Marcos’ second SONA

SINCE this column appears the day after the SONA or State of the Nation Address, and since this column had to beat its deadline on Sunday, I could only guess and surmise what President Marcos Jr. said.

As a prelude to the SONA, BBM said that during his first year in office and after his first SONA he made “significant progress.”

The question may be asked: On what did he make significant progress?

In fairness to the President, he assumed office following the COVID-19 pandemic and at a time when there was a looming threat to food security, and a rising inflation that threatened the economy and the well-being of every Filipino.

Added to that were those health protocols requiring masks, social distancing, and washing of hands, and, even worse, those lockdowns.

BBM had in fact assumed the secretaryship of the Department of Agriculture since he realized that food security affected every Filipino, and that following rising inflation when the prices of all consumer goods and services were affected with rising costs.

Since the crimes leveled against Duterte and Dela Rosa are crimes against humanity will they ever escape from the long arms of the ICC?

This is why I consider it unfair to rate the President’s performance whether he failed or not because of what he had to do.

When BBM said that he made “significant progress” since his first SONA, I can guess and surmise what he meant.

As acting DA secretary, he had to tackle rising prices of almost everything.

What was worse was that prices of gasoline and oil worsened by the Russia-Ukraine War had a domino effect not only on transport fares, but on commuters who had to go to office and work, and those who had to earn for their daily existence.

That’s why I can only guess what he meant by “significant progress” on what he had accomplished.

Yes, indeed BBM made significant progress in ensuring food security for all Filipinos and giving them food on the table at affordable prices.

He also had to contend with the smuggling of agri products, like rice, sugar, meat products and even fish and onions, and when there was the need to import, he did authorize importation.

And he even had to contend with cartels that not only hoarded and manipulated prices, which until now is a problem.

There were also other looming crisis brought about by climate change, like water and now even the El Nino phenomenon which tends to affect the country’s farmers and fisherfolk.

At this time , with the onset of the typhoon season, he must contend with floods and landslides.

Yes, the President made significant progress in making the Philippines a foreign investment destination with his many official and state visits not only to countries in Southeast Asia but to the United States and Europe, that, according to records, have begun investing in the Philippines which will provide a lot of jobs for the unemployed and under-employed.

And with the creation of the DMW or Department of Migrant Workers, our OFWs are now protected from abuse and ensured from abuse.

Most importantly, remittances are ensured.

But there are a myriad of things yet to be done to solve the shortage of nurses who had no choice but to go abroad to seek greener pastures because of higher pay and working conditions.

They were even enticed with the benefit of bringing their families to go with them, my gulay! This problem must be prioritized because