LIVE BLOG: President Duterte’s Sona 2021

LIVE BLOG: President Duterte’s Sona 2021

PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte delivered Monday, July 26, his sixth and final State of the Nation Address (Sona) at the Batasang Pambansa in Quezon City.

Below is the summary of Duterte’s Sona.

3:40 p.m. -- Duterte arrived at the Batasan Complex onboard the presidential chopper. He was accompanied by Senator Christopher "Bong" Go and common-law wife Honeylet Avanceña.

3:45 p.m. -- Duterte met with Senate President Vicente Sotto III, House Speaker Lord Allan Velasco, and other officials.

4:05 p.m. -- Duterte made a short stop to see the exhibits and a multimedia installation that were set up the gallery area as part of the tribute to him by the 18th Congress.

4:07 p.m. -- Duterte entered the plenary hall. He was welcomed by the lawmakers led by Sotto and Velasco.

4:08 p.m. -- Session was called to order.

4:09 p.m. -- Singing of the Philippine Anthem.

4:10 p.m. -- Nation's prayer.

4:13 p.m. -- Duterte started his final Sona.

GRATITUDE. Duterte extended his gratitude to health workers for risking their lives and safety to help Filipinos amid the pandemic. He also extended his appreciation to the private sector for its assitance. He told the private sector that the government is committed to assist it to "regain the commercial vibrance of the country prior to the pandemic."

He also praised the local officials for stepping up and delivering responsive assistance to their constituents amid the Covid-19 pandemic. "I'm glad to have seen you working doubly hard to protect yor constituents."

PENSION, FREE LEGAL AID. Duterte asked Congress to pass a unified system of separation, retirement and pension for military and uniformed personnel. He also asked Congress to pass a law providing legal assistance to AFP and PNP officers and enlisted peronnel to help them from charges arising from incidence related to the performance of official duty.

COMMUNIST PARTY. The President hit the Communist Party of the Philippines, saying its top officials are earning millions but pass so little to their members. "They themselves are pocketing the money and their children are studying in Europe and other places, which I think none of you here can finance their journey," he told guests at the Batasang Pambansa.

ILLEGAL DRUGS. Duterte reiterated that the government will not stop its fight against illegal drugs, saying he does not want to see the country in disarray and families breaking up and becoming functional because of illegal drugs.

He said the illegal drug problem has hounded the country for several decades and degrading the moral fiber of our society, thus it has to be stopped.

WARNING. Duterte warned anew "those who will destroy my country" and the country's youth: "I will kill you."

SOTTO A 'CAPABLE MAN.' The President praised and thanked Senate President Vicente Sotto III, saying "he is a capable man, a good man and a Filipino."

PUBLIC COMMUTING. Duterte said his government has been working to take away the misery of public commuting, citing several transportation projects, particularly the railway and expressway projects.

He said he told the Cabinet officials, particularly the DPWH, DOTr, DOF and DBM to "be in full speed to make sure that our flagship projects will be completed within my term."

He also told the LGU officials and partners to go for the earliest realization of the government's flagship infrastructure projects.

EASE OF DOING BUSINESS. The President also mentioned in his 6th Sona the government's projects to streamline government processes. He said he does not want to see queueing in government offices.

TRANSPARENCY IN GOVERNMENT. Duterte cited as one of his accomplishments the passage of the Freedom of Information, which seeks to provide transparency in the government by giving the Filipino people easier access to government data, transactions and documents. The FOI program was created after Duterte signed Executive Order 2.

ASEAN FRIENDS. Duterte told the Asean: "Thank you for supporting my government, my country and my people." He assured them that the Philippines will remain a responsible member of the international community and "we will work with you to achieve our shared objectives." He warned though: "But make no mistake, gone are the days when the Philippines decides and acts in the shadows of the great powers. We will assert what is rightfully ours and fight for what is rightfully due to the Filipino people."

BALANGIGA MASSACRE. Duterte mentioned in his last Sona the Balangiga Massacre, which happened in September 1901. He first mentioned the incident in his 2017 Sona when he asked the US government to return the church bells that the American soldiers took from Balangiga, Samar in 1901.

FUND FROM CHINA. Duterte denied that China helped fund his 2016 presidential campaign, saying he never asked for help. "I will never, never do that. Di bale na ko maging presidente. Hindi ko talaga gagawin yan."

ABS-CBN. Duterte again attacked ABS-CBN, saying the company is cheating the government by billions in taxes. "They still owe government billions."

COCO LEVY FUND. Duterte said the government has returned the Coco Levy Fund to its true and rightful owners -- the coconut farmers. "The fund is now worth estimated to be P75 billion, which will be utilized according to the plans and programs of coconut farmers."

RICE TARRIFICATION LAW. The President also cited the government's passage in 2019 of the Rice Tarrification Law, which he said has resulted in the stabilization of rice supply in the country and has provided machineries for farmers.

TERTIARY EDUCATION. Duterte thanked Congress for the passage of Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act, which provides free education to college and state universities.

MALASAKIT CENTERS. Duterte vowed that the government will continue to establish more Malasakit Centers in the country. He said that the Philippines currently has 130 Malasakit Centers across the country that have helped millions of Filipinos in their hospitalization needs. "We have actually leveled the playing field and provide the medical care they deserve."

BAYANIHAN LAWS. Duterte also thanked Congress for the passage of the Bayanihan Act 1 and 2, saying "we have launched the social protection program in our country's history."

The Bayanihan laws provide the funds for the projects and programs aimed at responding to the Covid-19 epidemic in the country.

COVID-19 RESPONSE. Duterte said the government has worked hard to fight the Covid-19 pandemic, citing the establishment of at least 260 accredited laboratories nationwide, more than 9,000 treatment and monitoring facilities, and modular and quarantine facilities. He also said that the country's health experts will continue to participate in the search for Covid-19 medicines.

He again thanked Congress for passing 13 measures tha have established the new and improved capacity of existing hospitals in the country. These he said include the establishment of new medical facilities in Mandaluyong, Bacolod and Davao Occidental, increasing bed capacities in these areas.

COVID-19 VACCINES. The Philippines has already received 30 million doses of Covid vaccines, and it is set to received 36 million more, said the President. Duterte said that by August, the country will have more than 7 million Filipinos who have received their first dose.

LOCKDOWNS. Duterte said the Philippines cannot afford more lockdowns, stressing the government has "spent enormous amounts of resources to build our capacity to overcome this pandemic."

ENSURE RECOVERY. The President told Congress to continue to pass vital and critical legislation and push the entire government to ensure recovery and revitalization of the country.

LAWS AMENDMENT. He also called on Congress to immediately pass the amendments of priority legislative measures, such as the Foreign Investments Act, Public Service Act, and Retail Trade Liberalization Act.

OFWs PROTECTION. Duterte asked Congress to establish a single agency that will focus on and respond to to the needs of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs). He also asked for the passage of a law that will form a department of migrant workers for overseas Filipinos. "Kailangan po ito because the OFWs are suffering now with so many inadequacies both in our government response and monetary assistance...This will ensure that there is a department that will address the needs and take care of our countrymen abroad."

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION. Duterte mentioned the rehabilitation of Manila Bay. He said that as of May 2019, all illegally operating open dumpsites surrounding Manila Bay have been shut down and 150 out of 187 local government units (LGUs) surrounding the bay have now access to sanitary landfill. He directed the DENR to sustain the efforts and to continue working with LGUs to restore Manila Bay to its force glory.

DISEASE PREVENTION AGENCY. The President also asked Congress to create a Center for Disease Prevention and Control and the Virology and Vaccine Institute of the Philippines.

PEACEFUL PH. Duterte: "Desperation is a feeling alien to the resilient Filipino. A peaceful and prosperous Philippines is no longer just a distant dream, but one that is within our grasp, if our future Filipinos would also do it, if they would continue and seize the opportunity to work together."

6:59 p.m. -- Duterte ended his last Sona, saying: "Together, let us rise as a nation."

7 p.m. -- Joint session was adjourned.

Duterte's final Sona lasted for two hours and 46 minutes.

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