Push Admin

Duterte's last SONA 'disappointing' due to lack of 'positive vision': economist

Article (news)

ABS-CBN News

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2021/news/07/27/20210726-duterte-sona-pcoo-screengrab-32.jpg"/><figcaption>President Rodrigo Duterte gives his last State of the Nation Address at the House of Representatives on July 26, 2021. <em>PCOO screengrab</em></figcaption></figure></div><p><em>MANILA - President Rodrigo Duterte&#x27;s 6th and last State of the Nation Address was &quot;disappointing&quot; for failing to</em> bring hope for the people especially in the midst of a pandemic and the resulting &quot;economic damage,&quot; an economist said Tuesday. </p><p>Duterte&#x27;s speech lacks &quot;positive vision&quot; and was loaded with &quot;divisive words,&quot; Foundation for Economic Freedom President Calixto Chikiamco told ANC.</p><p>&quot;I was quite disappointed because the tone is very jarred. Most of his speech was not about how we will recover from the pandemic and see our way out,&quot; he said.</p><p>&quot;I was really looking for President Duterte to give a more positive vision, less divisive words. What we want from his, especially in his graduation speech, is really hope especially we’re suffering now from this pandemic,&quot; he said. </p><p>Chikiamco said going after <a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/business/07/27/21/duterte-sona-2021-manila-water-maynilad" target="_blank">water concessionaires</a>, even when there is a new contract with the government after Duterte called the previous ones &quot;onerous,&quot; was political posturing. </p><p>Going after these firms as well as oligarchs creates &quot;a lot of fear and uncertainty among investors&quot; and is not helpful to the business climate especially during the pandemic, he said. </p><p>What could have made his speech impactful was the pending economic bills which the president failed to highlight, Chikiamco said.</p><p>The Public Services Act, which aims to liberalize foreign ownership on telecommunications and transportation, could be Duterte&#x27;s legacy, he said. </p><p>In his over 2-hour-long speech, Duterte briefly called for the passing of the Foreign Investments Act, the Public Service Act, and the Retail Trade and Liberalization Act.</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/business/07/26/21/congress-has-time-pass-economic-measures-solon">Congress has time to pass more economic measures: lawmakers</a></li>	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/business/07/27/21/duterte-sona-2021-foreign-investments-bills">On last SONA, Duterte calls for passage of bills to attract foreign investment</a></li></ul><figure class="op-interactive"><iframe allow="autoplay; fullscreen" frameBorder="0" height="100%" id="ivsplayer01" scrolling="no" src="https://player.ivideosmart.com/ivsplayer/v4/dist/html/iframe-src.html?iframeid=ivsplayer01&amp;key=e8c22c015ca9eafa76f1e3edfa03c603&amp;spid=3001339&amp;vid=1735349" width="100%"></iframe></figure><div class="iwantbar">Watch more in <a href="//www.iwantv.com.ph/">iWantv</a> or <a href="//tfc.tv/">TFC.tv</a></div>

<p>President Rodrigo Duterte's 6th and last State of the Nation Address was "disappointing" for failing to bring hope for the people especially in the midst of a pandemic and the resulting "economic damage," an economist said Tuesday.</p>

President Rodrigo Duterte's 6th and last State of the Nation Address was "disappointing" for failing to bring hope for the people especially in the midst of a pandemic and the resulting "economic damage," an economist said Tuesday.