GMA’s SONA 2009: fact or fiction?
(Note: This is a duplicate post of my original article at Femme.News.Views.)
I was one of the millions of Filipinos glued to their seats to watch President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo deliver her 9th and last SONA or State of the Nation Address over a local TV network. It was full of statistics to quantify the present administration’s achievements under Pres. Arroyo’s leadership. Figures that made me sigh in relief and silently applaud…for a while.
“The state of our nation is a good economy,” the President said. “Good news for our people, bad news for our critics,” she added. GMA took pride in enumerating her administration’s economic reforms, infrastructures, public service law, and many others.
Here are few of the highlights mentioned by the President:
“Good economy”
- $6B revenues and 600,000 jobs created by the BPO industry
- Tourism almost doubled to a $5B industry
- $165B-Micro Finance Loans helped 7M entrepreneurs
- Banking system improved
- Foreign reserves have grown by $3B.
- GDP growth highest in 43 years
- Poverty reduced by almost half
- 1M jobs generated every year
- Economy posted uninterrupted growth for 33 quarters since 2001
- Our average inflation is lowest since 1966.
Infrastructures
- The government’s housing programs benefited 1M families.
- 16 kms. of farm-to-market roads
- Construction of the Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway
- Built seaports and the RORO system
- Constructed international airports and upgraded domestic airports
- Automated elections (digital infrastructure)
Education and Health Care
- Recommends radical reforms in the country’s education system
- Will allot P1.5B budget for teacher training
- Built 95,000 rooms
- Hired 60,000 teachers
- Approval of the Cheaper Medicines Law
- Improving health care in the country that covers 86% of the population
GMA further stressed that foreign debts were tremendously slashed and debts of government corporations were reduced by almost half. She cited that the government will further improve collection on sin taxes. Also mentioned were the P1B budget for modern fish farming that benefits the indigenous people; the current ceasefire in war-torn areas in Mindanao, and Epira, the government’s answer to lower power rates.
Apart from her administration’s accomplishments, The President also chided her critics saying she did not become President to be popular. “Those who live in glass houses should not cast stones,those who should be in jail should not threaten it, especially if they have been there.” she retorted.
Honestly, I was rather impressed with the President’s SONA…because I was made to believe that the data given were all factual. A few hours later, news reports and editorials came out refuting The President’s “facts and figures.” Economists, people from the academe and the business sector were quick to challenge the veracity of the President’s statistics. They cited the country’s slow foreign trade, the low 0.4 growth of gross domestic product, among others.
One of those I watched on TV was Mareng Winnie Monsod, another woman I look up to for being so brainy, vocal, reputable, and vigilant. Monsod, a UP professor, is one of the country’s respectable and credible economists.
Monsod argued that basing on actual figures from the National Statistics Office, only 2.8 M jobs were created from 2004-2008, a far cry from the promised 1M jobs per year. She added that poverty rose by almost 50%.
Monsod further enumerated the following that remains unanswered:
1. The increase in corruption
2. The increase in human rights violations
3. The increase in bureaucracy and overall demoralization of the civil service
Makati Mayor Jejomar Binay, meanwhile, said in an article published on Business Mirror that “government statistics show that the number of poor Filipinos now total 27.6 million, or an increase of 2.7 million between 2000 and 2006. The number of poor families rose by 530,642 also during the same period, bringing the total to 4.7 million.”
Is the economy really doing good as the President confidently stressed? Or is the country’s economy just lucky to be sustained and fuelled by the OFW’s billion dollar remittances? Who among them are giving the real statistics and the real state of the nation? Are the figures reported by the President factual or are they, like what her critics say, merely works of fiction?
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July 29th, 2009 8:44 am
Err, why are people so negative?
July 29th, 2009 9:13 am
Hi, Daisy. I fervently hope that the political bickering in this country will end but I guess that’s too much of a wishful thinking for me. Personally, I feel that our family’s financial standing has improved lately but I can’t speak for the rest of my countrymen. Statistics are showing but they don’t seem to coincide with one another (admin’s figures vs the critics’). You find all sorts of counter-statistics that claim to represent the real state of the nation.GMA’s alleged corrupt practices are fanning anger but they’ve never been proven.May we pray for this country’s peace, order, and prosperity.And I hope that when it’s GMA’s critics’ time to lead the country, they’ll do much better to serve the Filipinos instead of themselves.
July 29th, 2009 11:42 am
it is somehow hard to distinguish the facts from the fiction when everyone seems to sound knowledgeable but actually are in the look-out for their own interest. you are right rochelle, political bickering does not help our country at all, but who can stop them when they all want power?
July 29th, 2009 12:01 pm
Yeah, you said it Betchai.
July 29th, 2009 1:58 pm
[...] Power asks if the SONA is based on fact or fiction: Is the economy really doing good as the President [...]
July 30th, 2009 2:32 pm
reaction about sona
July 30th, 2009 7:00 pm
her sona is the WORST! i really HATE her as our President! I - B - A - G - S - A - K!
July 31st, 2009 11:36 am
FACT OR FICTION???
HUH? OBVIOUS NAMAN EH…
IT IS A FACT FOR THOSE WHO LOVE GLORIA….
BUT FOR THOSE WHO HATE GLORIA…IT IS ONLY A DREAM…OR A FICTION…
AND FOR YOU DAISY…..THE FIRST PERSON WHO LEAVED A COMMENT HERE…..
SIGURO MAYAMAN KA… HINDI MO KASI ALAM MGA NANGYAYARI SA MUNDO….
NAKAKAINIS…..
GLORIA SAID THAT EVERY YEAR THERE ARE ALMOST 3000 POLICE NA NADADAGDAG SA ATING KAPULISAN.. BUT WHY IS IT EVERY DAY THERE IS A CRIME….
I KNOW THAT NO ONE IS PERFECT…BUT WE NEED A PERFECT ONE TO RULE OVER US….
HINDI NAMAN SINABI NI LORD NA BAWAL MAGING PERFECT DIBA???
GLORIA IS NOT BAD PRESIDENT, PERO SINUNGALING SYA… MAGALING SYA PARA SA AKIN…PERO KUNG SASABIHIN NYA UNG TOTOO…AUS NA….
I AM SORRY……FOR THE SUPPORTERS OF GLORIA…
July 31st, 2009 9:39 pm
bkit aman may SONA p? ayn tuloy, may assignment kami tungkol dun..
hmp!
August 1st, 2009 12:19 am
negativity won’t do any good to our country…why can’t people just acknowledge her accomplishments rather than her blunder?
how would you do any better as the president?i don’t think you’d make any better if many were to oppose you as well..
(this is not directed to anyone)
August 3rd, 2009 10:23 am
naku naku..
even though GMA has achievements, still did commit mistakes… and dat’s acceptable..
BUT, a big BUT, she should already learned from her mistakes not to commit it again and again..
how could the people trust a president like her if.. she could not stand to her promises like… NOT TO RUN ANYMORE as aPRESIDENt but she did.. now let us see if she will break a promise again…
August 3rd, 2009 1:44 pm
uhm… for me wla tlgang perfect. khit cnong president may flows. at tama si john,, ung sona favor un sa side ni gma at ndi sa critics. may mga bagay cguro na ndi natupad s cnbi ni gma, enough na ba un par ijudge cia? i’m just trying tu understand and balance the situations. well, cnu nman kaya ang mas batter s knya?
August 3rd, 2009 6:58 pm
KURAKOT C GLORIA!!!
August 4th, 2009 11:23 am
waah !! bakit di sinabi ni PGMA ang plano nya if ever magka recession ang bansa natin!!?? ayan tuloy wala ako malagay sa paper ko!… assignment kaya namin yang “recession thing”..
August 4th, 2009 12:16 pm
for you john…
how stupid can you get…
sabi mo nga nadaragdagan ang kapulisan araw araw
what you dont know is there is balance in this world kung may good mei evil kaya wag mong sisihin si gloria kung laganap ang krimen sa bansa…dahil natural lang talaga na may mga masasamang tao..
and if you were gloria what do you think you will do?!
kaya wag kayong maninisi ng iba dahil kaya kayo naninisi dahil takot kayong aminin ang pagkakamaling nagawa ninyo para sa bansa…
may nagawa ka na ba as a part of this nation?!
think before you react…
August 4th, 2009 9:03 pm
elite din kasi si gloria kaya iba ang pananaw nya sa salitang umunlad. para sakin para syang nasa rooftop ng 50 storey na building kaya ang tingin nya sa 25cent na nasa baba ay 5pesos. gumamit lang sya ng k0nting statistics para ijustify ang claim nya. kaso di nagcocoincide sa realidad, ang masakit pa naglagay sya ng mga numbers. pero d naman sya masisisi kasi sona nya nga y0n. magaling sya kaso mahilig syang magsinungaling. atakihen nyo na aq he
August 4th, 2009 9:15 pm
elite din s gloria kaya iba ang pananaw nya ng pagunlad. para skn para syang nasa rooftop ng 50storey n building kaya di nya makita yung mga langgam na naghihirap. ginamitan lang ng statistics para majustify ang claims nya kaso d nagc0coincide sa realidad ang masama gumamit pa sya ng mga numbers. hindi naman masama magsb ng achievements basta wag lang magyabang. kahit sinu pang presidente kung sa mga elite din lang manggagaling eh wala ng pag asa
August 5th, 2009 8:01 pm
PUNKS I2N C GLORIA
KURAKOT NG BANSA
^_^
August 6th, 2009 12:19 pm
ahh… bkt b tuwing my SONA.. my assignment din
August 6th, 2009 9:35 pm
kainis ng SONAng yan! 2loy, may pinapagawang reaction paper ang aming magaling na teacher!!!! hmp. minimum of 10 pages. ano ba yan!
August 7th, 2009 4:32 pm
walang mangyayaring maganda sa pilipinas kung sa bwat may mali kay Pres.Gloria nten isisisi..!.. tayo mismo may magagawa!.. u’re not qualified to critic or even judge our president..! masyado kayong abuso!.. kalapastanganan na ang gingwa ng iba.. if u wer Pres. Gloria do u think u can be a strong as her? dat despyt of all negativity she remains strong and really trying na mapaunlad at mabago ang dating kalagayan ng ating bansa. kung talagang concern ang mga critiko sa bansa or even a simple filipino, let do something gud w/o ur own interest, maybe kaya kayo nagagalit sa presdente dahil hindi kayo nkikinabang.. ryt? lyf is wat u make it!! ksalanan ba ng presidente ang pagiging irresponsible ng mga Filipino? ang pagiging wlang disiplina?.. let say, sa trabaho: der’s a mismatch btween sa qualified applicnts at sa job. kaya di nia ksalanan kung bkit un iba wala trabaho!. ikw mismo ang gumgawa ng buhay m!. nwei, let just thank her for being strong. cn’t u just imagine kung ganu khrap igovern ang mga Filipino?
August 9th, 2009 3:36 pm
SUPERCALIFRAGILISTICEXPIALIDOSCIOUS!!!!!DAPAT WALA NA TLAGANG SONA PARA WALA NA RING REACTION PAPER!!! NAKAKATAMAD KAYANG GUMAWA…MINIMUM OF 3 PAGES PA NMAN DIN…..MGPOSE NGA FEU NG COMMENTS NYO!!! HAHA!! UNG MATINO HAH PRA ME MAILAGAY KMI!!! ARIGATO GUSAIMAS!!!!
August 9th, 2009 4:16 pm
hmmmp… let’s see,, kung akong tatanungin, hindi sona ang ginawa ni gma kundi pambabatikos niya sa kanyang mga kritiko. gaya nga ng inaasahan, ibinida nanaman niya ang mga nagawa niya at ito nmang mga kaalyado niya,,, ang paplastik!!!! natabunan ng palakpak ang mga palpak!!!!!
August 9th, 2009 10:54 pm
maraming mayaman ang against sa adminitrasyong gloria at maraming namang mahihirap ang sumusuporta kay gloria.
the problem with people is that they are so negative and exaggerate in giving response to the extent that they do not even try to listen and so they could understand a situation, basta asar sila, asar lang talaga sila but are they even thinking or once reflected if they themselves have been doing their part as a citizen?
one thing more is that we kept on accusing someone and act as if this is a fact but without proof. comparable to exaggerate chismosas on the streets, ugaling kalye.
why not put your foot on the others’ shoes? i mean kung ikaw naman ang nasa kanyang sitwasyon who are you by that time?
her case has been the same with Marcos, in fact the only problem in Marcos is that he cannot discipline his wife from being psychotic (i mean shopaholic, this is an abnormality caused by depression). i can’t say they aren’t corrupt but neither i can say they are, because i think Imelda in her exile in America, just got so depressed of what Filipinos have done to them so she used part of the people’s money as a form of vengeance. if i were her i would do the same. idiniin sila ng kapwa politica at yaong katiwala mismo pa para lang maangat sila sa posisyon. idiniin sila ng american government sa takot na baka silay masapawan, shame for what you call a state of power na mahihigitan lang ng bansang kaninlang sinakop.
the couple are very good example of leaders and i support them.
oh i have some stories about their treasure/ and top secrets(projects) and it would be interesting. facts but delicate matters, interested? cconyap@yahoo.com
i suppose it would be better if we just stay calm and just do our very parts instead of getting busy criticizing everybody. such things will just make people expect and worsen things, its a waste of time, money, ect. instead of cooperating. things will not change we are going to be stocked up in same situation. if we are not satisfied with what is in there, then start change it with everyone, so you can prove what you could do better by yourself, make your own business.
hindi ko sinasabing sumosoporta ako kay GMA dahil minsan ay naging isa rin ako sa inyo, sa chismis na walang proweba ay naniniwala. inis din ako sa kanya noon pero i reflected, what have i done that will prove my being functional citizen? she leads and works for the whole nation while i head my own self alone. i do not know what she has been doing, and that she just doesn’t have to shout out to the whole world she has done something like this and that… but sometimes she just have to talk to defend herself from unproven accusations.
people do the same things partially promote themselves in both non/bias way.
politicians do as well one cannot say there mustn’t be corrupt in position cause it their nature. almost everyone of them does it. in the Philippines this is very powerful.
i need to learn more, but learning doesn’t let me understand all until i soon will have the chance to perform by myself.
i admit i just more time to understand better.
August 12th, 2009 12:28 am
EWAN KO BA!!! BASTA AKO.. MAGAARAL NA LANG AKO NG TODO-TODO. JUST FOR THE SAKE OF MYSELF AND MY FAMILY.
WLA RIN NMN MANGYAYARI KUNG MURAHIN KO YAN. AT MAGALIT AKO SA KNYA.. WELL. FACTS MAN OR TRUTHS. ANUNG MAGAGAWA KO?
NEH, BUMOTO NGA HINDI PA AKO PWEDE..
KAYA KUNG AKO SA INYO PEEPS.. IMPROVE YOUR LIFE NA LNG.. BE CLOSE TO GOD, AND HAVE FAITH NA AT THE END OF THE DAY MAY SOMEONE WHO WILL RULE OVER US TO ADMINISTER OUR IDEALS AND ASPIRATIONS (PREAMBLE??) HAHA!
SABI NGA NI JESUS EH.. “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” JEREMIAH 29:11..
KAYA KAYA NATIN TOH!!… WOOO!!… GRABE.. GUTOM NA AKO.. ANU KAYA ULAM..