Assignment 5

On the State of the Nation Address (SONA) of the President on July 23, 2012, he presented changes that seemed to be impossible in the past but was now achieved or is currently in the processes of achieving of our country, the Philippines. He presented these changes because he believes that the Filipino people must take pride on and must be informed about what is new of his/her own country. On these changes he presented, I noticed that some of it is technologically inclined in an attempt by the government to assure that the Filipino people are given the appropriate services and protection. It was clear that certain ideas, perspectives and solutions proposed by the area of Information and Communications Technology (ICT) is widely observed and accepted by the government as a big help in implementing the perfect change for the lives of the Filipino people.

A notable catalyst for change that the President mentioned in his SONA are certain methods and programs in which the main concern is to maximize the potentials of an individual and their opportunities in life, a program which he concretely used as an example is currently being offered by TESDA and is an idea derived from the area of ICT, it is the TESDA Specialist Technopreneurship Program. The purpose of the program is to train individuals in the environment and disciplines of technopreneurship, in which as of the modern age is one of the proven income generating areas of industry in the Philippines, combining of course the use of modern technology and the knowledge of entrepreneurship. By providing a program the government can improve the quality of life of their people by opening new opportunities especially for those people who were enrolled in the program. The benefactors can of course be employed, are now able to provide the basic necessities of their family, are also able to help their fellow countrymen by sharing their knowledge, and most especially they are able to contribution to the economy of the Philippines.  

Another change pinpointed by the SONA of the president is that, now the government is taking their time in identifying and fixing dangerous roads with the use of modern technology. I do believe that although he only expressed the plans and explained it using the country’s roads as an example, what the president does really want to exemplify is that the government is taking extra precautions when it comes to the safety of the Filipino people, not just when roads are involved but also to the different structures erected in different places throughout the country private sector or government owned. This action made by the government is to assure that they can improve the quality of life of our countrymen by assuring that the services they provide to the Filipino citizens, may it be on the form of different roads and structures will do good and benefit the people in the best positive way there is, reducing or if possible preventing any negative things or events from occurring by the utilization of modern technology.

The SONA also talks about a new project developed called Project NOAH. Project NOAH which stands for Project Nationwide Operational Assessment of Hazards has been pushed in consideration that one of the greatest factors that affects the way of life in our country in the most destructive way are the natural disasters. For quite some time now the government themselves, accepted the fact that indeed their previous actions corresponding to how they prepare, assess and help certain areas in our country when a natural disaster strikes when evaluated as a whole is not that effective. The president raised an idea that something must be done to minimize the hazards brought by natural disasters and somehow to improve the ways of life of the Filipino people in relation to safety. Thus, the government decided that their greatest weapon is information. By creating a new systematic, well-coordinated scheme in which data from past calamities and new information acquired is then simplified to an average persons’ understanding making sure that it doesn’t need a rocket scientist to make people understand what impending disaster or calamity might be coming and how to prepare for it. Another purpose is to bring the simplified but powerful information closer to the people, by making it available through the internet which makes it available throughout any time of the day. The government confirmed that nothing can be done on destruction and loss of property but what is important is the conservation of life through proper risk management.

The government indeed has taken a few notches ahead in creating commendable changes, and behind these notable and exemplary changes are more technologies just waiting to be harnessed and be developed to something that can further aid the government on their goal of improving the life of every Filipino citizen.