President Rodrigo Duterte delivered his 5th State of the Nation Address (SONA) on Monday in the Plenary Hall of the Batasang Pambansa Complex in Quezon City in front of limited guests as physical distancing is continued to be observed in Congress.
Here are some of the key topics that the President highlighted.
‘Oligarchs’
In his speech, Duterte began by branding the Lopez family as oligarchs and claimed that he was a “casualty” of the clan while running for presidency during the 2016 elections where he won.
“Great wealth enables economic elites and corporations to influence public policy to their advantage. Media is a powerful tool in the hands of oligarchs like the Lopezes who used their media outlets in their battles with political figures,” Duterte said at the beginning of his speech.
He mentioned the 4.3 million families who benefited from the Pantawid Pilipino Program and the 92.2 million beneficiaries under the cash transfer program, and public utility drivers were given assistance through Pantawid Pasada.
COVID-19 Response
He also detailed the administration’s plan for the cornavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) response.
“We now have 93 accredited laboratories nationwide. We are aiming to conduct 1.4 million tests by end of July and ensure a quick turnaround time of test results with a maximum of 72 hours.”
Duterte thanked the Congress for passing the “Bayanihan To Heal As One Act” which will provide supplementary funds for the Duterte administration’s COVID-19 response.
The President later on stated that the Philippines is able to “withstand” the COVID-19 pandemic.
“We are in a better position to weather the COVID-19 global pandemic,” he said.
He also calls to the Congress to support the Bayanihan 2 and the Corporate Recovery and Tax Incentives for Enterprises or CREATE Act which will cut income taxes of businesses.
Later on in his speech, Duterte said that he made a plea to China’s President Xi Jinping to allow the country to have access to the vaccine if it becomes available to them.
“Four days ago I made a plea to Pres. Xi Jinping that if they have the vaccine, they can allow us to be one of the first, or if is needed, if we have to buy it, that we will be granted credit so that we can normalize as fast as possible,” he said.
He also added later on that they are looking into the creation of a new department, the National Disease Management Authority to protect lives and allow development to proceed even at the worst of times, and the Department of Disaster Resilience for the creation of evacuation center in each LGU.
“We must act before another major disaster shakes us into action,” he adds.
30th SEA Games
Duterte also lauded the country’s hosting of the 30th South East Asian (SEA) Games last year.
“Indeed, we won as one,” he said, echoing the theme of the event.
“More than that, we fostered pride, patriotism, genuine sportsmanship and camaraderie in our Southeast Asian brothers and sisters,” Duterte added.
Human rights for all
“My administration always believes that freedom from illegal drugs, terrorism, corruption, and criminality is itself a human right,” Duterte said in his address.
Duterte said that his administration will not evade the government’s responsibility in ensuring human rights for all, and that the government’s effort to protect the rights of children will be amplified.
“Part of our efforts to uphold human right is protection of the rights of children and the right against discrimination.”
During his administration, Duterte instigated a “war on drugs” that killed 4,948 suspected drug users and dealers according to the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), but the Philippine National Police (PNP) says that the 22,983 others are “homicides under investigation”. 122 of those killed were children.
‘Buhay muna bago lahat’
Duterte said that the gains the country has achieved for the first three and a half years of his administration were put to test when the pandemic struck.
“The global scale and socioeconomic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic has been unprecedented. Yet we were able to withstand the headwinds,” he said.
He thanked the people who continued to ensure that the country has a steady supply of food, water, and basic household necessities.
He also thanked the military, policemen, and security guards for maintaining peace with the communities and the IATF and National Task Force against COVID-19 for their efforts in keeping the pandemic in check, and the LGUs for their labors and those who ‘stepped up and initiated their own response measures’ to combat COVID-19.
“I know exactly the difficulties you are undergoing. I pray that the officials of each LGU would set aside partisan politics and selfish interest to do what is right and good for all.”
“To everyone who helped us during this time of the pandemic, maraming salamat po (thank you very much),” Duterte said.
The President stated that when the pandemic struck, he learned to prioritize life over consideration of experts.
“Buhay muna bago lahat (Life first before anything else),” he quoted.
As of Monday, July 27, the Philippines has 82,040 confirmed cases, 1,945 deaths, and 26, 226 recoveries.
Build, Build, Build Programs
Duterte cited NLEX Harbor Link, CALAX, Skyway Stage 3, TPLEX as among the ongoing big-ticket infrastructure projects.
“Projects under the Build, Build, Build program have economic benefits to be distributed to all corners of the country,” the President said.
The infrastructure investments allowed the creation of jobs, attracted investments, and achieve financial inclusions for Filipinos, said the President.
Special Training for OFWs and help for MSMEs
Duterte also ordered Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) to come up with special training programs to retool OFWs to find employment opportunities and asked the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) to provide scholarships for the dependents of OFWs who returned home.
He also instructed Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and the Department of Agriculture (DA) to come up with agro-entrepreneurship programs for affected OFWs.
“Sa mga kababayan ko na naghihirap sa ibang bansa, nandito lang ang inyong gobyerno para matulungan kayo lalo sa panahong ito (to my fellow citizens who are struggling in other countries, your government is here to help you in times like this),” he addressed to the OFWs.
He also called out to the lessors to be compassionate to their tenants in these times and deliberate an amenable arrangement for both parties.
Duterte appealed to the landlords to help the micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) to recover by deferring rent and other payments, and to Banko Sentral ng Pilipinas and local banks to allow extension of loan payments without extra fees and charges.
“Ito ang panahon na suportahan ang ating mga kababayan na nagnenegosyo at gumawa ng mga produktong sariling atin (This is the time for us to support our fellow countrymen who are doing business and creating products that are ours),” said the President.
Local tourism pushed
The President also called out to the people to travel locally “once the necessary system is in place” to boost the economy.
“We enjoin our people to boost our economy by traveling locally,” he said.
He directed DTI to ensure consumer protection by coordinating strategies with the public and private sector.
As of writing, travel and tourism activities are still prohibited in areas under GCQ or tighter.
Face-to-face classes still prohibited until vaccine arrives
“Until the COVID-19 vaccine is available, I will not allow the traditional face-to-face teaching or learning,” he said.
Duterte also pushed for online learning, modular learning, and TV and radio-based broadcast which students from different backgrounds can use.
Assuming that the vaccine is ready by then, Duterte is thinking of resuming classes by January next year.
“Life that is lost is lost forever. Education that is delayed can be recovered,” the President said.
Previously, the President said that face-to-face classes should resume in COVID-19 low-risk areas.
Duterte warns telcos
Duterte warned telecommunications companies, even mentioning Smart and Globe, to improve their services “lest we be forced to take drastic steps.”
“’Yung Smart pati itong Globe, ilang taon na ito. Kung ganoon lang naman ibigay niyo sa amin, the patience of the Filipino people is reaching its limit. And I will be the one to articulate their anger. (Smart and Globe, how many years has it been? If this is the kind of service you are giving us, the patience of the Filipino people is reaching its limit. And I will be the one to articulate their anger),” warned the President.
He said that the two companies have been operating for years yet the public keeps getting “lousy” services and transactions.
“Kindly improve the services before December. I want to call Jesus Christ to Bethlehem. Better have that line cleared,” he added in jest.
Bring Death Penalty back
Duterte, once again, put the idea of reviving the death penalty in the Philippines to the table.
“I reiterate the swift passage of a law reviving death penalty by lethal injection for crimes specified under the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002,” he said.
As he mentioned this, there were only a few claps from the audience which prompted the President to assume that “they are not interested”.
Duterte cited in another lengthy dialogue that illegal drugs are enough reason to revive death penalty by lethal injection.
“Just like the country’s own Colombia, Mexico, it is being played inside the national penitentiary. Talagang binababoy tayo (We were really soiled), but this is not the time for storytelling…This will not only help us deter criminality but will help us save our children,” he said.
Previously in his speech, he also mentioned that the government will “prioritize preserving life” and ensure human rights for everyone.
China “in possession” of West Philippine Sea
Duterte stressed that the Philippines must remain to be in diplomatic relations with China over its conflict on the West Philippine Sea unless it is ready to go to war over the issue.
“China is claiming it, we are claiming it. China has the arms. We do not have it. So, it’s simple as that. They are in possession of the property,” Duterte said referring to the waters.
“They are in possession. So what can we do?” he added.
Duterte said that to claim the West Philippine Sea from China means to go to war with them and he could not afford it.
“I’m willing to admit talagang inutil ako d’yan, wala ako magawa (I’m willing to admit that I am useless with that. I cannot do anything),” he concluded.
End of speech
Before he ended his speech, the President appealed to the people to put their faith in the government while fighting the coronavirus pandemic.
“Worse times loom ahead,” he said. “Let us take care of one another. Ito ang panahon para magtulungan, hindi maglamangan (this is the time to help each other, not to take advantage of one another.”
The President ended his SONA at 5:45 pm. His speech lasted for about an hour and 40 minutes.