Zubiri expects to hear Duterte plans for economic recovery in last SONA

Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel “Migz” F. Zubiri leads the chamber in prayer during the opening of the hybrid plenary session in this photo taken on May 31, 2021. In his prayer, Zubiri called for the continuance of “spirit of unity and cooperation” in the fight against COVID-19 pandemic “as we come out of this situation.” Senate PRIB file photo / Henzberg Austria

MANILA, Philippines — Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri said Monday the public could be expecting President Rodrigo Duterte to discuss plans on how he would improve the country’s economy amid the COVID-19 pandemic in his final State of the Nation Address (SONA).

“What the people truly want to hear from our nation’s leader is what he will do to keep our economy afloat and how he will try to help our country survive this dreadful pandemic in his last 12 months of office,” Zubiri said in a statement.

“On what particular step that we as a nation should take and what his administration will do to slow down COVID-19 and help our kababayans [countrymen] uplift themselves from hardship and poverty,” he added.

Apart from the COVID-19 preventive measures, the senator added that Duterte should also outline the remaining essential legislative priorities that would help him end the pandemic and poverty in the country.

Meanwhile, Zubiri assured that the Senate is committed to acting on the passage of essential bills such as the Retail Trade Liberalization Act and the Public Services Act, and the Foreign Investments Act.

READ: Zubiri: Senate eyeing to pass economic measures, DOFIL by August 

“We in the Senate have committed to work double-time for the passage of these very important measures in spite of the lack of time as realistically there are only two months left before the filing of candidacies then a month after that before the national campaign starts,” he said.

“The senators will listen intently to the President’s remaining legislative requests and discuss it amongst ourselves in a caucus that we traditionally call for the day after the SONA,” he added.

The President is set to deliver his final SONA on July 26.— Sofia Vertucio, INQUIRER trainee

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