MANILA (PNA) — “There are difficulties and challenges ahead” for the fledgling administration of President Benigno Aquino III, who delivered his first State-of-the-Nation Address (SONA) Monday afternoon before the joint Session of Congress.

Thus, “President Aquino needs our whole-hearted support for him to succeed in facing these difficulties and challenges,” said Vice President Jejomar C. Binay, reacting to the address delivered at the Batasan Hall in Quezon City.

The address itself, according to Binay, “gave the true state of the nation in a manner that is simple, direct and truthful.” The Vice President and his spouse, Dr. Elenita Binay, was personally present at the Batasan to listen to the 30-minute delivery.

While Binay and Aquino are personal friends, he ran for the vice presidency under another political party. Just last week, Binay was appointed by Aquino as chairman of the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council.

Aquino’s speech did not allude to the housing sector of which Binay is the person in-charge.