BY JOSE PAOLO S. DELA CRUZ
“Today is my last State of the Nation Address, but this is by no means my swan song. I will never cease to implore Congress to pass vital and critical legislation.” — President Rodrigo Duterte
COVID-19, reforms and recognition — President Rodrigo Duterte’s sixth and final State of the Nation Address (SONA), which spanned two hours and 46 minutes, painted a rosy, cohesive picture of how he saw the last six years. It was the longest Post-EDSA SONA delivered by a sitting president.
Despite the inclement weather, Rordigo Duterte, 16th President of the Philippines, arrived on time at the Batasan Pambansa via chopper Monday afternoon, July 26, to deliver his final SONA to a crowd of around 350 socially distanced (and masked) legislators, government officials and some celebrity guests.
Daghang Salamat!
The speech, started on a positive note, as the President made sure to laud frontliners as soon as he could. “We extend the nation’s gratitude to the frontliners and everyone who gave their all in the fight against COVID-19,” he said. Duterte also praised the generosity of the private sector and of ally countries, who came to the Philippines’ aid in its time of need. “Daghang salamat, (many thanks,)” he told them.
Duterte also thanked those who joined his administration in its battle against illegal drugs and corruption, as well as in completing infrastructure projects that have helped him realize his dream of providing “a better life for Filipinos,” which he said he carried, from the moment he assumed office in 2016
The Build, Build, Build committee, led by its czar and Public Works Secretary Mark Villar and Transportation Secretary Art Tugade Jr, also received praise from the President. Travel from Manila to Antipolo, according to the President, has been reduced to 40 minutes from three hours, thanks to projects such as the LRT 2. The President also trumpeted how the MRT has increased its number of trains from 10 trains that run at 30 kph to 23 trains that run at 60 kph.
Also a regular in Duterte’s SONA: praises for presidential aide and Sen. Bong Go. After urging his long-time ally to stand up and take a bow, the President even joked that Go, once again, was “more popular than the guest speaker.” Go was commended, this time, for his initiative that led to the establishment 130 Malasakit Centers, which have served millions of Filipinos in their hospitalization needs, nationwide.
No swan song
Near the end of his speech, the President also said that he will continue to use his remaining days in office to influence legislators into passing relevant laws and creating new government agencies that can help address the plight of Filipinos, especially migrant workers and OFWs.
“Today is my last State of the Nation Address, but this is by no means my swan song. I will never cease to implore Congress to pass vital and critical legislation,” he said.
“The lights go out from this administration 11 months from now… a stronger and prosperous Philippine is no longer a distant dream but one that is now within our grasp,” he assured.
