Aquino delivers state address today

LOCAL and national officials expect President Benigno Aquino III to tackle his priority projects, especially those addressing poverty in the countryside, during his third State of the Nation Address (Sona) before the joint session of the House of Representatives and the Senate today, Monday.

Third district Representative Albee Benitez said he expects the President to give updates about the accomplishments of his administration, as well as future plans on his efforts to curb corruption and how he can institutionalize those achievements into sustainable growth economically and socially.

On her part, Former Las Piñas representative Cynthia Villar of the Nacionalista Party, which has forged an alliance with the administration's Liberal Party and the Nationalist People's Coalition, said that although the Aquino ddministration has been able to improve and earn good ratings from foreign credit institutions, he is expected to deliver a statement that would address poverty.

Villar admitted that the Aquino administration scored some successes in the campaign and fight against graft and corruption but she pointed out that poverty is still felt in some parts of the country.

She and her husband, Senator Manuel Villar, refused to give their ratings on the performance of President Aquino.

"I don't comment on the President's rating, as I could be biased, so we'll leave that to others to give their ratings on the President's performance," Villar said.

She said that the President, as already mentioned by Secretary Edwin Lacierda, is expected to talk about sin taxes and mining.

Earlier, Governor Alfredo Marañon Jr. has given the President an 87 percent rating for his two years in service.

He said that the President has delivered several projects in the province, one of which is the ongoing construction of the Fabrica bridge in Sagay City.

Meanwhile, fifth district Representative Alejandro Mirasol said that the President is expected to give emphasis on his drive against corruption.

As a newly elected representative of the fifth district, Mirasol said that through the help of the Aquino administration, he was able to implement a P30-million worth of road construction projects in various parts of his district. Vehicles were also provided to numerous barangays in the district. He was also able to initially implement scholarship projects among his constituents.

Last week, Marañon and Mirasol launched the Negros Occidental Comprehensive Health Program (NOCHP) in the fifth district. A counterpart fund of P8 million was initially allocated by Mirasol for the program.
To date, more than 8,000 families are already enrolled in NOCHP in his district and Mirasol said many more are going to be enrolled.

Of all the districts in the province, the 3rd district under Benitez has the highest number of beneficiaries with more than 26,000 families.

Don Salvador Benedicto Mayor Marxlen dela Cruz said that he compliments the Aquino administration in the economic progress in the country today. He said that among Asian nations, the country is one of those that managed to overcome recession.

Dela Cruz said he hopes that the President will continue the programs he started in Don Salvador, especially his Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program; and address issues on education, especially on the shortage of classrooms with the implementation of the K to 12 program.