STATE OF THE NATION ADDRESS

The President will address both Houses of Congress on the state of our nation. It is an event where he is expected to make a report and encourage Congress to pass measures supporting the programs that he needa to initiate further. There will be varied reactions, favorable or otherwise, from various sectors. There will be the usual rallies staged by pro-administration groups and of course the militant anti-administration groups. At the end of the day, what is the bottomline?

There is no doubt that the President's administration will just continue with its existing programs and pursue further its commitment to good governance, transparency, and anti-corruption drive. Any measure needed to be passed will definitely be realized since both Houses are in full support of the President anyway.

We will however expect the President telling us about the gains that we have realized since he assumed the Presidency. He would report that the Philippines has become a creditor country in as much as we are now lending money to the IMF. Our ratings have improved, growth is consisten and that our country is economically stable. The President will also make mention of his administration's ability to prevent any confrontation with China, while we pursue every diplomatic means to insure our country's territorial integrity. Together with this is the fact that our natural resources in the controversial shoal remain intact, while at the same time, we have maintained the gateway for export industry open. Of course, another highlight would be the successful efforts of the government to pursue legal actions against former officials involving scams, fraud and generally, corruption. He will definitely refer to the impeachment of the Chief Justice, resignation of the Ombudsman, prosecution of PGMA, among others. We are doing fairly well with agriculture, finance, tourism, transportation and communications, interior, and justice. But much has to be done on natural resources, social welfare, peace initiatives, defense, and public works.

On the other hand, the SONA may as well tackle government's efforts or stand on the increasing cost of living specifically in relation with fuel price increases, wages adjustment, and keeping or making the prices of commodities low and affordable to the common tao. There is a need to address the problems of poverty, informal settlers, health care and unemployment.

The people need to be assured that the President they elected would continue to work for change and a brighter future. No doubt the President can and will do what he must. He enjoys a consistently high trust rating. The President is considered strong and popular. He is democratically feared, politically sought and unpredictable.