President Duterte’s 2020 SONA Key Points

President Rodrigo Duterte addressed the nation on his administration’s activities, accomplishments, and undertakings during the State of the Nation Address (SONA) last Monday, with his speech lasting for 1 hour and 40 minutes.

The SONA tackled on a number of issues and topics, such as the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) response and vaccine acquisition efforts, community aid, the telecommunication situation in the country; to world events such as the brewing Cold War between US and China.

Here are some of the key points in President Duterte’s SONA:

COVID-19

COVID-19 response
Duterte thanked local government units (LGUs) for initiating their own actions in response against COVID-19. He then said he is praying that officials from both ends of the floor will set aside partisan politics and do what is good for all.

Vaccine purchase
The President segues from his speech and said he is in communication with Chinese Communist Party’s leader Xi Jinping on the possibility of prioritizing the Philippines as soon as vaccine is made available.

COVID-19 response lapses
The President admitted lapses the government had in tackling COVID-19. Duterte added that there were “Difficulties” seen in the efforts to ramp up testing capacity. He then called the distribution of emergency aid during lockdown “not perfect.” He also added that the government is not perfect, “there could be improvements here and there.”

Unity against COVID-19
President Duterte then called on the unity of Filipino people. “Ito ang panahon para magtulungan. Hindi panahon para maglamangan… This is the time to bring out the best in us,” he said. Duterte also said the Filipinos have no other choice but to work together.

Bayanihan Act

Bayanihan 2
He called on the Congress to pass the “Bayanihan to Recover as One Act” quickly, which will provide the budget for aids in the small business community, displaced workers, Families affected by the pandemic, COVID-19 testing, and for education purposes such as online learning.

Health

Healthcare for isolated, disadvantaged, and rural areas
The government will hire and deploy more than 20,000 health professionals to be assigned to isolated, disadvantaged areas, and for the improvement of barangay and rural health units facilities.

Nursing Education Act
He also called on Congress to pass the Nursing Education Act, a law that would institute the Medical Reserve Corps, and creation of a National Disease Prevention and Management Authority to respond to future outbreaks.

Community Aid

Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps)
Over 4.3 million poor families benefited from the Pantawid Pamilyang Program, according to the President.

Malasakit Centers
He said there are currently 75 Malasakit Centers in the country, ensuring health and support for those in need.

Social Amelioration Program (SAP)
Duterte said P2.5 billion has been allocated for the poor and low income households who are affected by the pandemic.

Financial Assistance
Financial aid to over 650,000 affected individuals in the working class and the formal sectors was extended by the government.

Pension
The President told Congress to prioritize the passage of a law that will adjust and improve on the system for retirement and pension.

Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs)

Overseas Filipino workers
Duterte ordered agencies in helping OFWs who have lost jobs and were repatriated due to COVID-19.

The Department of Overseas Filipinos
The President called for the creation of a new department for OFWs to help in addressing matters, issues and concerns regarding OFWs. This will also help the government in addressing the needs of overseas workers.

OFW aid
The government will help the overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), according to Duterte, saying he tasked the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (Tesda) to spearhead training modules that will retool OFWs.

Scholarships
The President said he also called on the Commission on Higher Education (Ched) for scholarship programs for qualified dependents of OFWs.

Temporary employment
The President said 10 OFWs abroad and almost 83,000 repatriated OFWs were provided with temporary employment through “Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers” (Tupad) projects.

The President also called on the Department of Agriculture (DA) and the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) to come up with solutions on agribusiness and entrepreneurship to help the displaced OFWs.

He also tasked Landbank as well as other government financial institutions to provide low interest loans to OFWs.

Telecommunications

Warning to Smart and Globe
Duterte gave a clear warning to the country’s telco giants Smart Communications and Globe Telecom to improve their services before December, or else he will spend the next two years ensuring that the government will improve telecommunications without them.

Education

Face-to-Face classes
Duterte reiterated that no traditional face-to-face teaching will be allowed unless there is a COVID-19 vaccine. “I cannot put the lives of our teachers and students at risk,” the President said.

Online and other forms of learning
The President said that TV frequencies back in government’s arms will be used in the delivery of learning.

Business

Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises
President Duterte instructed the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) to provide regulatory relief for MSMEs. This is to allow loan payment extension with no interests, penalties or charges.

Online data protection
Duterte said the government is keen to protect both the Filipino’s physical and digital lives.

E-commerce and the rise of online transactions
Duterte called on the passage of an Internet Transaction Act amid the continuing growth of e-commerce in the country.

Economy

Positive credit ratings
The country’s positive credit ratings were emphasized by the President and said the Philippines is in a position to weather the crisis caused by the COVID-19 global pandemic through a strong economic position

Reopening of the economy
The reopening the economy to pre-COVID-19 levels is not an option at this moment, according to the President, as gains will be quickly wasted. He also noted the rise in cases after the lifting of quarantine as “proof”.

Tax Reform
Duterte urged the Congress to pass the Create Act. This seeks to lower corporate income tax and rationalizes financial incentives for investors as part of the country’s plan on recovery from the pandemic.

Tourism

Local tourism
As the country still has not opened borders to tourists, Duterte promoted local tourism as he called on Filipinos to travel locally once the necessary systems are in place in an effort to boost the economy.

Boracay Island Development Authority (BIDA)
Duterte called on lawmakers to pass a law creating the Boracay Island Development Authority to sustain the results seen from government efforts in rehabilitating the world-renowned tourist island.

He also said that Boracay’s rehabilitation highlights the government’s ability in safeguarding environment.

World events and sovereignty

United States’ return to Subic Bay
The President rejects a proposed plan for the Americans to return to Subic Bay, through a commercial deal, amid a growing new Cold War between US and China–reasoning out that the Philippines may once again be of collateral damage should actual war breakout between the two world powers.

Territorial disputes in the West Philippine Sea
Duterte reiterated that the Philippines cannot afford to wage war against China. He added that Philippines’ rights over the West Philippine Sea cannot be asserted at this time as this risks going to war against China. “China is claiming it. We are claiming it. China has the arms. We do not have it. So it’s simple as that. They are in possession of the property. So what can we do? We have to go to war, and I cannot afford it,” he then said.

This however, garnered mixed reactions with senators crossing the floor in saying that the president could have been more wary in speaking on the matter.

Death Penalty

The president once again called on the Congress for the “swift passage” of a law brining back the death penalty by lethal injection for crimes under the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.

Duterte then joked on the apparent disinterest from the Congress on the matter as he expected applause but only gained minimal reaction, to which the Congress responded with applause.

President Duterte then said that the passage of the law will deter criminality and save the next generation.

“This law will not only help us deter criminality but also save our children from the dangers paused by illegal drugs.”

Martial Law

Mindanao martial law
The President said that martial law in Mindanao “ended without abuses,” and did not need further prolonging after 3 extensions.

Strengthening of law enforcement
Duterte called for the passage of the Unified Military and Uniformed Personnel Separation, Retirement, and Pension Bill and calls for the modernization of the Bureau of Fire Protection and the Bureau of Immigration.

Human rights

The President said the government will uphold human rights in protecting the rights of children.

“Part of our efforts to uphold human rights is the protection of the rights of children. Government efforts to protect the right of children will be amplified to prevent, reduce and eliminate any form of child labor.”

Disaster department

The President called for the creation of the Department of Disaster Resilience and People’s Safety, emphasizing on the creation of the department before another major disaster strikes the country.

Build, Build, Build

Infrastructure
Significant infrastructure projects under the Build Build Build Program were completed and that a “comprehensive written report” on the details is to be released, according to the President.

Land Use Act
Duterte called on the Congress for the passage of the National Land Use Act, which will develop lands in the countryside and will serve as a means for sustainable economic growth in the provinces.

The president added that the Bill has been pending for decades.

Farmers and Fishers

President Duterte called on the Congress to pass a law for the Coconut Farmers’ Trust Fund, and a P66-billion agricultural stimulus package through the Rural Agricultural and Fisheries Development Financing System Act.

Trust Fund
The President urged Congress to pass a law that will establish the Coconut Farmers Trust Fund.

Professionals

Continuing Professional Development (CPD) Act of 2016
Duterte called on the Congress for the amendment of Republic Act 10912, also known as the Continuing Professional Development (CPD) Act of 2016. He cites the inability of professionals to undergo seminars during the pandemic as the reason for the needed amendment.

“In this time of pandemic, the requirement for professionals to undergo seminar is unrealistic. Itong mga seminar na ito dapat mahinto.”

The improvement of government services

Pila
Duterte called on all local government institutions to eliminate queuing. The president has long condemned the concept of slow, ineffective and inefficient government services.

Red Tape
The President call for paperless transactions in government for the new normal in to minimize red tape.

“We need e-governance for our people…to better transition into the new normal and minimize red tape.” (GFB with additional reports from ASC)