FILE PHOTO Sen. Sonny Angara (Screengrab/ Senate PRIB)
MANILA, Philippines — Senator Sonny Angara on Friday said he wants to hear plans on promoting local products and helping Filipino producers in President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.’s first State of the Nation Address (Sona).
He said helping Filipino producers and promoting Philippine products is his advocacy that he wants the President to also address during the Sona.
“’Yung gusto kong personal na marinig, kasi mayroon akong personal na advocacy sa Senado, ‘yung ‘Tatak Pinoy.’ Paano i-promote ‘yung Philippine products and to level up ‘yung Philippine products and services whether it’s tourism, agriculture, BPOs (business processing outsouring). So ‘yun gusto kong marinig, how he will help the local producers,” Angara said in an interview over ABS CBN’s TeleRadyo.
(I want to hear from the President personally how he will help our local producers. I have personal advocacy in the Senate, “Tatak Pinoy.” So how does he want to promote Philippine products and services and level it up, whether in tourism, agriculture, or BPOs.)
“Baka may naisip siya na paraan, maaaring inspired siya ng kanyang ama or sa kanyang experience bilang governor, congressman, senator, at sa kanyang vision, how will he help Philippine producers?” he added.
(Maybe he has thought of a way. He may have some inspiration from his father or his experience as a governor, congressman, and senator, and in his vision, how will he help Philippine producers?)
Angara said that he has been helping local producers through the Department of Trade and Industry and the Department of Informations and Communications Technology, particularly in getting market access and elevating their marketing strategies.
He also proposed strengthening research and development on local products to boost their competitiveness among other products.
“If you have research and development, you have a better product and a more competitive product. Once your product is good, laban na lang kayo sa marketing at saka pagbebenta ng produkto na kapwa magagaling,” the senator said.
(Once your product is good, you will just compete in marketing and sales.)
Inspirational Sona
Angara also said it is important that Marcos inspire hope among Filipinos in his first Sona, especially amid the dilemmas currently faced by the average Filipino, especially the rising prices of oil and basic goods.
“‘Yung hope, yan ang importante, ‘yung pagbibigay ng pag-asa, o pangarap ‘yung mga tao. The next six years will be a period of potential, of opportunity. It’s important to give people that hope because a lot of people ngayon ay siyempre nawawalan na ng pag-asa sa nangyayari ngayon,” he said.
(It is important to give hope to the people. The next six years will be a period of potential, of opportunity. It’s important to show people that hope because many people are losing hope with everything that’s happening.)
Marcos is set to deliver his first Sona on Monday, July 25, at the Batasang Pambansa Complex.