Lawmakers expect SONA to focus on federalism anti-drugs and corruption campaign

July 22, 2018

Members of the House of Representatives are looking forward to hear a substantive and candid State of the Nation Address of President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday.

Lawmakers expect Duterte to focus on his advocacy for federalism, the campaign against illegal drugs and corruption, peace and unity, and better economic performance of the country.

Rep. Reynaldo Umali, chairman of the Committee on Justice, expressed hope Duterte will remain steadfast in his advocacies against crime, corruption and drugs plus his other campaign promise of federalism by providing a clearer vision and direction for the country.

“As the leader of the Filipino people advocating for real change, he should espouse peace and unity, and work together for the common good,” said Umali.

Committee on Appropriations chairman Rep. Karlo Alexie Nograles said the address will report on how far Duterte has gone in making these visions a reality.

He said the SONA would likely be a report of Duterte’s “extraordinary accomplishments” in partnership with Congress, including the realization of his promise to double the salary of men in uniform and, more recently, the impending enactment of the Bangsamoro Basic Law.

“Last SONA, he promised a new Bangsamoro Basic Law and now we are about to have a new Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL) which hopes to end the cycle of conflict in some parts of Mindanao,” said Nograles.

Nograles believes the SoNA would also touch on other important government programs such as the Expanded Health Care, the supplemental budget for Dengvaxia victims, the “Build, Build, Build” infrastructure program, the Free Irrigation Law, expanded coverage of the Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT), and the recently signed law on Electric Cooperative Emergency Resiliency Fund.

“Certainly, a lot of things are yet to be done. Our fight to defeat illegal drugs is still in full swing. But despite criticisms, no one can deny that supply and demand has dramatically decreased in just a matter of three years. This feat has never been achieved by his predecessors until the end of their terms,” said Nograles. DMS