President Benigno Aquino III’s first State of the Nation Address (SONA) today offered a satisfactory vision for some Catholic leaders, but failed to inspire others.

Archbishop Antonio Ledesma of Cagayan de Oro said he found some of what Aquino said “promising” although his proposed actions to address the country’s economic and other problems have been tried before.

Aquino has also selected capable Cabinet members that leave the archbishop “confident things will be done” to realize the president’s vision of a clean and honest society.

He said while the president did not address directly a 13-point agenda proposed by the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines, he mentioned working for peace in Mindanao which was among some of the bishops’ concerns.

In his speech, Aquino said government expenditure the past six years exceeded its revenues.

He also cited excessive salaries and bonuses of Manila waterworks system officials, and “politically motivated” expenditures in the National Power Corporation.

He said these will be among cases his newly formed Truth Commission is expected to probe and prosecute.

Anti-corruption activist Father Jose Dizon of Imus said he wished Aquino spoke more of land reform than of infrastructure. He said the speech content and delivery were “uninspiring.”

Benedictine Sister Mary John Mananzan of the Association of Major Religious Superiors in the Philippines said the speech was practical and centered on “making the life of people better by doing the right things.”

She expressed hopes that the Truth Commission will have the power to look into various charges. “It should be about justice and not just reconciliation,” Sister Mananzan said.

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