Point by Point: Scrutinizing P-Noy's SONA
An Information Dissemination and Opinion Solicitation Discussion Group on the First State of the Nation Address of the Aquino Administration
July 30, 2010 4:00PM UP ETC Tambayan
Facilitator: Arjay Mercado
Objectives:
1. To point out the different issues raised by P-Noy's SONA
2. To analyze each point mentioned in the speech
3. To gather insights regarding the SONA
Definition of Terms:
A. Philippine Constitution of 1987 Article VII Sec. 23
- The president shall address the congress at the opening of its regular session. He may also appear before it at any other time
B. State of the Nation Address
- an annual event in which the President reports on the status of the nation, to the resumption of a joint congress
P-Noy's Criticisms:
A. Budget Deficit
- Php 197.6B deficit
- 6.5% of 2010 Budget Left
- 1% of budget per month left
B. Calamity Fund
- Php 2B calamity fund
- 70% was used
- Php 108M in Pampanga
- Php 5M in Pangasinan
C. MWSS
- Php 51.4M Payroll excluding Php 211.5M worth of benefits and allowances
- Only 24% is normal wage
- Php 2.5M per board member
D. Infrastructures
- Only 28 out of 246 priority safety projects
- 72 projects which were not part of the plan were made
- Php 480M spent (Php 425M in the original plan)
E. Rice Crisis
- Too much rice bought for the year 2004 and 2008
- Spoiled Rice due to excessive rice
- Resulted to Php 171.6B debt of NFA
F. Midnight Appointees
- Pertained to the people who built houses near the La Mesa Watershed
G. Energy Crisis
- NAPOCOR sold electricity for a much lower price
- Debts of NAPOCOR increased
- Government was forced to pay its debt of Php 200B
- Resulted to lower supply of electricity
H. MRT Operations
- Lower transportation fee
- Operators Failure
- Bought by Land Bank and Development Bank of the Philippines
P-Noy's Proposed Solutions:
A. Zero-Based Approach
- No capital, but will result to income for the government
B. Law Enforcement
- Case filed against a pawnshop earner who didn't pay taxes
- Case of extralegal killings
C. Truth Commission
- Headed by Chief Justice Hilario Davide
- First Executive Order that Aquino would sign
D. Public-Private Partnerships
- Expressway traveling Manila, Bulacan, Nueva Ecija, Nueva Vizcaya, upto Cagayan Valley
- Rental of Navy Headquarters in Roxas Boulevard and Naval Station in Fort Bonifacio
E. Employment
- Build-Operate-Transfer
- Faster Registration for companies
- Easier Registration = More Job Opportunities
- Call to LGU’s
F. Education
- Widening of Basic Education Cycle
- Government Assistance to Students and Teachers in Private Education (GASTPE)
- Conditional Cash Transfer
G. PhilHealth
- National Household Targeting System
H. Competent Cabinet
- League of Cities and League of Provinces
- Efficient Cabinet Members
I. Appeal to the Congress
- LEDAC
- Fiscal Responsibility Bill
- Procurement Law
- Anti-Trust Law
- National Land Use Bill
- National Defense Act
- Whistleblower’s Bill
J. Peace and Order
- Peace Talk with MILF headed by Dean Marvic Leonen
- Anti-Violence
Defenses:
A. Figures
- Wrong according to Minority Leader Lagman
- Energy Price Reduction is for the people
- Pampanga’s budget is legal
- MWSS Issue
B. Energy Crisis
C. Pampanga Issue
- Legal
- Went through a process
D. MWSS Issue
- Removal of some officials in the Board of Trustees
- Investigations already started during Arroyo’s administration
E. Truth Commission
· Unfair
F. Rice Crisis
· World Food Crisis of 2007
Criticisms:
A. Counter-SONA
- Minority Leader Lagman
- Bureau of Treasury
- Misleading facts about Pampanga and Pangasinan
- EPIRA Law
- Rice Assumption is Wrong
B. Missed Points
· Sustainable Human Development
· Reproductive Health Bill
· Agrarian Reform Program
· Condition of Workers here and Abroad
· Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation
· Freedom of Information Bill
· Foreign Relations
C. Feasibility of Laws Presented
- Immediate Need
- Incentives Confusion
Guide Questions:
1. What part of the SONA did you like the most?
2. What part of the SONA do you find questionable?
3. How would you describe the SONA?
References:
1. Books:
- 1987 Philippine Constitution
2. Websites:
- http://www.quezon.ph/2006/07/19/the-explainer-sona-sources/
- http://www.scribd.com/doc/34867070/2010-SONA-President-Benigno-S-Aquino-III
- http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/nation/07/26/10/arroyo-camp-belies-aquinos-charges
- http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/insights/07/27/10/sound-and-fury-president-aquinos-sona
3. News Articles:
- “Arroyo ally hits SONA”, Salaverria, Leila, Philippines Daily Inquirer, July 28, 2010
