PNOY's SONA 2011(A REACTION)

 The second State of the Nation Address (SONA) of President Benigno Aquino III, held at the Batasan Pambansa Complex, Quezon City last July 26, 2011 gained both negative and positive comments from the different sectors of the society. His second SONA is likened to his first State of the Nation Address, just a few months upon his term, where he publicly exposed the rampant malpractices, graft and corruption and other anomalies of the past administration of the former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. 

This year’s President SONA is a bit milder in attacking the past administrations, anomalies, although he now assured public to conduct a thorough investigation of all the graft and corruption cases by forming a Truth Commission under the leadership of former Supreme Court Chief Justice Davide.

Despite the problems in the country’s economy, the President assured sufficient budget for the remaining six months for this year to be fully stretched out. I personally like the way he boosted the moral and characters of the professionals and remaining work force of the country that choose to stay and serve his country men, than going abroad. It was actually very encouraging and entirely refreshing. However, he failed to mention appropriate increase in their remuneration and domestic salaries, as well as their benefits.

The government that upholds specific wage laws should by all means intend and implement mandatory salary pays to the government’s work force, including the overseeing of benefits of private employees. The President also failed to mention the development or plans on the part of the education system. I was expecting that he will show some plans considering he proposed for the adding of two year’s in the basic education system which he called the K-12.

Where he took the liberty of telling us to find the anomalies of the previous government, he also failed to talk on the issues of peace talks and other moves that could ease the problems and chaos in the Mindanao Region.

It can be noted that his speech did not also include matters concerning agricultural reforms and the updates of the Ampatuan cases.