Fourth State of the Nation Address
of President Rodrigo Duterte
Duterte (center) delivers his State of the Nation Address
DateJuly 22, 2019 (2019-07-22)
Duration1 hour and 33 minutes
VenueSession Hall, Batasang Pambansa Complex
LocationQuezon City, Philippines
ParticipantsRodrigo Duterte
Tito Sotto
Alan Peter Cayetano
LanguageEnglish & Filipino (Taglish)
Previous2018 State of the Nation Address
Next2020 State of the Nation Address

The 2019 State of the Nation Address was the fourth State of the Nation Address delivered by President Rodrigo Duterte.[1][2][3]

Preparations

The House of Representatives has allocated a budget of ₱4.7 million for the State of the Nation Address with about 1,500 people invited for the event.[4] Weavers displaced by the Battle of Marawi also prepared a balod or traditional Maranao drape which was used as a backdrop for President Rodrigo Duterte for his speech.[5]

Film director, Joyce Bernal was commissioned to be involved in the coverage of the speech.[6]

Address content and delivery

In the program took 1 hour and 33 minutes,[7] Duterte spoke about corruption and the economy. He urged the Congress to pass 18 bills. This includes measures involving the reinstatement of death penalty for heinous crimes such as involvement in the illegal drug trade and plunder, the creation of a National Academy of Sports for high school students, a Magna Carta for barangays, and the postponement of the 2020 barangay elections.[8]

Duterte also threatened to close Land Bank if they don't come up with a plan for farmers by the end of July 2019. The president felt that the bank has strayed from its intended purposes of being a bank for farmers lamenting that it has been "mired in so many commercial transactions."[9]

The Philippines' policy towards China and the South China Sea dispute was also a subject of the speech. Duterte defended his foreign policy amidst accusation of treason. He insisted on having negotiations with the Chinese and stated that the Philippine military don't stand a chance against their Chinese counterparts in an event of a war. He also said that he has allowed the Chinese to fish in the disputed territory saying that countries around the South China Sea has traditional fishing rights.[10] However Duterte has vowed to push for the Philippine claim in the area in due time.[11]

Gallery

References

  1. ^ "Duterte's State of the Nation Address 2019". The Philippine Star. Retrieved 22 July 2019.
  2. ^ "The 'cinemafication' of Duterte's State of the Nation Address". Rappler. Retrieved 22 July 2019.
  3. ^ "House of Representatives opens session ahead of Sona 2019". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved 22 July 2019.
  4. ^ "Duterte's SONA 2019 will be P200K cheaper". The Philippine Star. 14 July 2019. Retrieved 22 July 2019.
  5. ^ "Duterte's SONA wall decor made by weavers displaced by Marawi siege". The Philippine Star. 22 July 2019. Retrieved 23 July 2019.
  6. ^ "Joyce Bernal is directing Duterte's 4th SONA". Rappler. 26 June 2019. Retrieved 22 July 2019.
  7. ^ "2019 State of the Nation Address duration". The Philippine Star. Retrieved 22 July 2019.
  8. ^ "Duterte asks Congress to approve 18 Sona bills". BusinessMirror. 23 July 2019. Retrieved 23 July 2019.
  9. ^ Cordero, Ted (23 July 2019). "LandBank to heed Duterte's order". GMA News. Retrieved 23 July 2019.
  10. ^ "SONA 2019 briefer: Things Duterte said about China, South China Sea". InterAksyon. 22 July 2019. Retrieved 23 July 2019.
  11. ^ Merez, Arianne (22 July 2019). "Duterte vows to fight for West PH Sea rights 'in due time'". ABS-CBN News. Retrieved 23 July 2019.


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