In “high spirits” regardless of the impeachment threats and protest actions mounted against him, President Aquino is expected to highlight his reform programs on promoting economic growth and good governance during his fifth State of the Nation Address (SONA) today.
The President may also seek national unity in attaining the country’s goals when he delivers his annual address before a joint session of Congress, according to Presidential Communications Operations Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr.
“Based on the previous SONAs of the President, this will be an opportunity to explain the important reform programs implemented by his administration in fulfillment of the social contract with the Filipino people that served as basis of our Philippine Development Plan — the roadmap for the country’s development from 2011 to 2016,” Coloma said in Filipino.The President’s SONA, which underwent several revisions, will be delivered in Filipino and accompanied by visual aids. The annual speech serves as an opportunity for the President to trumpet his accomplishments in the past year as well as tick off his fresh list of ideas for the coming year.
“In his report to his bosses, the President will try to explain to the people the various aspects of important reform programs and encourage the people to support the renewed effort to attain the country’s goals,” he added.
The President will be delivering his SONA at a time when his administration faces difficult changes compared to a year ago.
For the first time since he assumed office in 2010, the President is battling a number of impeachment complaints in Congress over the Disbursement Acceleration Program (DAP), parts of which were declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court. His public trust and approval ratings have also fallen based on recent polls shortly after the Supreme Court issued a ruling against the DAP.
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