Landmark SONA

Who would have thought that those few words which the President uttered as part of his 2025 State of the Nation Address (SONA) last July would have such never-imagined far-reaching effects?

- MARY ANN LL. REYES

“Mahiya naman kayo sa mga kababayan nating naanod o nalubog sa mga pagbaha. Mahiya naman kayo lalo sa mga anak natin na magmamana sa mga utang na ginawa ninyo, na binulsa niyo lang ang pera.”

The President also mentioned during his speech how during his inspection of the effects of typhoons Crising, Dante and Emong, he saw that many flood control projects were substandard and some even imagined.

“Huwag na po tayong magkunwari. Alam naman ng buong madla na nagkakaracket sa mga proyekto. Mga kickback, mga initiative, errata, SOP, for the boys. Kaya sa mega nakikipagsabwatan upang kunin ang pondo ng bayan at nakawin ang kinabukasan ng ating mga mamamayan, mahiya naman kayo sa inyong kapwa Pilipino.”

So that this will not happen again, he directed the Department of Public Works and Highways to immediately submit to him a list of all flood control projects from every region that were started or completed in the last three years and the Regional Project Monitoring Committee to examine that list of projects and give a report on those that have been failures, those that were not finished and those that are alleged to be ghost projects.

The country’s Chief Executive also said that this list will be published so that the public, which has been witness to these projects, will be free to analyze this list and share whatever they know to help in the investigation.

He likewise said during his address that there will be an audit and performance review regarding these projects to check and make sure and to know how the public’s money is spent.

In the next few months, the President emphasized that cases will be filed against those found to be responsible and that someone has to be held accountable due to the massive damage and corruption.