NVizcaya sectors pin hopes on PNoy’s SONA to address country’s economic, peace and order woes

by Ben Moses Ebreo

Bayombong, Nueva Vizcaya (July 23) — Multi-sectoral leaders in the province expects the State of the Nation Address (SONA) of President Benigno Simeon Aquino III on specific measures to address the country’s economic and peace and order problems.

“We are expecting that President Aquino’s SONA will specifically deal on his support to decriminalize libel, prevent and immediately address killings of media practitioners and the right of information bill,” said Victor Martin, president of the Nueva Vizcaya Press Club (NVPC).

Nick Ruam, president of the Nueva Vizcaya Provincial Employees Association (NVPEA), said he hopes to hear the full implementation of government workers’ salary standardization which will benefits state workers in the country.

“We expect to hear concrete steps to stamp out corruption at all levels of the bureaucracy and responsive economic programs. Also ways and strategies to address unemployment, transparency in the disbursement of public funds,” said Police Senior Supt. Pedro Danguilan, police provincial director here.

He added that the issuance of an executive order, compelling business establishments to issue receipts and decisive stand on insurgency secessionists and terrorism can also help in improving the aspects of the country’s bureaucracy.

The alleviation of standard of living among government employees and the improvement of their benefits once they leave the service will also serve as a major factor in weeding out corruption in the government, according to other sectors.

“There should be a firm stand to address killings of journalists, members of the judiciary and even ordinary crimes including the secured interconnectivity of government agencies to harness their full resources in enforcing the law without fear or favor,” said lawyer Francisco Pilpil of the Provincial Prosecutor’s office here. (PIA NVizcaya)