THE Employers Confederation of the Philippines said President Arroyo’s state of the nation address is a message to her critics that she will not be a lameduck president.

Sergio Ortiz-Luis, ECOP president, said Arroyo’s spiting of her critics during the SONA is just a question of style as he said the SONA is the occasion to also answer all allegations thrown at her.

Edgardo Lacson, president of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said the President’s SONA was well-crafted. He said it left him satisfied and convinced that businessmen will continue investing in the Philippines.

He said this is particularly true as her priorities coincide with the PCCI’s pillars: food security, infrastructure, reengineered education and energy, food, education, infrastructure and energy.

Speaker Prospero Nograles said Arroyo’s SONA "is an undeniable proof that of all the presidents that have come and gone, her administration is probably the most accomplished in the actual delivery of all her commitments in each of her SONA in the past nine years," he said.

He also said Arroyo, in her SONA, was "tough in refuting her critics but it is also solidly based on real and factual achievements."

Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro reminded the President’s critics that they cannot criticize anybody without expecting to get criticized in return because "everybody has the right to reply."

To criticism that she did not mention steppihg down after her term ends, Teodoro said "it was clear to us that she will step down."

Rep. Mikey Arroyo (Lakas-Kampi, Pampanga) said he believes his mother finally put to rest accusations that she is out to prolong her stay in power.

"Oo naman (she made it clear). Time and again her spokesman, her allies, and me, her eldest son, have been saying she’ll step down. Her critics were trying to paint this picture of anarchy and saying she will not step down," he said.

"In the first place, she never said she wanted to extend her term. Dapat naman talaga walang (issue) e."

Presidential spouse Jose Miguel "Mike" Arroyo said it was very clear that the President is "stepping down after her term." He said the President did "very well and that’s why I’m very proud of her."

Chief Justice Reynato Puno said would not make a "political judgment" but said the President has contributed a lot for the judiciary, especially in increasing its budget.

Many Pacquiao, who is said to be eyeing a congressional seat in 2010, said of the President’s speech: "Napakaganda, kung titingnan natin na marami siyang nagawa sa bansa."

"Hindi nakikita ang kabutian ni Ma’am. Hindi ko naman sinasabi na mali sila (mga kritiko), natural lang sa kanila iyon. Ang nakikita nila ay iyong hindi nagagawa ng Pangulong Arroyo. Marami siyang natulungan OFWs," he said.

Sen. Ramon Revilla Jr. said the showed "how much of a hard worker the President is."

"It also showed the fundamental strength of our economy. Malinaw naman na hindi kasing tindi ang epekto ng krisis sa atin kaysa sa ibang bansa. Unfortunately, hindi ito sapat para sa kanyang mga kritiko," he said. – Wendell Vigilia and Irma Isip