24-7-2023 (MANILA) Anticipation is high as lawmakers expect President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to present a forward-looking State of the Nation Address (Sona), outlining a comprehensive “road map” and “battle plan” for the country’s development. The Presidential Communications Office (PCO) has yet to reveal specific details about the content of Marcos’ address, departing from previous administrations’ practice of informing the public in advance about the topics to be covered, the speech’s duration, its contributors, and the language in which it will be delivered.
As the nation awaits the Sona, the PCO has shared Sona trivia through short videos on its social media pages. Additionally, they have provided GIFs for Facebook and Instagram and Viber stickers for netizens discussing the Sona.
President Marcos has hinted that his Sona will be a “very simple” performance report, highlighting the achievements of his administration thus far and outlining the tasks that lie ahead. However, lawmakers are hoping for a more comprehensive roadmap for the country’s progress.
House Deputy Speaker Ralph Recto stressed that the Sona should not be merely a reflection on the past year but should instead provide a vision for the future, inspiring and uniting the nation to work together towards common goals. Similarly, Senator Francis Escudero emphasized the importance of discussing not only accomplishments but also the challenges and solutions required to address the country’s pressing issues.
Senate President Pro Tempore Loren Legarda and Senator Bong Go expressed their interest in hearing about the government’s pandemic recovery efforts, strategies for economic growth, and plans to address issues affecting various sectors of society.
Meanwhile, House Speaker Martin Romualdez emphasized the House’s commitment to passing priority measures, including bills related to the energy sector, national employment, and water services. He acknowledged that while the administration has made progress in areas such as inflation reduction and employment improvement, further efforts are needed to achieve specific targets, like the goal of making rice available at P20 per kilo.
