Robredo expects Duterte to be honest in final SONA

Vice President Leni Robredo said she expects President Rodrigo Duterte to give a truthful account of the country's situation when he faces the Filipinos for his final State of the Nation Address (SONA) on July 26.

“Maging very honest about iyong situation sa bansa ngayon. Kasi sa panahon ng pandemic, hindi naman kailangan na mag-paint ng napakagandang picture. Ang para sa akin, mas mabuti mas honest assessment kung ano iyong kakulangan, ano iyong problema, papaano natin gagawin, para iyong tao mas na-a-appease siya sa kaniyang mga pag-aalala,” Robredo said at the sidelines of a drive thru COVID-19 vaccination project for public utility vehicle and delivery services drivers in Manila City, a joint project of her office and the City of Manila.

(We need him to be honest on our situation right now. He need not paint a rosy picture. It is better to have an honest assessment on what are we lacking, what are the problems, how do we deal with this, how are we going to assuage the fears of our people.)

“Mahirap kasi na sasabihin mo all is well pero iyong nararamdaman ng tao iba, ‘di ba. Mas mabuti pang sabihin na nasaan ba talaga tayo. Halimbawa, pagdating ng vaccine supply, nasaan ba talaga tayo? What about job generation?” she added.

(It is hard to tell that all is well when the people are feeling otherwise. It is better to say what is our situation. For one, where are we on vaccine supply?)

The Vice President then said that the nation is anxious on what lies ahead, and the President’s SONA should be able to address, if not reduce such burden.

“People are expecting a realistic, honest assessment, ano iyong balak nating gawin para matawid natin iyong mga kahirapan na pinagdadaanan natin (what is the plan to tide the people over poverty.)—LDF, GMA News