Koko Pimentel: Marcos' 3rd SONA should already tackle admin's achievements

President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr.'s third State of the Nation Address (SONA) should already focus on his administration's achievements, Senate Minority Leader Aquilino "Koko" Pimentel III said Wednesday.

"Ito po ay pangatlong SONA na ni President Bongbong Marcos. So dapat achievements na ang marinig natin dito," Pimentel said in an ambush interview.

(This is the third SONA of President Bongbong Marcos so we should be hearing the achievements of his administration.)

"Nu'ng unang SONA siyempre plano. Pangalawang SONA, pwedeng sabihing bumebwelo pa. Itong pangatlong SONA, dapat achievements na po. Lalo na doon sa mga departamentong binigyan ng malalaking halaga sa budget," he added.

(In the first SONA, we heard plans. In the second SONA, we can say they were just getting started. In the third SONA, it should be the achievements especially of the departments given huge budget.)

Among the top concerns that Pimentel wanted to hear were the prices of food, particularly the cost of rice per kilogram, the housing project of the administration, and the ban on the Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGO).

"Number one, ang concern ng taumbayan siyempre agriculture. Pagkain, presyo ng mga bilihin, presyo ng mga pagkain, lalo na ng presyo ng isang kilo ng bigas. So we need to hear from the President sa laki ng halagang binubuhos sa agriculture ano na ang naging resulta," Pimentel said.

(Number one, the concern of the people is agriculture. Food, prices of commodities, prices of food especially the price per kilo of rice. So we need to hear from the President what is the result of the budget given to the agriculture sector.)

To recall, one of Marcos' campaign promises is to bring down the price of rice to P20 per kilogram.

He likewise noted the huge budgetary allocations for the government's housing project.

"I really had my doubts dun sa targets na in-announce ng Department of Housing. I want to hear a report. Ano na ang nangyari sa housing?" he said.

(I really had my doubts on the targets announced by the Department of Housing, I want to hear a report. What happened to the housing projects?)

Earlier this month, Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development Secretary Jose Rizalino Acuzar admitted that it would be difficult to complete the target of six million housing units until 2028.

Lastly, Pimentel said he wants Marcos to "surprise" the public with the announcement of the ban on POGOs.

"Sana gulatin tayo ng Presidente with the surprise announcement of his—kasi Bagong Pilipinas siya nang Bagong Pilipinas—meron siyang bagong polisiya tungkol sa POGO. Ihinto niya na yan," Pimentel said.

(I hope the President will surprise us with the announcement of his new policy on POGO. He should stop its operations.)

"Bagong polisiya nga sa POGO. I-ban na po natin 'yang POGO. 'Yan ang tunay na magbabago nang kaunti sa kalagayan at itsura ng Pilipinas sa ngayon," he added.

(New policy on POGO. POGO should be banned. That would truly change the status of the Philippines.)

The minority chief said he would deliver a contra-SONA if he "feels that it is far from the truth."

Meanwhile, Pimentel said he expects Senate President Francis "Chiz" Escudero to mention the priorities that his leadership had committed to the Legislative Executive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC).

However, Pimentel said it would be "too ambitious" if Escudero will tackle all the 28 priority bills all over again.

"I agree with his earlier pronouncement na mag target na lang kami. 'Yung mga contentious masyado, ipaubaya na natin 'yon sa next set of legislators kasi dahil contentious 'yung issue, i-discuss niya during the campaign para 'yung taumbayan indirectly namimili na rin sila kung sino 'yung pabor (sa mga bills). Kung pabor sila sa issue na yon, botohin nila 'yung mambabatas na pabor dun sa issue na gusto nila," he said.

(I agree with his earlier pronouncement that we should choose the bills we will discuss. Those contentious ones, we should leave it to the next set of legislators because if the issue is contentious, it should be discussed during the election campaign to allow the public to know who are in favor of the bills. If they are in favor of a measure, they should choose the lawmaker who will push for it.)

Congress will open its third regular session on Monday, July 22. Marcos will deliver his third SONA in the afternoon of the same day.—AOL, GMA Integrated News