Noy view at SONA, but want him to set PH direction

By: Lira Dalangin-Fernandez, InterAksyon.com


FILE PHOTO OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES BY BERNARD TESTA

InterAksyon.com
The online news portal of TV5

MANILA, Philippines -- Members of the House of Representatives await what President Benigno Aquino III will say about the controversial Disbursement Acceleration Program (DAP) in his State of the Nation Address (SONA), but added that the chief executive should focus more on concrete programs to move the country forward.

"Being the custodian of these funds (DAP) and the implementor of the tainted projects, he is under obligation to explain himself and account for the use of these funds," Abakada partylist Representative Jonathan dela Cruz said.

Dela Cruz, a member of the independent-minority bloc, said that the President in his SONA on July 28 should also "advise his bosses on what lessons he and the public can learn from these misadventures," adding that "he cannot escape responsibility at all."

Ifugao Representative Teodoro Baguilat Jr. said the President can reiterate that it was with good intention that he authorized the creation of the DAP, which sourced funds from savings and unobligated allocations from the budget.

The Supreme Court recently ruled that the program was unconstitutional. Several groups are poising to move for Aquino's impeachment for authorizing the DAP.

"It's good enough to say that it was with good intention that he did it, but not to defend it. I think that in this issue, no matter how hard you explain it, you cannot win," Baguilat said.

Baguilat, a member of the administration party, Liberal Party, said that SONA should be more on direction-setting and laying out plans for the last two years of the Aquino administration.

Valenzuela Representative Sherwin Gatchalian said the President should address the DAP issue ahead of the SONA.

"This noise is not healthy for all of us. I think it should be addressed before SONA," he said.

Gatchalian, a member of the Nationalist People's Coalition (NPC), said the President should focus on the country's direction in his SONA.

"The SONA is meant to steer the country where it should be headed...I don't think it's meant (as a venue) to defend yourself," he added.

Navotas Representative Toby Tiangco said the Aquino administration should not waste its time defending the DAP.

"The Supreme Court has spoken. They just have to follow. If they have more to say, then they just have to file a motion for reconsideration, and the Supreme Court is the proper venue, not the SONA," Tiangco, secretary general of the United Nationalist Alliance (UNA).

However, Tiangco said that if the President wants to "preach to the choir and an applause is what he wants, then the SONA will give him that satisfaction."