Palace spox rates Duterte's SONA 9/10

Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque gave President Rodrigo Duterte's fifth State-of-the-Nation Address (SONA) a rating of nine out of 10.

Roque believes that Duterte's SONA effectively conveyed the key information that Filipinos needed to hear, focusing on the government's strategies for the country's recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.

During the address, Duterte reiterated his commitment to a diplomatic resolution for the South China Sea dispute, the protection of human rights, and the streamlining of government processes.

The President also outlined his legislative priorities for the year.

Duterte's fifth SONA spanned 100 minutes, making it longer than his fourth but shorter than his second address.

Despite the high score, Roque found the speech too long and lacking quotable quotes, explaining that the President presented only broad strokes of the government's plans.