NOT LEFT BEHIND. Albay 2nd District Rep. Joey Salceda is flanked by Ako Bicol Party-list Representatives Elizaldy Co (left) and Raul Angelo Bongalon as they give their assessments on President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s second State of the Nation Address on Monday (July 24, 2023). They said they would continue to support the legislative agenda of the administration. (PNA photo by Connie Calipay)
LEGAZPI CITY – Lawmakers from Bicol on Monday said the region was not left behind in the different programs and projects implemented and accomplished by the administration after they witnessed President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. deliver his second State of the Nation Address (SONA) at the House of Representatives in Quezon City on Monday.
In an interview after the SONA, Ako Bicol Partly-list Rep. Elizaldy Co said in terms of legacy projects of the Marcos administration, there are now two in Bicol -- a hospital and housing projects.
"We are part of the six regions that will have a legacy hospital, ‘yung iba hindi pa nakakapag-bid, tayo nakapag-start na (Others have not yet started bidding but we have already started). Another one is on housing, it already started in Naga City. In Legazpi City, last week Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DSHUD) Secretary Jose Rizalino Acuzar visited us, so hopefully we will also have the Pambansang Pabahay Program," Co said.
He also noted the Pambansang Pabahay Para sa Pilipino Housing (4PH) Program, saying that for this year, Congress has allocated a PHP9-billion subsidy FOR the social project at zero interest.
"Parang tinatarget (It is being targeted) is PHP3,500 lang per month which is pang-probinsiya talaga (it is really a provincial rate)," he said, referring to the monthly amortization of 4PH units.
Co, who is also chair of the Committee on Appropriations, said Bicolanos must not worry as President Marcos will not let them down.
"We are ahead, we are thankful to the President since we have lots of blessings," he said.
Co also gave a perfect score for Marcos’ first year of service.
For his part, Albay 2nd District Rep. Joey Salceda said Marcos is the only president in recent history to place centrality on nation-building.
"President Marcos's historic mandate is a license for more ambitious national goals. He can pursue difficult objectives with massive support from our people and the legislative," he told the Philippine News Agency.
Salceda said nine out of the 17 priority legislative measures presented to the SONA by President Marcos are with the Committee on Ways and Means, which he chairs.
Albay 3rd District Rep. Fernando Cabredo said despite Marcos not getting majority of votes in Bicol, the region is not being left behind in terms of infrastructure and other development projects.
He said other presidents had a "honeymoon period" of one year after the election but with Marcos, it would be at least two years.
"It must be two years since we are in the recovery stage of the pandemic. If you listen to the SONA, he emphasized that gross domestic product grew 7.6 percent in 2022, and we are the fastest in Asia," Cabredo said.
He said the farm-to-market roads are a vital factor in the development of any area and significantly resolved tremendous progress in certain areas.
On the other hand, Ang Probinsiyano Party-list (APPL) Rep. Alfred Delos Santos welcomed the legislative agenda of the President.
He assured APPL's continuing support and that it will continue working tirelessly alongside the administration.
“Naniniwala po tayong (we believe) we see eye to eye with President in working towards a better future for the Filipino people, especially those in the provinces. Makakaasa po ang ating Pangulo na tuloy-tuloy lang ang suporta ng Ang Probinsiyano Party-list sa mga platorma nito sa mga susunod na taon (Our President can count on the continued support of Ang Probinsiyano Party-list for its platforms in the years to come),"he said.
He said APPL will work on improving the sectors of education, health, agriculture, tourism and livelihood, and peace and order.
“I think our President did more than a job well done. It is very encouraging to see and hear mula sa bibig mismo ng President that the state of the nation is sound, and is improving (from the President himself that the state of the nation is sound, and is improving. It's only the President's first year but we have done a lot for the people. But we know it won't end here. We still have a lot to do),” he stressed.
Meanwhile, Ako Bicol Party-list Rep. Raul Angelo Bongalon said he is giving the President an 8.5 score for his first-year performance.
"The 1,200-kilometer Luzon Spine Expressway Network Program train mentioned by the President will give confidence to the Bicolanos and the people of the Southern Region. It will also boost our economic condition especially if it will fasten the transport of goods and services from and to southern part," he said. (PNA)
