The SONA felt more like your typical awards show, than a genuine State of the National Address. And as usual, so many points were missed by our President who seemed bent on praising his own name. — Lurlyn Carmona, senior masscom student
The last SONA was not a complete state of national affairs: issues on the Disbursement Acceleration Program, the Priority Development Assistance Fund, the killing of members of the Special Action Force in Mindanao were excluded; [solutions to] poverty and hunger issues are unsatisfactory. The administration gets high rating in Education, very low in Agriculture & Fishery, and in budgetary support for local government units. Overall rating 6.5 percent. — Dr. Henry A. Sojor
PNoy’s SONA was not substantive enough. Yes, he talked about transparency but he didn’t address the state of the economic needs of the people, which directly affects their day-to-day lives. — Michiko Je Bitoon, editor-in-chief, school yearbook.
Alhough there are things I was expecting to be included [in his SONA] but which were not mentioned, I felt the sincerity of his words. I would have wanted to hear the President mention about salary increases for teachers and government employees, and an update on the Mamasapano and Maguindanao murders. Clearly, he was not able to explain thoroughly the issue of the Disbursement Acceleration Program. I believe the President was just playing safe, and not dwelling on the more controversial issues of the land. I give him a rating of 6.5. His being grateful to all those who worked with him made me proud of being a Filipino and a public servant. The Philippines is what it is today because it is what we made it. I am happy to hear that the country’s education program, specifically the K to 12, is going in the right direction, with the President’s announcement of building more classrooms and hiring thousands more of teachers in the coming months. — Dr. Salustiano Jimenez, superintendent, Department of Education Division of Schools Negros Oriental
It wasn’t the speech that speaks of a glorious exit. But I think PNoy was able to establish the prominent vision of his administration, the tagline of his Matuwid na Daan campaign: Kung walang corrupt, walang mahirap. As far as his pre-presidency goal of going after corrupt officials in concerned, he did well. — Maya Angelique Jajalla, reporter
I commend President Aquino for his administration’s gains in the labor sector. Job generation is real, considering the number of businesses opening in the country, and offering job opportunities to the employment sector. The Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program shows positive results in family development since education is encouraged, while parents are also asked to become members of cooperatives, like the PHCCI, where they can save and invest their money. I give the President’s SONA an 8. — Maricar Aranas-Vensuelo, marketing & advertising chief, Perpetual Help Community Cooperative Inc.
Although tere are issues on why the President failed to mention the Freedom of Information bill, I don’t think it should be a big deal, as long as by the end of his term, the FOI Bill will have been passed. With regards to the Anti-Dynasty Act, I am confident that even though the President comes from a line of politicians, it wouldn’t stop him from making this Act into law. — Alana Gayle McCulloch, masscom student
I hope the momentum of the President for running after scam (suspects) and corrupt officials will continue until the end of his term. — Sulpicio Vensuelo Jr.
The Aquino administration has marked a lot of gains in the past five years, although many people fail to recognize these and instead continue to criticize his Daang Matuwid approach to governance. There are no perfect presidents but PNoy has done a lot for the country, like agriculture development projects, improvement of the PAG-ASA weather bureau, and running after scam suspects like Janet Napoles, which are proof of Aquino’s sincerity to fight corruption in government. — Dioscoro Aranas, carpenter
I commend the Aquino administration for its innovative changes in the PAGASA (Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical &Astronomical Services Administration) that can now give close to accurate weather reports. In the past, people relied on other weather agencies, many of them based abroad, for information on the weather, specifically on typhoons, as PAGASA’s equipment were not dependable. PAG-ASA’s major changes, like adopting the latest technology, providing better services, enhanced communications systems and wider information dissemination through different modes, such as the social media, have made disaster management and response a lot easier. However, I would like to see the national government invest more on programs on disaster and mitigation and preparedness as local government units can only do so much. — Adrian Sedillo, executive officer, Provincial Disaster Risk-Reduction & Management Council
The President’s SONA was refreshing down-to-earth, and maka-masa but the Daang Matuwid is a long road that hopefully, the next President would continue. What I appreciated most from the SONA is Aquino’s thanking his Cabinet, and even the lowest of those who have played different roles in his life — which shows that so many, from all walks of life, really care and appreciate what he has jumpstarted. I give Aquino a rating of 8. — Angeline Pauline Cristal-Gonzalez, chief, Regulatory division, Department of Trade & Industry
