Rizal Philippines
July 25, 2016
The longest SONA in history was delivered by Pres. Duterte his first to the joint Senate and Congress session. The emphasis again of the President was peace and his unending drive vs drugs, criminality and corruption. Analyst would say that many of the pronouncement of the President which are pro people and pro poor would place him to be socialist, left of center.
Some of the key issues he tackled:
1 Announcement of unilateral ceasefire with CPP NDF. Let us not love one another more but hate each other less. The armed struggle is going nowhere;
2. Federalism to promote ending peace in Mindanao; said we must emulate the French model.
3. Some practical moves that touch the lives of many people:
1. Five year drivers license
2. License plate at Point of Sale (car dealers)
3. All OFW clearances within one building
4. Ten year passport; more satellite offices for DFA for passport issuance
4. Relocation of Airport to Clark, for private jets and helicopter to Sangley
5. 3 day processing of docs both at local and national level. He will follow the Davao template and even shame offices who will fail in this.
6. More trains, extension of LRT services; train tickets available at Malls and other locations
7. No demolition without relocation. Businessmen who bought land can chip in for the relocation
1. Rice subsidy to the very poor
8. Environmental policies must not prevent industrialization
9. Processes to be speeded up to encourage business coming in.
10 Human rights must not destroy the rest of the Filipino nation
11. We need power to industrialize and coal is cheapest so far; we cant agree to Kyoto protocol on carbon emission
12. This is going to be a clean govt. Even a whisper will merit investigation
13. The drug lords are not here. They are abroad
14 Full implementation of Reproductive Health law to limit size of families, make people workers more productive in their work
15 Faster internet:
1. Strengthening the broadband backbone
2. Free wifi in public places: seaport, airport, parks, libraries
The President clearly addressed the needs the issues of common people. He advised Congress to pass the law that will give him emergency powers to address traffic problems and make changes to merit approval of federalism
He needs the support of every one to make his drive vs drugs, crimes and corruption a success
He who is the cause is the cause of the cause.
