ILOILO City – Lawmakers in Iloilo will physically attend, or else monitor online, President Rodrigo Duterte’s sixth and final State of the Nation Address (SONA) at the Batasang Pambansa this afternoon.
Iloilo 3rd District’s Cong. Lorenz Defensor, who serves as deputy majority leader, confirmed his attendance.
Asked by Panay News about his expectations, Defensor said Filipinos may be hearing Duterte’s accomplishments in the past five years as well as “sabton ‘ya man ang kon ano nga issue sa administration nga wala ya natuman.”
Defensor is also expecting Duterte to clarify his plans for the May 2022 elections.
“Kinahanglan ‘ya nga maathag ang plano sa palabuton nga tuig kay ginapaabot nga posible sia or iya nga bata nga si Mayor Sara (Duterte-Carpio) basi madalagan (as President),” added Defensor.
Defensor said he wasn’t sure if Duterte would make mention of his big projects in Western Visayas.
Second District’s Cong. Michael Gorriceta, meanwhile, will attend virtually.
“I am interested to hear about the government’s COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019) pandemic response especially with the new variants detected,” Gorriceta told Panay News.
He also expects the President to give an update on the government’s COVID-19 vaccination program “kay damo na ang willing magpa-vaccine.”
Duterte may also mention developments regarding the West Philippine Sea, Gorriceta added.
Sisters-in-law Iloilo 1st District’s Cong. Janette Garin and AAMBIS-OWWA’s Cong. Sharon Garin also confirmed their attendance.
Fifth District’s Cong. Raul Tupas, on the other hand, told Panay News he would monitor the SONA via online platforms.
Panay News was not able to reach Cong. Braeden John Biron of the 4th District.
For her part, Iloilo City’s Cong. Julienne Baronda said she would physically attend the SONA.
WV GUVS TO MONITOR ONLINE
Iloilo’s Gov. Arthur Defensor Jr. said he would attend the SONA via Zoom.
He also mentioned some of Duterte’s projects in the province, particularly the Dumangas Port and connectivity projects.
“Ang Dumangas port daku ‘na nga bagay sa aton. You cannot have an investment-attractive environment if you don’t have a port,” said Defensor.
The governor also cited the fund from the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) being allocated to the Barangay Development Program (BDP).
Governors Rhodora Cadiao of Antique and Esteban Contreras of Capiz also confirmed they will monitor the SONA online.
Last year, Duterte’s SONA earned various reactions from local chief executives, critics and the public./PN
