Lianna Mae G.

Ramal

Grade 12-ABM Shale

President Rodrigo Roa Duterte delivered his 4th State of the Nation Address (SONA) yesterday, July 22,
2019, at Batasan Pambansa at Quezon City. As the father of the nation, President Duterte delivered his
SONA, highlighting the accomplishments of his administration for the past year and proposing the
changes that he would still want to pursue in the coming years.Duterte emphasized that illegal drug
problem persists and corruption continues but promised to continue fighting until his term ends.

The president said Bureau of Customs, though corruption-ridden, managed to collect P585 billion in
2018. "Imagine how much more could have been collected had the BOC been cleaned and less
corrupt."Duterte also mentioned the rehabilitation made for Boracay Island, which was now "restored
close to its original pristine state." He added that it's just the beginning. He also plans to declare the
whole of the island a land reform program and give piece by piece to the Aetas.

On Manila Bay rehabilitation, the administration will relocate informal settlers along the waterways and
shut down establishments that continue to pollute and poison the waters.Speaking on the entry of third
telecommunications company in the country, Duterte ensured "there is no corruption at all." He
challenged the player to fulfill its commitment to provide fast and reliable telecom services to people.

Recently, the administration earned outrage on his claim that Manila cannot bar Beijing from the West
Philippine Sea despite winning the United Nations-backed ruling. Political analysts said the president
should have strong power like China to enforce our rights.Analysts also said the president should "iron
out" a measure that aims to lower corporate income taxes and rationalize incentives as the market
expects updates on tax reform.Charter Change and federalism were not mentioned in SONA 2019.
According to Duterte, it is not the proper time to talk about it and these should be discussed not on the
public.

The accomplishments of the past show that there is nothing that this nation could not achieve for as
long as there is an effort to do so. It reveals how much changes we have had and how much we are still
expecting to have in the future. Based on the SONA, one thing that I realized is that it takes a village to
build a better community. Hand in hand if people from the government and laypeople will do a
collaborative effort, nothing is impossible. Together, we shall rise at the pedestal.