NAAWAN, Misamis Oriental (MindaNews / 24 July)—The third state-of-the-nation address (SONA) of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. began with a litany of justifications why the price of rice has not come close to his promise of P20/kg. It may make history as the most stultifying SONA that began with an enumeration of failure rather than on a glorious achievement.
Rice is life for the Filipino. PBBM failed to deliver. The price of rice at the time he promised to bring down has more than doubled to this day. His pronouncement was received by the audience in embarrassed silence.
He received standing ovation, however, in pronouncing that the West Philippines Sea is ours. It is not a conceptual imagery. Atin ang WPS at manatiling atin hanggang ang bansa natin ay may diwa, he said. In other words, Atin ito hanggang kailan man or until the end of never. Sound bites that need some strategic policy to be of value to the security our sovereign territory.
That insurgency across the land has ebbed, if not stopped, and Muslim Mindanao is finally at peace is the closest to the truth of all the claims of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. in his third SONA. Indeed, it is noticeable that the country has finally been spared and rested from uprising and guerrilla warfare.
The tranquility in Mindanao is, made possible, however, through a long process of peace building pursued by past administrations. The blossoms and its fruits are now for us to enjoy. Our gratitude is due to those who labored for it.
PBBM declared that all POGOS or Philippines Offshore Gambling Operators are banned effectively. The ban, however, shall only apply to illegal POGOs not to include the POGOs that are under the watch of the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) because such are authorized by law. He needs to request Congress to repeal RA 11590 soonest possible to stop the disgrace of the country from the despicable crimes it is spawning that includes human trafficking, money laundering, cyberscam, prostitution, forced labor, torture, and murder.
His assurance that the entire archipelago will be connected soon by internet and free Wi-Fi will be provided in public places and schools is heart-warming. It means most business transactions in government and industries may soon be digitalized, thus, paperless. We save trees and minimize wastes. Schools could be linked to information sources and enhance the quality of the education of the learners.
Pragmatic concerns and some beautiful vision that requires the cooperation of Congress and everyone to realize.
By now, it’s a matter of hope.
(MindaViews is the opinion section of MindaNews. William R. Adan, Ph.D., is retired professor and former chancellor of Mindanao State University at Naawan, Misamis Oriental.)