2018 STATE OF THE NATION ADDRESS: 

PRESIDENT RODRIGO ROA DUTERTE

SONA or what is known as the State of the Nation Address is an annual event in a country wherein the president will talk in front of his subordinates on what he is about to pledge himself on different issues and campaigns. Now, as Filipinos, we are still hoping and waiting for changes and development in our country. When will we be in a state where all of us seemed to be fine?

Just recently, President Rodrigo Roa Duterte had delivered his powerful speech in the Philippines. As the President of the Republic of the Philippines he had mentioned all his and our concerns that are still and still hanging from now. Our president is asking for our help and support (man power) to make all of it possible and to be solved. And for just about fifty minutes of discoursing, our president was able to leave the stage with an astonished audience.

All throughout his speech, he mentioned numbers of issues specifically related in the importance of health, human rights, environment and a lot more such as crimes and laws. As President Duterte said, "The war against illegal drugs will not be sidelined. Instead, it will be as relentless as chilling, if you will, as the day it began," this means that he’ll not stop war on drugs. He still wanted to continue his campaign in ending the problem on drugs. He also stated that yes our concern is about human rights but yet his concern is on human lives. According to our president, he just wanted to protect our future especially for the youths in their lives. War on drugs is still far from an end so he won’t stop fighting for it. Even if there are already a lot of complains about this issue where it includes the church claiming on human rights. That killing should not be the way to get over it. There are indeed lot of negative comments popped on his campaign starting in the OPLAN TOKHANG but he still wanted to pursue what he wanted to happen.

President Duterte also pleaded the Congress to give the law that will give workers with short term employment the right contract. This is again another issue under human rights which pertains about contractualization.  Another common problem delivered is also about the corruption. Where he also directed all government units to implement the act that will fight against it (Ease of doing Business Act). President Rodrigo Roa Duterte noted Mindanao as the Land of Promises, where they are now making steps to meet those hanging promises by the government for our Muslim brothers and sisters.

Environment related issues are also enclosed in his speech like for instance the Boracay Island which is still in the restoring process. He wanted a real action to keep again its beauty for we as he said are the stewards of our natural resources. Stopping the Black Sand Mining activity is another advocacy our president wanted to do. And also because of the traumatic and destructive Yolanda Typhoon, he wished for another agency to help us Filipinos at times of disasters which is the Department of Disaster Management.

There are health related issues he included with his speech where he again directed some agencies to help people have financial assistance for people who can’t afford their hospital bills. A lot more of topics that he opened like the West Philippine Sea, subsidies for the poor and all about the coconut farmers. All throughout his speech, i have nothing to say but "wow". He's really incredible. I agree with all of his concerns and campaigns for our country. And I had nothing more to say about it.

Man power is a big factor to cope up with these problems. It is not only about the steps of the leader that could make it happen but with the help of one another. I know I am not just the one that expects a lot on what will be the evident changes after his speech. We Filipinos are hoping again for transformations and development within our country.

REFERENCES:

-https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2018/07/23/1836195/full-text-dutertes-2018-sona-speech

-https://i0.wp.com/www.localpulse.net/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/SONA-2018-Live-Streaaming-Online.jpg?resize=696%2C257