Albayanos from all walks of life see hope and are expecting more concrete government action plans specifically in the fight against the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) after President Rodrigo Duterte’s fifth State of the Nation Address (SONA) delivered at the Batasang Pambansa in Quezon City on Monday, July 27.

After hearing the Chief Executive lay out schemes to curb the spread of the virus, Irene Solmirano, president of Intra-Pinay, an empowered women’s organization here, expressed high hopes for an end to the contagion.

President Duterte said the Philippines is aiming to conduct 1.4 million tests for Covid-19 by the end of July.

Solmirano also wished the Chinese government can share its vaccine against Covid-19, once available.

Dhoy Dioquino, a radio commentator and announcer here, expressed belief that the government is working hard in putting an end to the coronavirus crisis and is hopeful that more will be done after the President’s SONA. He added that the Chief Executive was able to make his message to the Filipinos come across clearly.

Dioquino likewise hoped that the problem with regard the service being extended by telecommunication companies would be addressed.

President Duterte, in his SONA, imposed a deadline on telecommunication companies, particularly Smart and Globe, to improve their services by December this year.

“Overall, the SONA for me went on successfully though there are important issues that were not mentioned like mining and federalism,” added Remy Mendones, station manager of Idol News FM here, in a text message to the Philippine News Agency.
Jocelyn Atos-Arango, a housewife in this capital city, said she hopes that the President’s promises in his SONA would materialize to give Filipinos better lives by eradicating graft and corruption as well as illegal drugs.

“Sana nga meron mangyari, trabaho, kabuhayan at katahimikan lalo na ngayon madami nawalan ng trabaho, at solusyon sa Covid-19 (I hope the SONA is not just a compilation of promises. I hope there would be more jobs, livelihood and peace particularly now that our country is facing the Covid-19 crisis),” Atos-Arango said.

Edison Bordeos of Tabaco City gave the President’s governance in the past year a passing score.

“Marami din syang nagawa para sa bayan natin. (The President has done many things for the good of the country),” he said.

“Ang pagbabago na hinahanap natin, hindi sa Pangulo natin makukuha….sa mga sarili natin dapat nag-uumpisa ang pagbabago (The change we want, we cannot rely solely on the President. Change must start within ourselves),” Bordeos added. (PNA)