Senate ‘Kontra Sona’ today

By PRINCE GOLEZ
Manila Reporter

MANILA — The Senate minority bloc is pushing through with its “Kontra Sona” today.

Its version of the State of the Nation Address (Sona) will tackle the government’s recovery and reconstruction efforts for super typhoon “Yolanda” victims in Visayas, said Sen. Joseph Victor Ejercito.

Ejercito also said the present situation of our agriculture and energy industries is likewise included in “Kontra Sona.”

The minority earlier verified the data that President Benigno Aquino III presented in his fifth Sona last month.

Unemployment and employment statistics need to be verified “because, probably, his Cabinet men gave the President wrong data,” Ejercito had said.

“In the Sona of the President, it seems everything is going as planned. But in reality, much more have to be done, especially in ‘Yolanda’-affected areas,” he said.

Ejercito said there is now a need for Konta Sona because it has been four years since the last “turno en contra.”

He vowed that the minority will be “responsible and constructive” in the two remaining years of the Aquino administration.

“We would want to identify the weak areas of the administration so that he (Aquino) can improve,” said Ejercito.

On Aug. 4, House minority floor leader Ronaldo Zamora and Bayan Muna Rep. Neri Colmenares delivered their Kontra Sona speeches at the House of Representatives./PN