MANILA – Senators Ramon Revilla Jr. and Francis Tolentino on Friday said they are looking forward to hearing President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s plans to further tame inflation and address the high prices of basic goods in his second State of the Nation Address (SONA).
In a statement, Revilla expressed optimism that President Marcos will focus on the issues that need urgent attention.
“Katulad ng presyo ng mga bilihin, pagtaas ng sahod ng mga manggagawa, pagpaparami pa ng disenteng trabaho, paglutas sa problema ng kahirapan, at pagpapaigi ng edukasyon (Like the prices of goods, salary hike for workers, creation of more decent jobs, addressing poverty, and improving education),” he said.
The lawmaker said he is satisfied with the President’s performance in stimulating the economy, citing the July 2023 report of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) forecasting the country’s gross domestic product (GDP) growth to be maintained at 6 percent this year – which is 1.2 percent higher than the bank’s growth projection of 4.8 percent for developing economies in Asia and the Pacific.
ADB attributed the country’s growth to robust investment, private consumption, rising employment, expanding production, retail sales, and brisk private and public construction.
Revilla also cited the President’s high approval rating, saying it is a good indicator that the administration’s first year in office is in the right direction.
“Nakikita at nararamdaman naman natin ang bunga ng pagsusumikap ng ating pangulo para pagandahin ang buhay ng bawat isang Pilipino (We can see and feel the fruits of the President’s efforts to improve the lives of every Filipino),” he said.
“Lalo na’t tinupad talaga niya ang kanyang mga pangako na magpasa ng mga makabuluhang batas na tunay na makakatulong sa ordinaryong Pilipino (Especially that he really fulfilled his promise to push for meaningful laws that will truly help ordinary Filipinos),” he added, citing the recent passage into law of the Maharlika Invest Fund Act and the New Agrarian Emancipation Act.
Meanwhile, Tolentino said in a radio interview, there is a need for the national government to assure Filipinos that it is still in control of the situation.
“Ang gusto ko pong madinig at madama ng ating mga kababayan kung ano po ang ginagawa ng Malacañang para naman po sa ating ordinaryong mamamayan, yung basic goods, yung mga namamalengke, yung mga namamasada, yun pong mga magsasaka, yung inflation po kung ano ang ginagawang hakbangin para i-control po yung tumataas na bilihin (What I want to hear, and our countrymen to feel, is what Malacañang is doing for the ordinary citizens, the basic goods, those who go to the market, drivers, farmers, and on inflation, on what are the steps being undertaken to control rising prices),” he said. (PNA)
