The Samahan ng mga Mag-Aaral ng Agham-Pampulitika ng Ateneo (SAMAPULA), in cooperation with Bahaghari, Buklat, and Piglasapat, hosted the Post-SONA analysis and discussion at the Dotterweich Building this afternoon, August 8.

The analysis and discussion focused on the reactions of student leaders of each party on President Benigno Aquino III’s 4th State of the Nation Address (SONA) last July 28.

SAMAPULA gave three questions related to the SONA, including the national government’s efficiency, validity on the Disbursement Acceleration Program (DAP), and the government’s response to the aftermath of Typhoon Yolanda.

The representatives of each party exchanged different opinions and analysis on every issue being discussed.

Both Bahaghari and Buklat stated their disapproval of the government’s efficiency and policy implementation. Bahaghari representative Nathalie Hazel Estipona expressed discontent on the government’s performance, saying that the end goal of its actions and policies should be the improvement of the life of the ordinary Filipino, and yet that simple goal was not met. Piglasapat, on the other hand, approved of the policies implemented by the government. Piglasapat representative Peter Paul Paras said, “The national budget is the blueprint of the country’s development plan. So the budgeting system performed smoothly. The outline was clear. The system was generally clear and there’s basis if the project was successful.”

On the issue of the legality of the DAP, both Bahaghari and Piglasapat agreed that the program bears legal basis. “The DAP is a centralized acceleration program, therefore every flow of money will be tracked by COA since it’s well sourced,” Estipona said. Buklat, through its representative, Edzrafel Samama, rejected the DAP’s legality, emphasizing, “The nature of DAP being transferred to other projects have been actually enforced by the legislative bodies, and is still a form of the Executive [branch] influencing the legislation of its agenda.”

On the aftermath of typhoon Yolanda, all parties agreed that the national government’s intervention and rehabilitation on the areas affected by the typhoon were insufficient.

The event ended with SAMAPULA President April Diwata awarding certificates to the representatives of the different political parties.