It was a good state of the nation speech. Not great or very good, just good. President Aquino cited all of his achievements during the first three years of his term.
These were mostly, in management terms, administrative in character and are the standard specifications of his job or position charter. These were expected delivery outcomes and results of his administration.
A more accurate grade for the SONA is INC or incomplete. There is the continued focusing on the “ daanmatuwid” but the president himself pointed out the continuing corruption and incompetences in various departments and service delivery functions. In fact, he had very harsh words for them.
He must have forgotten the American President Truman’s words, “The buck stops here.” These are his appointees, policies and oversight responsibilities. The buck really stops at his level. It is not an excuse as some of his people keep saying that these cannot be done overnight or that “Rome was not built in a day.”
Three years have passed and clear directions and sustainable progress should have been made.
The term “inclusive development” has been coined in order to defined the type of economic growth which flows down and benefits the whole Filipino people, not just the political and economic oligarchy but the poor who are many and in greatest need. This has not happened during the past three years.
The growth which is admittedly an achievement has not been enjoyed by the masses. Now this administration promises to specifically target inclusive growth. It is, however, short or incomplete on the how and the details of this delivery.
There is this doleout program which gives money to defined poor families under certain conditions. Billions of pesos are being spent. Even the officials of the administration agree that this is a band aid solution to the problem of poverty.
The issue, therefore, is whether these funds could have better spent in projects with higher and longer lasting cost-benefit returns. Teaching a man how to fish rather than giving him a fish may be a tired cliché but is certainly apt here.
The situation of our overseas workers, the present economic heroes have not been accorded their proper and deserved affirmative policy and operational focus. What about our teachers and the education sector?
Let me list many other important and critical areas. There is the freedom of information bill. The presidential stand and marching order should have been made before Congress.
This holds true, likewise, for other issues that the business sector wants clearly defined policy directions on, like: the constitutional amendments or even its alternatives; competition policies and environment;directions and decisions on airport and seaport developments; medium, small and entrepreneurial business concerns; and specific social safety nets and thrusts regarding employment, job generation and the ever rising prices of essential commodities.
A leader should present a vision for his people. But he must be clear about where he is, the current strengths and weaknesses, threats and opportunities of the situation. Then the strategic action to where he promises to lead the nation may have a basis to proceed from.
Or else it will just be rhetoric, talk which is not walked or aligned and implemented at the operational level. It also depends on defining and focusing on the strategic issues or the key result areas.
If not, it will be like a basketball team pulling down the rebounds, dribbling and passing the ball in magic fashion but not putting the ball in the hoop or making the shots to get the necessary points to win.
I am glad that the SONA was delivered in Pilipino. It was great to see those foreigners with ear phones, presumably to hear the translation. It reminds me of the various conferences I attended abroad where I had to wear those unwieldy ear phones where the speakers spoke in their own languages.
I had to depend on the translation which had a time lag or bad accent. It may not be within the horizon to hear a delivery in Kapampangan. Knowing our humor, a good speech, even if incomplete, may be referred to as “sosoning.”
