Record roll call: 56 politicians got special mention in Arroyo SONA

This is probably record-breaking: President Arroyo made special mention of 56 politicians in her state of the nation address last Monday, thanking them for either the bills they passed or the projects they pushed through. The President lauded Vice President Noli De Castro’s efforts in the mass housing program, thanked former President Fidel Ramos for suggesting the agribusiness zones, and promised Speaker Jose De Venecia and Eastern Samar Gov. Ben Evardone that she will put up airports in Alaminos and Siargao, respectively. She also thanked senators Miriam Santiago and Juan Miguel Zubiri for sponsoring the biofuels law, senators Juan Juan Ponce Enrile, Manuel Villar, and Aquilino Pimentel for drafting the Human Security Act, and then asked Sen. Edgardo Angara to initiate a legislation that will provide “improved long term care for senior citizens." The infrastructure projects would not have been successful without the support of local officials, according to the President. So she also cited each of them. She credited Cebu Gov. Gwen Garcia for the North Coastal Road, which connects Cebu City to the North, Butuan Mayor Boy Daku Plaza for putting up a 900-meter bridge near a flood control project, and Ilocos Norte Rep. Ferdinand “Bongbong" Marcos Jr. for the historical Bangui Bay Wind Power Project. The President also praised opposition Iloilo Gov. Neil Tupas for the new airport in the province and then thanked Chief Justice Puno for attending the Sona. “It is the first time that a Chief Justice attended," she said. Wrong. Previous chief justices had attended past Sonas, such as former Chief Justice Hilario Davide. Also mentioned in the Sona were non-politicians, such as a dozen agrarian reform beneficiaries and 12 students who won awards abroad. “The Sona was a lesson in geography and a DPWH [Department of Public Works and Highways] seminar for us," opposition Sen. Francis Escudero said. - Newsbreak