What should President Marcos include in his first State of the Nation Address (SONA)?
PCIJ staff interviewed experts in the fields of health, education, climate adaptation and mitigation, and peace and security. Here's what they told us:
Former Health Secretary Manuel Dayrit said he wants to hear about his health priorities, citing the country’s shortcomings during the pandemic.
“The health system has to be modernized from the bottom up. Sustained investments have to be made. Issues of human resources have to be addressed,” he said.
“Government has to inspire and mobilize partnerships with the private sector. Work has to move across various sectors, as all sectors have a role to keep people healthy,” Dayrit added.
E-Net Philippines President Olie Lucas said he wants Marcos to discuss plans to address problems in education. “I think we have to move away from [notion] that [it] is only a problem of the education sector. It isn’t. Those problems arise and are linked to problems in other areas,” he said.
In his first State of the Nation Address (SONA) tomorrow, July 25, Marcos is expected to give more concrete details about his plans to address various pressing issues. pic.twitter.com/dHoJww8gQh
— PCIJ (@PCIJdotOrg) July 24, 2022
Center for Energy, Ecology, and Development (CEED) Executive Director Gerry Arances said he wants to hear more about the Philippines' role in climate action. “Climate justice should be centered on people’s rights, more so for the vulnerable communities who unfairly suffer the brunt of climate emergencies.” he said.
“Our demand for climate justice from the international community must go hand in hand with our efforts to deliver clean, affordable electricity on our own shores,” Arances added.
Former Supreme Court Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio said Marcos should talk about the West Philippine Sea dispute: “The West Philippine Sea is the most important policy issue of the Philippines. He must declare that he will assert the arbitral award,” he said.
Gus Miclat of the Initiative for International Dialogue said he wants Marcos to uphold the Bangsamoro peace process. “I would like him to continue what is working, like recognizing and respecting the ascendancy first of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front as the majority members of the parliament — until at least the transition period ends in 2025. Anyway, that is the essence of the law,” he said. — Carmela Fonbuena, Karol Ilagan, and Elyssa Lopez
Illustration by Luigi Almuena