PGMA – SONA 2009

dhyosa 15 August 2009 Featured 149 views No Comment Print This Post  Email This Post

July 27, 2009 – Arroyo delivered her ninth and last State-of-the-Nation Address (SONA) at the House of Representatives in Quezon City.

President Arroyo described the state of the nation since her 2008 SONA as “a strong economy” while lashing out her critics saying, “have we listened to our critics, this country could have lied flat on its back!”

Economic measures that her administration has implemented to boost government revenues, the country was able to develop critical infrastructures like seaports, airports, and roll-on-roll-off routes. She cited as an example the development of the Subic-Clark Expressway that has helped create wealth to Subic and Clark, Pampanga.

The Chief Executive made mention also of her recent order to the National Telecommunications (NTC) to act on complaints of unfair charges on drop calls and diminishing loads.

The Business Processing Outsourcing (BPO) has grown into a $6 billion-sector that has provided massive employment to Filipinos. Thus the call of the President for the development of “a department of Information and Communication Technology (ICT)”.

Among the accomplishments that the President also mentioned include the government’s emergency jobs program which is part of her Economic Resiliency Program (ERP) that have provided employment to many; housing and shelter programs; the development of farm-to-market roads and irrigation infrastructures; P1 billion fund to fish farming; and the increase of farm gate price of rice from P11 to P17 per kilo; and the creation of 8.095 million jobs since 2001.

On one hand, she told her critics that she “will step down from this stage but not from the Presidency” as her “term will end next year”, pointing out that “I never expressed desire to extend my term”.

She shot back at her detractors, saying “those who live in glass houses should not cast stones”

For those who want to become President, the Chief Executive advised them to do something but “don’t say bad words in public”.

At the end of her report, President Arroyo thanked the Filipino people for “allowing me to be your President”.

Mrs. Arroyo received about 126 applauses and at least two standing ovations during the occasion.

Palace’s allies are quick to defend the President saying, “it is about time na sagutin na talaga niya ang kanyang mga kritiko.”

click here to download the SONA
source: PIA.GOV.PH