Sotto on PRRD's last SONA: “We expect to hear his legislative priorities"
July 27, 2021 04:26 PM
Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III said he expects to learn the President's plans for the Philippines' recovery from COVID, among other pressing matters, during his last SONA.
“We expect to hear the legislative priorities other than what we have already in our table, particularly those measures that will improve the lives of our countrymen and of course the economy."
Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III, along with other lawmakers, expects concrete plans from President Rodrigo Duterte, addressing the economic and social issues that arose from the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.
The President will deliver his sixth and final State of the Nation Address (SONA) on Monday (July 26).
“I expect and hope that there would be a COVID-19 roadmap that the President will lay out so that the next administration will also be able to follow through,” Sotto told reporters in an interview.
Echoing the Senate leader's remarks, Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri said, “What the people truly want to hear from our nation’s leader is what he will do to keep our economy afloat and how he will try to help our country survive this dreadful pandemic in his last twelve months of office."
Senator Joel Villanueva, meanwhile, added that Duterte should focus on ensuring that the country will become "pandemic-proof" through improving the Philippines' health sector.
“Until we produce our own vaccines, we will be at the mercy of vaccine manufacturers who are trying to supply to all nations,” Villanueva said.
Senator Risa Hontiveros added that the President should also share his ideas on how to quicken the national vaccination plan, especially with new coronavirus strains entering the country.
West Philippine Sea
Hontiveros also brought up Duterte's previous promise to strengthen the country's territorial claims amid China's encroachments in the West Philippine Sea (WPS).
Sotto, similarly, said that the President should take a tougher stand on the WPS issue.
“I hope to hear a clear stand on the issue on the West Philippine Sea. Once and for all, let’s hear it,” he told reporters.
Duterte administration's "many gains"
Sotto, meanwhile, added that the President, despite his many promises, still managed to do a commendable job.
“I don’t expect the President to be able to do 100 percent of all the… No president has ever done that here and abroad… Syempre, kukulangin ka, or hindi matutupad kaagad lahat (Of course, he won't get to fulfill all his promises right away,) but there are many gains as far as the administration is concerned,” the Senate leader said.
On Duterte's anti-drug campaign, wherein he assured the public he will eradicate all drug abuse in the country within six months after becoming president, Sotto said, “That was a very difficult promise to make—and to make true. No president will be able to do that in a matter of what, six years.”
“The problem of illegal drugs is confronted with the problem of drug abuse — those are two different animals,” he added.
Legislative agenda
Lawmakers also urged the President to enlighten the public on his legislative agenda for his remaining 12 months in office.
Zubiri guaranteed that the senators are willing to "work double time" to ensure the President's priority measures are passed swiftly.
“We expect to hear the legislative priorities other than what we have already in our table, particularly those measures that will improve the lives of our countrymen and of course the economy,” Sotto added
