Treading lightly

By: Reyshimar Arguelles

LIKE any public servant, the Office of the President is expected to disclose its plans for the year ahead, determine the problems that need to be resolved, and reiterate its main economic, social, and political programs. These while ensuring the nation that the current government is still as stable as a feather on a ravine. By that, I mean the government is doing a good job at easing everyone’s worst fears, telling us to stay calm when we should all be panicking.

Of course, this is what was running through the heads of every opposition senator and every Heydarian fanboy when President Duterte gave his annual State of the National Address. You could almost hear their souls whine as they listened to the President’s words, hoping to catch him shooting himself in the foot by saying things that don’t jibe with what’s actually happening.

But what can you expect from a good old-fashioned SONA? It’s the best venue for the current administration to defend itself from its detractors, assert its control over its political support base, and justify whatever depraved issue has surfaced so far. When a given administration enters the second half of its term, the SONA becomes nothing more than an attempt at damage control and low-key politicking that aims to warm everyone up for the national elections in the three years that come after.

Presidential speech writers handle the monumental task of preparing SONAs that are supposed to impress the public with achievements and dispel any notion of inefficiency on the government’s part. Every word and every sentence has to be structured carefully. It’s a challenge that gets too intense on the third year when there’s a need to downplay past errors and get everyone to focus on the future. This hardly works out as the presidential election approaches and the stakes are raised.

It’s the second half that’s critical to an administration as controversial Duterte’s. For sure, it’s the period when the public starts to realize how far the government has gone with the promises it seeks to fulfill. Of course, people applauded when Duterte narrated his administration’s achievements so far, particularly the passage of a landmark tax reform program, the ratification of the Bangsamoro Organic Law, and the implementation of an ambitious infrastructure development program. Under his watch, Duterte also signed into law bills for universal healthcare and free college education.

Then again, there is pressure on the current administration as it deals with the skeletons that just can’t seem to stay in the closet. The war on drugs for instance started out with a three to six-month deadline but, until now, has nary any indication of winning against this scourge.

Another issue that Duterte can’t shake off his back is justifying his administration’s warming up to the People’s Republic of China. Hopes were high over the idea that the President would snap out of his daze and rebuke this East Asian hegemon for its intrusions into the West Philippine Sea. Instead, Duterte reiterated his government’s policy of seeking warmer relations with Beijing.

At any rate, you can see the nuances among the SONAs the President has given thus far. On his first year, he assumed his tough-talking reputation in utter defiance of what is typically expected from the Chief Executive. On his second year, he stunned the nation by giving a solemn and serious address that was surprisingly devoid of the usual expletives defining his brand of leadership.

The third SONA, however, indicated the administration’s intent on making up for its shortcomings. Given the fact that the SWS polls show rising distrust of the Chinese government and the fact that the drug war has prompted the UN Human Rights Council to investigate extrajudicial killings in the country, Duterte had to tread lightly as he nears the end of his term.

It’s hard to see from this point if the current administration would revise its policies on drug enforcement and foreign relations. But what’s already clear is that these issues are getting even more fragile as the days wear on.