Press Release - Revilla applauds PBBM on his 3rd SONA; says expectations met

SENATOR Ramon Bong Revilla, Jr. applauded President Ferdinand Bongbong Marcos, Jr.'s third State of the Nation Address (SONA) yesterday, saying the report of the President, which lasted more than an hour and a half, sufficiently met his expectations.

"Nakakahanga ang naging SONA ni Pangulong Ferdinand Bongbong Marcos, Jr. Talagang pinalakpakan ito ng paulit-ulit dahil sa pagiging komprehensibo ng ulat ng mga nagawa ng pamahalaan pati na ang mga konkretong plano na sama-sama pa nating tatahakin," Revilla said. "Kapuri-puri lalo ang naging panimula ng SONA na nagdiin sa importansiya ng presyo ng bigas at pagkain dahil kinikilala nito na hindi magiging lubos anumang progreso na ating makamtan, kung kumakalam ang sikmura ng ating mga kababayan," he explained.

"Lahat naman ng mga nabanggit ko na expectations sa SONA, lumabas at nabigyang diin. Sa pagpapababa ng presyo ng bilihin, food security, sa pagsasaayos ng sahod at trabaho, pagsusulong ng katarungang panlipunan, at patungkol sa ating pambansang seguridad, lahat yan nabigyang diin ni PBBM," the lawmaker added.

In his SONA, President Marcos, Jr. gave particular emphasis on the concerns of inflation and the agricultural sector. He assured the Filipino people that the government is working hard to address their plight especially on the rising costs of goods, enumerating all the efforts his administration is exerting to bolster agriculture and increase national agricultural productivity.

"Masarap pakinggan na alam at dama ng ating Pangulo ang hirap na pinagdaraanan ng ating mga kababayan gaya ng patuloy na hamon sa presyo ng pangunahing bilihin. At alam rin natin na pangunahing problema talaga ang kumakalam na sikmura ng ating mga kababayan. Kaya nakakapanatag na ipinamalas ni PBBM ang malalim na pag-unawa niya sa isyung ito kung kaya't alam din niya na lunas ang pagpapatibay sa sektor ng agrikultura upang maibsan ang gutom ng mga mamamayan," Revilla said.

The solon also praised PBBM's report regarding employment. In his SONA, the President said that the employment rate presents an increase to 95.5% while underemployment decreased from 11.7% last May 2023 to 9.9% today. It is said to be the lowest since 2005. He