On July 22, 2013, President Benigno Aquino delivered his fourth State of the Nation

Address to the Congress held at Session Hall of the House of the Representatives,
Batasang Pambansa Complex, Quezon City.
In summary, the President has mentioned the significant achievements and goals
under his administration. The following were some of the key points:
1. TESDA graduates are found to have landed to more jobs now
2. Expansion of Funding Program for the poor (Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino
Program) - to focus more on helping poor families to finish high school
3. EDUCATION:
Already erased backlog on chairs and books, Implementation of K-12
4. AGRICULTURE
Decrease in importation of rice, we are becoming self-sufficient in rice
Fisherman : goal is to have more productive waters; Monitoring illegal
fishermen.
5. HEALTH
Extend Philhealth coverage , more Filipinos are members of Philhealth
Funded health care infrastructure projects - modernization of hospitals
6. DISASTER PREPAREDNESS
Developed mechanisms to protect Filipinos from natural calamities
Able to map and point out high-risk/vulnerable locations in the Philippines
High technology facilities to monitor rain water level, droppler radars,
tsunami detectors and alerting sirens; Train users of high tech facilities
Problem in waterways is that structures are built but illegal settlers, action is
being done to relocate them
Action / On going project : Bluementritt Interceptor Catchment - with size
equivalent to 14 Olympic-size swimming pools to prevent flooding on entire
Metro Manila
Housing for flood victims continues to increase
7. POLICE FORCE
Oplan Katok : was started to arrest illegal possession of firearms
8. ROADS AND BRIDGES
Ternate-Nasugbu Road connecting Cavite, Batangas and Metro Manila (been a
20 year project, now finished)
Aluling Bridge -in Ilocos Sur (project planned since 1978, now open)
Laguindingan Airport - now in operation, it took one generation to finish
Jalaur River Multipurpose Project II in Iloilo has started - an estimated 24000
farmers will benefit from this irrigation, will double harvest
9. ADMANTEL (Advanced Device and Materials Testing Laboratory) - now in the
Phils, before all products manufacture by PH has to be sent in other countries
for testing
10.Continuously resolving brown out problems in Mindanao
11.
NAIA 3 PROJECT
Still on negotiation to be certain about warranties from the contractors, The
President seeks patience of the publice for the long awaited project
12.
TRAFFIC Problems

Targetted project is "Integrated Transport System" - creating terminals for

buses in areas with less traffic
Two connecting road that will join Norht and South Luzon
13.
CORRUPTION Problems
Contractors are given more opportunity to contract with DPWH with no LOI
(Letter of Intent) requirement
14.
TOURISM
We are the "Best Tourism Destination of 2012", "Most Romantic Destination of
2012", Best Diving Destination" and Palawan as the "Best Island"
Given these titles/praises, number of tourists increased. Stronger tourism
sector brings more job opportunities.
The President will submit the 2014 National Budget tomorrow at Php2.268 Trillion
Pesos with the priority of getting the above goals including upgrading the Armed
Forces.
The President, with all the achievements mentioned, encourages all Filipinos to work
together for to continue transforming our country, and I quote:
Now, we are experiencing change. Change that has sprung from the seeds of
kindness, solidarity, and good will; change that was brought about by the million of
Filipinos who have, in their own ways, big and small, pitched in and transformed the
country.
The road ahead of us is long; and we never said it would be easyor that we could
tread this path free of challenge. But I do not doubt our capacity to overcome any
obstacle. We did not achieve our current success by chance. Let us not allow this
transformation to be temporary; let us seize this opportunity to make the change
permanent.
Once, I was told: Noynoy, just begin the change. So we did, and we can all see
how far we have come. Now, my countrymen, let us continue to stand armin- arm.
Together, let us foster, accelerate, and expand the transformation of society. I am
Noynoy Aquino, and I proudly say to the world: I am a Filipino. How wonderful it is to
be a Filipino in these times.

2013 SONA Summary submitted by:

Mark Daniel C. Paddit