2015 State of the Nation Address (Philippines)
| Date | July 27, 2015 |
|---|---|
| Duration | 2 hours and 13 minutes |
| Venue | Session Hall, Batasang Pambansa |
| Location | Quezon City, Philippines |
| Participants | Benigno Aquino III |
| Language | Filipino |
The 2015 State of the Nation Address is the sixth and last State of the Nation Address made by President Benigno Aquino III.
Two former president of the Philippines, Joseph Estrada and Fidel Ramos were among the attendees of the SONA.
The speech was the longest of State of the Nation Address in recent Philippine history upon its completion at 2 hours and 13 minutes. He discussed the list of priority bills set at least until 2016, attributed his problems to his predecessor, and thanked his cabinet and all other people who assisted him. His policy of "Daang Matuwid" (Straight Path) is also the centerpiece of his speech. He used videos to supplement his speech.
Aquino blamed the issues experienced by the MRT-3 Metro Rail Transit Corporation, the private corporation tasked to managed elevated rail system. According to Aquino, the contract between the government and the company and a series of temporary restraining orders and arbitration was the reason for the lack of improvement of the rail system. He encouraged the much-criticized Department of Transportation and Communication secretary, Jun Abaya and told him not to lose heart over his critics and praised him for his accomplishments. He highlighted the granting of Category One rating from the United States Federal Aviation Agency, which enables local carrier to create flight routes with locations in the United States and the lifting of a ban over local carriers by the European Union to make flights to its member countries.
He called on for the passage of the Bangsamoro Basic Law and an anti-dynasty bill. He obliged critics of the Bangsamoro bill to come up with an alternative.
Aquino thanked his current cabinet, and some former department secretaries which includes Energy Secretary Jericho Petilla and the late Interior Secretary Jesse Robredo. He also thanked his personal secretaries, close-in assistants, stylists and household manager. One of the notable omission was Vice President Jejomar Binay whom he didn't extend gratitude.
In a speech made at the Cavite State University which he brands as the "true State of the Nation Address", Vice President Jejomar Binay elaborated what he thinks the problems the Aquino administration did not address which includes the poverty, unemployment, issues at the MRT, and how certain disasters and incidents are dealt and managed specifically the 2010 Manila hostage crisis, Typhoon Haiyan, 2013 Zamboanga City crisis and the Mamasapano clash. He specifically noted the President's omission of the SAF 44 in Aquino's SONA and criticized Aquino for it.
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