PRIORITY MEASURES. Senate Minority Leader Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III vows to support President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.'s priority legislative measures during the Kontra Sona he delivered at the Senate plenary on Monday (July 29, 2024). Pimentel emphasized the need to focus on solving the country's numerous problems and called for unity, creativity, connectivity, and community as the formula for national development. (Photo courtesy of Senate PRIB)
MANILA – The Senate Minority has pledged to support President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.'s priority legislative measures, including the Maritime Zones Law, Archipelagic Sea Lanes Law, and the law granting legal personality to the Board of the Loss and Damage Fund.
Senate Minority Floor Leader Aquilino Pimentel III made the assurance during his "Kontra" SONA 2024, or the Minority bloc’s reaction to the recent State of the Nation Address (SONA) of President Marcos during the regular session on Monday.
"The Senate Minority, with the permission of my partner [Deputy Minority Leader Risa Hontiveros], is ready to cooperate with the President in the passage of the legislative measures he requested in the SONA," Pimentel said.
Despite political differences, Pimentel acknowledged the President's love for the country and his efforts to address pressing issues.
"In conclusion, I believe the President delivered his best SONA so far. We may not be political allies, we may not see eye-to-eye in our proposed solutions to our country’s most pressing and serious problems, but that SONA delivered by the President convinced me of these things: that President Marcos loves his country and that he is trying his best," he said.
The Senate Minority emphasized the need to focus on solving the country's numerous problems and called for unity, creativity, connectivity, and community as the formula for national development.
"Once again, let me say this: Given our country’s numerous problems, which include our astronomical national debt, we cannot afford to lose time and waste resources. Let us focus on what is truly important to the life of the Filipino," Pimentel stressed.
He also expressed their commitment to fulfilling their role as the "check and balance" in the Senate and working towards a just, fair, progressive, and safe society.
Pimentel commended President Marcos for fulfilling his constitutional duty and for effectively structuring his speech highlighting his decision to ban POGOs, acknowledging that it addressed a significant concern of the Filipino people.
To address flood control, he emphasized the importance of behavioral change, urging citizens to stop littering and contractors to avoid conflicts of interest by staying out of politics.
Pimentel also called on President Marcos to prioritize nutrition programs, review the PhilHealth charter, strengthen basic education, reassess its curriculum, and support the agriculture sector. (PNA)
