News Roundup 24 July 2023
Jul 24, 2023 • 5 min Read
Strong economy? Makabayan downplays Marcos’ claim of economic gains | INQUIRER.NET – MANILA, Philippines — Lawmakers from the House of Representatives’ Makabayan bloc have downplayed President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s claim of economic gains, saying that the country has been facing a bad inflation spate since 2022.
According to Gabriela Rep. Arlene Brosas, Marcos tried to make it appear that the Philippines is in a much better state under his administration, but inflation numbers have risen to 14-year-high levels.
Headline inflation rate for December was at 8.1 percent in December 2022 — the highest since November 2008. It has receded in recent months however, tapering down to 5.4 percent in June 2023.
“President Marcos Jr. tried to paint a picture of a strong economy in the Philippines despite the rising prices of food and basic commodities. Ordinary Filipinos are facing inflation rates that haven’t been seen in 14 years, high prices amid low wages, and yet the president claims that it is all under control,” Brosas said.
“Ito na ba ang Bagong Pilipinas na ibinibida ng pangulo? ‘Tila Bangungot na Pilipinas ang hatid ng gobyerno. Hindi binanggit ang P14 trillion na utang gobyerno, mumong sahod ng mga manggagawa, at panibagong dagdag buwis sa ilalim ng panukalang Digitax, Excise Tax on Plastic Bags, at iba pa,” he added.
(Is this the new Philippines that the President is proud of? It seems more of a “Nightmare Philippines” from the government. The P14 trillion debt of the government was not mentioned, along with the small salary of workers, the additional taxes on digital products, excise taxes on plastic bags, and others.)
Despite the mention of several issues in the country, Brosas scored the President for being mum on human rights concerns.
Full Story at: Strong economy? Makabayan downplays Marcos’ claim of economic gains | Inquirer News
No mention of Pogo stance in President’s 2nd Sona | INQUIRER.NET – MANILA, Philippines — Despite calls from some lawmakers for the government to take a decisive stance on whether or not to ban Philippine offshore gaming operations, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. made no mention of this issue during his second State of the Nation Address on Monday.
Hours before Marcos delivered his Sona, Senate Minority Leader Koko Pimentel and Senate ways and means panel chair Sherwin Gatchalian pressed the chief of state to explain the continued existence of Pogos despite the alarming rise of crimes allegedly linked to this industry.
But in his speech that lasted for over an hour, Marcos did not once raise the issue of Pogos.
“It’s unfortunate na hindi nabanggit ng ating Pangulo iyong Pogos, specifically, but he mentioned peace and order. And importante iyon because in any policy of attracting investors, peace and order should be a very critical aspect,” Gatchalian told INQUIRER.net in an interview.
(It’s unfortunate that the President did not talk about Pogos, specifically, but he mentioned peace and order. And that’s important because in any policy of attracting investors, peace and order should be a very critical aspect.)
Full Story at: No mention of Pogo stance in President’s 2nd Sona | Inquirer News
Progress on ‘P20/kilo’ rice promise missing from Marcos’ second SONA | PHILSTAR.COM – MANILA, Philippines — In his second State of the Nation Address, President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. did not say if he’s making headway in fulfilling a major campaign promise: Bringing down the prices of rice to P20 per kilo.
It’s a promise that he has repeatedly vowed to honor in previous speeches, but was left out of his major report to the people that celebrated how inflation “is moving in the right direction” after becoming “the greatest problem that we encountered”.
Over a year into the Marcos administration, the prices of rice remain far from the level that the president had promised. Data from the Department of Agriculture — helmed by Marcos — shows that the prices of well-milled local commercial rice in Metro Manila ranged between P40-49 per kilo as of July 21.
Meanwhile, the prices of regular milled rice in the capital region ranged between P36-44 a kilo.
In past speeches, Marcos said rice is already being sold at P25 per kilo in government outlets through his “Kadiwa ng Pangulo” program, where major farm products are being sold at lower prices.
Full Story at: Progress on ‘P20/kilo’ rice promise missing from Marcos’ second SONA | Philstar.com
Marcos tight-lipped on West Philippine Sea dispute in 2nd SONA | PHILSTAR.COM – MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. in his State of the Nation Address (SONA) on Monday kept his lips sealed on the Philippines’ claim over the West Philippine Sea.
However, Marcos maintains that the country’s independent foreign policy has been effective.
“Our independent foreign policy—a friend to all and enemy of none—has proven effective. We formed strategic alliances with our traditional and newfound partners in the international community,” he said.
This was not the first time Marcos kept mum on the disputed islands.
In his previous SONA, Marcos guaranteed the country’s sovereignty, saying that he will “not preside over any process that will abandon even a square inch of the territory of the Republic of the Philippines to any foreign power.”
However, this year, the president gave minimal mention of the issues surrounding the West Philippine Sea.
China and the Philippines have been in a territorial standoff following China’s sweeping claims on the West Philippine Sea.
Full Story at: Marcos tight-lipped on West Philippine Sea dispute in 2nd SONA | Philstar.com
