Guv's SOPA no frills, no thrills, say Capitol dads
"The governor's speech was "empty." The threat to the Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) was not that intimidating as we would have expected."
Thus came the reaction from First District Board Member Mac Napulan.
"Like the airport project, the governor landed with the pronouncement of his programs as he then emphasized his power. He declared to stop "mutinous behaviors.' To whom was he addressing it to? If to us, then my opinion is that the governor is ready to go head-on with the Spa and not collaboration. The programs are ok but they were very common ones. It lacked vision, very safe and I'm sorry but I failed to see any direction to all of it. And yeah, like before, he was in his usual self – was reading his copy of the speech in its entirety." First District Richard Garin for his part shared of his own say.
"Whoever made his speech apparently do not know what was proposed in the budget since the statements made were not in consonance with the figures reflected by the budget." The statement went of yet another board member who declined to be named.
"State of the Family Address and not State of the Province Address. That is what we heard – the SOFA and not SOPA from the governor," Vice Governor Rolex Suplico's quick comment went minutes after leaving the session hall.
Such as Suplico further raised the yet to be resolved issue on positions within the Office of the Governor questioned by the SP body.
"Remember, the governor is not above the law," he quipped.
Applauded nine times including the start and end of his speech, such were among the early reactions reached on the State of the Province Address (SOPA) of Governor Niel Tupas Sr.
Delivered in a jam-packed session hall with all of the members of the 9th SP in complete attendance, Capitol office chiefs came in full force with the SOPA aired live. Even the Capitol press came in full attendance from both broadcast and print.
Governor Tupas elaborated on his programs for education, health, tourism, agriculture and peace and order.
Guimbal Mayor Christine Garin who heard the SOPA over the radio was all smiles when reached for comment saying it was perfect timing that Governor Tupas vowed to give police patrol cars.
A Capitol employee on "job hire" status for his part said the SOPA nor the governor failed to 'excite' him.
"Siguro ang may ginatamdan nga kopya sang speech naka intindi pero sa amon kag iban nga gapamati lang, daw indi gid mayo maintindihan ah (Maybe those with copies of the speech managed to understand it but to those like me and others without it, seemed really hard)," the employee who requested anonymity shared.
"Ano kay nagsinagi man ya ka rally sa dalum sang kapitolyo. Nagdugang na lang nga budlaw mamati sang husto sa ginahambal ni guv. Tunog man ya ang sinagit kontra kay GMA. (Plus there was a rally outside the Capitol so it made it more difficult to pay attention to what the governor was saying. Their chants and yells against Gloria Macapagal Arroyo was so loud)," another quipped.
Last year's SOPA focused on the Capitol assault with the governor then subject of a dismissal order from the Office of the Ombudsman due to graft charges.