I like to rapporteur & so let me compile the various comments on President Gloria Macapagal - Arroyo’s State of the Nation Address ( SONA) before Congress.
The comments on various blogs are voluminous.
On the day of the SONA, the “tweeting information highway” was so full.
In this year’s SONA, President Arroyo, outlined her achievements since 2001 and as well discussed her priority programs and legislative agenda.
Reading her lips, most said that she did not make a categorical remark about her plans after her term ends in 2010.
And anyway, even if she did, people will always remember the Rizal Day remark that she will not seek re-election but ran anyway in 2004 for President again.
Since, we are into memory lane mode, I remember that in year 2000, when everyone was calling for the ouster of President Estrada, then Vice President Gloria took time in joining the ouster call until after two years into the term of then President Estrada or two years after 1998.
The explanation of some political analysts were that the following constitutional provision may have been taken into account “ No person who has succeeded as President and has served as such for more than four years shall be qualified for election to the same office at any time. “
The comments on various blogs are voluminous.
On the day of the SONA, the “tweeting information highway” was so full.
In this year’s SONA, President Arroyo, outlined her achievements since 2001 and as well discussed her priority programs and legislative agenda.
Reading her lips, most said that she did not make a categorical remark about her plans after her term ends in 2010.
And anyway, even if she did, people will always remember the Rizal Day remark that she will not seek re-election but ran anyway in 2004 for President again.
Since, we are into memory lane mode, I remember that in year 2000, when everyone was calling for the ouster of President Estrada, then Vice President Gloria took time in joining the ouster call until after two years into the term of then President Estrada or two years after 1998.
The explanation of some political analysts were that the following constitutional provision may have been taken into account “ No person who has succeeded as President and has served as such for more than four years shall be qualified for election to the same office at any time. “
And so, it seems, that even as early as year 2000, there was legal planning towards 2010.
In the seventies, during the debates on how long a president of a country should serve, we said, four years is too short for a good president while six years is too long for a bad president.
In 2010, President Gloria will have served as President for ten years already.
The clarion call of the Change Politics Movement, Tindignation and many others who staged protest rallies all over the country is that this should be Gloria Arroyo’s last SONA and for her to dismount at the end of her term, pave the way for the 2010 elections and to say NO to charter change moves via a constituent assembly at this juncture in time.
In 2010, President Gloria will have served as President for ten years already.
The clarion call of the Change Politics Movement, Tindignation and many others who staged protest rallies all over the country is that this should be Gloria Arroyo’s last SONA and for her to dismount at the end of her term, pave the way for the 2010 elections and to say NO to charter change moves via a constituent assembly at this juncture in time.
President Gloria said "Governance is not about looking back and getting even. It is about looking forward and giving more--to the people who gave us the greatest, hardest gift of all: the leadership of a country, the care of a nation.”
Some commentators took issue with this because, accordingly, one must be accountable for one’s actions because, otherwise, we will be promoting impunity.
Some commentators took issue with this because, accordingly, one must be accountable for one’s actions because, otherwise, we will be promoting impunity.
The Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) President and Jaro Archbishop Angel N. Lagdameo said that the many achievements mentioned were the work of many people in the bureaucracy and as such all in the governance sector must also take responsibility for all our failures.
The Manolo Quezon blog summarized the SONA in three brief sentences which generated various comments : A) Don’t count me out. B) Cha-Cha is a go. C)
We will mobilize vs. certain presidential candidates.
We will mobilize vs. certain presidential candidates.
President Arroyo also mentioned that during her father’s watch as President, the Philippines was second to Japan in economic performance.
How do we reclaim that performance?
Admitted, our gross domestic product grew during President Arroyo’s term, but we also judge our economic growth by the way our neighbors are performing.
Most of all, that reported growth is not trickling down yet.
Still, we remain hopeful as ever.
Even the feisty Senator Francis Escudero, who also hoped that Arroyo said goodbye already in her last line, agrees with the following proposals of President Arroyo:
"condonation of 42 billion pesos in obligations of CARP beneficiaries;
continuation of the hunger mitigation program;
concentrating on revenue collection efficiency;
a knowledge-based economy as the way of the future; and, exploring the settlement of conflicts via talks instead of bullets, with exception of terrorists.”
How do we reclaim that performance?
Admitted, our gross domestic product grew during President Arroyo’s term, but we also judge our economic growth by the way our neighbors are performing.
Most of all, that reported growth is not trickling down yet.
Still, we remain hopeful as ever.
Even the feisty Senator Francis Escudero, who also hoped that Arroyo said goodbye already in her last line, agrees with the following proposals of President Arroyo:
"condonation of 42 billion pesos in obligations of CARP beneficiaries;
continuation of the hunger mitigation program;
concentrating on revenue collection efficiency;
a knowledge-based economy as the way of the future; and, exploring the settlement of conflicts via talks instead of bullets, with exception of terrorists.”
Describing our problems and doing something about them are big steps already.
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