Tags: Administration, Legislation, Politics
By Alexander Villafania
QUEZON CITY, METRO MANILA – At the first State of the Nation Address (SONA) of President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III, representatives of party list organizations had their fingers crossed hoping that the president would focus more on what they deem as priority public concerns.
BAYAN MUNA Representative Teodoro Casiño only has a few words to say, adding that he is simply keeping his hopes at a minimum because he wants to hear what President Aquino has to say in his first SONA.
“I do expect him to say the real status of the Philippine government. What are the rules that he will implement to keep the promise of anti-corruption real?” Casino said.
Casiño arrived at the Congress wearing a barong by Edgar San Diego, emblazoned with a silhouette of a dead person pointed with a scope of a gun. Beneath it is the word STOP in bold letters, indicating their pursuit against extrajudicial killings.
The controversy over extrajudicial killings was also one of the main concerns of some party list representatives.
ANAKPAWIS Representative Rafael Mariano said President Aquino must focus on stopping extrajudicial killings and prosecute those responsible for the deaths of innocent civilians.
Mariano was particular with the killings that happened under the administration of former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. It was during her term that the infamous Maguindanao massacre occurred that resulted in the deaths of at least 50 people.
Mariano was wearing a balanggot, a traditional woven headgear that he said signifies the marginalized sector of society, notably farmers and fishermen. “We hope the president would act the soonest to help our poor farmers.”
Science must also be a focus of President Aquino in his first SONA, according to AGHAM Representative Angelo Palmones. He argued that many development programs conducted by the government can be improved with the help of local scientists and engineers. While he said many politicians are vying to get the attention of the President for their socio-economic agendas, he hopes that Aquino would get the politicians to also utilize locally developed technologies.
Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT) Representative Antonio Tinio also said that education should always remain as among the top priorities of the administration as it is the basis of having a sound economy. He also said the dropout rate among students in basic education must be reduced further.
“We need teachers to educate young people, who will become members of society in the future. As such, the President must also give teachers higher salaries,” Tinio said.
Tinio also stressed that there is no need to add the number of years for basic education – from the current 10 to Aquino’s suggested 12 years – only that the current education system must be improved.
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