Cebu execs hail P-Noy’s SONA
A cross section of the Cebuano community hailed President Benigno C. Aquino’s two-hour long State of the Nation Address (SONA) before a joint session of Congress Monday.
President Aquino’s last SONA before he bows out of office on June 30 next year was aired live over major Philippine television networks.
“It was a comprehensive report of his administration’s achievements over the last five years,” meat vendor Jun Cuyos said.
“It was long but it was not boring because it has video clips,” businessman Raul Laurente said.
Cebu traders credited the President for the strong economy and consistent drive against corruption.
Inclusive growth
Rey Calooy, president of the Filipino Cebuano Business Club Inc., said the Aquino administration was “the best” compared with the five presidents before him, especially in the areas of transparency and economic breakthrough.
“Inclusive growth, though, will take more years,” Calooy said.
But lawyer Jerome Abayon noted that most of the administration’s big infrastructure projects are in Luzon.
In a text message, Gonzalo Malig-on, president of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) Cebu chapter, said that besides blaming former president Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, Aquino’s last address was good.
“Aside from defending unpopular friends in the Cabinet like Transportation and Communications Secretary Jun Abaya, it was a good SONA and he showed that we are much better now than 5 years ago,” he said.
Big tickets
The Aquino administration’s two big tickets infrastructure projects in Cebu are set to be completed only after his term.
These are the PHP10.6-billion Cebu Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) project and the PHP17.5-billion Mactan Cebu International Airport Terminal 2 (T2).
The BRT project, which is expected to be completed in 2017, is expected to ferry some 333,000 passengers.
The Mactan airport T2, which is under the public-private partnership scheme, is set to be completed in 2018.
The project will increase the airport’s capacity from 4.5 million to 12 million passengers.
Confidence
Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama attended President Aquino’s last SONA, even if he has already left the Liberal Party to ally himself with Vice President Jejomar Binay’s United Nationalist Alliance.
“I have never lost my confidence in our President, even with our political affiliations,” Rama said.
He noted though that the President didn’t mention Cebu and Central Visayas in his address.
Vice Mayor Edgar Labella said the President could have prioritized the campaign against illegal drugs, Councilor Alvin Dizon said the Aquino administration’s economic achievements should benefit the working class.
Cebu Gov. Hilario Davide III, an ally of the President who heads the Liberal Party (LP) Cebu chapter, said Mr. Aquino’s speech was “factual, straightforward and inspiring.”
The governor’s assessment was shared by Reps. Anthony “Samsam” Gullas and Wilfredo Caminero of Cebu’s 1st and 2nd districts respectively.
Rep. Luigi Quisumbing of Cebu’s 6th district said the President’s reform agenda improved government’s image with the public.
Disclaimer: The comments uploaded on this site do not necessarily represent or reflect the views of management and owner of Cebudailynews. We reserve the right to exclude comments that we deem to be inconsistent with our editorial standards.
