SENATORS gave President Ferdinand Marcos jr., a high passing grade of 99 with majority giving the Chief Executive’s first State of the Nation Address (SONA) a thumbs sign.

Senator Christopher Bong Go , a staunch supporter of the Duterte administration said it is commendable that the President announced his strong position to strengthen the healthcare system.

Go lauded the plan of President Marcos to focus on establishing more hospital outside of Metro Manila and improving our healthcare system and facilities as “this will give the people some assurance that their government will be there to take care of them and their families.”

“I am deligted,” Go added.

Senator Jose Jinggoy Estrada said the SONA is very realistic, doable and reassuring for each and every Filipino.

“The no lockdown policy of Marcos said will protect the business community and the working class who were greatly hit in the last years of the pandemic,” Estrada added.

In a press conference yesterday, Senator Juan Edgardo Sonny Angara said the Chief Executive deserved commendation for focusing on important matters that will help the nation and the Filipino in these trying times.

According to Angara, Marcos addressed 99 percent of the issues and concerns facing the nation. It also addressed income inequalities and inequities indirectly by providing the platforms to lift incomes and reduce inequalities.

Angara said that e-governance, mentioned in the President’s SONA, is very important. The pandemic highlighted that virtual solutions provided public convenience and ease of doing business, he said.

The President’s emphasis in digitalization and connectivity will impact his programs for right sizing and revenue efficiency, the senator from Baler Quezon further said.

Angara expects the country’s borrowings to be less as the President strives for fiscal discipline.

He said that he and his colleagues promise to give total support to the President’s programs to uplift the lives of the Filipino.

Angara divulged that the Senate is communicating directly to House Speaker Martin Romualdez and the latter assured the Upper Chamber that they will immediately act on the National Budget once it reaches them.

“Mismong si House Speaker Romualdez po ay nagbigay sa amin ng assurance na kapag naipasa na sa lower house ang version ng national budget ay agarang nilang aaksyunan ito upang masiguro na aabot ito para sa January 1, 2023 na deadline para maipasa ng dalawang Kongreso.” Angara said.

Sen. Joel Villanueva said Marcos’s first Sona is very inspiring to all Filipinos describing it as timely.

Villanueva urged the need to immediately convene LEDAC (Legislative Executive Development Advisory Council) to take up the 19 pieces of legislation that the president has laid out in his speech.

As the newly elected Senate Majority Leader, Villanueva the said 19 priority legislations will be given focus and priority.

It is clear, Villanueva said the President’s priorities have solid basis from his own experience and lessons from the pandemic, economy, energy, and education.

“Ito po ang nagbibigay ng sense of urgency sa mga panukala,” he said.

He further said that there is much work to be done, and opportunities to create and discover innovative solutions as the administration enhances capacities in the areas of technology, agriculture and infrastructure.

To achieve the President’s goals will require fiscal discipline, he added.

“Maaari rin po tayong magkaroon ng evaluation ng ating kasalukuyang tax collection upang siguruhin na maayos at epektibo ang ating pangongolekta ng tamang buwis. Kailangan din po nating balansihin ang pangangailangan ng gobyerno na lumikom ng pondo, at ang interes ng mga apektadong sektor,”

Senator Ramon Revilla commented that the President’s SONA exceeded expectations.

The President’s SONA, Revilla said contains the strategic plans and targeted policies the government is determined to take in order to bring the nation back on its feet.

“His message is an assuring testament that our nation is led by a visionary who has a concrete plan for steering the government to effect positive changes for the Filipino people. Sincerity is overwhelmingly felt in his message rooted in his genuine and earnest desire to serve the country,” Revilla added.

As regards agriculture, Revilla said the President highlighted the need to improve the entire value chain by helping all the stakeholders to be productive.

During his SONA speech, The Chief executive mentioned the need to focus on Agriculture problem as he showed his grasp on the issues and concerns of the sector.

“Isasakatuparan niya ang tunay na reporma para sa magsasakang Pilipino na naglalayon na matugunan ang nagbabadyang krisis sa pagkain gaya na lamang ng mga naihain na nating mga panukalang batas sa simula ng buwan na ito: SBN 23 – Pantawid Magsasakang Pilipino Act, at SBN 30 – Kabalikat sa Agrikultura at Pagkain na tutugon sa hinaing ng mga magsasaka at mga konsumers.” Revilla pointed out

Revilla and Angara echoed the same view that the first SONA of President Marcos has sufficiently covered other crucial policy issues directly affecting the nation and our people such as the conditions of the economy, education social welfare, environment, climate change, labor especially the welfare of overseas Filipino workers, infrastructure development, affordable electricity, and independent foreign policy.

Revilla also noted how Marcos Jr. highlighted key issues such as the rising price of oil and other basic necessities, the looming food shortage, and the weakening value of the Philippine Peso. The Senator from Cavite said the President did not only explain how these key issues are affecting us but more importantly, he presented to us his plans and solutions.

“He did not fail to mention the elephant in the room – the still very present pandemic. His plan shows how he seeks to strike the perfect balance between the welfare of our people on one hand, and the economy on the other.

His “No Lockdown” stance is balanced with his goal of strengthening our healthcare system. Batid niya na ang kailangang makamit ay balansyadong pamamalakad upang habang sinisiguradong ligtas ang taumbayan, ay makakabangon din naman ang ating ekonomiya na labis na pinadapa ng pandemya,” Revilla maintained

For neophyte Senator Robin Padilla, the chief executive has stressed his point well as he lauded the move and plans of Marcos Jr., saying that everything that he mentioned is very timely and in order for the country to bounce back and high.

“Napapanahon po ang mga bagay na inilahad ng Pangulo at malaking bagay na may tamang pagpaplano pati na rin pang unawa sa mga pinag daraanan ng ating mga kababayan. Ang mga pagbabagong ito na inihain niya sa sambayanan Pilipino ay ramdam ng lahat kung gaano siya ka sincero sa pagsasaayos ng mga problema na kinakaharap ng bansa.” Revilla said.

Sen. Grace Poe also lauded the President describing his speech as forceful and aggressive.

“We laud the President’s SONA for being pointed, forceful and aggressive. It confronted gut issues head-on such as hunger that puts at the center the continuation of the feeding program for children and boosting the agricultural sector.” Poe said.

She also expressed admiration for President Marcos strong stand to defend our territory amid the many issues hounding the West Philippine Sea.

“By vowing not to give up even a square inch of Philippine territory, he stood firm in defending our sovereignty as well as protecting the livelihood of our fishers who risk life at sea to put food on our tables. The digitalization of government services is a program that is well past due.” she said.

Poe expressed hope that the administration will also prioritise the E-governance services , “specially to our poor citizens who must no longer wait and line for hours when transacting with government offices.”

“It’s high time to shift to high gear the realization of the Public Service Act to entice investors and create employment opportunities,” Poe stressed

Opposition Senator Risa Hontiveros said the President as acting DA secretary “gives us a strong signal that agriculture is the centerpiece of his program as she lauded him for taking seriously the looming food crisis that the country is facing and averting moves for a possible food catastrophe.”

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PS Jun M. Sarmiento