July 21st, 2022
House Ways and Means Chair Joey Sarte Salceda (Albay, 2nd district), who is expected to retain his post as Chair of the powerful House tax panel, has asked President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to articulate “grand national ambitions that are as large and as historic as his mandate from the people” in his first State of the Nation Address this Monday.
“The first SONA is an opportunity for PBBM to show that his mandate to effect big changes will be used to accomplish exactly that – big changes,” Salceda said.
Salceda listed “the reduction of poverty to under 9% by 2028, lift 2.16 million families out of poverty, create a middle class of 15 million families, achieve 8% real GDP growth, lower deficit to 3-4% of GDP, lower debt-to-GDP levels to 53%, and build the foundation for our membership in the OECD by 2040” as the national goals he hopes to see emphasized in the State of the Nation Address.
Most of the goals, Salceda adds, “are also stated in the proposed House Joint Resolution No. 6, or the Build, Build More infrastructure framework,” which the returning House tax panel chair filed.
Salceda also proposed the President Marcos set a total infrastructure spending program of P11 trillion over the next six years “to elevate the Golden Age of Infrastructure first articulated in different terms by his father and then revived by President Duterte.”
Salceda’s HJR 6 proposes to commit the government to spend at least P10.2 trillion on infrastructure in the next six years.
Key priorities expected during SONA
Salceda also said that he hopes President Marcos will address “pressing national priorities crucial to achieving these grand national ambitions.”
“First, and I am sure PBBM seeks the same thing, we need to embark on agricultural revolution unlike anything we have ever seen in the country’s history. That means increasing export value of high value agricultural products to USD 20 billion by the end of his term. That means achieving global competitiveness in corn, potentially this country’s most important crop due to downstream linkages with fuel, manufacturing, and livestock. That means a path to his campaign promise of P20 rice.”
“Second, we need to be decisive with inflation. What we can control are: price gouging, logistics and middleman costs, second-round impacts, and the effect on the most vulnerable sectors. We need a broad range of presidential powers to act in the areas where we have some control.”
“Third, we need to create stronger jobs and support small businesses. I have proposed that we undertake the National Broadband Network program again to give truly global opportunities to our workers and businesses.”
“Fourth, we need to commit to resiliency (climate, financial, cyclical, structural, technological), and sustainability (fiscal, ecological, social) in our national policies.”
“Fifth, we need to reaffirm our commitment to education as the most important social and economic investment. That begins with a smooth and effective return to face-to-face classes.”
“Sixth, we need to recommit to fiscal prudence which has become the most important policy asset of the Philippines since 2001. Our macro-fiscal management and the continuity of such strategy for over two decades now has been the envy of the world. Reaffirming this commitment will assuage the hesitations of the global community.”
Grand ambitions within framework of continuity
Salceda also believes that “President Marcos should frame his grand ambitions within the framework of continuity of national vision.”
“For continuity of effort, I hope PBBM refers to Ambisyon 2040, which was crafted under PNOY and PRRD, and Pagtanaw 2050, crafted by the science community under PRRD, as guiding roadmaps for accomplishing our grand national ambitions.”
“Being guided by these multi-administration efforts will affirm the message of national unity that PBBM was given the national mandate for.”