Marcos’ 2024 Sona Well-Delivered, But Key Details Lacking – LagmanMarcos’ 2024 Sona Well-Delivered, But Key Details Lacking – Lagman Albay 1st District Representative Edcel Lagman believes that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s 2024 State of the Nation Address (Sona) was well-delivered as issues that needed to be addressed were addressed. However, he noted that the president did not provide specific details on how certain policies would be implemented, such as the ban on Philippine offshore gaming operators (Pogos). Lagman highlighted Marcos’ strong statements on Philippine ownership of the West Philippine Sea and the ban on Pogos due to the social costs they entail for the country. While he agreed with Marcos on some points, Lagman emphasized that the opposition would still present a Counter-Sona to express dissenting opinions based on facts and data. Gabriela party representative Arlene Brosas criticized the Sona as a showcase for “sugared anti-poor policies and false patriotism.” She pointed out the absence of any mention of a significant wage increase, which she said showed the administration’s disconnect from the struggles of ordinary Filipinos. Brosas also criticized the proposed CREATE MORE Act, which she said would provide additional tax breaks for large corporations while workers would receive only a meager P35 pay raise. NOTE: Most of the English translations in the article were translated using AI.
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Albay 1st District Representative Edcel Lagman. INQUIRER.net file photo / NOY MORCOSO
MANILA, Philippines — Albay 1st District Rep. Edcel Lagman believes that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s 2024 State of the Nation Address (Sona) was well delivered as issues that needed to be addressed were addressed.
But even as Marcos mentioned a ban on Philippine offshore gaming operators (Pogos), Lagman said Monday the president did not respond to that.
“President Marcos Jr.’s well-delivered (Sona) would garner approval for several key policy statements, such as the unequivocal assertion of the Philippines’ sovereign rights over the resource-rich West Philippine Sea, albeit a rehash of previous statements; review and amendment of the EPIRA (Electric Power Industry Reform Act); and the total ban on all Pogo activities by the end of 2024,” he said.
“What is missing are the important details in the implementation of the said policy,” he added.
Lagman referred to Marcos’ strong statements on Philippine ownership of the West Philippine Sea and the ban on Pogo because of the social costs it entails for the country.
READ: Marcos: ‘All Pogos are banned!’
According to Lagman, while there were points where he agreed with Marcos, this would not stop the opposition from presenting a Counter-Sona.
“Such agreement on some essential points in the Sona does not mean that a Counter-Sona is not necessary with regard to dissenting opinions based on established facts and validated data on the Philippine economy, poverty, agriculture and food security, education, employment, sustainable human development and human rights – all of which will be discussed in the Counter-Sona of the genuine opposition,” he noted.
Gabriela party representative Arlene Brosas, meanwhile, said Marcos’ sona was just a showcase for “sugared anti-poor policies, false patriotism.”
“President Marcos Jr.’s Sona is a clear sign that his administration remains deaf to the plight of ordinary Filipinos. The conspicuous absence of any mention of a significant wage increase shows how far removed this administration is from the struggle of workers,” Brosas said.
“If I miss any business, the company’s tax benefit can be increased by CREATE More Act to make more money with P35 on the day it takes longer,” she added.
(Large corporations will get hefty additional tax breaks under the president’s proposed CREATE MORE Act, while workers will receive only a paltry P35 pay raise.)
NOTE: Most of the English translations in the article were translated using AI.
