Research and analysis

Philippines: President's state of the nation address - August 2014

Published 7 August 2014

This research and analysis was withdrawn on

This publication was archived on 4 July 2016

This article is no longer current. Please refer to Overseas Business Risk – Philippines

This publication was archived on 4 July 2016

This article is no longer current. Please refer to Overseas Business Risk – Philippines

Detail

Aquino emphasised how economic growth has shot up over the course of his term. While pointing out clear successes, like the high rating for sovereign debt and rising revenue collections, he also highlighted the impact of specific programmes, for example, how his support for vocational education and the continued implementation of the conditional cash transfer programme had helped ease the burden on poor families.

Government spending on infrastructure more than doubled from 2011 and Aquino argued that his administration did not have to raise taxes to do this. More than 12,000 kilometres of national roads were built during his term. He also lauded the progress his Government has made in public-private partnership programmes. While lower than had initially been promised, he noted that he had still started more projects than previous administrations.

Aquino praised his Cabinet for their coordinated efforts in the aftermath of Typhoon Haiyan. He said the relief operations achieved in eight months what had previously been considered a year’s worth of work even though some survivors remain in tented shelters to this day. Aquino, however, also called for more patience, citing the time it took for Louisiana and Haiti to recover after they were hit by hurricanes and earthquakes. His only acknowledgement of international issues was to thank those who aided the victims of the Typhoon.

There was a conspicuous shift in message from last year’s SONA, when Aquino touted the Philippines as on track to achieving rice self sufficiency. This time, Aquino blamed rice hoarders for the rising rice prices and acknowledged economic reality by promising to import more rice in order to lower prices. With the birth only last Sunday of the symbolic 100th million Filipino and some projections suggesting the population will reach 142 million by 2045, food security is a real issue. He made no reference to the issue of power cuts.

Aquino started his speech by citing the benefits of the government’s programs, which were funded through the controversial Disbursement Acceleration Programme (DAP). Aquino urged Congress to approve a supplemental budget to fund projects under the DAP and to pass a joint resolution clarifying unconstitutional features in the programme.

Aquino urged voters to choose a successor who would carry on the transformation he started, and talked in broad terms about his legacy in reforming the country and restoring public trust.

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