NEDA: Arroyo SONA to focus on realignment of spendings

MANILA, Philippines — President Arroyo is expected to explain a realignment of expenditures toward social programs to deal with the "global economic slowdown" in her state of the nation address (SONA) on July 28, the acting head of the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) said on Saturday. Director General Augusto Santos Augusto Santos said the President wants expenditures focused on social programs, infrastructures and environment protection. "Gusto gawin ng gobyerno, ‘yung parang kailangan pagbutihin ang expenditures, ilagay sa tamang lugar, sa social programs, infrastructures, and programs to protect the environment (She wants the government to improve its expenditures and put money in social programs, infrastructure and measures to protect the environment)," Santos said on government-run dzRB radio. Malacañang also said it plans a media campaign on the government's "achievements" in time for the SONA, the annual speech the President delivers before a joint session of Congress to announce spell out the accomplishments and thrusts of the administration. Santos said the Philippines has been caught in a "global economic crisis" that he said can be dealt with through the help of both government and the private sector. But Santos insisted the government's economic fundamentals remain in place. He said the NEDA's economic projection is that there will still be economic growth this year, though it will likely be lower than last year. In the same program, Presidential Management Staff head Cerge Remonde said many of the government's infrastructure projects are under way, most of them ahead of schedule. Remonde also said the SONA will be "maganda at (good and) very interesting," adding the only delays will be in the construction of airports. Security Meanwhile, police in Metro Manila have started security preparations for the SONA before the joint session of Congress in Quezon City on July 28. Metro Manila police chief Dir. Geary Barias said Saturday he is coordinating with security in the House of Representatives, while arranging meetings with leaders of groups planning protests. "Continuous ang ating meeting with security ng Batasan. Sa Lunes ibi-brief ko ang staff sa Crame sa preparation. Ang gusto mag-rally sa SONA ng mahal na pangulo nariyan sa template (We are holding continuous meetings with security at the Batasan complex. I will present a preliminary plan to the Philippine National Police hierarchy at Camp Crame on Monday. We will basically use the same templates in dealing with past rallies in past SONAs of the beloved president)," Barias said also on dzRB radio. Barias said that so far, his command has not received any intelligence information of any plan by terrorist groups to strike during the SONA. On the other hand, he said he wants to meet with anti-Arroyo groups planning protests for the SONA. He said he wants to convince them to keep their activities peaceful. Barias said that with coordination with organizers, police had managed to keep rallies marking the Mendiola Massacre of 1987 and Labor Day peaceful. He said the police will seek to assure the groups that they can air their grievances, but will seek an assurance from them that they will follow the "rule of law." "Hopefully sa ganitong pamamaraan magiging mapayapa pa rin ang SONA. Hindi mawawala yan ang demo at rally na magaganap sa SONA (Hopefully we can keep the rallies peaceful during SONA. We know the rallies won't go away during SONA so what we can do is to make sure they are peaceful)," he said. - GMANews.TV