DUMAGUETE CITY – The business sector in Negros Oriental lauded President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday after he announced in his third State of the Nation Address (SONA) at least three key points that businessmen here have been rallying for.
“NOCCI (Negros Oriental Chamber of Commerce and Industry) is very satisfied with the President’s SONA. Our three requests were granted,” said Dumaguete-based businessman Edward Du, the regional governor of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) of Central Visayas and formerly NOCCI president.
“Our three requests granted by President Duterte are the speedy implementation of Republic Act 11032, the fast-tracking of the entry of the third key telco player, and the Negros Federated Region,” said Du.
On RA 11032, otherwise known as “An Act Promoting Ease of Doing Business and Efficient Delivery of Government Services, Amending for the Purpose Republic Act No. 9485, otherwise known as the Anti-Red Tape Act of 2007, and For Other Purposes,” Du reiterated that the business chamber has always pushed for its passage to promote and protect, especially the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs).
In fact, Du had previously said that NOCCI lamented the delay in the renewal of licenses of two local producers.
The Central Visayas PCCI regional governor also had a rejoinder in Monday’s SONA of the President, directed at the Food and Drugs Administration (FDA): “Attention, FDA! Please issue the FDA’s LTO (License to Operate) and CPR (Certificate of Product Registration) in 30 days, pursuant to RA 11032.”
“For the first time, 100 percent rating” is what Du gave for the President’s SONA.
On the other hand, he also admitted that “some businessmen are not happy because the biggest violator of the "Endo" is also the government, so government must first set a good example,” referring to President Duterte’s pronouncements on putting an end, once and for all, on contractualization.
A member of the Dumaguete media, Boy Pilonggo, also expressed disappointment with the Endo, saying that he is a contractual employee. “Apan walay epek ng ENDO para nako ky dili na tumanon sa among agalon (Endo wouldn’t have an effect because our employer will not heed that law),” he said.
“Unya kining DOLE walay tango sa pagpatuman sa balaod, klarong pagkaestorya (and the Department of Labor and Employment does not have the teeth to implement such law),” he added.
In his SONA, President Duterte asked lawmakers to pass legislation that will "once and for all" stop illegal contractualization. Although government has earlier ordered companies to regularize workers, Duterte said “this does not satisfy all sectors".
"I am asking Congress to pass legislation ending the practice of contractualization once and for all," he said.
Meanwhile, mixed feelings prevailed over President Duterte’s 3rd SONA, which was delayed by more than an hour due to an apparent leadership change in the House of Representatives.
“Gahulat ko ug dugay kay imbes maminaw ta sa unsay report ni Presidente, ang away naman hinuon sa kongreso ang nakalangan (I was waiting for a long time to listen to the President’s report, but the fight in Congress took center stage instead),” said Luisa Macarindang, who runs a “sari-sari” store.
Nevertheless, she expressed hope that the President will follow through with his promises, even though she was disappointed that there was not much of a report of what the Duterte administration had accomplished in the past year.
Dumaguete Mayor Felipe Antonio Remollo also shared the same sentiment.
“No ad libs. He stuck to his speech. (He) did not comment on the House coup,” the mayor pointed out.
Remollo added: “No report on plans and achievements. In short, he seemed 'wala siyang gana' (he was not in the mood) to deliver his message. He could be sick or simply frustrated.”
Malacañang had already said that Duterte would not talking about his administration's accomplishments as these had been the topics in the pre-SONA events, led by various Cabinet secretaries.
A self-employed woman from Dumaguete City said she was happy that the President did not use any cuss words during the SONA, but she was also looking forward to hearing a report rather than all the challenges that the Chief Executive had mentioned in his address.
“Bitin ang SONA kay walay status sa projects. (The SONA was a cliff hanger because there were no status reports on projects). For me, it is not a SONA but just soliciting the report (again) of his allies,” said Anna Maria Natindim.
“But the good thing lang is di sya nag speak ug bad words (the good thing, though, is he did not speak bad words),” she added.
Meanwhile, members of cause-oriented groups held a brief anti-SONA rally at the Quezon Park in Dumaguete after a short protest march around the city streets Monday afternoon.
It was a peaceful protest activity with participants from the transport group, Piston, as well as other cause-oriented groups like Bayan, Kaugmaon, NFSW, and Anak Pawis, among others. (PNA)
