ILOILO CITY -- The third State of the Nation Address (SONA) of President Rodrigo R. Duterte generated positive reactions from Ilonggos praising him for getting straight to the point minus his expletives.
Lea Lara, Executive Director of the Iloilo Business Club, said the SONA was straightforward as the Chief Executive’s speech went directly to the priority bills that he wanted the Congress to pass.
“It is conveying that his administration is pushing for legitimate reform, amidst controversies, there is really a direction that he wanted to achieve,” she said.
She even lauded the President for his plan to push for the passage of law for the creation of Department of Disaster Management.
“For the longest time, I think this (Department of Disaster Management) is what we really needed because the business sector is also affected by natural calamities and we need the rehabilitation and disaster preparedness and response,” she said.
She also welcomed the appeal of President Duterte for the businesses to “cooperate with us in charging fair price.”
“While we are feeling the effects of TRAIN early this year up to now, what is crucial is how these economic managers foresee the impact to the companies and utilization of the taxes that will be generated to provide or fund the reforms that he introduced like the increase on subsidies,” she added.
“It was a very ‘presidentiable’ speech. He painted a rosy picture of the country, yet he didn't also forget to present its ills. I was glad he was able to lay down some of the accomplishments of his administration, and the plans he still need to implement, without ad-libing and without using his usual lingo,” said Lucy Sinay, head of the Iloilo city government public information office.
City Councilor Joshua Alim said that President Duterte delivered “more of a motherhood statement” but “I like more the speech this time.”
“He is getting serious on the country's problems I guess, he was a more matured President, so to speak, based on his words,” he said.
Alim said he liked the statement of the President which looked into environmental protection, disaster and health and for local government units to be more proactive on environmental protection.
“I am glad the SONA is brief, devoid of foul language and was delivered in a dignified manner,” said L’ Michelli K. Horlador, a government employee.
Meanwhile, a taxi driver who refused to be named but admitted to be a Duterte supporter said he was contented with the SONA. As he was listening to Duterte’s speech, he could not help but noticed the “clean” delivery of the message.
“Probably he was trying to control himself,” he said. He hoped though that the campaign against illegal drugs will not just be limited to “small fry” but also go after th big ones.
Chief Superintendent John Bulalacao, Regional Director of the Police Regional Office in Western Visayas (PRO6), admired the President for being “passionate and consistent in continuing his reform programs relative to good governance, economic, foreign relations as well as the fight against illegal drugs and criminalities.”
“The officers, men and women of PRO6 assure the President of our firm support in the attainment of his programs. The corrupt and criminals in our society should better heed his call to reform for the betterment of our country,” he said.
“I will make sure that his programs against illegal drugs will be sustained here in our region. In fact, in my desire to accomplish more, I reshuffled some of our chiefs of police who were wanting in their performance not only on illegal drugs but all forms of criminality,” he added.
Senior Inspector Shella Sangrines, spokesperson of the Iloilo City Police Office, emphasized that the number one thrust of the current leadership of the PRO6 is “intensification and sustained war on drugs”.
“We are one with the thrust of President Duterte,” she cited.
Jessa Mae Padilla, a fourth year journalism student of West Visayas State University in this city, is looking forward to Duterte’s promise to sign into law the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL) within 48 hours.
She even picked her favorite line from the President’s speech which was, “your concern is human rights, mine is human lives”.
“His SONA was direct to the point and no unnecessary statements were said. It was a good one for me. I hope that everything he wanted to happen would be for the welfare of all the Filipino people,” she said.
Vivian Tan, information officer of the Department of Public Works and Highways in Western Visayas, said that she hoped the President will deliver on his promises before his term ends.
“Although there are many issues right now that need to be resolved, government workers like me are hopeful that before the end of his term he will deliver his promises to the Filipino particularly on the #Buildbuild program to generate more jobs in order to help this country become one of the most progressive in the world,” she said. (PNA)
