SONA: Arroyo's swine song?

MANILA, Philippines - The A(H1N1) pandemic and government’s response to it will be a key part of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo’s State of the Nation Address (SONA) on July 27, a Palace ally said Tuesday. Nueva Ecija Rep. Rodolfo Antonino (Kampi) said President Arroyo is aware there is public concern about A(H1N1), particularly in the wake of the first confirmed A(H1N1)-related death. "I think she will highlight A(H1N1), everyone is very concerned about it. And other than that, I believe she will also lay out her policy as far as where she thinks we should be headed," Antonino said in an interview on dzXL radio. Other than that, Antonino said Mrs. Arroyo is also expected to reassure Filipinos the Philippine economy "is doing better than most." She is also expected to highlight her accomplishments in terms of infrastructure projects and social programs, he added. For its part, Malacañang continued to downplay the effect of the A(H1N1)-related death, saying the 49-year-old woman died due to several complications and was found to have the mutant flu strain. Deputy presidential spokesman for economic affairs Gary Olivar said the death would have little effect on business. "Ito ay maliit ang epekto based on current trends, so far isa lang yata ang naitala na namatay sa sakit na ito. Ang kinamatay ng taong ito cardiac arrest, maraming sakit sa katawan, complicating factor lamang ang virus. As we have said di ganyan kalala ang epekto pero mabilis kumalat, so palagay ko di ganun kalaki ang epekto sa ekonomiya if we follow the proper precaution," he said in a separate interview on dzXL. [It has little effect. So far just one has died and she had many other medical conditions, so I don’t think this death will have a big effect on the economy.] He added the Health Department has been doing all it can to prevent the spread of the disease. "Let’s just practice common sense. Maraming ibang sakit dapat asikasuhin tulad ng dengue [There are other deadlier diseases like dengue.] - GMANews.TV