By Genalyn Kabiling
The government's campaign against illegal drugs and corruption as well as the federalism drive will likely be among the highlights of President Duterte's upcoming State of the Nation Address (SONA).
President Rodrigo Roa Duterte (RICHARD MADELO/PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO / MANILA BULLETIN)
Preparations for the President's national address have started with plans to limit the prepared speech to less than 35 minutes.
According to Roque, the President will ask Congress to support the proposed shift to a federal form of government by amending the Constitution during his SONA.
"Sigurado po ako na magkakaroon ng diskurso iyan tungkol sa federalism at iyong hinihingi niyang transitory provision sa Kongreso. Ito na po iyong pagkakataon niya na kausapin talaga iyong Kongreso para tumulong para sa charter change papuntang pederalismo ," Roque said in a radio interview last Thursday.
"I’m sure po magiging malakas ang apela ng ating Pangulo para diyan sa Charter change na iyan ," he added.
The President is also expected to dwell on his efforts to combat illegal drug trade and weed out corrupt public servants in the bureaucracy.
"Iyung kanyang kampanya laban sa korapsiyon at kampanya laban sa droga, sigurado po ako eh nandoon pa rin sa kaniyang talumpati – na sabi niya ‘no, ang pangako niya, babasahin niya at hindi lalampas ng tatlumpu’t limang minuto ," Roque said.
He said Duterte intends to give the "big picture" about the country's current condition and how he envisions the Philippines by the end of his term.
he said the President might also highlight a few government achievements but would not focus on the "facts and figures," which were already given by concerned Cabinet members during the pre-SONA briefings.
“Siguro ito na iyong talagang honest assessment ni Pangulo, kung ano talaga ang nagawa niya bukod pa doon sa facts and figures na dapat naman i-report ng mga Gabinete, saka iyong mga saloobin na niya ," he said.
"I’m sure mayroon pa rin iyan, iyong mga… kumbaga iyong kabuuang picture, kung anong klaseng gusto niyang magkaroon ng imprastraktura at anong klaseng gusto niyang pisikal na anyo ng Pilipinas bago siya matapos ng kaniyang termino ," he said, when asked if the President will talk about infrastructure development and economic growth.
He noted that since the President would read a prepared speech, there would be a rehearsal ahead of the main event.
"Siguro naman hindi magagalit ang Presidente kung sasabihin ko na magkakaroon pa nga ng rehearsal siya ," he added.
Roque said they actually started preparing for the President's SONA four months ago, initially with the gathering of accomplishment reports from Cabinet members.
He said his office has already established a catalogue of the administration's achievements based on the reports submitted by various Cabinet clusters.
"Kami talaga iyong documentation ng accomplishments, at dahil mayroon na ngang pre-SONA, mayroon pa kaming parang catalogue ng mga accomplishments. Tingin ko po iyong mas malawakan at iyong mas personal na mga pananaw ni Presidente ang lalabas sa kaniyang SONA ," he said.