PBBM touts public infra, econ reforms in 3rd Sona

GOVERNMENT accomplishments, which helped lift 2.5 million workers out of poverty and were “felt” by the masses, became the highlight of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s third State of the Nation Address (Sona).

e chief executive started his one hour and 22 minute SONA speech at the Batasang Pambansa Plenary Hall by citing his “hard lesson” on how the country’s improvements in economic figures “means nothing to a Filipino, who is confronted by the price of rice at 45 to 65 pesos per kilo.”

“My dear countrymen, I know you feel it. We do not ignore your grievances and sufferings,” Marcos said.

He cited government efforts to control rice prices by increasing the production of the food staple by boosting support to farmers, going after hoarders and smugglers, and extending the reduced tariff rates to facilitate the importation of rice, corn, and pork until the end of this year.

Infrastructure projects such as stage two of the Malitubog-Maridagao Irrigation Project, Cabaruan Solar- Powered Pump Irrigation Project in Quirino, Isabela, and the Jalaur River Multipurpose Project sa Iloilo will also help ensure long-term food security, he noted.

“Since this is the main grievance of the people, we will not stop fighting poverty, and in finding a remedy to bring the price of goods back to normal— especially rice,” Marcos said.

The increased availability of affordable food, he said, will be augmented by the government’s nationwide rollout of the “Walang Gutom 2027” by the end of the year.

“The program will go on until we feed the one million most foodpoor families by 2027.”

He said the poverty rate in the country has significantly dropped to 15.5 percent, down from 18 percent in 2021.

Connectivity, energy

ASIDE from agriculture, Marcos said he administration has also

implemented infrastructure projects such as the National Fiber Backbone, which is expected to be completed by 2026 and provide more households access to the internet and energy projects to address the country’s power shortages to help the quality living of Filipinos.

These structures, he said, will also bring in more investments in the country.

“To sustain the country’s economic gains, we are promoting investment - led growth. We have set in motion policies and programs to create an environment conducive for businesses to thrive, like reforms in the capital markets, and implementation of green lanes,” Marcos said.

“As a result, we have greenlane certified’ around a hundred projects with a total investment of about P3 trillion across the sectors of renewable energy, digital infrastructure, food security, and manufacturing,” he added.