IPs and the Sona: Benign neglect
By: Rina Jimenez-David, Philippine Daily Inquirer
July 26, 2012

The President’s State of the Nation Address could have been three hours long (it lasted an hour-and-a-half, his longest Sona so far) and still there would have been disgruntled groups unhappy at their exclusion from this speech.

This is because the speech is meant to be a year-end “report card” on the administration’s accomplishments, as well as a “road map” on where it wants to go in the near-future, preferably with help from the legislature by way of passing priority bills.

The common belief is that a mention in the Sona is a sign of the President’s high approval (note the smiles on the faces of the Cabinet members he had singled out by name), or the high priority that an official, person, group or sector will receive in the future. By this yardstick, I would think police and military personnel have good reason to look forward to more “goodies” (housing, rising salaries, guns and weaponry) from the P-Noy government.

But what if the President neglected to mention you at all? What is that a sign of? Does it mean he takes you for granted, or is truly unhappy with your performance, believing silence is the better part of discretion? Or does it mean you or your sector simply don’t register on P-Noy’s radar? That among the vast range of the President’s concerns, you hardly register a blip or a nod of acknowledgment?

Read full article @ opinion.inquirer.net

Human Rights Online Philippines does not hold copyright over these materials. Author/s and original source/s of information are retained including the URL contained within the tagline and byline of the articles, news information, photos etc.