(FILE) Commuters queue to ride carousel buses for free at Edsa Guadalupe in Makati City. —RICHARD A. REYES
MANILA, Philippines — Details on plans to solve the current transportation woes and private sector tie-ups are among the expectations of Senators Grace Poe and Sonny Angara, respectively, in the first State of the Nation Address (Sona) of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.
Poe, poised to retain her post as chairperson of the Senate committee on public services, is looking forward to hear how the President will resolve the problems now facing commuters.
“Our commuters await the completion of major transportation projects such as MRT-7, railways and other undertakings that will aid mobility. Without an efficient mass transportation system, hardship and inconvenience will remain facts of life for our citizens,” she said in a statement on Thursday.
“We must provide adequate public utility vehicles (PUV) as face-to-face classes resume for many of our students and teachers. We are optimistic that crucial PUVs with routes that have been closed will be allowed to serve the commuting public anew to augment the current inadequacy of our public transportation system,” she added.
Aside from transportation, Poe is also expecting Marcos to discuss his solutions on inflation, agriculture, hunger, unemployment, and on the improvement of the country’s digital connectivity and e-governance.
“We also look forward to the President’s earlier marching orders to improve digital connectivity and e-governance in the country to reach residents of far-flung communities,” said Poe.
“We must break free from connectivity that is unstable, slow and expensive to one that is reliable, fast and affordable,” she urged.
Working with private sector
Meanwhile, Angara is eager to hear about the President’s plan on tie-ups with the private sector.
“Ito po ang unang SONA ni Pangulong Bongbong Marcos at marami ang natuwa sa kanyang inaugural speech nung sinabi niyang gusto niyang makitang maging partner ng pribadong sektor ang gobyerno,” he said in a separate statement Thursday.
(This is the first SONA of President Bongbong Marcos and many expressed joy during his inaugural speech when he said that he wanted the government to partner with the private sector.)
“Maganda ang sinabi ni Presidente Marcos na gusto niya marealize ang potential ng ating bansa. Yung gobyerno ay partner ng pribadong sektor. Katulong ng negosyante ang gobyerno. Gagawing mas madali imbes na pahihirapan ang kanilang buhay,” he went on.
(Marcos’ remark that he wants to realize the country’s potential is good. The government is a partner of the private sector. Businesses are assisted by the government. It will make lives easier for them.)
Angara likewise anticipates that details on improving government services such as health and education will be tackled.
Like Poe, Angara also wants to listen to the Chief Executive’s plan on economic recovery, job generation, and agriculture.
Other senators have also earlier aired their expectations on the president’s first Sona.
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