Name: Nikka Dablio Section: Topaz

SONA 2014 Transcript

Manila, Philippines - President Aquino on Monday, July 28, 2014 delivered his fifth
State of the Nation Address (SONA). Lawmakers and guests at Batasan Pambansa
gave him at least 85 rounds of applause for his 1.5hrs speech.
Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abi Valte said Aquino worked hard to make his
SONA comprehensive. As a result, PNoy made some personal statement and
became emotional during the last part of the speech.
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SONA 2014 highlights the achievements of the government on education, social
services, economy, improvement, infrastructure, calamity efforts, jobs,
rehabilitation after typhoons and earthquake, modernization of AFP, security,
ARMM Bangsamoro and livelihood.
Under the controversial DAP, PNoy said that around P1.6 billion fund was given to
Training-for-Work Scholarship Program of TESDA. A total of 223,615 beneficiaries
have graduated with an equivalent of 146,731 graduates currently working.
Aquino also boasts the Expanded Conditional Cash Transfer program which has
started this June with a budget of 12.3 billion. According to him, the poverty
incidence went down to 24.9% in the first quarter of 2013.
Last year, the Philippines received high investment grade status from Moody's,
Fitch, at SandP. Aquino takes pride in the holding of the World Economic Forum in
Manila recently.
PNoy said that the budget for infrastructure has more than double. A total of
12,184 km national roads were done. He cites DPWH Sec. Singson for cutting
corruption in infrastructure projects. "Bawal ang tongpats, bawal ang bukol."
Major infrastructures such as Metro Manila Skyway Stage 3, Ternate-Nasugbu
Road, Basilan Circumferential Road and Aluling Bridge are some of the ongoing
and newly-built infrastructure projects of DPWH.
"We worked to have the ability to fund the projects that we implemented, are
implementing, and will be implementing.", Aquino said.
When he talked about the Bohol and Cebu calamity, he said that P3.583 billion
were released for the rehabilitation efforts.
After the super-typhoon Yolanda, efforts of the government include power
restoration, road and airport repairs that were done immediately according to
him. He thanked the Task Foce Yolanda for their prompt response. A total of
221,897 received jobs after the said typhoon.
PNoy also praised Albay Gov. Joey Salceda after his province had zero casualty
despite the recent Typhoon Glenda onslaught.
Aquino also said that AFP modernization will continue as the government is
targeting to acquire more aircraft and radar system. The PNP now also have 1:1
police to pistol ratio.
"The state is taking care of the needs of the police. And they are matching this
support with efficient and upright service," Aquino said.
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MORE PROMISES TO TRACK
It is common that every SONA, the President always make promises. Here are the
some of the action items of the Aquino government for the next months or year:
Laguna Lakeshore Expressway Dike bidding by end of 2014
Open alternative roads to EDSA
Opening of the Palawan Busuanga Airport
Push Bangsamoro Basic Law
Ensure enough supply of power to meet the growing energy demand
2.606 trillion for 2015 National Budget
Despite of the said achievements and plans of the government, thousands of
protesters marched along Commonwealth Avenue in Quezon City toward Batasan
Pambansa on Monday afternoon.
According to them, Aquino is the pork barrel king as they have showed
"holDAPer" effigy which pertains to the President's DAP.
Meanwhile, Aquino did not mention the issue on the Priority Development
Assistance Fund (PDAF) with many of the politicians are involved.
PNoy also failed to include the passage of the Freedom of Information (FOI) bill in
his SONA. The measure aims to eliminate corruption in the bureaucracy by giving
the public greater access to government transactions and records.
On Monday, Social Weather Stations (SWS) has released second-quarter survey
results which shows that 12.1 million from 11.5 million in March Filipino families
saw themselves 'poor'. In the survey, 55 percent of respondents claimed to be
poor, up from 53 percent in March.

SOURCE: http://www.thesummitexpress.com/2014/07/president-aquino-sona-
2014-highlights-review-for-reaction-paper.html