A CONGRESSWOMAN on Thursday said she wants to hear President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. as he lays down his plans to rebuild the economy post coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), address rising inflation and improve internet connectivity, in his first State of the Nation Address (SONA).

Herrera said it is important for President Marcos to come up with a new “master plan” that would place the country towards recovery from the unprecedented effects of the pandemic.

“We expect the President to unveil a roadmap to help the country recover from the impacts of COVID-19 for the next six years or so,” Herrera said.

The party-list lawmaker said she is also interested to know what are the new sources of revenue for the government to fund the country’s economic recovery.

Herrera said that Filipinos are also looking forward to the President’s strategy to fight inflation, which pushes more people into poverty.

She expressed hope the new administration will also prioritize providing better internet connectivity, which has become a paramount issue in the daily lives of Filipinos during the pandemic when many of them were forced to work or study from home.

Herrera also said she wants to know how the government will “bring the education of our children back on track.”

Meanwhile, Herrera is urging the 19th Congress to prioritize measures creating the Department of Water and Water Regulatory Commission, intensifying upskilling and reskilling programs in the workforce, and providing economic stimulus or relief to suffering Filipinos.

According to Herrera, it is high time that Congress create the Department of Water and Water Regulatory Commission that will ensure sustainable use and management of the country’s water resource, and regulate water rates, respectively.

The party-list lawmaker likewise wants Congress to re-visit and possibly amend the EPIRA LAW.

“Nung panahon ni Pangulong Marcos Sr., napakaganda ng estado ng electric industry. Napapanahon ng ibalik ang ganung sitwasyon sa ilalim ni Pangulong BBM sa pamamagitan ng pag amyenda sa ating outdated na EPIRA Law,” stressed Herrera.

Herrera also said there has to be law institutionalizing upskilling and reskilling to help reinvigorate the economy and promote workforce success.

Reskilling is defined as the development of additional skills and new capabilities to help one move to a new role, whereas upskilling is defined as the training that enables one to become better at a job they already perform.

Herrera said that upskilling and reskilling are more important than ever, especially with the planned rightsizing of government agencies.

The veteran legislator said the government must continue to provide economic relief that will support households and businesses, particularly micro, small and medium enterprises or MSMEs, until the virus is contained.

“Although the economy has recovered somewhat in the first quarter of this year, millions of Filipinos who lost their jobs remain unemployed, the economy is operating far below its capacity and the recovery appears to be stalling,” Herrera said.

She added: “Nagsisimula pa lang magbangon ang ating ekonomiya kaya kailangan natin bigyan ng patuloy na suporta ang mga maliliit na negosyo at mga sektor na natamaan ng matindi ng pandemya. Kailangang bigyan pa din ng ayuda ang ating mga kababayan, lalo na ang pinakamahihirap na nawalan ng hanapbuhay o di kaya ay hindi na makayanan ang patuloy na pagtaas ng presyo ng mga pangunahing bilihin.”