A Teacher Speech: A Review

By: Richmond Lloyd M. Javier

As expected, the president is on 'lecture-mode' in his speech as a father to the

nation. Same with previous year, the key policies, programs and initiatives of the government were
discussed separately in the three-part pre-SONA called “Tatak ng Pagbabago 2019” held in
Pasay, Cebu, Davao this month. This is to give way for the discussion of achievements instead of
incorporating in the SONA.

Duterte started his speech by extending hand in gratitude to all who kept faith with
him in most trying times. He highlighted the result of the latest survey by Pulse Asia. "Numbers
speak a thousand words, tell a hundred tales, but the landslide victory of the administration
candidates as well as the latest survey results show that my disapproval rating is 3 percent."
Duterte emphasized that illegal drug problem persists and corruption continues but promised to
continue fighting until his term ends. Duterte wants to reinstate the death penalty for heinous
crimes related to drugs and plunder. 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 revealed the way some government officials work. "We in government
talk too much, act too little, and too slow. We are long on rhetoric but short of accomplishments."
The iron-fist leader tasked the agencies with poor services to simplify the process and improve it
electronically. "You don't have to go to the office. 'Pag hindi pa ninyo nagawa 'yan ngayon,
papatayin ko talaga kayo." 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. Duterte hopes that the Bangsamoro transition will fast-track
establishment of regional government that will secure comfortable life for our Muslim brothers and
sisters and indigenous people in all of Bangsamoro region.The president praised DepEd
Secreatary Leonor Briones as more Filipino learners are receiving basic education with over 27
million enrollees from kinder to senior high school. He shared approval on the proposed measure
to create the National Academy for Sports for high school students.

Thousands of anti-Duterte protesters and militant groups rallied near the Batasan
asking the government to uphold sovereignty over the West Philippine Sea, better labor
conditions, an end to the bloody war on drugs and lower prices of goods. Duterte explained his
view on maritime dispute and wants no war against Chinese. "There are guided missiles in West
Philippine Sea...should we stand up and stop those who fish in our economic zone. We will do in
due time," he said. 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. On the other hand, latest Pulse Asia
survey revealed that majority of Filipinos (8 out of 10) believe the chief executive. The high trust
rating according to Palace is an indication that "for every issue that is thrown at him with such
negative force...the more they say that, the more it [rating] goes up."

Having 3% of approval ratings is highlighted by President Rodrigo Duterte, which

means 97% of Filipinos now are approve with his plans for our country. While in Drug crackdown,
is also continuous n working and the Death penalty that our President ask to the congress to bring
back for heinous crimes that related to drugs and plunder.

Yes, for this! 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.

For me, one of the Good things that Mr. President talks is the Rehabilitation of tourist
attractions like in Boracay and in Manila Bay. About the Bangsamoro Organic Law, the Presidents
tells about the fast-track development of the regions and improve the quality of life of Muslims and
Indigenous Peoples.

Mr. President also talk about having the Barangay polls that he asks to congress to
postpone the May 2020 barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections to October 2022. In the
other hand is the other good thing he do, 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.

A big explanation about the West Philippine Sea that helps me to have more
understanding about it, Duterte repeated his claim that he can't assert Philippine rights over 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.

Another Good news that many people can relate, the decreasing of 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. The ‘Trabaho Bill’, a Package 2 of the
Comprehensive Tax Reform Program, according to Rappler (2019) Currently, the list of activities
qualified for availment of tax incentives are scattered in various laws. Under the Trabaho Bill, only
those activities included in the one Strategic Investment Priorities Plan (to be issued once every 3
years) may be granted tax incentives. There will also be a single menu of tax incentives (income,
customs duty, and value-added tax incentives) to be contained in the Tax Code itself.

Many people can also relate on the Salary Increase that Mr. President ask to
congress to pass the Salary Standardization Law which will raise salaries for all national
government workers, including teachers and nurses. Another one is having the establishment of a
Department of Disaster Resilience in preparation for future natural calamities.

Mr. President calls the congress for passing a law creating a Fire Protection
Modernization Program. And the news about the water shortage in Metro Manila and nearby
provinces, Duterte calls for the creation of a Department of Water Resources and a Water
Regulatory Commission.

Mr. President also ask to congress to pass the National Land Use Act, which will
develop lands in the countryside. This will encourage sustainable economic growth in the
provinces. Another laughing part on his speech is when he talks about on how sunbathing women
await foreigners in Boracay and how he has a "smelly" girlfriend because of the Metro Manila
water crisis.

Mr. President 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. According to Rappler
(2019) The idea comes a month after Duterte remarked that he wanted to make the 12.8-kilometer
trip between Makati and Quezon City possible in 5 minutes, an idea which would only be possible
if a driver broke speed limit.

Mr. President 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.
According to Manila Bulletin (2019), In Visayas and Mindanao, farmers will link up with broad
sectors to express outrage over the incessant killings of farmers and indigenous people and the de
facto Martial imposed in Samar, Negros, and Bicol regions through Duterte’s Memorandum Order
No. 32.

Mr. President 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.

Almost 32 things are Mr. President talks in his State of The Nation Address 2019 that
many Filipinos can related with. Mr. President catch the heart of many Filipinos by saying the #%
approval rate. The SONA lasted an hour and 33 minutes, making it his 3rd longest SONA so far. It
also contained 7 expletives, much less than his second SONA (25 expletives) but more than his
first and third SONAs which had no curse words.