SONA 2009 LAST SONA of PGMA

Arroyo: ‘There is much to do’

“At the end of this speech I shall step down from this stage…but not from the Presidency. There is much
to do as head of state–to the very last day,” said President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, as she delivered her
last State of the Nation Address during a joint session at the House of Representatives.

Wearing a purple terno, Arroyo said a silent prayer for cancer-stricken former president Corazon Aquino
before her speech.

“I did not become President to be popular. To work, to lead, to protect and preserve our country, our
people, that is why I became President,” she said, as she cited her accomplishments since 2001.

She started off with the country’s economic state, slightly hitting critics, boasting of creating more than
1 million jobs a year, improving infrastructure and social services, including health and education.

She also enumerated bills she signed into law, including the cheaper medicines bill, which was pushed by
her critic Senator Manuel Roxas II.

Arroyo lashed back at her critics, but she stressed that her term does not end until next year.

“Until then, I will fight for the ordinary Filipino. The nation comes first,” she said.

Getting a total of 126 rounds of applause, Arroyo’s speech lasted over 70 minutes.
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The following is Yahoo! Philippines’ live blog on the State of the Nation Address.

5:05 p.m. Nograles ends session. Arroyo goes down to greet supporters.

5:03 p.m. Arroyo finishes her speech after more than an hour. All in all, she got a total of 126 applauses,
according to state-owned television station.

5:00 p.m. Arroyo: “I am falsely accused, without proof, of using my office for personal profit. ”

4:57 p.m. Arroyo says she has not expressed any desire to extend beyond her term.

4:55 p.m. Arroyo lashes back at critics, saying she won’t flinch, nor falter.

4:53 p.m. Arroyo cites Filipino boxer Manny Pacquiao as an example of a hardworking and disciplined
Filipino who has defied odds. Mabuhay ka Manny!

4:50 p.m. Arroyo thanks Congress for passing the law on automated elections. “At the end of this speech,
I will step down from this stage, but not from the presidency. My turn does not end until next year. I will
fight for the ordinary people until the last day of my stay. A year is a long time.”

4:47 p.m. Arroyo says peace process should continue, as she introduced rebel returnee Leah de la Cruz.
“There is nothing more that I wish but peace in Mindanao.”

4:44 p.m. Arroyo says the country is using technology to prepare for any more calamities and disasters.
Early warning and forecasting facilities are being improved, as well as flood control systems.
4:42 p.m. Arroyo: We have created more than a million jobs a yea since 2001 to 2009.

4:41 p.m. Arroyo says the economy has posted an uninterrupted growth since 2001 to 2009.

4:39 p.m. Arroyo says she’s been traveling abroad to learn more about the problems of overseas Filipino
workers. She says she’s helping work out better migrant policies.

4:36 p.m. Arroyo says overseas work should a career choice rather than the only option for Filipinos. “Let’s
make more sacrifices,” admonishing stronger consumer protection for overseas Filipino workers.

4:34 p.m. Arroyo introduces Mylene Amerol-Macumbal,scholarship beneficiary who placed 2nd in the last
bar exams–the first Muslim woman bar topnotcher.

4:31 p.m. Arroyo says there are now 95,000 classrooms, 60,000 teachers, with an additional P1.5B for
training for 100,000 English teachers.

4:29 p.m. Arroyo: We will work to increase the tax effort through improved collections and new sin taxes
to further our capacity to reduce poverty and pursue growth.

4:26 p.m. Arroyo says government has improved the local banking system. “BSP has been very prudent,” she
says. BSP will be even more effective if Congress amends its charter, she adds.

4:25 p.m. Arroyo says under her watch, government has been able to cut debts.

4: 23 p.m. Arroyo says EPIRA dismantled monopoly in the electricity and distribution industry. By next
year, she expects people to benefit from low energy cost due to the EPIRA law.

4: 21 p.m. Arroyo: I supported the tough version of the House on Cheaper medicine law. I also supported
the weak versions of my critics. The result: prices of medicine have dropped and thanks to members of
Congress. If you want something done, just do it. Don’t ponder, and don’t say bad words in publilc.

4:19 p.m. She says government has helped fisherfolks go into fish farming.

4:18 p.m. She says government has been able to build 16,000 kilometers of road.

4:14 p.m. She thanks Congress for extending the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program.

4:10 p.m. She says that under her leadership, the country has seen better roads, more infrastructure
projects finished, upgraded airports and seaports, among others.

4:09 p.m. Arroyo says she paid the political price for doing the right thing. She thanks Congress for
supporting her.

4:07 p.m. Arroyo says Moody’s has upgraded its ratings. Bad news for critics. She adds, ”I did not become
president to become popular.”

4:05 p.m. Arroyo says the global recession has impacted the Philippines.

4:03 p.m. Nograles addresses the joint session and introduces Arroyo. Arroyo gets standing ovation.

4:02 p.m. Religious leaders say a prayer.

4:oo p.m. Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile and House Speaker formally open the joint session. The
singing of the national anthem follows.
3:55 p.m. 270 members of the House of Representatives are present, according to TV reports.

3:54 p.m. Arroyo is flanked by Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago, one of her staunchest supporter.

3:52 p.m. Arroyo walks towards the Plenary Hall along with Cabinet members.

3:45 p.m. Tourism Secretary Ace Durano says Arroyo will likely discuss the local tourism industry.

3:43 p.m. Senator Juan Ponce Enrile and House Speaker Prospero Nograles walk towards the Plenary hall.

3:40 p.m. First Gentleman Jose Miguel Arroyo arrives.

3:37 p.m. Television shows former President Fidel Ramos already seated and ready to listen to Arroyo.

3:36 p.m. Arroyo proceed to the holding room. She is scheduled to deliver her 9th and last State of the
Nation Address at 4 p.m.

3:35 p.m. Arroyo meets with Cabinet members.

3:33 p.m. President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo arrives at the House of Representatives, wearing a purple
terno.

3:32 p.m. House Speaker Nograles says in a television interview there’s an overflowing crowd at the House
of Representatives.

3:31 p.m. Vice president Noli de Castro arrives.

3:25 p.m. Trade and Industry Secretary Peter Favila says in a television interview that the electronics
industry has been picking up in the recent months amid the global economic crisis hitting all sectors. He
says government is now focusing trade on China, Middle East and China.

3:18 p.m. House Speaker Prospero Nograles says they don’t have the numbers to push for a constituent
assembly today, the Philippine Star reports. The constituent assembly is one modes of amending the 1987
Constitution.
3:14 p.m. Transportation and Communications Secretary Leandro Mendoza claims in a television interview
that the government has accomplished so much during Arroyo’s term. He cites the “roll-on, roll-off”
project under the current administration, which has helped transportation and trade within the
archipelago.

3:11 p.m. Members of Congress, government officials and guests are starting to come into the House of
Representatives.

3:08 p.m. Arroyo is set to defend her spotty achievements during her State of the Nation Address, a
report from the Associated Press says.
2:55 p.m. Also do check the Yahoo! Southeast Asia Twitter feeds at @yseanewsroom for updates.

2:49 p.m. President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo is set to deliver her 9th State of the Nation Address before
Congress.