OPPOSITION SONA: : UNO president Binay: ‘Arroyo has led nation to hunger’

OPPOSITION SONA: : UNO president Binay: ‘Arroyo has led nation to hunger’


By DJ Yap, Thea Alberto
Philippine Daily Inquirer INQUIRER.net

Posted date: July 28, 2008

MANILA, Philippines -- (UPDATE) Makati Mayor Jejomar Binay on Monday said the “misguided governance” and “corruption” of the Arroyo administration has led the country down the road to poverty, unemployment and higher prices.

“Millions of Filipinos are poor and hungry. That is the state of the nation today,” Binay said, delivering delivered the political opposition’s own state of the nation address (SONA) hours ahead of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s report before the joint session of Congress .

“The Arroyo administration cannot totally blame the situation on global economic conditions since misguided governance, large-scale corruption and naked politicking have contributed to the present state of our nation,” Binay, who is president of the United Opposition (UNO), said.

"Corruption is rampant, and public funds are being spent to spruce up the image of the administration and reward loyal allies," he added.

“In times of crisis, the people are expected to rally behind their leader,” Binay said. “But in the Philippines, Mrs. Arroyo has been shunned by the people.”

He cited the latest Pulse Asia survey, which showed the majority of respondents dissatisfied are not satisfied with Arroyo's performance.

Binay said the number of hungry families had reached 7.1 million in March, increasing by one million from three months before, while government’s own figures show almost three million Filipinos are unemployed, and almost seven million underemployed or employed not earning enough to meet their family’s needs.

These, he said, belie Arroyo’s goal of providing one million jobs a year.

“This is the true state of the nation in the year 2008. Let us hope this ends in 2010, or earlier, so the prolonged suffering of the nation will be ended, and the people will wake up to a new morning," Binay said.

Speaking to reporters after his speech, the opposition leader said he decided to deliver his own SONA instead of attending anti-Arroyo protests, as he traditionally did in the past, because of a full schedule.

He said he expected nothing new from Arroyo's SONA, but added that he would like to hear her speak of specific programs to address poverty and overpopulation, among other national issues.

"We don't want to hear generic statements. Give us specific solutions," Binay said


©Copyright 2001-2008 INQUIRER.net, An Inquirer Company