Negrense and Bacolod government and private sector leaders yesterday  hailed  the State of the Nation Address of President Benigno Aquino III for the gains made by his administration in the past year, while others  said there  was some aspects lacking.

Rep. Alfredo Abelardo Benitez (Neg. Occ., 3rd District) said the president’s SONA  had “more detailed directions. More clear cut targets”.

  Bacolod Rep. Anthony Golez said he was glad with the progress that the current administration has brought to the country and  promised to support the various projects of the president  that will further improve the lives of Filipinos.

 “The accomplishments of the PNoy administration is a great leap forward for the Philippines. This leap is a great beginning and I hope that it will lead to the formation of the strong foundation which will ensure sustained development,” said Golez, former deputy spokesman of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.

“The public infrastructure projects of PNoy will really open more business opportunities; these business opportunities will equate to more jobs and better lives. As for the  health initiatives of PNoy, as everyone knows, I fully support the universal health program of the administration. Education is finally getting the attention it needs,” he said.

Golez also  said he will continue to fight for the Conditional Cash Trasnfer Program of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).“ I believe in the good intentions of the DSWD and the big benefit it brings to the poor of Bacolod City,” he said.

Bacolod Mayor Evelio Leonardia said the speech of the President  was a long but  very  well substantiated one.

“He gave us a good picture of our past, present and future. When the President targets 7,000 kilometers of roads, 3 million school chairs, 10 million tourists, new airports, among others, it is reassuring that indeed we are in the right direction. The all-time high stock index validates the claim that investors' confidence is also on all-time high,” Leonardia said.

 With the president’s  campaign against corruption and emphasis on justice, the country will get respect and the economy will just simply accelerate, he said. “The SONA was a job well prepared and excellently delivered. Our congratulations to the President,” Leonardia said.

Frank Carbon, president of the Metro Bacolod Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said “PNoy ably demonstrated his seriousness in ethical governance and in selecting morally upright government executives.”

 For the business sector, these are the major or outstanding achievements of the Aquino administration for the last two  years that has resulted to renewed confidence of local and foreign businessmen in the Philippine government, he said.

Lawyer Andres Hagad said  he liked the SONA but wished  the president  also spoke  about the Scarborough Shoal issue. “Many of us want to speak up but need guidelines from our President so we can speak up with one voice. I have a feeling ASEAN is just waiting for one member country to stand up resolutely to China and they will follow suit,” he said.

Edwin Balajadia, Philippine Rural Reconstruction Movement-Negros head, said the president, through his passionate use of the national language,  presented initial significant gains in fighting poverty and corruption, forging national economic development and regaining investor confidence.

“While there are some aspects lacking, over-all it was a good and inspiring speech,” Balajadia said.*CPG

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