SONA 2019: A homework guide for kids

President Rodrigo Duterte delivered his State of the Nation Address (SONA) on Monday, his fourth since he became the country's chief executive in 2016.

The SONA is an annual report the President makes to the two houses of Congress: the Senate and the House of Representatives.

Of the 81 SONAS that have been delivered over the years, 41 have been delivered at the Batasang Pambansa, the headquarters of the House of Representatives.

That is also where Duterte delivered his latest SONA.

Here are some highlights of his speech:

1. Death penalty

The President asked the Congress to reinstate the death penalty for plunder and heinous crimes related to drugs.

The death penalty was abolished by Republic Act No. 9346, a law that was signed by then-President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in 2006.

2. Government transactions

The President asked government agencies to "simplify" their processes and switch to electronic methods.

He identified the Social Security System, the Bureau of Internal Revenue, the Land Transportation Office, the Land Registration Authority, and the PAGIBIG Fund as offices which need to become more client-friendly.

The president said his administration also increased the number of lines for the Citizens' Complaint Hotline, or Hotline 8888, to better respond to the concerns of the public.

3. Manila Bay cleanup

The president said he hopes to relocate informal settlers near Manila Bay during the remaining years of his administration as part of the rehabilitation efforts in the area.

Manila Bay has become greatly polluted due to trash generated by Metro Manila residents and discharge from establishments near the bay. Some of these establishments were shut down for not complying with environmental regulations.

4. West Philippine Sea

Duterte said a "delicate balancing act" is required to avoid armed conflict amid tensions in the West Philippine Sea.

He said he does not want war and prefers the "peaceful way" of negotiating in the conference room to protect the country's natural resources and territorial waters.

Supreme Court Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio, who is an advocate of protecting the Philippines' rights in the West Philippine Sea, has disagreed with Duterte's belief that asserting our rights in our exclusive economic zone means waging war.

5. Anti-communism task force

The president said he will lead the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict.

He added that he has assigned cabinet members to every region of the country to coordinate efforts for national development and security.

The president has suspended the long-running peace talks between the government and communist rebels.

6. Magna Carta for Barangays

Duterte said the Congress should enact the Magna Carta for Barangays, a bill that aims to help barangays by, among other things, recognizing barangay officials as regular government employees with salaries and benefits; and providing barangays with necessary things such as a regular water supply, schools, and public transportation.

He also ordered the Congress to study the possibility of postponing the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections to October 2022 to give barangay officials time to finish their projects.

7. Loans for MSMEs

The president praised the Department of Trade and Industry for P3 billion worth of loans for MSMEs, or micro, small, and medium enterprises.

MSMEs are smaller  businesses whose total assets are valued at less than P100 million. More than 90% of registered businesses in the Philippines are MSMEs. The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas considers them the "backbone" of the Philippines' economy, but also notes that they are often hampered by a lack of financing.

8. Mandatory ROTC

The president asked the Congress to pass a law to reinstate the mandatory Reserve Officers Training Corps (ROTC).

There is currently a bill that would require Grade 11 and Grade 12 students to undergo ROTC training before they can graduate.

Duterte and his allies believe that ROTC will inculcate patriotism and discipline among the youth. Critics, however, fear that it will only teach students blind obedience.

9. Water crisis

Duterte asked Congress to pass a bill establishing a Department of Water Resources and a Water Regulatory Commission to address the water crisis which gripped Metro Manila in the summer months.

These agencies would ideally manage, protect, and regulate the country's water supply and prevent another shortage from happening.

10. Public roads

The president directed the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) and Local Government Units (LGU) to reclaim public roads being used for private purposes.

This is seen as a measure that could help decongest roads and lighten traffic in Metro Manila.

Quick facts about the SONA

1. The President is required by the Constitution to deliver the State of the Nation Address. It is an annual report about the country's situation and the administration's plans for the coming year.

2. The SONA is delivered every fourth Monday of July.

3. The President delivers the SONA before Congress (the Senate and the House of Representatives). Both houses of Congress hold a joint session in the Session Hall of the House of Representatives.

4. The First Philippine Republic, under President Manuel Quezon, borrowed the SONA tradition from Europe, where the head of state ceremonially opened the sessions of the National Assembly.

5. Quezon delivered the first SONA in the Philippines in 1935

6. From 1942 to 1944, during World War II, there were no SONAs delivered.

7. President Elpidio Quirino, in office from 1948 to 1953, delivered a SONA via radio broadcast when he was confined at Johns Hopkins Hospital in the US. The broadcast was aired live in Congress while it was in session. — BM, GMA News