Sona 2011 how many claps

I extend my gratitude to the members of the Cabinet, who led the government response in the affected communities. Secretary Cesar Purisima, along with Secretary Joel Villanueva of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority, organized the logistics in the repacking center, taking on the role of warehouse operator.

To our friends and neighbors around the world: Your outpouring of solidarity will never be forgotten by a grateful Filipino people. Again, on their behalf, we thank you. Today, we express once more our gratitude to all of you, and to all the Filipinos who have offered their prayers and their support, whether here, or in other parts of the world. Our work did not end there. We implemented livelihood interventions, to ensure that those of our countrymen who survived the typhoon could recover at the soonest possible time.

This July, , jobs were created after we turned over boats, fishing and farming equipment, seeds, and livestock to our countrymen.

This includes those Filipinos to whom we paid salaries for participating in the cash for work program. Perhaps everyone can agree that Yolanda left in its wake a massive problem.

According to international standards, whenever a calamity of this scale takes place, it normally takes a country one year before it transitions from relief to rehabilitation. However, in just a span of eight months, the United Nations declared the Philippines to be in the rehabilitation state. In fact, Mr. And many of us have been in many different disasters. It will indeed take a long time for any country to recover and rise from massive calamities.

In Haiti, two years after the earthquake, there are still many who live in evacuation centers. For our brothers and sisters in Indonesia, it took eight years before they recovered from the tsunami in Aceh. And even in America, it is said that it took eight years for things to return to normal after the devastation of Hurricane Katrina.

Our work is not done. There are still many houses that need to be constructed; many more of our countrymen need to be assisted in getting back on their own two feet; the work to build back better for all those affected by Yolanda continues.

It passed the scrutiny of our cabinet clusters; according to the holistic post-disaster needs assessment that was conducted, the plan encapsulates the needs of our countrymen.

This plan was formulated as a result of the dedication of Secretary Ping Lacson, whom we tasked with focusing on the challenges left by Yolanda. I am hoping for the cooperation of Congress, because a large sum is necessary in order to help our countrymen make a full recovery. Let us remember: God proposes, but man disposes. This is likewise the idea behind our efforts for disaster preparedness. We are strengthening the capabilities of our LGUs, who are the frontliners in times of disasters, through a modern and comprehensive forecasting system.

Because we can more efficiently determine when and where typhoons will affect us, today, we are able to give our LGUs sufficient warning—and thus give them ample time to prepare, and to evacuate their constituents.

If we were to add the efficiency of LGUs to our already-efficient forecasting system, then, without a doubt, countless lives can be saved. In Albay, which recently had to endure the wrath of Typhoon Glenda, there were no recorded casualties attributed to the storm, thanks to the effective leadership of Governor Joey Salceda. And if a province that is considered a highway for storms can achieve this, is there any doubt that any and all other LGUs can achieve the same?

Let us now talk about security. We are aware of the challenges our country faces, and we also know the high cost of the equipment we need. Today, I am glad to report to you the ongoing modernization of the AFP. We have acquired brand new assets, including 8 Sokol Combat Utility Helicopters, 3 AgustaWestland helicopters, and the first landing craft utility ship built right here in the country: the BRP Tagbanua. Next year, 2 out of the 12 FA lead-in fighter jets we procured will arrive in the country.

We expect the rest to be delivered in We are also targeting the acquisition of an additional 8 Bell combat utility helicopters, 2 anti-submarine helicopters, 10 more AgustaWestland helicopters, 2 light-lift aircraft, 3 medium-lift aircrafts, radar systems, all of which are brand new.

These, along with other new equipment, will boost the capacity of our Armed Forces. Meanwhile, we are expecting the delivery of 17 additional refurbished UH-1 helicopters by September of this year.

The M4 assault rifles we bought for our soldiers have likewise arrived. In the next few months, the total number of rifles that will be in the hands of our soldiers: 50, units. On top of this, through a correct and transparent procurement process and the honest management of funds, we were able to save more than 1.

I must emphasize: all these rifles are brand new and of good quality from a veteran manufacturer. Was it not true that, before, our funds were depleted in the purchase of Kevlar Helmets that were not even according to specification?

Instead of buying them from the U. There has already been a conviction over this matter. The investigation of a judge who was allegedly involved, which was ordered by the Supreme Court, has been concluded as well, and we are awaiting their verdict. We are continuing our pursuit of enemies of the state and lawless elements for the crimes they have committed. Normality and order are now returning to the 31 provinces previously troubled by the NPA. The image of our police has changed.

Proof of this are the 30 policemen, led by Inspector Charity Galvez, who repelled an estimated NPA members who stormed their precinct in Just last March, four rookie policewomen bravely exchanged fire with the Martilyo Gang in the Mall of Asia. It is indeed fortunate that we have already reached a police-to-pistol ratio, which is why these rookie policewomen were issued brand new guns.

Before, the needs of our police force went ignored; today, the state is taking care of them, and indeed, they are matching this support with efficient and upright service.

PO1 Marcelina Bantiyag: The first thing that came to my mind was to draw my gun, because I knew that they would be ready to shoot at us—we were in uniform. Call our Police Community Precinct. PO1 Marcelina Bantiyag: We caught one of the gang members.

PO1 Delia Langpawen: It was only our fourth day on the job, at that post. And then that happened. PO1 Juliet Macababbad: Every police officer needs a gun. Thankfully, they issued us a Glock 17 Generation 4. PO1 Marcelina Bantiyag: Guns are essential to us. Whatever a man can do, a woman can do just as well. PO1 Delia Langpawen: Even if we were nervous, because it was our first encounter, we were thinking of the safety of all the people that were there.

This past June, we had a succession of high-profile killings. We have already arrested some of thoseinvolved in the murders of Mayor Ernesto Balolong and businessman Richard King, and are currently following a strong lead in the murder case of race car driver Ferdinand Pastor.

Rest assured: we are seeking justice for all, and not just for a few. This is why, on top of the arrests we have already made, we continue to gather evidence against other suspects. We will hold to account all those who have committed wrongdoing. We are further strengthening ways to ensure the security of our citizens. After tripling the number of checkpoints and conducting various operations, we were able to confiscate vehicles and 29 firearms.

We have served warrants of arrest, which have resulted in the arrest of suspects. We also reinstated Oplan Katok, to ensure that the licensing of guns is limited to responsible owners.

Our policemen knocked on 28, doors for this operation. Before we implemented Operation Lambat, from January to the second week of June, the rate of murder and homicide cases in Metro Manila reached up to 31 cases a week. During the five weeks of Operation Lambat, murder and homicide cases decreased to only 22 cases per week. This is a 29 percent decrease, equivalent to nine murders prevented per week. And this is only in Metro Manila. If we are able to pass pension reform, which would enable us to gather even more funds to continue our planned purchases of equipment, then Secretary Mar Roxas will certainly be able to expand Operation Lambat, and thus make the whole country more secure.

These equipment purchases were supposed to be funded by DAP, but since they were not obligated before the Supreme Court made its decision, we now have to look for other sources of funds. Indeed, trust is the foundation of good governance: the trust that all those who were affected—or who will be affected—by typhoons will be cared for; the trust that, after each day of work, you will be able to return home safely to your families; the trust that your leaders will not take advantage of you; the trust that government will always be by your side, especially when you find yourselves at a disadvantage.

The trust that, if you do what is right, you, in turn, will receive what you deserve. The restoration of your trust in government: this is the meaning of reform. Let me give you an example: Customs, which had been sorely testing our patience these past years. It became clear to us that the solution to the problem this agency represented was a reset button.

Thus, we created a new agency to look into the processes at Customs, with an eye towards making them more efficient. We appointed a new commissioner, five new deputy commissioners, as well as 40 trustworthy individuals to implement our reforms.

We ensured that employees were recalled to their original positions—we put a stop to guards who acted like cashiers, or warehousemen who acted as examiners. Many have made sacrifices just so we can fix Customs.

Among them are officials from other departments and government agencies, who we asked to transfer to Customs because we were certain of their integrity. Who would have said yes to taking on these seemingly insurmountable challenges, and without the guarantee of success?

Some passed on promotions. Some expressed fears of being targeted by syndicates, in retaliation for the reforms. But, ultimately, they heeded our call to serve. It is only right that I take this opportunity to personally thank these officials, under the leadership of Commissioner Sunny Sevilla.

We are proving that, with righteousness and with solidarity, we can clean up an institution that has, for the longest time, been besmirched by corruption. Their collections total in the first four months of the year: billion pesos. All I can say to those who continue with their selfish, illegal practices: I already know that you are impervious to both fear and shame.

I will leave you to your conscience—if you feel any remorse for your fellowmen who have become addicted to the illegal drugs you have helped to smuggle in, or for the farmers who are being deprived of fair profit from doing honest work. As far as I am concerned: After we have gathered enough evidence against you, the Bilibid Prison is your next destination. If we are talking about reforms that have already begun to give rise to sweeping progress, we have to touch on recent developments in agrarian reform.

We know—and the law is very clear about this—that we must first determine which tracts of land can be distributed and which cannot. The trouble is, we were provided with data too insufficient to be of any help in this regard. The Cadastral Survey—which was supposed to accurately delineate the territory, and, thus, the land holdings, of every town, city, and province of the Philippines—was launched way back in Another problem is that the previous administration had distributed land that was easy enough to distribute—like government-owned land, or land already settled between the farmers and the deed-holders.

We were left with land that came with too many complications—that only spawned endless debates and legal disputes. The complicated situation in ARMM proved to be another challenge. The land in ARMM is estimated to be at 1.

I have no intention of passing on these problems to my successor, which will cause even greater complications and a standstill in agrarian reform. In , after years, the Cadastral Survey will finally be completed. This year, we will once again submit to Congress a bill extending the filing of Notices of Coverage, which could not be completed precisely because of these problems that we first needed to solve.

We are hopeful that, the moment we file that bill, Congress will pass it in the soonest possible time. If we are to speak of trust, then we cannot forget about the Bangsamoro. After a lengthy period of conflict and derailed negotiations, we were able to put trust back to the table. But this is only the beginning of the path toward widespread progress in Mindanao. Nobody can deny that the ARMM has been left behind in terms of development. We want to give equal opportunities to all Filipinos; this is why there is a need for a boost-up, so that our countrymen in the margins can catch up.

For example, in the budget we are submitting for , 5. We are currently forging the proposal for the Bangsamoro Basic Law. It is important to scrutinize each provision we lay down. To the best of our ability, we aim to advance a bill that is fair, just, and acceptable to all. If we are able to legislate the Bangsamoro Basic Law before the end of the year and conduct the necessary plebiscite, we will be able to give the Bangsamoro Transition Authority one and a half years to show positive change.

Should this be delayed, however, the period for proving that it was right to choose the path of peace will naturally be shortened. We have achieved a lot through trust—and we have no intention of breaking this trust. Your current government keeps its word. I will no longer list each of the promises we have fulfilled by treading the straight path; if I do that, we might be accused of bragging.

But of course, it would not be right for us to avoid mentioning anything, because our critics are always waiting for an opportunity to say that we have done nothing. Join me, then, in recounting some of the examples of these promises we have fulfilled: Jobs and opportunities that continue to be created for so many Filipinos.

In truth, from April to April , around 1. The inherited backlog in books, chairs, and classrooms: erased; while we are working to fulfill the new needs brought about by the implementation of K to The police-to-pistol ratio has already reached.

The modernization of the Armed Forces, currently ongoing. A just and lasting peace in Mindanao, already advancing. Growth of the economy, progressing continuously. Truly, our ambitions are now being fulfilled one by one: universal healthcare, classrooms, jobs, harbors, roads, airports, security, peace. Let us again listen to one of our Bosses:. Testimonial of Gina Lastrado, relocated member of an informal-settler family.

I am Gina Lastrado, 47 years old. I was a businesswoman back in Pasay. When typhoon Ondoy [international name, Ketsana] hit, it was terrible. If you compare our lives back in Pasay to our lives now—here, it rains, it storms, but you can sleep through a night.

Which is why I told my friends, those who stayed behind, to relocate, too. When we got here, they gave us groceries, they gave us the key to the house, then they brought us to our house. And the eighteen thousand pesos they gave us, that helped us start a new life.

Our lives are much better here. You can say that this is really our home now. Now: the problems we inherited, we have solved. The problems that are here today, we are solving. And the problems that are still on the horizon, we are preparing for. I believe; with your continued trust, we can solve all of these. Let us turn to the energy situation. We are doing everything in our power to ensure that the growing energy demand in our country is met.

In spite of this, there have been some unforeseen events, that may lead to problems in the next year. For instance, we need to make up for the shortages caused by the scheduled maintenance outages of old plants, the sudden halting of plant operations due to breakdowns, and delays in the progress of new plants.

If our use of electric fans and air conditioners in our own homes will increase due to the warm temperature, then imagine the spike in the usage of businesses and whole industries.

And it is not as if we can just go to the store and ask to buy a megawatt generator, to be installed the following day. With the defeat of the Imperial Japanese forces and the reestablishment of the Commonwealth Government in the Philippines, the Congress of the Philippines, elected in as a bicameral body, convened on June 9, This was the second time the SONA was delivered before a special session.

Furthermore, he described the conditions prevailing in the Philippines during the period of occupation and an acknowledgment of the invaluable assistance rendered by the guerrillas to the American forces in the liberation of the Philippines.

Starting in , the address was held at the reconstructed Legislative Building. Marcos on January 26, marked the start of the First Quarter Storm, a period of unrest brought about by student-led political demonstrations that took place in Manila from January to March On September 23, , President Ferdinand E. Marcos declared Martial Law.

Congress was padlocked before it was due to commence on January 22, when there was supposed to be a SONA. From onward, the SONA was delivered on the fourth Monday of July, following the provisions of the and, later, Constitutions. The only exceptions have been in , when the SONA was delivered on January 17 to commemorate the anniversary of the ratification of the Constitution and the second anniversary of the lifting of martial law, and in , when President Corazon C.

Aquino, who had declared a revolutionary government, did not deliver any SONA. With the restoration of Congress in , President Corazon C. This marked the return of the Constitutional requirement. We have been made instruments of this will. Presidents Corazon C. Aquino , Fidel V. Video courtesy of Thought Equity Motion.

List of all State of the Nation Addresses. About the Legislative Branch. Congress and the Presidency. Aquino III. First Republic — The First Philippine Republic borrowed from the European parliamentary tradition, wherein the head of state ceremonially opened sessions of the National Assembly. Smith and the U. Photo courtesy of the National Library of the Philippines.

Seen in the rostrum are Senate President Manuel L. Quezon and House Speaker Manuel Roxas. Photo courtesy of Library of Congress C. The National Assembly at the opening of the day special session on July 25, , where President Quezon addressed them in person. Shown on the right is the President delivering his message from the rostrum with Speaker Gil Montilla listening intently at his side. Bupisan, Juan S. Alano, and Enrique B. Magalina notifying Pres. Manuel L.

Quezon that the National Assembly is in session. Alzate greet each other on the way to the Session Hall. Though Aquino did not specifically mention the controversial reproductive bill RH , his speech was regarded as an indirect approval and endorsement of the measure.

He also urged Congress to approve the sin tax bill, which was eyed to generate P32 billion in revenues annually from cigarettes and alcohol. At the time, the House of Representatives had already passed the bill on final reading. Under fire over recent controversies, particularly due to his defense of the hotly-debated Disbursement Acceleration Program DAP , an emotional Aquino appealed to supporters, hit back at his critics, and reminded the public to choose somebody who will continue his reforms after his term ends in Aquino apologized for delays in the relocation program for people displaced during the siege of Zamboanga City in September , and lauded government response during the onslaught and in the aftermath of, Super Typhoon Yolanda.

He also confirmed he had approved rehabilitation plans for affected local government units — close to 8 months after the super typhoon. Aquino also boasted that his administration had awarded 7 public-private partnership projects PPPs , more than the number of projects implemented by the previous administrations.