Aquino highlights DAP benefits in fifth SONA

MANILA, Philippines - President Benigno Aquino III opened his fifth State of the Nation Address (SONA) on Monday by stressing the benefits of the Disbursement Acceleration Program (DAP).

In his speech, Aquino cited the supposed benefits of the DAP to the scholars of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA).

The President said P1.6 billion funds through the DAP helped over 220,000 students.

About 66 percent of TESDA graduates now have work, Aquino added.

Aquino even showed an audio-visual presentation featuring TESDA scholars who were supposedly helped by the DAP funds.

He also showed piles of papers that supposedly listed the names of the students who benefited from the DAP.

The DAP was introduced in 2011 by the Aquino administration to pump-prime the economy.

The Supreme Court declared key parts of the controversial fund scheme as unconstitutional, including the cross-border transfer of budget.

Aquino, who has repeatedly defended the legality of DAP, is facing impeachment complaints over the controversy.