Mixed reactions in Davao for Pnoy’s SONA

The State of the Nation Address (SoNA) of President Benigno S. Aquino III got mixed reactions from the Dabawenyos but these reactions were generally favorable to the President.

“I like the SONA. Its straight forward and at least this time the President discussed the accomplishments of the administration,”  Al Qalam Institute of Ateneo de Davao University director Mussolini Sinsuat Lidasan said.

Lidasan said the whole speech talks about social transformation. “How we must mature as a nation,” he added.

Glan municipal councilor Atty. Cyril John Gido Yap said Aquino’s SoNA was just like all the other SoNAs. “Fair lang its always been rhetorics sa SoNA,” he said.

On the other hand, Davao city councilor Danilo Dayanghirang, who is chair of the council committee on Finance, Ways and Means and Appropriation, said the President’s speech was so far okay.

“So far the President’s has specific example on his campaign against corruption such as the syjuco and pagcor case,” he said.

The President slammed former Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) Secretary Augusto "Boboy" Syjuco Jr. for the disbursement irregularities during his stint at TESDA. Aquino specifically mentioned several overpriced items as cited by the Commission on Audit including a P14-incubator jar which was priced at P15,375 and a P120-dough cutter which was priced at P48,507.

Dayanghirang however said “what is lacking was the policy direction on how to curb the increase of prices on commodities., fuel, water etc and the salary adjustment for the labor sector.”