must be used for the benefits of
the Filipinos and not by other countries. He also tackled the unsupervised and immoral
mining in the Philippines. He said that all the mining companies should expect reforms
that will protect the environment. Last February 2, 2018, DENR released 23 mining
companies that are suspended and some those are: Ore Asia Mining and Development
Corporation in Bulacan, and Benguet Corporation, the country's oldest mining company.
In the future, there is a big possibility that more mining companies will be suspended.

Recently, there have been many typhoons in the Philippines. A lot of flooding,
landslides, and state of calamity is happening. In accordance with this the President is
asking the Senate to create a new department that aims to help the one affecting by the
disasters and to hopefully reduce the casualties that natural calamities cause. This
department is called the Department of Disaster Management. Outside the Philippines
like in Japan this kind of department can be found and there is a very big difference in
terms of how to response during a natural disaster and how they manage the
casualties. The Philippines truly need this kind of department for the betterment of the
country.

Poverty is very evident in the Philippines. The president wants to single-handedly

end it. He passed the Train Law last December 19, 2017. He told in his SONA that he is
doing this to help poor families to cope with the rising prices. Ironically, due to Train
Law, the prices of all the food and non-food products increase. Not only does the poor
suffer but also the middle-class people. Also the President said that there will be Tax
reform. The tax will be lower to help all the Filipinos. He said that he will be focusing on
the interest of the many and not the few businessmen’s interest.

Last March 2017, the news said that there is a shortage in NFA rice because NFA
failed in its mandate to buy "palay" or unmilled rice from farmers. Due to this issue, the
President said that the distribution of the NFA Rice should be fast-tracked. He also said
that the price of the rice should be lowered by atleast 7 pesos. Everyone is happy
because of this statement but the question is, is it possible and could be reality.

No Balance Billing Policy is also tackled in SONA. It is the law that will cover all
the billing of a Filipino in the hospital. He is asking for the help of the lawmakers to pass
the law that will give the Filipinos Universal Health Care.

Last and the most awaited statement by the President is about the Federalism.
Back in 2016, the President announced that he wants to change the type of government
from Democratic to Federal Government. This is a very big change in the country. There
are different reactions and opinions about this. Based on statistics, of the 37% who want
a federal Philippines, 14% "strongly agree" while 23% "somewhat agree." Meanwhile,
29% disagree with the shift and 34% were undecided about the matter.

Mr. President Rodrigo Roa Duterte spend 49 minutes in his 3 rd State of the
Nation Address. He said that he will not bore the people with a list of the projects he
completed. Based on his SONA, he didn’t tackled all his achievements but instead he
said all the priority projects and asked the help of the Senate to make it concrete and
reality. In this SONA, he didn’t speak foul words. He read his speech and everything
goes well. The happening before the SONA begun was more exciting than the SONA
itself. Duterte is not very much loved by majority of the Filipinos especially the teenage
ones because of all the killings and his foul words against all the people and even God.
If the people always look on the negative side of the President they will only hate him
and frustrate themselves furthermore, but if they look on the positive things that Duterte
did and said, they will somewhat be happy and fulfilled. It is normal to critic a person
especially if he is the President but before people should judge and complain they
should start the change in their selves and their family. On his SONA he said, “I do the
very best I know how—the very best I can; and I mean to keep doing so until the end.”
Meaning, Duterte will surely not change the way he is handling and supervising the
country and all the people can do is to pray for him and hope for the best and don’t
always focus on the mistakes and bad things the President is doing.