A lawmaker has called out President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. for seemingly having no achievements to present in his fifth State of the Nation Address (Sona), adding that the labor sector was still ignored, with no mention of key pro-worker bills.
Kamanggagawa party-list Rep. Elijah San Fernando took a different meaning from the Sona – which he called ‘State of No Achievement’ – as he claimed that Marcos had nothing significant to present.
He also noticed that the president disregarded longtime advocacies of workers, such as the push for a legislated wage increase and the abolition of regional wage boards.
‘State of No Achievement for the labor sector […]. Actually, we are ready if the president will show that the workers are part of the priority. But aside from the push for a higher income tax exemption, we have not heard anything from President Bongbong Marcos,’ San Fernando said in an ambush interview after the Sona on Monday.
‘First, there is a legislated P200 wage increase filed here before Congress, but the president set that aside,’ the lawmaker observed.
He cited an example: ‘House Bill No. 8081, which seeks to abolish the provincial wage rates, 200 lawmakers, including House Speaker Bojie Dy, support it, but the president also did not give priority to this.’
San Fernando said Marcos also failed to take a stand on contractual workers.
And while it is good that the president raised proposals to remove the system loss charges of electric utilities, the lawmaker said the chief executive was silent on the reduction or removal of value added tax (VAT).
‘About ending contractualization for both public and private sector, he mentioned in his Sona the job order workers and those under contract of service. We expected that the president may mention anything about the time being ripe to end contractualization, especially in government, but we have not heard anything,’ San Fernando said.
‘It’s a good thing that income tax exemption will be increased. We will support that. It’s also a good thing that the president announced that the system loss (charge) will be removed. But more than that, it seems the president is mute when it comes to reducing or removing the [VAT] on electricity,’ he added.
San Fernando also called out the administration’s reliance on social aid or ‘ayuda,’ as Marcos mentioned the Assistance for Individuals in Crisis Situations (AICS) and the Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers (TUPAD) – two major aid programs of the government.
‘The big problem is that the workers are shortchanged through unending AICS, TUPAD and other forms of aid,’ he said.
Marcos’ fifth Sona, which lasted an hour and 26 minutes, centered on different measures that he asked Congress to pass, including a proposal to increase the income tax exemption; amnesty for unpaid taxes; amendments to the Electric Power Industry Reform Act (Epira); and other energy-related bills.
While many praised Marcos’ Sona, several sectors lamented that the speech was filled with aspirations and unreached accomplishments.
According to former Bayan Muna Rep. Carlos Zarate, Marcos has a ‘failing’ mark as it is ‘loaded with populist rhetorics but lacking in real hard solutions.’
Zarate asked why there was no discussions on the anti-political dynasty law, the communist peace process, and the worsening human rights situation.
Fisherfolk group Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya), meanwhile, claimed that Marcos’ speech had several contradictions.
The group said the president was impassioned about protecting national sovereignty, but he allowed foreign interests to creep in through economic agreements with the United States (US) – particularly the proposed Pax Silica initiative and the Luzon Economic Corridor