State of the nation steady; people expect President to lead country to higher ground

President Ferdinand R. Marcos’ second State of the Nation Address (SONA) today is the occasion at which he will report on what his administration has done — one full year after assuming office — to improve the Filipinos’ quality of life and chart the country’s forward pathways to economic prosperity.

In his first SONA last year, he had only three weeks to assess and interpret the state of the nation. He took his oath of office at noon on June 30. 2022, less than two months after being elected president with an overwhelming 60 percent vote and a record winning margin over his closest opponent. At this time last year, the country was emerging from more than two years of a crippling pandemic marked by a series of enhanced quarantine and intermittent lockdown measures.

Today he speaks from the Batasang Pambansa podium with a greater measure of confidence after nearly 13 months in office. He has ordered the lifting of the national public health emergency that has been in force since March 2020 due to the rampant coronavirus contagion. Evidently, there is no more need for restraint measures as normalcy has been restored in all spheres of activity.

The economy is firmly on recovery mode. While the latest reported rise in gross domestic product (GDP) at 6.4 percent was the lowest in seven quarters following the country’s rebound in the second quarter of 2021, the Asian Development Bank forecasts that “(it) will remain on a healthy expansion mode, underpinned by rising domestic demand and a recovery in services particularly tourism.”

Two key economic indicators, namely, inflation and unemployment, also provide an auspicious augury. First, inflation declined for the fifth consecutive month in June, while the country’s unemployment rate in May this year stood at 4.3 percent, compared to 6.0 percent a year ago.

The institutionalization of social protection measures to protect the poorest and most vulnerable is yet another important milestone. This was formalized at the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Board meeting last April chaired by the President. The government would support Filipinos “who are unable to earn sufficient income, including those who are part of the informal economy” through unemployment insurance, social insurance coverage for temporary workers, worker compensation benefits, and provisions for emergency employment, and universal health care. Latest government data showed that the poverty incidence rate rose to 18.1 percent in 2021 from 16.7 percent in 2018 due to massive joblessness triggered by the steep recession. Now that the economy is on the mend, the NEDA sees clear pathways toward the country’s attainment of upper middle income status by 2025.

When asked recently how he would rate his one-year performance, President Marcos said he would give himself a grade of “Incomplete.” Indeed, no President should be complacent after a year’s performance.

While the State of the Nation is essentially stable, much more needs to be done in the remaining five years. The President’s overwhelming mandate imposes a higher bar of performance excellence. The Filipino people expect him to lead the country to higher ground.

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Credit belongs to: www.mb.com.ph