by JOSE PAOLO S. DELA CRUZ
Clocking in at a little over an hour and 41 minutes, President Rodrigo Duterte’s fifth State of the Nation Address (SONA) was loaded with praise for the government’s efforts in fighting COVID-19 – and choice words for his enemies.
Pambansa/ Screengrab from PTV
After speculations of moving venues hit the Web earlier in the day because of the pandemic, SONA 2020 commenced as planned at the Batasang Pambansa, in the presence of some 50 or so legislators and Cabinet officials, led by no less than Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano and Senate President Vicente Sotto III.
As the first-ever SONA delivered in the new normal—or the next normal, as the President would say—social distancing was obviously observed at the Lower House with masked attendees’ tables placed far apart from each other and a near-empty gallery once teeming with people in previous years as a backdrop; while a selection of montage videos were used to up the SONA’s production value.
And by the time Duterte fired his first words at 4:04 in the afternoon, it was clear that the President had quite a lot to say.
“We live in troubled times”
This was one of Duterte’s openers for his 2020 SONA, indicating that much of the speech would chronicle the government’s response to the pandemic.
But even before Duterte could proudly outline how the government has given aid to more than 650,000 individuals, and how it has repatriated 83,000 OFWs, the President gave Sen. Franklin Drilon some sound tongue lashing, accusing the latter of siding with ABS-CBN, while taking advantage of the situation as “the government was preoccupied with the pandemic.”
This is something that Duterte would come back to almost an hour and a half later, with remarks intoning Drilon’s alleged involvement in unscrupulous government deals, particularly when it came to the water consortium.
Also placed in the crosshairs later in his speech are telecommunications companies such as Globe and Smart, whom the President challenged to shape up or ship out – by December!
“I want to call Jesus Christ to Bethlehem. Better have that line cleared,” he said.
A strong government
All throughout his speech, Duterte painted an image of a strong, responsive government that acts swiftly in the time of crisis. However, he was also quick to admit that whatever gains were made in the last three and a half years of his administration, were put to the test by the pandemic. Still, he maintained that not all was lost.
“Our fiscal position is strong and our banking system, robust. We are in a better position to weather the crisis caused by the COVID-19 global pandemic,” he said, citing Moody’s BAA2 rating for the country, as well as Japan Credit Rating Agency’s A-Minus rating, as most of our ASEAN neighbors slipped down.
The government also commended the country’s frontliners and government officials who help the country in its ongoing war with COVID-19. “The strength of a nation rests on people who act as one with the government,” he said, before lauding the establishment of 93 COVID-testing facilities across the country, and announcing that the government will have tested 1.4 million individuals by end of July.
As expected, the President commended Sen. Bong Go, whose 75 Malasakit Program Centers have reportedly been a great help to the poor. Go also prominently figured in videos that chronicled various social welfare initiatives of programs such as the Pantawid Pamilya, which the President says has benefitted 4.3 million beneficiaries; and the Unconditional Cash Transfers that were also reported to have aided 92.2 million beneficiaries.
Another victory that Duterte trumpeted was the 30th SEA Games, where he said the Philippines shone in the world stage. “Indeed, we won as one,” he said.
While spirited against most of the challenges before him, one battle that Duterte seemed surrendered to was that concerning our territorial disputes with China. “What can we do? We have to go to war,” he asked rhetorically, going as far as to call himself “inutil (helpless)” in this aspect.
Turning to legislation
Halfway through his speech, Duterte candidly mentioned that most of his speech is a plea to the legislative chamber for the passage of certain laws that will help the executive department push its agenda.
Among these are the creation of a Department of Overseas Filipinos, which aims to take care of our fellowmen abroad; and the creation of a National Disease Prevention and Management Authority, to head the battle against future pandemics, among other new government bodies.
He also reminded the Departments of Justice, Education, Information and Communications Technology, as well as other pertinent government institutions to start utilizing government-owned airwaves for educational programs that will benefits Filipino systems.
Some might also interpret the President’s statements on government properties as a commitment to holding on to private assets. “For the remaining two years of my term, all that is good that belongs to the government—be it the airwaves, the lines, or whatever that is good for the people—will belong to the government and it should be the government who should be given the first option to utilize them,” he stressed.
But it wouldn’t be a Duterte SONA without the president veering away from the prepared script, which he did several times during his speech, before lapsing into a mix of English and Filipino with signature asides that have endeared him with his supporters over the years.
Directed by Joyce Bernal, the president’s televised SONA also provided glimpses of important people who weren’t physically present at the Batasan, but nevertheless listened to what the he had to say via Zoom. They included Vice President Leni Robredo, Senators Sonny Angara, Cynthia Villar, Dick Gordon and Nancy Binay.
Bernal also briefly showed galleries that grouped together the president’s various supporters, including a number of OFWs, who watched the SONA also via Zoom.
Near the end of his speech, Duterte promised that the government will not stop “until we get things right.”
