#AnimatED: Duterte’s first State of the Nation Address

Today, President Duterte delivers his first State of the Nation Address (SONA), basking in the afterglow of our country’s historic international legal victory versus China and his record-high trust rating.

He is also riding on the crest of a fast-growing economy, bequeathed by the Aquino administration.

But the reckless killings of hundreds of suspected drug users and traffickers, which have captured global attention, cast a dark shadow on the President.

It is within this paradox that Duterte speaks to the nation: the Philippines fought for the rule of law before an international body but violates it within the country’s borders.

Still, the SONA, a constitutional duty, is an awaited yearly premier ritual. It is the only time when the 3 branches of government gather in one place – both houses of Congress, Supreme Court justices, and the President with his Cabinet members.

The heart of the ceremony is the President’s speech, where he outlines his legislative agenda and asks the support of Congress to make this a reality. The President also addresses the public to let us know what lies ahead in his 6-year term in office.

In delivering speeches, Duterte is not known for lofty rhetoric nor an uplifting style. Rather, he goes for bold claims and pronouncements, especially in fighting drugs and criminality.

But the SONA shows that the President cannot impose or dictate on Congress, that the principle of check and balance is embedded into the DNA of our democracy. Beyond the pageantry of the SONA lies the reminder that the President has to work with a co-equal branch, that this is how our democracy works.

Duterte may have it easy as today’s Congress is no different from past ones. Majority of the House of Representatives members have already allied themselves with the President. As such, Duterte can expect his priority bills to pass.

These include re-introducing the death penalty, lowering the age of criminal liability, and convening a constitutional convention, as incoming Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez has announced.

We have yet to hear his thoughts on equally important issues:

• How will Congress help move the President’s 10-point agenda forward?
• How will the cash conditional transfer program, a major anti-poverty program, be improved?
• Where will the funds for the promised salary increases of policemen come from? Budget Secretary Benjamin Diokno has said that this is not likely to happen yet and may take at least 5 years.
• Where will the funds for the promised increase in SSS pension come from?
• Will he ask Congress for emergency powers to fix the gargantuan traffic problem in Metro Manila?

Mr. President, we await your illumination. – Rappler.com