Albay 1st District Rep. Edcel Lagman. INQUIRER.net file photo / NOY MORCOSO
MANILA, Philippines — Albay 1st District Rep. Edcel Lagman believes President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s 2024 State of the Nation Address (Sona) was well-delivered, as issues that needed to be addressed were tackled.
But even if Marcos mentioned a ban on Philippine offshore gaming operators (Pogos), Lagman said on Monday that there were details not touched on by the President.
“The well-delivered [Sona] of President Marcos Jr. would evoke concurrence on some major policy statements like the unequivocal upholding of Philippine sovereign rights over the resource-rich West Philippine Sea, albeit a repetition of previous declarations; review and amendment of the EPIRA (Electric Power Industry Reform Act); and the total ban on all Pogo operations by the end of 2024,” he said.
“What is lacking are the important details in the implementation of said policies,” he added.
Lagman was referring to Marcos’ strong statements regarding the Philippines’ ownership of the West Philippine Sea, and the Pogo ban due to the social costs that it brings to the country.
READ: Marcos: ‘All Pogos are banned!’
According to Lagman, while there were points that he agreed on with Marcos, this would not deter the opposition from delivering a Counter-Sona.
“Such agreement on some vital points in the Sona does not mean that a Counter-Sona is not necessary with respect to dissenting views based on established facts and validated data on the Philippine economy, poverty, agriculture and food security, education, employment, sustainable human development, and human rights – all of which will be discussed in the genuine opposition’s Counter-Sona,” he noted.
Gabriela party-list Rep. Arlene Brosas meanwhile said that Marcos’ sona was only a showcase of “sugarcoated anti-poor policies, false patriotism”.
“President Marcos Jr.’s Sona is a clear indication that his administration remains deaf to the plight of ordinary Filipinos. The glaring absence of any mention of a significant wage increase shows how out of touch this government is with the struggles of workers,” Brosas said.
“Ang mga malalaking negosyo, may sandamukal na karagdagang tax breaks sa ilalim ng isinusulong ng pangulo na CREATE More Act habang sa mga manggagawa mumong P35 na dagdag sahod lang ang ibingay,” she added.
(Large businesses are set to receive hefty additional tax breaks under the president’s proposed CREATE More Act, while workers will only receive a measly increase of P35 in wages.)
NOTE: Most of the English translations in the article were translated with the aid of AI.