Our Political Science teacher required us to write about our comments regarding President Noynoy Aquino's second State of the Nation Address (SONA). The points that he missed and my opinions regarding some important things are as follows:
PNoy started off with the decrease in the self-rated hunger of the Filipinos from 20.5% to 15.1%--- that’s 5.4% for this year alone. If that will continue, by 2014 the first Millennium Development Goal (MDG) which is to “eradicate poverty and hunger” will be realized. If not, we only have 3 years and a few months to achieve it.
PNoy started off with the decrease in the self-rated hunger of the Filipinos from 20.5% to 15.1%--- that’s 5.4% for this year alone. If that will continue, by 2014 the first Millennium Development Goal (MDG) which is to “eradicate poverty and hunger” will be realized. If not, we only have 3 years and a few months to achieve it.
He pointed out the need to improve education but failed to mention about the increasing tuition fees in state colleges and universities [which resulted to rallies of different student organizations across the country].
According to PNoy, security enhances our national pride. But he did not talk about the security of the journalists who, because of the nature of their jobs, are very prone to abuses, kidnappings, etc. How is the government going to protect them?
Also, he did not present the ways on how he would negotiate with the 6 countries who are claiming that the Spratly group of islands is theirs. I believe they are doing whatever they can regarding this dispute but for the sake of transparency, the president should have mentioned it.
He also failed to discuss about the growing unemployment rate of the country and the widespread labor outsourcing of some companies. And, he emphasized more about attracting foreign investors when it is also important to attract the local ones.
He mentioned the irregular spending on calamity funds but failed to present his ways of going after those who are responsible. Would he let them indemnify for the damages that they have caused?
Regarding his plans of compensating the informal settlers for taking care of the plants that were planted in the mountains, has he thought of giving them a formal settlement?
Inventions made by Filipino scientists were also mentioned but i guess he failed to realize that most of our scientists (even our teachers and other well-trained professionals) are going abroad. Foreigners are the ones who benefit from most of their inventions, not us. He must have thought of ways on how to encourage our great talents to stay and serve the country who needs them most.
Before he ended his SONA, he said that he wants us to put an end to our crab mentality. Isn’t it so hard to change a culture that has been there since Rizal’s time?
Our president is but human. He has lapses, of course. But he should bear in mind that there are a lot of counter elite in our political system who are watching his every move. It’s a challenge for our president to put his plans to actions, do what he says and practice whatever his advocacies are. I presume that you have read the SONA. With the criticisms presented above, the question now is: is the SONA just a testimony of promises or a testimony of hope? You be the judge.
