Senators bring own expectations to SONA 2018

Senate President Franklin Drilon and Senator Nancy Binay INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

Ahead of this year’s State of the Nation Address (SONA), senators have already picked out certain topics that they want President Rodrigo Duterte to discuss.

According to Senator Franklin Drilon, the president must discuss ways to alleviate the burden of high prices of goods on poor Filipino families, and the alleged impunity with the rise of crime against public officials.

“Una, ibig naming marinig yung mga gagawin at panukalang batas para ma-address ang kahirapan, lalo na sa pagtaas ng presyo ng bilihin,” Drilon said in an interview with dzBB on Sunday.

“Pangalawa, yung patuloy na breakdown ng law and order. Maraming officials ang target at patuloy rin ang extra-judicial killings. Mukhang may culture of impunity,” he added.

Drilon claimed that Filipinos expect a lot from Duterte, especially after he promised during the campaign period to do away with crime and drugs in a span of merely six months.

The National Capital Region Police Office has said crime rate in the metropolis went down 25 percent in the first half of 2018 compared to the same period in 2017.

Meanwhile, a Social Weather Stations survey said that the number of families victimized by crime in the country dropped from 1.7 million to 1.5 million in the first quarter of the year.

READ: NCRPO: 25% drop in crime rate due to drug war / SWS: Number of families victimized by common crimes in Q1 down to 1.5M

“Yes, 16 million Filipinos ang bumoto dahil sa pangako niya nasa loob ng anim na buwan pipigilin yung drugs at aayusin ang peace and order. Kaya sa kaniyang ikatlong SONA, ako, I would like to hear kung ano yung measures para maibalik yung law and order,” he explained

While Senator Nancy Binay thinks that drug war should be talked about, she also believes that issues close to the poor and the administration’s programs for the next three years are equally important.

“I hope the President focuses on addressing yung mga issue na dikit sa sikmura ng mga tao tulad ng pag-kontrol ng inflation, paglikha ng trabaho, at murang bilihin. More jobs, less jabs,” Binay said on a statement on Sunday.

“For those who continue to struggle in life, they no longer wanted more of the same war on drugs staple. Sa ngayon, gusto ng lahat na marinig ay ang social policies and environmental policy direction, pati na rin ang action plans ng Administration sa susunod na tatlong taon,” she added.

On the other hand, Senator Sonny Angara would like to hear the prioritization of the Universal Healthcare Bill, the salary increase for teachers, and the creation of more jobs.

“Health expenses drive poor Filipinos to deeper poverty. Kapag naisabatas ito, wala nang Pilipinong magigipit kapag nagkasakit,” Angara, who authored the bill, said on Sunday.

“Ngayon na ginawa na nating abot-kaya ang lahat ng antas ng edukasyon—mula kindergarten, elementary, high school, hanggang kolehiyo—panahon na para tutukan ang kalidad ng ating edukasyon sa pamamagitan ng pagbibigay ng sapat na suporta sa ating mga guro,” he added.

On TRAIN law

Both Drilon and Binay think that the topic of the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) law is also a focal point for Monday’s SONA.

Drilon, in particular, have called on the president to issue a directive which would enable both chambers of the Congress to solve the increase in prices of goods.

“At the very least, tawagin ang Kongreso para maupo at tingnan kung saan nagkamali para ma-address itong pagtaas ng pangunahing bilihin dahil sa tumaas ng inflation. I-convene ang Kongreso at komite para pag-aralan kung ano ang dapat gawin,” the opposition lawmaker said.

The National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) has said that the TRAIN Law has little effect on the rise of the prices of goods.

NEDA Secretary Ernesto Pernia blamed the higher prices of goods mostly to the rise of oil prices in the global market and the fall in the value of the peso.

READ: Neda says inflation a spoiler; blames high prices for below-target Q1 GDP growth

Binay looks forward to the total suspension of the measure.

“Nakita po natin ang matinding panawagan ng ating mga kababayan na masuspend ang TRAIN at mahinto ang kontraktualisasyon, so sana agarang aksyunan ito ng ating Presidente,” she added.

Binay also said that the public would prefer to hear updates on Marawi rehabilitation, the situation of indigenous people, and the progress of the peace negotiations between the government and the communist rebels.

“These are aside from updates of the Build Build Build (BBB) program and the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) being signed into law anytime soon. The signing of the BBL can likewise serve as a kickstarter to remind members of the government peace panel of the need to forge ahead with the peace process with the CPP-NDF-NPA,” she added.

For Angara, the current administration’s BBB program should come with a Jobs, Jobs, Jobs, which will help families shoulder the day to day expenses.

“The push of the administration to fast-track infrastructure development to create jobs while ramping up social services like free education and better healthcare services is moving in the right direction. These efforts must be sustained so as to improve the lives of Filipinos,” he said. /cbb