Noynoy Aquino's last SONA

Updated Monday July 27, 2015

MANILA, Philippines - Malacañang on Monday released the full text of President Benigno Aquino III's sixth State of the Nation Address (SONA), which he again delivered in Filipino.The address lasted for two hours and 12 minutes, making it the longest SONA of his presidency.

These are some of the highlights of Aquino’s 2015 SONA:

1. Improved tax collection. Taxes are fees charged by the government on incomes, products, and certain activities. The money is used to pay for government projects such as the maintenance of roads and other public infrastructure.

“In 2014, the [tax collected by the Bureau of Internal Revenue]

went up to P1.3 trillion; this 2015, we will collect up to P1.5 trillion,”

2. Improved economy and higher credit rating. A credit rating given to a country measures how credit-worthy it is—or how high the risk is that it will default on its debts. When a country reaches investment grade rating, it means it is deemed a low risk for investors. The Philippines first received an investment grade rating in 2013.

3. Fewer jobless Filipinos. The unemployment rate refers to the number of people in a certain country who are jobless.

“Our unemployment rate dropped to 6.8% last year. This is the lowest recorded in a decade,” Aquino said.

He also noted that there were fewer labor strikes during his administration. “In the previous administration, number of strikes that occurred were 199. In our five years in office, total strikes were only 15,” he said.

4. Over 4 million Filipinos benefited from the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps). The 4Ps is a government program that provides the poorest Filipinos with funds and certain benefits as long as they comply with some conditions, such as sending their children to school or going to health care centers. - See more at: http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/529426/news/nation/sona-2015-a-guide-for-kids#sthash.qQoSrCv8.dpuf

“We cannot wait for the benefits of growth to trickle down to the poorest Filipinos. Our commitment: inclusive growth,” said the President.

5. Fewer out-of-school children; the K to 12 education program. The K to 12 program revises the school cycle to include kindergarten and 12 years of basic education—six years of primary education plus four years of junior high school and two years of senior high school.

In his speech, Aquino said the government has been able to cut the number of out-of-school youth: from 2.9 million in 2008 to 1.2 million in 2013.

He also talked about the K-to-12 program, which has not been happily received by everyone but which Aquino said is preferable to the current 10-year cycle.

“We implemented K to 12 because it is not practical to cram learning in a 10-year basic education cycle,” he said.

6. Free hospital treatment for the “poorest 40 percent.” If you or your family do not earn enough to live adequately and meet your basic needs, then you are considered to be living in poverty. The international poverty line or poverty threshold is US$1.25 per day (about P56.94). 

“Beginning in 2014, for the poorest 40 percent of the population, treatment in public hospitals is free,” Aquino said.

7. Upgrading of transport systems. Most people commute to work or to school, and many of us use the MRT and the LRT. When these transport systems break down, we are affected: we end up waiting in long lines, or walking the rails when a train stops between stations, or late to school or our appointments.

Aquino again pointed to previous administrations. “In 2008, there should have been an overhaul of the MRT. It was discovered that token cosmetic changes were undertaken,” he said.

Source: http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/529426/news/nation/sona-2015-a-guide-for-kids