‘GMA’s SONA to offer hope’

President Arroyo will offer hope to Filipinos and galvanize them into action against rising food and fuel prices when she delivers her eighth State of the Nation Address (SONA) before a joint session of Congress today, Malacañang said yesterday.

In separate interviews, Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita and Press Secretary Jesus Dureza said Mrs. Arroyo would enumerate the accomplishments of her administration and assure the nation that neither her low ratings nor the economic downturn will distract her from pursuing reforms.

“The numerous accomplishments that the President will enumerate are not just based on reports given to her office but those that she personally verified and validated, these are accomplishments that she personally visited,” Dureza said.

Ermita said Mrs. Arroyo would point out in her SONA that the current oil and food crises are worse than that 1997 Asian currency crisis.

She will show that the country fares better compared with its neighbors and its growth continues, he added.

Ermita said Mrs. Arroyo would also justify the need to continue the value-added tax (VAT).

She will cite the favorable ratings the country has been obtaining from credit rating agencies and other financial institutions since the VAT was implemented three years ago, he added.

Presidential Management Staff chief Cerge Remonde said Mrs. Arroyo will also present during her SONA Filipino heroes and other success stories to “put a face” to the successes of the administration’s programs.

“They are living and actual examples of good news and hope,” he said.  

Mrs. Arroyo will present a public utility driver whose earnings increased because of the government’s campaign against corrupt cops, as well as a farmer and a fisherman as examples of the administration’s success on land reform and agriculture, Remonde said.

Deputy Presidential Spokesman Anthony Golez said Mrs. Arroyo would present 13-year old Rodney Berdin, who saved his entire family from drowning at the height of typhoon “Frank” in Antique, and other individuals in her SONA today.

“The President wants to show that each of us Filipinos can become beacons of hope and heroism for our families, communities and the entire country,” he said.

“Each Filipino is capable of heroic acts no matter our station in life.”

Golez said the family’s house was washed away when the Sibalong River overflowed at 7 a.m. on June 21.

His 40-year old mother and two younger sisters aged seven and three accompanied Berdin to Malacañang.

Dureza said Mrs. Arroyo has been going around the country to check on the status of various infrastructure projects, while giving aid and livelihood to poor families hit by the rising prices of food and fuel.

Remonde said Mrs. Arroyo made a final rehearsal of her SONA Saturday night that lasted until past 1 a.m.

With her was close adviser Lupita Kashiwahara and Remonde.

During breaks, she would check on the progress of the Cabinet security cluster meeting on the latest impasse on the peace negotiations with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front.

At noon yesterday, Mrs. Arroyo visited the Jatropha meganursery and plantation in Fort Magsaysay in Nueva Ecija.

Erap to hold own SONA

Ousted President Joseph Estrada plans to deliver his own state of the nation address to contradict Mrs. Arroyo’s speech before Congress.

However, Lito Anzures, United Opposition (UNO) political adviser, cannot say if Estrada would deliver his SONA today, Monday, or some other day.

“President Estrada will definitely deliver his own counter SONA,” he said.

“We don’t know yet whether he would say it tomorrow (Monday) or some other day. We cannot also say where he is going to deliver it whether in Tondo or some other place.

“In fact we are still awaiting an announcement from Mr. President Estrada himself, when and where he will deliver his counter SONA.”

Speaking at the Balitaan sa Tinapayan in Sampaloc, Manila, Anzures said Makati Mayor Jejomar Binay, UNO president will would give the floor to Estrada in countering Mrs. Arroyo’s SONA.

“President Estrada is the chairman of UNO, and we will give the floor to him as to the official statement of the UNO in response to Mrs. Arroyo’s SONA.”

Anzures said Estrada would  visit Tondo in Manila instead of going to the House of Representatives today.

“Mr. President would like to spend the day with the poor,” he said.

Anzures said that the business community is very disappointed with the present administration.

“Before only the poor and the middle class are the ones who are vocal of their grievances and disappointment in this administration, but even the business community is also not happy,” he said.   

The UNO claimed that 5,000 people belonging to the opposition are joining protest actions in Quezon City today. — With Sandy Araneta