(Photo by Joey Razon)
CITY OF SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga – The second State of the Nation Address (SONA) of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Monday generated positive reactions from people in Central Luzon, who lauded him for gaining headway in the implementation of programs and projects for the betterment of the nation and Filipinos.
As the President enumerated his administration’s accomplishments in the past 12 months, local officials and residents in the region were convinced that he made significant progress in his initiatives to uplift the lives of Filipinos, especially those in the marginalized sector.
They also believe and hope that the Marcos administration could sustain what it started as the President presented a clear vision of the government’s plan for the next five years.
Mayor Rico Roque of Pandi, Bulacan expressed enthusiasm for the President’s plan to expand the Pambansang Pabahay Para sa Pilipino Housing Program (4PH).
“Pinasasalamatan po natin ang ating mahal na Pangulong Marcos sa pagtugon n'ya sa ating pangarap para sa pamilyang Pandieño na magkaroon ng sariling bahay. At labis po tayong nagagalak sa kanyang nabanggit sa SONA na papalawigin pa niya ang programa sa abot-kayang pabahay (We are thankful to President Marcos for fulfilling the dream of the Pandieño families of having their own house. We are glad on what he mentioned in his SONA that he will expand the program),” Roque said.
Regine Francisco-Manahan, a staff nurse at the Dr. Gloria Lacson General Hospital, said the plan of the President to prioritize the establishment of more specialty hospitals will ensure that residents outside Metro Manila will have easier access to quality healthcare.
Most of them, she said, cannot afford medical treatment due to its high costs and the lack of facilities in the provinces.
Manahan thanked the President for making medicines affordable for ordinary people which reflected his commitment to push for pro-poor measures.
“Ako rin po natutuwa sa binanggit ng Pangulo na ipapamahagi na sa amin ang Covid health emergency allowance at iba pang mga nabinbing benepisyo para mga health workers (I am also happy on what the President said about the planned distribution of the Covid health emergency allowance and other pending benefits for the health workers),” she added.
Stakeholders of the agriculture sector hailed the President’s SONA with high hopes that his administration will continue the plans and programs that would uplift the plight of the farmers.
"Yung pagkakaloob ng titulo ng lupa sa mga agrarian reform beneficiaries at maging ang pagsabatas ng Agrarian Emancipation Act ay napakahalagang repormang pansakahan na kanyang pinatupad. Napalaking tulong nito sa mga katulad kong magsasaka at nawa’y magtuloy pa ang suporta sa agrikultura (The awarding of land titles to the agrarian reform beneficiaries and the passage into law of the Agrarian Emancipation Act are important reforms that he implemented. This is a big help to the farmers like me and hopefully, the support to agriculture will continue),” said Gregorio Salas, a farmer from San Isidro, Nueva Ecija.
Rizalina San Jose, a retired college teacher, thanked the President for putting a premium on education.
“The President’s promise that he will not let a student’s financial constraints be a hindrance to his or her education only shows his deep concern for education. Deserving and talented students without the financial capacity to attend school will no longer have to worry about finishing their studies,” San Jose said.
Former overseas Filipino worker (OFW) Riza Carlos, meanwhile, praised the President for looking after the welfare of migrant workers.
Carlos said the Marcos administration’s efforts in working out for the unpaid salaries and other related claims of some OFWs, who have been put out of work in Saudi Arabia during the pandemic is a demonstration of his strong commitment to the welfare of the migrant workers.
“It is also happy to hear that his administration has signed agreements with several countries which signified interest to explore bilateral labor cooperation with the Philippines in the areas of healthcare, tourism, hospitality, engineering, construction, and information technology,” she added. (PNA)
