Summary of GMA's SONA 2001-2005 GMA News Research made the summary based on the text of President Arroyo's SONA from 2001-2005. Click on the dates to read the full text.
Theme: Trabaho, edukasyon, sariling tahanan, pagkain sa bawat mesa	Theme: Strong republic	Theme: War against terrorism, corruption, disease and drugs	Theme: People First	Theme: tale/story of two Philippines; charter change
Started and ended with the stories of the three children from Payatas and their wishes: trabaho, edukasyon, tahanan	Started with a tribute to her father, the former President Diosdado Macapagal, then promoted strong republic. Ended with strong republic	Started by citing the triumph over the Oakwood Mutiny, declared war against terrorism, corruption, disease and drugs, then proceeded with a rundown of accomplishments achieved in keeping with the 2001 SONA promises. Ended by naming Filipino achievers, referring to granddaughter Mikaela, and calling for God’s blessings in several dialects.	v Takes off on the safe release of Angelo dela Cruz v Defends decision to pull out troops, foreign policy is to defend national interest including safety of OFWs	Started by describing the Philippines as if it were two countries under the same name; referred to the Philippines as a country poised for take-off, had it not been for the degeneration in the political system. Half of the entire speech was devoted to pushing for charter change.
Key points: v National unity, particularly in politics v Four-point strategy to fight poverty: 1. Free enterprise with a social conscience 2. Modernization of the agricultural sector 3. Social bias toward the disadvantaged 4. Raising the moral standards of govt and society	Key Points: v Reported on achievements for goals set in 2001 Target: 200 thousand hectares for land reform Result: 250 thousand hectares Target: P20 B for agri modernization Result: P24 B Target: land for 150 thousand urban poor families Result: 180 thousand Target: housing program for 150 thousand poor families Result: 150 thousand Target: 1,000 rolling stores selling rice at P14/ kilo Result: 1,500 rolling stores Target: Reduce to half-price commonly purchased medicines Result: Can be purchased at govt hospital & only at Unilab outlets Target: health insurance for 500 thousand poor citizens Result: 4 million Target: school in every brgy by 2004 (1,612 brgy with no schools) Result: 1,005 + 285 school bldgs from Sen. Drilon Target: Txtbooks for priority subjects, gr1-4 & 1^st & 2^nd HS Result: 54 M txtbooks for 16 M students in 2002 Target: More focus on teaching math in school Result: More hours devoted to math in the new school curriculum Target: More teachers Result: 15 thousand new teachers Target: Jobs for 20 thousand OSY Result: 30 thousand Target: 150 thousand families will have the right to buy the land on which they’ve built their homes Result: 700 families given the right to buy the land they’ve been occupying Lowered PPA Education for the poor: 400+ scholars including the 3 kids from Payatas Livelihood for 800 families Brought down deficit to P147 B Turned international credit rating from risky to stable Low interest rates, stable peso Peace efforts: Rescue of gracia burnham, takeover of Camp Abubakar, Peace agreement with MILF Anti-crime efforts: cited smuggling, kidnapping, anti-drug war, coalition against terrorism “I SALUTE OUR MEN AND WOMEN IN UNIFORM, AT THE FOREFRONT OF OUR REPUBLIC’S EFFORTS TO FIGHT TERROR AND ENFORCE PEACE.”	Key Points: v created 2 independent commissions to investigate the Oakwood Mutiny and the Davao bombings; called for unity v re-stated 2001 SONA objectives (jobs, education, food, housing); admitted that the Strong Republic is not yet as strong as she wanted it to be “A STRONG REPUBLIC DOES NOT HAPPEN OVERNIGHT; NOT EVEN IN TWO OR THREE YEARS. NOR DOES IT HAPPEN ONCE AND FOR ALL.” v Mentioned that the government is making advances towards MILF and NDF peace talks v Instructed DBM to allocate P10M for the implementation of the Anti-Money Laundering Law. v Lifted moratorium on death penalty for drug traffickers; remained pro-life in other matters v Reported on achievements: - Education: additional hours for Math, English and Science under the new curriculum; schools for 600 barangays; distance learning program/ education TV for 400 communities - Housing: 100,000+ houses for poor, 200,000 for workers; “katiyakan sa lupang tinitirikan” for 300,000 poor families - Food: self-rated hunger went down, according to surveys; steady supply of rice at P16/kilo for the poor; stable prices of basic commodities, resulting to lowest inflation rate in 20 years - Health: cheaper medicines; Philhealth insurance given to 7M poor - Jobs: growth in GNP, increase in foreign investments lead to better climate for (job-creating) investments - Transportation: no fare hike since start of term; nautical highway reduced transport costs - Electricity: provided electricity in 3,600 barangays; Philippines ranked 7^th (down from 2^nd) country with most expensive power in Asia-Pacific - Economy: allocated P10B loans for SMEs (added P10B more during 2003 speech); interest rates continued to go down; income surpassed target by P21B in first 5 months; budget deficit held in check at 22% below ceiling	Key Points: v Foreign policy: national interest includes protecting OFWs v Promise: “Mamamayan muna. Ang taong bayan ang pinakamalaki nating yaman.” v Accomplishment report Economy - inflation is under control - new foreign and domestic investments: - 3 million people got jobs in the last three years Peace and order - breaking up the drug and kidnapping syndicates Corruption - lifestyle checks - procurement reforms Basic needs - malinis na tubig, health insurance, tirahan, paaralan, aklat Downsizing govt - abolished 80 offices under OP (will abolish 30 more) v Cited her 10-point agenda as practical, achievable, and could be accomplished on time v Five key reform packages (1) job creation through economic growth (2) anti-corruption through good government (3) social justice and basic needs (4) education and youth opportunity and (5) energy independence and savings. v Budget deficit -- the most urgent problem	Key Points: v rundown of accomplishments economic growth, job generation, tax collection, housing, health insurance, drugs, kidnapping--all mentioned very briefly, described in general terms, few figures cited anti-terrorism efforts, peace in Mindanao fiscal reforms, enactment of 3 laws to generate revenue and address fiscal problems v charter change build up political system has degenerated; people want a government that works the system needs fundamental change—the sooner, the better time to take the power from the center to the countryside
Promises: v Textbooks on priority subjects to all public school students, gr 1-4, 1^st –2^nd yr HS v P1.5 B to hire more teachers & increase their pay v For agri modernization: P6B for irrigation, P2B post harvest facilities, P2B infrastructure, P2B loans, P2B R&D v 200 thousand public land for land reform every year v P500 M from OPEC fund for community projects in rural Mindanao (Aug 2001 to July 2002) v 150 thousand families every year will have the right to buy the land they’ve been occupying v 1,000 rolling stores: P14/ kilo of rice v Lower prices of medicine; reduce to half the prices of commonly purchased drugs v Include half a million urban poor in the national health insurance program v P20 B allotted for “tahanan ng masa” :100,000 houses every year for workers & 50,000 houses for the urban poor v 20 thousand out-of-work OSY will be given temporary jobs every year v 300 thousand poor women every year to benefit from microfinance v 85 % of brgys to have electricity in a year v P1B to modernize and professionalize the police v Several billions of pesos for the AFP modernization program v End Abu Sayyaf	Agenda: v Generate jobs v Address katiwalian, peace and order, cost of power/ cheaper electricity rates v Declared war against terrorists, kidnappers and drug lords v Neutralize 21 major kidnapping syndicates v Organize new dangerous drugs board and PDEA v Push for the enactment of the following: o Anti-terrorism bill o A law making farm land acceptable as collateral o Special purpose vehicle act to make productive those assets tied up in problematic loans o Absentee voting bill o Transco franchise bill	Agenda: v Stick to 2001 SONA priorities v Investigate Oakwood Mutiny, root cause for unrest v War against drugs v Make sure that coconut farmers benefit from coco levy funds; asked Congress to allocate a portion to victims of human rights violations during the Marcos regime v Complete light railway system loop in Metro Manila; expansion of north expressway v Complete computerization of 2004 elections v Push for the enactment of the following: o Senate ratification of 5 remaining UN conventions against terrorism o Anti-Terrorism bill o Transco franchise o use of farmland as collateral o rationalization of excise tax on automobiles o elimination of documentary stamp tax o creation of National Revenue Authority o indexation of sin taxes (to finance the universal coverage of Philhealth insurance)	Agenda: v Revenue Effort - raise P100 billion: reforms to raise/save P20 billion ask Congress to pass 8 tax measures to raise P80 billion Better public services - privatization of Napocor v downsize govt, provide incentive to those who need to go, increase pay of those who will be left behind - reduce red tape v Agenda for the poor - jobs, land reform,water, medicine, electricity v Will ask Congress to legislate the ff: - farmland as collateral - extra year of studies - strengthen the office of the Ombudsman - govt reengineering * consider Charter change	Agenda: v "It's time to start the great debate on charter change." v Other agenda: education – urged Congress to pass pre-need code job readiness – hours spent in vocational training can be credited towards a college degree oil prices – urged Congress to pass legislation encouraging renewable, indigenous energy national security – swift passage of anti-terrorism law
		Special Mention: v Mikaela, granddaughter v SARS-hit Brgy.Vacante, Alcala,Pangasinan v MILF-free Brgy. Inug-Ug, Maguindanao v Sonny Ayao, former MNLF member v OFWs in Kuwait v Teacher Josette Biyo v Outstanding farmer Luz Lozada v Quinapondan, Eastern Samar heroes police officers Cayetano Gannaban and Raul Graza v Police colonel Boysie Rosales, refused P35M bribe money v Manny Pacquiao (mentioned in passing)	Thanked the people for winning the 2004 elections and for giving her a huge majority in Congress and in the local governments.
	No concrete promises and deadlines like before	No mention of 2004 election plans		No mention of Hello Garci and jueteng controversies

Summary of GMA's SONA 2001-2005

GMA News Research made the summary based on the text of President Arroyo's SONA from 2001-2005.
Click on the dates to read the full text.

Theme:

Trabaho, edukasyon, sariling tahanan, pagkain sa bawat mesa

Theme:

Strong republic

Theme:

War against terrorism, corruption, disease and drugs

Theme:
People First

Theme:
tale/story of two Philippines;
charter change

Started and ended with the stories of the three children from Payatas and their wishes: trabaho, edukasyon, tahanan

Started with a tribute to her father, the former President Diosdado Macapagal, then promoted strong republic. Ended with strong republic

Started by citing the triumph over the Oakwood Mutiny, declared war against terrorism, corruption, disease and drugs, then proceeded with a rundown of accomplishments achieved in keeping with the 2001 SONA promises. Ended by naming Filipino achievers, referring to granddaughter Mikaela, and calling for God’s blessings in several dialects.

v Takes off on the safe release of Angelo dela Cruz

v Defends decision to pull out troops, foreign policy is to defend national interest including safety of OFWs

Started by describing the Philippines as if it were two countries under the same name; referred to the Philippines as a country poised for take-off, had it not been for the degeneration in the political system.

Half of the entire speech was devoted to pushing for charter change.

Key points:

v National unity, particularly in politics

v Four-point strategy to fight poverty:

1. Free enterprise with a social conscience

2. Modernization of the agricultural sector

3. Social bias toward the disadvantaged

4. Raising the moral standards of govt and society

Key Points:

v Reported on achievements for goals set in 2001

Target: 200 thousand hectares for land reform

Result: 250 thousand hectares

Target: P20 B for agri modernization

Result: P24 B

Target: land for 150 thousand urban poor families

Result: 180 thousand

Target: housing program for 150 thousand poor families

Result: 150 thousand

Target: 1,000 rolling stores selling rice at P14/ kilo

Result: 1,500 rolling stores

Target: Reduce to half-price commonly purchased medicines

Result: Can be purchased at govt hospital & only at Unilab outlets

Target: health insurance for 500 thousand poor citizens

Result: 4 million

Target: school in every brgy by 2004 (1,612 brgy with no schools)

Result: 1,005 + 285 school bldgs from Sen. Drilon

Target: Txtbooks for priority subjects, gr1-4 & 1^st & 2^nd HS

Result: 54 M txtbooks for 16 M students in 2002

Target: More focus on teaching math in school

Result: More hours devoted to math in the new school curriculum

Target: More teachers

Result: 15 thousand new teachers

Target: Jobs for 20 thousand OSY

Result: 30 thousand

Target: 150 thousand families will have the right to buy the land on which they’ve built their homes

Result: 700 families given the right to buy the land they’ve been occupying

Lowered PPA

Education for the poor: 400+ scholars including the 3 kids from Payatas

Livelihood for 800 families

Brought down deficit to P147 B

Turned international credit rating from risky to stable

Low interest rates, stable peso

Peace efforts: Rescue of gracia burnham, takeover of Camp Abubakar, Peace agreement with MILF

Anti-crime efforts: cited smuggling, kidnapping, anti-drug war, coalition against terrorism

“I SALUTE OUR MEN AND WOMEN IN UNIFORM, AT THE FOREFRONT OF OUR REPUBLIC’S EFFORTS TO FIGHT TERROR AND ENFORCE PEACE.”

Key Points:

v created 2 independent commissions to investigate the Oakwood Mutiny and the Davao bombings; called for unity

v re-stated 2001 SONA objectives (jobs, education, food, housing); admitted that the Strong Republic is not yet as strong as she wanted it to be

“A STRONG REPUBLIC DOES NOT HAPPEN OVERNIGHT; NOT EVEN IN TWO OR THREE YEARS. NOR DOES IT HAPPEN ONCE AND FOR ALL.”

v Mentioned that the government is making advances towards MILF and NDF peace talks

v Instructed DBM to allocate P10M for the implementation of the Anti-Money Laundering Law.

v Lifted moratorium on death penalty for drug traffickers; remained pro-life in other matters

v Reported on achievements:

- Education: additional hours for Math, English and Science under the new curriculum; schools for 600 barangays; distance learning program/ education TV for 400 communities

- Housing: 100,000+ houses for poor, 200,000 for workers; “katiyakan sa lupang tinitirikan” for 300,000 poor families

- Food: self-rated hunger went down, according to surveys; steady supply of rice at P16/kilo for the poor; stable prices of basic commodities, resulting to lowest inflation rate in 20 years

- Health: cheaper medicines; Philhealth insurance given to 7M poor

- Jobs: growth in GNP, increase in foreign investments lead to better climate for (job-creating) investments

- Transportation: no fare hike since start of term; nautical highway reduced transport costs

- Electricity: provided electricity in 3,600 barangays; Philippines ranked 7^th (down from 2^nd) country with most expensive power in Asia-Pacific

- Economy: allocated P10B loans for SMEs (added P10B more during 2003 speech); interest rates continued to go down; income surpassed target by P21B in first 5 months; budget deficit held in check at 22% below ceiling

Key Points:

v Foreign policy: national interest includes protecting OFWs

v Promise: “Mamamayan muna. Ang taong bayan ang pinakamalaki nating yaman.”

v Accomplishment report

Economy
- inflation is under control

- new foreign and domestic investments: - 3 million people got jobs in the last three years

Peace and order
- breaking up the drug and kidnapping syndicates

Corruption
- lifestyle checks

- procurement reforms

Basic needs
- malinis na tubig, health insurance, tirahan, paaralan, aklat

Downsizing govt

- abolished 80 offices under OP (will abolish 30 more)

v Cited her 10-point agenda as practical, achievable, and could be accomplished on time

v Five key reform packages

(1) job creation through economic growth

(2) anti-corruption through good government

(3) social justice and basic needs

(4) education and youth opportunity and

(5) energy independence and savings.

v Budget deficit -- the most urgent problem

Key Points:

v rundown of accomplishments

economic growth, job generation, tax collection, housing, health insurance, drugs, kidnapping--all mentioned very briefly, described in general terms, few figures cited
anti-terrorism efforts, peace in Mindanao
fiscal reforms, enactment of 3 laws to generate revenue and address fiscal problems

v charter change build up

political system has degenerated; people want a government that works
the system needs fundamental change—the sooner, the better
time to take the power from the center to the countryside

Promises:

v Textbooks on priority subjects to all public school students, gr 1-4, 1^st –2^nd yr HS

v P1.5 B to hire more teachers & increase their pay

v For agri modernization: P6B for irrigation, P2B post harvest facilities, P2B infrastructure, P2B loans, P2B R&D

v 200 thousand public land for land reform every year

v P500 M from OPEC fund for community projects in rural Mindanao (Aug 2001 to July 2002)

v 150 thousand families every year will have the right to buy the land they’ve been occupying

v 1,000 rolling stores: P14/ kilo of rice

v Lower prices of medicine; reduce to half the prices of commonly purchased drugs

v Include half a million urban poor in the national health insurance program

v P20 B allotted for “tahanan ng masa” :100,000 houses every year for workers & 50,000 houses for the urban poor

v 20 thousand out-of-work OSY will be given temporary jobs every year

v 300 thousand poor women every year to benefit from microfinance

v 85 % of brgys to have electricity in a year

v P1B to modernize and professionalize the police

v Several billions of pesos for the AFP modernization program

v End Abu Sayyaf

Agenda:

v Generate jobs

v Address katiwalian, peace and order, cost of power/ cheaper electricity rates

v Declared war against terrorists, kidnappers and drug lords

v Neutralize 21 major kidnapping syndicates

v Organize new dangerous drugs board and PDEA

v Push for the enactment of the following:

o Anti-terrorism bill

o A law making farm land acceptable as collateral

o Special purpose vehicle act to make productive those assets tied up in problematic loans

o Absentee voting bill

o Transco franchise bill

Agenda:

v Stick to 2001 SONA priorities

v Investigate Oakwood Mutiny, root cause for unrest

v War against drugs

v Make sure that coconut farmers benefit from coco levy funds; asked Congress to allocate a portion to victims of human rights violations during the Marcos regime

v Complete light railway system loop in Metro Manila; expansion of north expressway

v Complete computerization of 2004 elections

v Push for the enactment of the following:

o Senate ratification of 5 remaining UN conventions against terrorism

o Anti-Terrorism bill

o Transco franchise

o use of farmland as collateral

o rationalization of excise tax on automobiles

o elimination of documentary stamp tax

o creation of National Revenue Authority

o indexation of sin taxes (to finance the universal coverage of Philhealth insurance)

Agenda:

v Revenue Effort

- raise P100 billion:

*reforms to raise/save P20 billion

      *ask Congress to pass
       8 tax measures to raise
       P80 billion

Better public services
- privatization of Napocor

v downsize govt, provide incentive to those who need to go, increase pay of those who will be left behind
- reduce red tape

v Agenda for the poor
- jobs, land reform,water, medicine, electricity

v Will ask Congress to legislate the ff:

- farmland as collateral

- extra year of studies

- strengthen the office of the Ombudsman

- govt reengineering

* consider Charter change

Agenda:

v "It's time to start the great debate on charter change."

v Other agenda:

education – urged Congress to pass pre-need code
job readiness – hours spent in vocational training can be credited towards a college degree
oil prices – urged Congress to pass legislation encouraging renewable, indigenous energy
national security – swift passage of anti-terrorism law

Special Mention:

v Mikaela, granddaughter

v SARS-hit Brgy.Vacante, Alcala,Pangasinan

v MILF-free Brgy. Inug-Ug, Maguindanao

v Sonny Ayao, former MNLF member

v OFWs in Kuwait

v Teacher Josette Biyo

v Outstanding farmer Luz Lozada

v Quinapondan, Eastern Samar heroes police officers Cayetano Gannaban and Raul Graza

v Police colonel Boysie Rosales, refused P35M bribe money

v Manny Pacquiao (mentioned in passing)

Thanked the people for winning the 2004 elections and for giving her a huge majority in Congress and in the local governments.

No concrete promises and deadlines like before

No mention of 2004 election plans

No mention of Hello Garci and jueteng controversies

Summary of GMA's SONA 2001-2005

SONA 2001

SONA 2002

SONA 2003

SONA 2004

July 26, 2004

SONA 2005

July 25, 2005

Peace efforts: Rescue of gracia burnham, takeover of Camp Abubakar, Peace agreement with MILF