ADASF

President Aquino’s SONA in 2013 was focused on the achievements of the government such as approval of the Sin Tax Reform Law and “Responsible Parenthood Law” (RH Law), reforms in Education System(K-12), Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps), increase in number of TESDA graduates, increase in Philhealth enrolles from 62% to 81% and improved benefits, allocation of P6.2 billion for flood control in Metro Manila, completion of 9,377 housing units for Typhoon Sendong victims, 63% reduction in number of private armed groups, 21.4 increase in foreign tourist arrivals in 2012 and 7.8% GDP (Gross Domestic Product) growth during the first quarter of 2013. However, it also highlights some of the changes to hike SSS contributions and train fares. PNoy said the need to reform pension scheme is necessary to avoid depletion of SSS funds in the next 28 years. He also explains that fare hikes in MRT and LRT will be implemented. The government subsidizes each passenger's fare by as much as P45 and said to be unfair to residents from Visayas and Mindanao who never set foot on the trains but fund the train operations. But according to critics or analysts, President Aquino did not mention solid agenda on how he will lead us to his 'daang matuwid' campaign until 2016. Nancy Binay highlights that Pnoy didn't include on his speech ways to improve employment rate in the country. Despite the gross domestic product (GDP) growth for 2012 and various economic reform programs of Aquino government for his three years in the Palace, Philippines is still has the worst unemployment rate in Asia. More than 11 million Filipinos are jobless according to SWS and IBON Foundation survey results on the first quarter of 2013. Poverty remains the most critical social problem that needs to be addressed. Philippines' poverty line marks a per capita income of 16,841 pesos a year. According to the data from the National Statistical Coordination Board, more than one-quarter (27.9%) of the population fell below the poverty line the first semester of 2012, an approximate 1 per cent increase since 2009. The decline in poverty has been slow and uneven, much slower than neighboring countries who experienced broadly similar numbers in the 1980s, such as People's Republic of China (PRC), Thailand, Indonesia (where the poverty level lies at 8.5%) or Vietnam (13.5%). This shows that the incidence of poverty has remained significantly high as compared to other countries for almost a decade. The unevenness of the decline has been attributed to a large range of income brackets across regions and sectors, and unmanaged population growth. The Philippines poverty rate is roughly the same level as Haiti.