People still divided over Aquino's 3rd Sona

AS EXPECTED, mixed reactions, depending on which side of the fence is observing from.

The 90-minute speech delivered Monday afternoon is said to be the longest since President Benigo Aquino III assumed the presidency in 2010. Aquino's inaugural address in 2010 lasted for about 36 minutes, while his State of the Nation Address (Sona) in 2011 lasted 53 minutes.

Not everyone was impressed by the President's 30-page speech which Malacañang said last week will be "truthful" and "inspiring."

"President PNoy's 3rd Sona was extremely satisfying to an ordinary person like myself who work hard to elect PNoy as president for a specific purpose, that is to reform government leading to peace and development! As the boss of PNoy I am giving him the performance grade of 90 percent as of today. I can stand and walk with dignity that my president has met my aspirations for my country. Finally, the flickering of the light at the end of the tunnel is becoming brighter for peace and development. God bless the Philippines. PNoy's performance is making a significant difference that augurs well with ending the armed conflict by the showing of government’s capacity to deliver basic services like food, health and education." -- Ednar Dayanghirang, member GPH panel for peace talks with CPP/NPA/NDF.

"Sona brought back pride and dignity in public service. We must believe and realize that we all have an obligation in making our country great again." -- Sarangani Governor Migs Dominguez.

"AFP modernization is good for the nation's security. Soldier's housing program will surely raise their morale." -- Lieutenant General Jorge Segovia, commander of Eastern Mindanao Command.

"Very moving and strong ang Sona. I would like to admit that I say Amen to the many points the president has raised upon. Apan hinaot unta nga matinuod sa ang mga gipangsaad ug dili political rhetorics." -- Dodong Atillo, spokesperson of Deped-Davao Region.

"Within these two years, under PNoy's central economic policy Public Private Partnership (PPP), the public has been burdened with unabated price increase in oil and petroleum products, water and power rates. This has impacted the access to food and basic utilities and services of not only the poorest of the poor, but as well as of working middle class. For Bayan, the Conditional Cash Transfer, the 4Ps, the Pantawid Pasada have all failed to augment the economic burdens of the working and middle class while demands for jobs, decent wage, land and genuine agrarian reform, basic social services continue to be the least of PNoy's programs." -- Sheena Duazo, spokesperson of Bagong Alyansang Makabayan Southern Mindanao Region.

"President Aquino delivered one of the longest Sonas in recent memory, yet he said not a single word about the worsening human rights record of his administration and the impunity that he continues to prevail. To date, there have been at least 99 victims of extrajudicial killings, including those of Father Pops Tenorio and Willem Geertman. Similarly, Aquino made no mention whatsoever of the peace talks with the NDF. This indicates that PNoy is intent on an all-out war policy against the communist insurgency and will lead to even more human rights violations. He expounded on the gains made by his administration in the delivery of education and health services. What he did not mention is that these services are increasingly being provided by professional teachers and nurses working as highly exploited contractuals. Under his presidency, the DepEd has deployed over 20,000 contractual teachers and 10,000 contractual nurses who are paid below minimum wage. PNoy also failed to mention that all government employees will have no salary increase in 2013 despite the continuously rising cost of living." -- Rep. Antonio Trinio, Act Teachers Party-List.

"I would like to believe that President Benigno Aquino have done some of the promises he mentioned in his previous state of the nation addresses (Sonas) especially in going after corrupt officials. But I think instead of always blaming the past administration, he must focus on reforms that would directly benefit the ordinary people." -- Orly Escarilla of Museo Dabawenyo.

"I am satisfied with the President's third Sona. My expectations especially in the environmental concerns have been addressed like his position in the equitable sharing in tax from mining as well as the ban on plastics. Ako gusto madungog nga ma-address niya ang problem sa environment especially illegal logging kay daghan DENR officials na relieve ni DENR Secretary Paje (What I want to hear is his stance on the problem with illegal logging that resulted to the dismissal of some DENR officials) because of that. Environment should be the top priority now to address climate change. He should show more actions for his remaining years in the position." -- Joseph Felizarta, Chief of Davao City Environment and Natural Resources Office (Cenro)

"We're right. Today's Sona has nothing to offer any substantive agenda for the environment and well-being of the people. It talks about the influx of foreign investments, to be more dependent on these, which set the tone for the push for charter change, particularly removing the protectionist provisions on the economy of the constitution. It means plunder development projects for the few elite not for the majority. It's more of the stale rhetoric and promises. The previous administrations have done that but failed because they implemented the same anti-people neoliberal economic policies of liberalization, privatization, and deregulation, which have been widely opposed by the people." -- Juland Suazon, spokesperson of environmental group Panalipdan.

"The President's 3rd Sona showed us the truth about the nation, inspired us to do the impossible, and defined the ways how we should move forward." -- Romeo Montenegro, Mindanao Development Authority (Minda) spokesperson.

"Well, as usual, it's a beautifully crafted speech yet less in substance. Same old stories. It's a vindictive report to the nation. He should provide funds for education, lands for the landless, more food for the Filipinos. Stop the vindictive form of government above anything else." -- Mark Anthony S. Ventura, external relations associate of Holy Cross of Davao College (HCDC) external relations.

"The Sona of President PNoy reports the following fight against graft and corruption, building of roads and infrastructures, the strengthening of our educational system, housing, electoral reform, among others. The president is really trying his best to make life easy for every Juan and Maria. We should commend him for his sincere dedication to public service. I know he cannot finish all his programs but it is surely a step forward to a greater Philippines." -- Atty. Jonathan Jocom, Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP)-Davao chapter president.

"The Sona is delusional. Mindanao is still neglected. Aquino is in Manila 30 days a month. In Mindanao, the Ombudsman is only in Davao." -- Atty. Emmanuel Fontanilla

"...Boladas or empty talk is really cheap. PNoy is still not over with the blame mood to, to cover up the inadequacy of his administration. What is unmistakable is his declaration that the Philippines is now open for business -- actually from day one of his administration he already started setting in motion the wholesale plunder of our national patrimony by selling and privatizing everything through his centerpiece program of private-public-partnership. And, who will benefit from all these? certainly not the Filipinos, but, only his already super rich friends and cronies and their foreign capitalist friends. There was no mention of how to make accountable those charge with human rights violations, particularly members of the state security forces, is one clear indication that the Aquino administration is no different from its predecessor and the state of impunity will go on. At least now, it is crystal clear that the Filipino people cannot expect any substantial change from the Aquino administration. The yellow mantra of PNoy is nothing but a myth. Only the collective will of the people can truly bring the needed change that our country needs." -- Atty. Karlos Yzagani Zarate, Union of Peoples' Lawyers for Mindanao (UPLM) secretary-general.

"He is reporting positive changes and programs implemented. We hope it will be sustained and attained. We're hoping for the best." -- Major Jacob Thaddeus Obligado, commander of the Army's 10th Infantry Division's Civil Military Operation Battalion.

"We support the plans of our President. I know it is for the welfare of the people. And of course I'm glad because the Philippine National Police (PNP) is part on his Sona." -- Senior Supt. Ronald M. Dela Rosa, director of the Davao City Police Office.

"Lipay kaayo ko para sa PNP because of the President's promise to buy 74,600 guns for the Philippine National Police." -- Supt. Dionisio Abude, chief of the Talomo Police Station.

"Okay. It is a good news to all PNP personnel para ma-motivate na magwork pa ng maayos bilang government employee. We;re so blessed that we're given more priority lalo na sa nature ng work namin na medyo risky." -- Superintendent Joeniel Rojo, chief of the Davao City Police Office’s Police Community Relations (DCPO-PCR).

"Ang Sona ni Aquino klarong nagpakita nga ang iyang gibidahan iyang mga among langyaw nga tigpatuman u gang numero uno niini ang US tungod kay wala na bati sa halos 90 percent nga kabus ang iyang gipamida sa iyang Sona." -- Rev. Jaime Jurie, of the United Church of Christ in the Philippines (UCCP) and Karapatan spokesperson.

"Sa 'Report kay Boss', ipinakita ni Pangulong Aquino na mayroon po tayong nakamtan na pagbabago sa reporma, sa laban sa korupsyon, at sa transpormasyon. Under the Aquino administration, things unheard of have become true: economic growth, consistent stock exchange performance, strengthening peso, credit upgrades, reduced unemployment rates—in fact, we are even lending now as a country, something unimaginable just 5 years ago. Tama si Presidente: walang imposible. Ang ulat ng Pangulo ang sukat nang ating mga pinaghihirapan, at ito ay nagbibigay nang pag-asa na higit pa dito ang ating makakamtan. We laud the President for giving us a national anchor, a sense of accomplishment, and the optimism that even with so much still left to do, we can truly achieve the impossible when we work together responsibly and honestly. It is a refreshing report that gives meaning to what we all individually and collectively do and aspire to, that our labors are not in vain; more importantly, it gives us hope." -- Compostela Valley Rep. Maricar Zamora-Apsay.

"The Sona was a message of confidence and achievement. Hindi lang kwento. But it was backed up by statistics showing solid achievements, the statistics, intern was backed up by testimony of real people who said that they were clearly benfitiing from the programs of the admiisttartion. am proud of these achievements. Taas noo ang Pilipino ngaun." -- Senator TG Guingona. (Arianne Caryl Casas, Antonio L. Colina IV, Ben Tesiorna, Jereco O. Paloma, Ivy C. Tejano, and King Rodriguez)