Sona 2018: A departure from PRRD’s regular speech

DAVAO. The seats in front of the installed LED wall are empty as Dabawenyos left Rizal Park in Davao City earlier Monday, July 23, 2018 as the State of the Nation Address of President Rodrigo Duterte started more than an hour late. But many opted to watch at home or on their mobile phones. (Photo by Macky Lim)
DAVAO. The seats in front of the installed LED wall are empty as Dabawenyos left Rizal Park in Davao City earlier Monday, July 23, 2018 as the State of the Nation Address of President Rodrigo Duterte started more than an hour late. But many opted to watch at home or on their mobile phones. (Photo by Macky Lim)

PRESIDENT Rodrigo R. Duterte’s third State of the Nation Address (Sona) seemed to be a departure from what we usually get from his previous speeches.

The 73-year-old president’s speech is usually characterized as long, sprinkled with curse words, a bit of Bisaya thrown in, sassy at times, and has a tendency to veer of the prepared speech.

However, for the third Sona on July 24, 2018 at the Batasang Pambansa, the speech was finished less than an hour at around 48 minutes.

His speech clearly lacked his cursing, which he is known for. Controversial statements were also not much there.

“The actual SONA - a clear departure from last year’s. Present din kasi ako last year. It was short, minimal adlib, and no foul words. Statesmanly as they would call it. But I miss his candid demeanor,” Jason John Joyce, Vice Mayor of Jose Abad Santos in Davao Occidental and National Movement of Young Legislators (NMYL) vice president for Mindanao, said in a chat message to SunStar Davao.

Getting 32 claps and cheers throughout the duration of the speech, Duterte simply underscored the important plans of his administration in the next 12 months.

While the Sona usually gets interesting by the walking out or silent protest from the opposition, this time around nothing “interesting” happened during the speech.

However, it was during the pre-Sona when things got exciting when the lower house made a move to oust incumbent House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez and was replaced by Pampanga Representative and former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, who took her oath prior to the Sona.

“Medyo na distract tanan sa ‘Oust Alvarez’ moves. Someone turned off the sound system and hid the House Mace so di naka convene under a new speaker,” Davao City councilor Mary Joselle D. Villafuerte said in a chat message to SunStar Davao.

Joyce said, “Early in the morning, during the opening of the session, there were talks na of a possible change of leadership. Medyo tense ang atmosphere. Small huddles of representatives all over the hall. In the afternoon, big huddle of representatives. Cong. Karlo [Nograles] was calling the names of representatives. I’m not sure if it was for the vote or attendance. Eventually, they announced that the position of Speaker is vacant.”

Essentials only

In his speech, Duterte laid out the plans of the government in the next 12 months. The accomplishments of the administration were delivered during a series of pre-Sonas by the Presidential Communications Office.

In the early part of his speech, President Duterte recognizes the importance of the creation of the Bangsamoro Organic Law in representing the plight of the Muslim community in Mindanao.

Duterte also said that he will not allow the existence of terrorism in the country. The Isis terrorist support groups in the country will be abolished under his term.

Duterte mentioned the importance of creating strong international relations that will aid in solving issues with regards to sovereignty of the Philippine seas.

Though a good relationship with China has been built in promoting war against drug syndicates in China, this will not blind Duterte’s goal to fight for the Philippine’s claim on the islands in the West Philippine Sea.

Duterte also lauded the contribution of Filipino migrant workers in shaping the country’s economy. He also thanked the migrant workers’ sacrifices for their very own families.

He also assured Filipinos that there will be a more accessible reach for telecommunications reach in the country.

With the drastic effect of natural calamities in the country, Duterte said that the Cabinet had already approved in creating Department of Disaster Management and Interagency, which will address disaster managements in the country.

Duterte said the Train law is an effective way to build more infrastructures help in alleviating the condition of the Filipino people.

Lastly, Duterte expressed that he will not extend his term through ratifying a new constitution.

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