Reading in Philippine History

SONA 2019
Content and Context Analysis

Rica Darell C. Espineda

 Content
@ https://www.rappler.com/nation/236120-summary-duterte-sona-2019
High approval ratings - After the usual introductions of top officials, among the first things President Duterte does is
highlight his popularity, by saying only 3% of Filipinos disapprove of him.

Drug crackdown - The persistent problem of illegal drugs is Duterte's first topic. He claims the 2017 Marawi siege
began with a government raid on shabu being kept by extremists there.

Death penalty - He asks Congress to bring back the death penalty for heinous crimes related to drugs and plunder.

Corruption - Duterte condemns the PhilHealth ghost kidney treatment scam, commends the National Bureau of
Investigation for the arrest of high-profile criminals, and recalls how he has fired "more than a hundred" government
officials. He cites revenue collections by government corporations as signs that anti-corruption reforms are working.

Anti-red tape - He tells the Land Transportation Office, Social Security System, Bureau of Internal Revenue, Land
Registration Authority, and Pag-IBIG to improve their services as data from the complaint center under his office show they
were the subject of many complaints. He wants processing of permits to last only 3 days.

Rehabilitation of tourist attractions - Duterte brings up the temporary closure of Boracay and the rehabilitation of
Manila Bay. He threatens to "burn down" establishments that commit violations.

Telecommunications - Duterte speaks about Dito Telecommunity, the newly established third telecommunications
provider in the Philippines. He challenges them to render services to as many Filipinos as possible. He also promises no
corruption was involved in Dito Telecommunity's entry into the sector.

Bangsamoro Organic Law - The President tells the Bangsamoro government to fast-track the development of the
region and improve the quality of life of Muslims and indigenous peoples.

Ending communist violence - Duterte talks of his leadership of the National Task Force to End Local Communist
Armed Conflict and his assigning Cabinet members to various regions to oversee efforts to end communist insurgency
there.

Education - Duterte commends Secretary Leonor Briones and the Department of Education for having over 27 million
enrolled students from kinder to senior high school. Improvements in the national education system are also seen in the
Alternative Learning System for out-of-school youth and adult learners. He also supports the creation of a National
Academy for Sports.

Bong Go - The President makes special mention of his trusted aide, neophyte senator Bong Go, and Go's pet bills, a
treatment he gives to no other lawmaker in the room.

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Barangay polls - Duterte asks Congress to postpone the May 2020 barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections to
October 2022.

Protection of overseas Filipino workers - He signed the Bilateral Labor Agreement with Kuwait, in an effort to protect
OFWs from abusive employers. He also seeks to establish a Department of Overseas Filipino Workers.
West Philippine Sea - Duterte repeated his claim that he can't assert Philippine rightsover the West Philippine Sea for fear
of sparking a war against China. He defends his decision to let Chinese fishermen fish in Philippine waters, saying that
international sea laws allow such an arrangement. However, such deals have to be written whereas his deal with China is
only a verbal one.

Poverty - Duterte reports a decrease in the poverty incidence rate from 27.6% during the 1st half of 2015 to 21% in the 1st
half of 2018. He also implores that citizens join him in alleviating poverty.

Tax reform - The President calls for the passage of Package 2 of the Comprehensive Tax Reform Program, otherwise known
as the Trabaho bill.

Liquor ban - Duterte says he wants a law ordering all drinking establishments to close at midnight.

Salary increase - He asks Congress to pass the Salary Standardization Law which will raise salaries for all national
government workers, including teachers and nurses.

Disaster risk reduction and management - The President pushes for the establishment of a Department of Disaster
Resilience in preparation for future natural calamities.

Fire protection - He calls on Congress to pass a law creating a Fire Protection Modernization Program.

Water department - Due to the recent water shortage in Metro Manila and nearby provinces, Duterte calls for the creation
of a Department of Water Resources and a Water Regulatory Commission.

Land use planning - He asks Congress to pass the National Land Use Act, which will develop lands in the countryside. This
will encourage sustainable economic growth in the provinces.

Sexist remarks - In various parts of his speech, Duterte makes some sexist remarkslike how sunbathing women await
foreigners in Boracay and how he has a "smelly" girlfriend because of the Metro Manila water crisis.

Metro Manila traffic - Duterte orders the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority and Metro Manila local government
officials to reclaim public roads being used for private purposes. He orders Interior Secretary Eduardo Año to suspend
mayors who don't comply.

Rice and coconut farmers - Duterte vows that his administration will implement the rice tariffication law. He calls for the
careful utilization of the coco levy fund. He also blasts the Land Bank of the Philippines for allegedly prioritizing commercial
transactions over funding of agricultural activities.

Strengthening national security - He pushes for the passage of the National Defense Act and the Unified Military and
Uniformed Personnel Separation, Retirement, and Pension Bill. He also wants to promote patriotism among the youth by
making the Reserve Officers' Training Corps program mandatory for senior high school students.

Tired - The President says he's tired and unhappy in office and would welcome a coup d'etat by the military.

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Period of consequences - Duterte ends his speech by saying the second half of his term is a "period of consequences." He
hopes for sustained momentum in the remaining years of his term, which ends in 2022.

- Rappler.com
 Context Analysis
High approval ratings -

Drug crackdown -

Death penalty -

Corruption -

Anti-red tape -

Rehabilitation of tourist attractions -

Telecommunications -

Bangsamoro Organic Law -

Ending communist violence -

Education -

Bong Go -

Barangay polls -

Protection of overseas Filipino workers -

West Philippine Sea -

Poverty -