Koko Pimentel: The real state of the nation is worrisome

The real state of the nation is worrisome, Senate Minority Leader Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III said on Monday in his “Kontra SONA” speech.

The lawmaker delivered the speech exactly a week after President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.’s second State of the Nation Address (SONA).

“The State of the Nation is worrisome. Nakakabagabag. Nakakabahala [Troubling. Alarming],” Pimentel said.

He opened his speech by raising the everyday ordeal of normal Filipino citizens such as the high prices of food, water, electricity, rent, and transportation.

“Hindi tama sabihin na ‘Sa mga nakalipas na buwan, nakita natin ang pagbaba ng presyo ng bilihin sa iba’t ibang mga sektor’,” he said, quoting Marcos.

“Meron tayong ‘cost of living crisis’ ngayon. And let us add to this the ‘cost of dying.’ Dapat tignan din ito ng gobyerno.”

(It's not correct to say, 'In the past months, we have seen the prices of goods go down in various sectors.' We have a cost of living crisis. And let us add to this the cost of dying. The government should look into this.)

“That reported 7.6% GDP growth rate in 2022 means nothing to the ordinary Filipino. The cost of living is very high. The income of the typical Filipino family is not enough for their basic needs and for their decent existence as a family of human beings. Those who are employed are not paid living wages. Many are unemployed and many more are underemployed,” he added.

'Ballooning' debt

Pimentel also pointed out that Marcos made no mention of the country’s P14.1-trillion national debt.

“Mr. President, ang lumulobong utang ng bansa ay nararapat lamang na mapag-usapan na. Nakakalungkot na hindi po ito nabanggit ng Pangulo sa kanyang SONA,” he said.

(Mr. President, the country's ballooning debt must be discussed. It is unfortunate that the President did not mention it in his SONA.)

“Mamamatay na lang tayo nagbabayad pa rin tayo ng utang, tapos meron pa tayong ipapamana sa sunod na henerasyon para sila naman ang sumunod sa parehong ikot ng buhay.”

(We're going to die paying off the debt, then the next generation will inherit it  and go through the same life cycle.)

The minority leader also lamented the supposed lack of plans to address corruption, saying this has definitely contributed to nation's debt.

“Baka hindi alam ng Pangulo na dumarami na ang reklamo laban sa korapsyon at marami na rin ang nagsasabi na puno na ng sindikato ang gobyerno, kada ahensiya meron,” he said.

(Perhaps the President does not know that the complaints of corruption are increasing, and many are saying that the government is full of syndicates, that each agency has them.)

“We need this Government to show that it is committed to the fight against corruption. We need to hear the orders being issued. We need to know who are assigned to do the crackdown. We hope President Bongbong Marcos will soon announce his Administration’s gameplan in fighting the worsening corruption,” he added.

'Logo-vernance'

Pimentel also then took a swipe at the government’s apparent rebranding, urging the authorities to spend the money wisely on actual programs that will directly benefit the people.

“This government’s preoccupation with logos, or what I call ‘logo-vernance,’ is a manifestation of wasteful spending and incompetence, if not corruption. Spending millions of pesos for slogans and logos is indicative of misplaced priorities,” he said.

In the last few weeks, agencies including PAGCOR and the Department of Tourism have unveiled new branding, with the former being criticized for its new logo's P3-million price tag and the latter getting flak for the botched rollout of its new slogan.

Pimentel also referenced the Marcos administration's own new "brand of governance," called "Bagong Pilipinas."

“Hindi katumbas ng Pagbabago ang Pag-unlad. Ang slogan na ‘Bagong Pilipinas’ ay hindi pahahalagahan ng taong bayan hanggang sa makita at maramdaman nila na ang pagbabagong ito ay may kaakibat na pag-unlad sa pagtaas at pagbuti ng antas ng pamumuhay ng bawat Pamilyang Pilipino,” he said.

(Change is not the same as Progress. The slogan 'New Philippines' will not be valued by the public until they see and feel that this change is accompanied by the improvement of the lives of each Filipino family.)

In line with his call for the government not to waste funds, Pimentel reiterated his stand against giving confidential and intelligence funds to agencies which are not engaged in national security and public order or law enforcement work.

Pimentel also asked the government to stop the “manifestations of incompetence, if not corruption,” such as the offloading issues at the Bureau of Immigration, the controversies at the Land Transportation Office, the collapsed bridges, and the PNP’s involvement in illegal drugs and its failure to solve and deter killings.

Pimentel also called on the government to stop imposing travel taxes, arguing that the 1987 Constitution guarantees the liberty to travel.

The minority leader also questioned the Department of Justice’s halting of monthly conferences on the cases of the missing sabungeros as well as the junking of a murder case filed against policemen.

Health and education

Pimentel agreed with Marcos’ comments on education, but highlighted the need to fix the software—curriculum, content, manner of teaching—and the hardware—the classrooms, facilities, and materials.

He likewise proposed the incorporation of computer coding or programming in the curriculum to prepare students for the future high-technology world.

On the country’s health problems, Pimentel raised the need for a national geriatric hospital; assistance for families taking care of persons with mental health conditions in addition to the exemption of VAT in certain medicines; and more assistance to persons with disabilities across the country.

Healthcare workers also deserve a career path even in government service, Pimentel said, saying government doctors and nurses do not receive enough allowances and benefits.

Wages and cost of living

Pimentel also questioned the non-mention of the need to increase wages amid the “ever-increasing cost of living in the Philippines.”

He slammed once again the government's figures on employment, saying these are misleading and do not reflect the true state of the nation.

Pimentel had earlier criticized the employment figures mentioned in the SONA—particularly that the employment rate as of May 2023 was 95.7 percent, which he said was "far from reality."

NEDA chief Secretary Arsenio Balisacan defended the figure, saying that the administration's definition of an employed person is "consistent with global practices."

Food prices, smugglers

On the issue of food, Pimentel called the Kadiwa stores, which Marcos hailed in his second SONA, as a “band-aid solution.”

“What we should understand is that the Kadiwa stores are in effect pop-up discount stores which are location-bound, time-bound, and with limited supply of goods. In short, these are set up quickly for short-term operation in a temporary location. Band-aid solution,” Pimentel said.

“Ang kailangan natin ay pangkalahatang pagbaba ng presyo ng mga bilihin, lalo na ng pagkain sa buong bansang Pilipinas. Walang pinipili, lahat makikinabang. And to achieve this with food items, I agree that we have to boost agricultural production. And our farmers must be able to sell in volume,” he added.

(What we need is the overall lowering of the prices of goods, especially food, in the entire country. Nobody favored, everyone benefit

He likewise raised the need for the government to explain the spike in the prices of onions and sugar as well as the controversies that surround these food items.

On the President’s warning against smugglers, Pimentel pointed out that smugglers won’t be held accountable if the government has not identified them yet.

“The President said ‘Bilang na ang mga araw ng mga smugglers at hoarders na ‘yan.’ Kilala na ba natin sila, para makapa umpisa na tayo sa pagbibilang ng araw?” he asked.

(The President said that smugglers and hoarders' days are numbered. Do we know who they are, so we can start counting the days?)

Pimentel also advised the presidential staff to "exercise vigilance and impose the highest standards" when it comes to vetting people allowed to join the President on trips abroad.

One million houses

Marcos’ promise to build more than one million houses a year for the next six years to address the country’s housing gap might not be achievable, Pimentel also said.

“I think the President is overpromising on the housing units that can be delivered in a year's time. I don't think it can be done,” he said, adding that the project should not be rushed, especially if the plan is to build housing units in high-rise structures—which he also cautioned against.

Maharlika Fund, foreign relations

Meanwhile, Pimentel lauded Marcos for mentioning the Maharlika Investment Fund only in passing.

“It is good that the MIF was not touted to be his administration’s greatest achievement in its first year, as achievement it is clearly not… The President should have explained to the Filipino people why he pushed for this measure, why he rushed this measure, when it is not necessarily needed,” he said.

Pimentel said it is also “disappointing” not to hear Marcos discuss national defense and international relations, which he said are relevant to the issues of the West Philippine Sea, the addition of more EDCA sites, housing Afghan refugees, and US military aircraft's landing at Philippine airports.

“As a responsible member of the community of nations, we should do our part as a friendly people. Instead of hosting foreign military forces and bases which could be interpreted by other nations as directed against them, why don’t we instead host talks which improve the relations between and among nations? Host talks, not bases,” Pimentel said.

POGOs

The non-mention of Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs) is “another curious omission” in Marcos’ SONA, Pimentel said.

“Crimes related to POGOs—kidnappings, tortures, illegal detentions, cyber frauds, scams, tax evasions, and human trafficking, among many others—have been well documented and are increasing. Yet there has been no action, no change in policy,” he said.

“The Philippines is fast becoming another scam capital of the world, no thanks to these POGO operations,” he added, mentioning the recent raids in Pampanga and Las Piñas.

In line with this, Pimentel suggested instituting “Kalaban sa Pandaraya” programs and beefing up the enforcement of laws against fraud.

Pimentel also made the following recommendations:

• Appoint a regular Agriculture secretary
• Review the formulas used for the national demand for various agricultural products, saying these are the formulas used to justify the importation of the commodities.
• Craft specific and detailed programs to guide MSMEs and the creatives industry.
• Create a “Malasakit para sa Mamumuhunan Center” which will guide long-term investors with the “unique” governmental system and approvals
• Replace the VAT system with Goods and Services Tax
• Reform the Party List system

— BM, GMA Integrated News