Salceda: Marcos should address issues on inflation, food security, health in first 100 days

Presumptive President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. will have to face the numerous issues plaguing the country in his first 100 days in the office, Albay 2nd District Representative Joey Salceda has said.

Salceda, chairperson of the House Committee on Ways and Means, said the foremost Marcos Jr. should resolve upon assumption of the country’s highest office is inflation and the massive smuggling of agriculture products in the country.

“Kailangan ayusin niya unang-una [ay]  inflation, awayin nya,” he said in the latest episode of The Mangahas Interviews.

(The first thing he has to fix is inflation.)

“Pangalawa ‘yung agricultural smuggling. I think he has a strong stand against it… It is the biggest sin right now in our political economy. It’s taking advantage of our poor, of our farmers, at the same time of course, nagiging susceptible pa tayo sa bio-security natin obviously dahil smuggled ‘yan,” he added.

(Second is agriculture smuggling.  I think he has a strong stand against it… It is the biggest sin right now in our political economy. It’s taking advantage of our poor, of our farmers, at the same time of course, we’re becoming more susceptible in our bio-security because obviously those are smuggled.)

The legislator also said Marcos Jr. should set clear programs on the country’s education system, traffic woes, the looming problem on power supply and food security, which also precedes malnutrition.

“Syempre ‘yung power shortage, nangangamba tayo na nagkakaron tayo ng mga problema na lalong lalo na sa mga brownout. At syempre ‘yung tubig, kailangan very clear ang kaniyang patakaran sa tubig,” said Salceda.

(Then there’s power shortage. We’re worried we’ll have power supply issues especially brownouts. Of course water, he should have clear policy on it.)

“Pang-apat, traffic. Kailangan ‘yung traffic sa Metro Manila [maayos]. Pang-lima, papaano mo babawin? Dahil hindi naman successful ang ating blended education.  Paano babawiin ang basic education kung magkakaroon ng face-to-face (classes)? Ano yung bridge programs. Gusto ko marinig.. kailangan very clear siya from the start,” he said.

(Fourth is traffic in Metro Manila. He should address that. Fifth is education… how will you recover that? Our blended education was not successful so what will he do when face-to-face classes resume? I want to hear his bridge programs. He should be clear from the start.

“Tapos siguro although andyan yung COVID, sa tingin ko ‘yung wellness na ng atin pong mga pamilya and then yung ating komunindad,” he added.

(Although COVID is still here, I think the wellness of our families and communities.)

Asked if Marcos Jr. should explain the corruption and human rights abuses under the administration of his father, late dictator Ferdinand Marcos Sr., Salceda said:

“There’s nothing he can do kasi eh. He just has to allow the law to take its course without his personal intervention. ‘Yung mga ayaw sa kaniya, hindi mo naman maco-convince eh. ‘Yung gusto sa kanya dati pang kumbinsido. You just have to flaunt the issues first and confront the most basic issues of malnutrition, food security.”

(There’s nothing he can do about it.  He just has to allow the law to take its course without his personal intervention. Those who don’t like him will not be convinced, those who like him have long been convinced. You just have to flaunt the issues first and confront the most basic issues of malnutrition, food security.) -- BAP, GMA News