Republic of the Philippines

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
Region 1
Division of La Union
REGIONAL SCIENCE HIGH SCHOOL FOR REGION I
Bangar, La Union

STATE OF THE NATION ADDRESS

Reaction Paper

BRITNEY HUANG WEIAI

MAGDALENA PAZ LAZO

July 24, 2017, the State of the Nation Address of 2017 was delivered by our very own President
Rodrigo Roa Duterte at the Batasang Pambansa Complex, Quezon City. And on that day, another
encouraging speech was shared to us to internalize and understand what our country needs for the
betterment of it. But of course, not all of us agreed to our president’s speech. There will be some who
are in the opposition side.

President Duterte is well known with his colourful tirades as started his speech with a joke about
absences and showcased his mastery of public speaking through his no-holds-barred SONA featuring a
fiery statements from the former Mayor of Davao City.

The President stated on the first few parts of his speech about the promise he made during the
campaign period to bring about change: change in government, not a change that is being passing but a
change that can survive the test of time. And yes nowadays, CHANGE really came to our country
because of him which he proved that change had to start with those occupying the highest positions in
government because changes that comes from below is more transitory than permanent. And what our
country really needs is the change that is permanent to be able to achieve the desired developments.
And of course it is true that this change must first start in the people’s attitude, disposition and work
ethic because we will not be able to achieve change if we, ourselves cannot do it in our own part.

The former Mayor of Davao City also reiterated his continued and relentless war against illegal
drugs and noted that he do not intend to loosen the leash in the campaign against illegal drugs or lose
the fight, neither he intent to preside over the destruction of the Filipino youth by being timid and
tentative in his decisions and actions. Since from the first day of his presidency up to now, this war is
really one of the change he have made to our country. Many of the Filipinos who are being killed
because of using illegal drugs. And it is a positive change to us but there are some citizens who are
being killed because of the accusations that these citizens were judged to be a user without proving it.
In this said war on drugs, it must be proven first that a certain citizen is really using illegal drugs before
he or she will be in prisoned in order to give justice to whom who are only accused.

The peace and order situations in Mindanao with the emergence of ISIS and continued attacks of
the rebel groups was discussed. And as a President, President Duterte must really persist in the goals of
the admiration in order for the attainable of peace up to the last day of his administration and even
beyond although in different capacity for us Filipinos to live in a peaceful and warless country. On the
other hand, the declaration of martial law in Mindanao is also believed to be the fastest way to quell the
rebellion at the least cost of lives and properties. Maybe it is true that the said law is the fastest way to
stop the quell because it can add up the safeness of the residents in Mindanao. And the reiteration of
the unwavering support and commitment to the soldiers of the Arned Forces and the members of the
Police Force, is also a justice for the families of those who are one of the forces.

President Duterte also appeals to the legislators to immediately pass the National Land Use Act or
NALUA to ensure the rational and sustainable use of our land and our physical resources, given the
competing needs of food security, housing, businesses and environmental conservation. Factories and
manufacturing establishments in the Philippines must be put up by the industrialists, investors and
commercial barons in order to process our raw materials into finished products.

Mining operations and contractors was also warned to refrain from the irresponsible destruction of
our watersheds, forests and aquatic resources and noted that the president is holding all mining
companies and its officials responsible for the full and quick clean-up, restoration and rehabilitation
areas damaged by mining activities and the extension of necessary support to the communities that
have suffered mining’s disastrous effects on their health, livelihood, and environment among others. And
it is good that these were reiterated because our environment is now degrading and needs an urgent
care because of harmful activities of humankinds which also have several effects on us and in the end,
we are the one who will suffer from what we have done. So the warning of the president to the mining
companies to restore the environment and the increase of their taxes is a great threat to give
importance to our nature.

The president also discussed the administration’s proposed 2018 national budget, worth P3.767-
trillion on the day of the SONA itself with the biggest budget allotted for education, infrastructure
development and health care. It is really the biggest budget allotted for those because it was the
important for us Filipinos to have a good education, infrastructures to use and proper health care. The
discussion of the budget is also a must so that soma Filipinos will have no doubts on it.

The discussion of the adverse effects of climate change was also brought out. The preparation for
some major calamities must be emphasized for us to be ready like the “Big One” with a magnitude 7.2
earthquake which could be generated by the West Valley Fault.

The reimplementation of the Presidents’ Death Penalty was a great rumors of Filipinos. For me, it is
somewhat good to stop the criminalities in our country and somewhat bad for the sake of the accused
ones because they could not be able to defend themselves for not doing anything. People change.
Maybe criminals also deserve a second chance to realize what they have done. It is also enough for
them to stay in jails and rehabilitation centers for a span of several years to pay for their sins and
change for their families. But if that span of several years is not really enough for them, maybe they are
worth penalizing for.

Our president also noted that he will never tolerate corruption in his administration which is really a
must for an official because a leader must not be the one who will lead that corruption acts but must be
the one to be a role model for the country. Why would be a leader to use the government’s money for
his or her own good if he or she has his or her own salary for being an official? That’s why there is a
salary for everyone to use for his or her sake. But it is good that our own President is not a corrupt one.

The announcement of the president about the smoking ban must be pursued for the good health of
the Filipinos. So it must be tolerated by us because it is for our own sake specially on our health if we
want to live longer than we want.

Today we are now facing a multitude of problems but despite all of these, we Filipinos must not be
disheartened and lose our hopes because we will not be cowed and we will not be overwhelmed. It is
during trying times and troubled events that the resilience, perseverance and determination of the
people are tested. And I believe that someday under the administration of President Rodrigo Duterte, we
will totally live peacefully and a positive change will be completely achieved.