Screenshot from RTVM/LIVE
MANILA, Philippines — Lawmakers on Monday said they wanted to see more action from President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
In an ambush interview on the red carpet for Marcos’ third State of the Nation Address (Sona), Senator Robin Padilla said that although he liked to hear more from the President, he also wanted to feel the results of his promises.
READ: Live Updates: Sona 2024
“Our fellow citizens must also feel what he promised from the past two Sonas,” he said in Filipino.
“This includes food security; secondly, what is the plan for the Constitution? Is there a chance for us to have a constitutional convention? I’ve been asking for that for a long time; are we leaning towards constitutional amendment or revision?” he added.
Padilla agreed that discussions on Charter change might not be a priority, but he pointed out that it is still open for debate, citing Senate President Francis Escudero’s statement on the matter.
READ: Officials expect Marcos to tackle key issues in 3rd Sona
Meanwhile, Kabataan party-list Rep. Raoul Manuel said he has “low expectations” from Marcos’ third Sona. He also compared the chief executive to “a confident student who failed to accomplish his assignments.”
“Hindi naman talaga ginawa ang kanyang mga assignment. Ang dami na natin pinresent beforehand — papagparami ng classrooms, pagtaas ng sahod ng ating manggagawa,” he said in an ambush interview.
(He really did not do his assignments even though we already presented a lot beforehand — increasing the number of classrooms and the wages of our workers.)
As Manuel sported his protest barong for the Sona, he emphasized the need to answer the demands of the youth, such as the passage of the Students Rights bill, which seeks to protect them from harassment, among others.