High school students across the country will surely be required to submit a reaction paper on the 2014 SONA. Here are the salient points.
- President Benigno Aquino III started to deliver his fifth State of the Nation Address at 4:03 PM.
- recalls the past when the Philippines was still considered as the "sick man of Asia."
- tackles the Disbursment Acceleration Program (DAP)
- cites use of DAP funds to help TESDA scholars
- talks about the expanded Conditional Cash Tranfer (CCT) Program, also known as Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program or 4Ps
- government improved the country's economy, managed well its debt
- cites the country's investment grade status (achievement of investor grade rating from credit rating agencies in 2013)
- mentions the International Civil Aviation Organization's (ICAO's) lifting of significant aviation safety concerns for the country
- we will show the world that the Philippines is open for business
- budget for infrastructure projects have been doubled without raising taxes
- P28 billion savings at the Department of Public Works and Highways
- opportunities for corruption in the DPWH have been cut
- 2,184 kilometers of national roads were completed
- seven Public Private Partnership (PPP) projects worth P62.6 billion were approved, awarded
- TPLEX Expressway to reach Rosario, La Union soon
- various infra projects enumerated including the Laguna Lakeshore Expressway Dike to help reduce flooding, ease traffic
- mentions the Zamboanga siege, P3.5 billion alloted for infra projects, housing in Zamboanga
- mentions rehabilitation efforts in earthquake-hit Bohol, Typhoon Yolanda affected provinces
- thanks the international community (friends and neighboring countries) for Yolanda aid
- 221,897 jobs created for the making of equipment, tools for livelihood of Yolanda survivors
- discussed the purchase of aircrafts, helicopters, assault rifles, and radar system under the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) modernization program
- mentions the achievement of the 1:1 police to pistol ratio
- cites the Philippine National Police "Oplan: Lambat" and "Oplan: Katok" in fighting crimes, says perpetrators behind high-profile killings have been arrested
- police operations led to improved internal security situation
- says reforms at the Bureau of Customs (BOC) are underway; customs collection increased due to reforms, BOC "reset"
- cites the signing of the Framework Agreement on the Bangsamoro; pushes for passage of the Bangsamoro Basic Law before year-end
- delays in building of new power plants need to be addressed; government looking for solutions to looming power shortage
- says government will import more rice to bring down prices in the domestic market
- distribution of modern farming equipment has started
- proposes for the passage of a Supplemental Budget for 2014 in congress
- Aquino hits the administration's critics, saying that the loudest ones don't want reforms
- says his critics are against the Filipino people
- Basis for choosing country's next leader in 2016: Sino ang walang dudang magpapatuloy sa transpormasyong ating isinasakatuparan?
- Aquino: The Filipino is worth living for, the Filipino is definitely worth fighting for.
- The President's SONA ended at 5:34 pm
- He was applauded at least 87 times during the speech