Former Senator Leila de Lima answers questions from the media in an ambush interview on Monday, June 24, 2024, after the Muntinlupa Regional Trial Court acquitted her in the last drug-related case filed by the Duterte administration. (File photo from INQUIRER.net/RYAN LEAGOGO)
MANILA, Philippines — The people want President Ferdinand Marcos to deliver the ‘real’ State of the Nation Address (Sona) where the country’s pressing issues will be discussed alongside its accomplishments, former Senator Leila De Lima said on Friday.
In an interview with Teleradyo, de Lima expressed that real and genuine reports are what make up the Sona.
“Hindi lang ‘yong mga supposed accomplishments ang nire-report, kung hindi ‘yong mga problema. Importante kung ano ‘yung magiging solusyon,” she said.
(Supposed accomplishments are not just reported, but also the problems. It is important to know what the solutions will be.)
De Lima listed down the economic issues that the Filipinos are facing such as the soaring inflation, the lack of fulfillment of the P20-per-kilo-of-rice campaign promise, the low wages and unemployment.
“May mga ipinangako po na mga bagay bagay na talaga namang natatandaan ng taong bayan pero hindi nila nakita na nangyari katulad na lang ng mga presyo. Pangunahing concern ‘yan,” she noted.
(There have been promises that the people remember, but they failed to see them happen, just like the prices [of basic goods]. That’s the main concern.)
According to the latest ‘Ulat ng Bayan’ survey released by Pulse Asia last Friday, controlling inflation is regarded as an urgent national concern by the majority of Filipinos.
On the other hand, based on the record of Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), June 2024 inflation rate was marked at 3.7 percent, with slower increases in housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels.
PSA also identified the main contributors to the inflation as food and non-alcoholic beverages.
READ: Filipinos want to know gov’t steps on inflation
Under the ‘Program 29’ of the administration, rice is sold at P29 per kilo in select Kadiwa stores for eligible beneficiaries.
They include senior citizens, solo parents and members of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps).
De Lima also listed low wages and unemployment as top concerns of Filipinos.
Meanwhile, the P35 increase in minimum wage from P610 to P645 in the National Capital Region is regarded as an “insult” by labor groups.
They pointed to its ineligibility to sustain a minimum wage worker’s daily economic needs.
The Philippine Statistics Authority reported there were 2.11 million jobless Filipinos in May, slightly higher than the record of 2.01 million jobless Filipinos in April.
National Statistician Dennis Mapa attributed this situation to the increase in the country’s labor force.
He said agriculture and forestry registered the highest number of job losses annually, translating to 1.02 million jobs.
Meanwhile, de Lima has an observation on how the administration handles the territorial dispute with China.
“Unlike sa previous administration, mas nagiging assertive ngayon ‘yung BBM administration. Pero ano pa ba ang pwede dahil wala pa ring katapusan ang pangbu-bully sa atin ng China?” she asked.
(Unlike the past administration, the BBM administration has become more assertive now. But what else can be done because China’s bullying against us has not stopped?)
She emphasized that forming alliances with more countries can get China off our territories, adding that diplomatic and legal means should be exhausted.
The Philippines has conducted joint patrols in the West Philippine Sea with the United States, Australia and France amid China’s aggressive and coercive actions in the area.
On the other hand, at least 26 countries have also reaffirmed their support for the 2016 Arbitral Award favoring the Philippines’ claims over the West Philippine Sea during Stratbase’s conference last July 12.
READ: West PH Sea: Majority of Pinoys believe PH must form alliances – survey
De Lima also backed former Supreme Court Associate Justice Antonio Carpio’s recommendation on the filing of another case in the Permanent Court of Arbitration.
“Takot ang China sa legal cases kasi alam nila na wala silang kalaban-laban. Alam nila na tayo ang nasa tama,” she said.
(China is scared of legal cases because they know they have no defense. They know we are right.)
When asked what she grade she can give to the Marcos administration, de Lima answered that she wanted to have a “complete” and “more thorough” assessment of the performance after Marcos delivers his Sona.