NEXT week at four in the afternoon, President Bongbong Marcos is expected to face the Filipino nation for his third State of the Nation Address (SONA).
The speech is expected to focus on the achievements of his administration, according to Senate Minority Leader Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III.
“During the first SONA, of course, it’s about plans. The second SONA can still be about gearing up. By the third SONA, it should be about achievements, especially in departments that were allocated significant budgets,” Sen. Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III, Minority Floor Leader said.
Pimentel wants to hear about PBBM’s achievements in the agriculture sector.
To recall Marcos Jr. volunteered to be the head of the Department of Agriculture when he first assumed office as the country’s president.
In his first year in office, the president announced his goal to achieve a twenty-peso price per kilo of rice.
“The number one concern of the people is agriculture. Food, prices of goods, prices of food. Especially the price per kilo of rice. We need to hear from the President what has been the result given the large budget allocated to agriculture?” Pimentel added.
Aside from agriculture, the Senate minority leader also wants to hear an update on the government’s housing project.
The administration earlier announced the construction of one million housing units per year or eight million housing units by 2028.
“We are allocating a huge amount to Housing. I really had my doubts about the targets announced by the Department of Housing so I want to hear a report on what has happened with housing,” he stated.
Total ban on POGOs anticipated to highlight SONA
Due to the growing calls to expel Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs) from the country, it is also anticipated that Marcos will highlight this in his SONA.
In September, the Senate first recommended a TOTAL ban on POGOs in the Philippines.
“You know, I hope the president surprises us with an announcement, just as he represents a new Philippines, he should have a new policy on POGOs,” he stressed.
According to Sen. Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa, the immediate attention to banning POGOs is necessary as the country’s problems with it have deepened.
“What we see now that started as a small issue… like the mayor… Mayor Guo. Now, there are a shocking number of birth certificates issued to Chinese nationals, even in my hometown of Sta. Cruz, Davao del Sur. So, it has become a national threat already,” Sen. Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa stressed.
