President Aquino to tackle social welfare, peace and security in his State of the Nation Address on Monday

President Benigno S. Aquino III delivers his message during the Asian Development Bank (ADB) Reception at the ADB Headquarters in ADB Avenue, Mandaluyong City on Wednesday night (March 12). (Photo by Gil Nartea / Robert Viñas / Malacañang Photo Bureau)

MANILA — President Benigno S. Aquino III’s State of the Nation Address (SONA) on Monday will focus on what is being done by the government to improve the condition of Filipinos, a Palace official said Tuesday.

“Katulad din po ng dati, nais niyang malaman at maunawaan ng mga mamamayan kung ano ang mga ginagawa ng kanilang Pangulo at pamahalaan sa iba’t ibang larangan,” Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) Secretary Herminio Coloma, Jr. said in a press briefing on Tuesday.

The President’s upcoming SONA is in line with the administration’s Philippine Development Plan, he said.

He will tackle such issues as livelihood, social welfare and social protection, security and peace and order, good governance and anti-corruption, as well as climate change mitigation and adaptation.

President Aquino will particularly focus on climate issues because of the devastation caused by Typhoon ‘Yolanda’ and the earthquake in Bohol and Cebu, Coloma said.

“Kaya’t iyan ang maaaring maging tema ng nilalaman ng talumpati ng Pangulo na katulad noong mga nakaraang SONA ay naglalayong ipaalam kay Juan dela Cruz ang mga ginagawa ng pamahalaan para sa kanyang kapakanan,” he added.

As in the past, the President thinks of the concept of his SONA, does the outline of his speech, and lists the points he wants to convey to the people, Coloma said.(