Solon scores PNoy in 'contra SONA'

The Makabayan bloc scored President Benigno Aquino III Monday for touting supposedly misleading results of the reforms he put in place in his final State of the Nation Address.

 

The bloc, which is composed of activist party-list groups, said the administration's "Daang Matuwid", or government reform program, is nothing but a lie.

 

Speaking on behalf of the Makabayan bloc, Bayan Muna party-list Rep. Neri Colmenares said in his “counter SONA” that there is no truth to Aquino's claim that Filipinos' quality of life improved under his term because 26 percent of the country’s population remains poor, according to the National Statistical Coordination Board (NSCB).

 

Think tank IBON Foundation, meanwhile, estimates 66 million Filipinos are mired in poverty.

 

Addressing Aquino, Colmenares said: “Pangulong Aquino, mukhang ibang bansa ang inilalarawan mo sa iyong SONA. Sa bansa natin, ang katotohanan ay higit 70 percent ang mahihirap na pamilyang Pilipino.” 

 

The lawmaker blamed the widespread poverty on the supposedly anti-people policies that the Aquino administration adopted, such as the absence of genuine agrarian reform, lack of nationwide industrialization, and unequal distribution wealth.

 

Even though the president bragged about the 6 to 7 percent growth of the gross domestic product during his administration, Colmenares noted that many Filipinos have yet to experience an increase in their wages. 

 

He said their burden is further worsened by the continuing rise in the price of goods and the supposed privatization of social services.

 

“Ang limang-taong 'daang matuwid' ay daang diretso sa bangin ng higit na paglaki ng agwat ng kita ng iilang mayaman at napakaraming mahirap, ng pagkakait ng saligang serbisyo, at ng matataas na presyo ng bilihin,” Colmenares said.

 

Towards the end of his speech, the lawmaker appealed to Aquino to use his remaining months in office to implement the following reforms, which he said will truly benefit the people:

 

 

Colmenares delivered his counter SONA Monday night at the plenary, two weeks after Aquino gave his final SONA.

 

The House minority bloc’s delivery of the counter SONA had been delayed for days due to lack of quorum. — JDS, GMA News