Reaction to SONA of President Macapagal Arroyo

            The state of the nation address tackles important aspect of our government systems, specifically financial stability, poverty, corruption and development of our country. For my own views this is the first time I feel that the president is serious about things she does for our country. Global recession is like a tsunami and it’s true that we can now feel it on rising of oil and food prices. She said that we must help each other, pay our taxes, stop partisan politics and promote reconciliation. She also said the billions of pesos spent for renovation and development of key economic components such as transportation, energy, food, jobs, health, insurance, loans, and other areas. She wants VAT to be implemented and the oil deregulations law stays. On the first time ever I feel her warm eagerness to uplift the Philippines in its financially down economy.

The economy of the Philippines is booming but hurting OFW, small earners, simple worker and farmers. Prices of fuel and food are going high everyday but we must know that this problems are worldwide it’s not because our president is corrupt. It’s because fuel specifically oil prices are very high at world market. The financial tsunami hit every country in different ways. It’s good to know that even this recession is now here in our country we afford to fight it and it came to us smoothly because of the economic reforms the president does. Let’s look this way, our president without questioning her legitimacy is in the right place and the right moment in time to fight this global economic tsunami because she is an economist.

I disagree with her in the aspect of Agrarian reform because the problem is not specifically on how much she allocate in the development in agrarian reform but the corruption is taking place in provinces and distribution of funds. It’s clear that some of these funds are given away not in the hands of farmers but in the hands of greedy politicians in the provinces. I disagree on the basis of helping Filipino poor by receiving money to bridge their everyday life. She must focus on long-term aspect and not just short term help for the poor. There was a saying that, instead giving fish to a man, teach him how to fish and this man will never be hungry again for the rest of his life. She must teach the poor how to fish, likewise she must develop a pond and fishing areas like, factories, companies and not just building it but manage it. Promote our products abroad so that there will be a strong market for our products. Improve our technology and focus in the production of our own arable lands.

My views regarding her legitimacy is still questionable but times like this we must support her and make our sacrifices. We must lift together and not drag each other or else we will fall as one nation on our own doings. Let us just gear for tsunami for now and question her legitimacy in 2010 elections. Vote wisely.