President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Monday said he would report on the progress the country has made under his leadership during his second State of the Nation Address (SONA) next week.
“It’s really very simple. It’s just a performance report for Filipinos to see if the many pronouncements and words said were relevant or were just mere words,” the President said during an interview.
“We’ll see. That’s what I want to explain to people, that we have made significant progress. We can see the difference now, not only in terms of how the systems work, how the government works, it is also how we are seen or judged in the international community. That’s equally important,” he added.
“My SONA is a report to the people. We will show the things we discussed last year, this is what we have accomplished, and these are the things we still need to do,” Marcos said.
The Philippine National Police (PNP) on Monday said it has yet to detect security threats to the President during his SONA on July 24.
Similarly, the Quezon City Police District (QCPD) has yet to receive any application from groups that will hold protest actions, but it anticipates the presence of various groups on the day of the SONA.
PNP spokesperson Col. Jean Fajardo told reporters in a press briefing held at Camp Crame in Quezon City that the PNP will conduct simulation exercises, communication exercises, walk throughs, clearing operations and contingency planning in case there are protests.
The PNP spokesperson urged groups to hold their actions at the Quezon Memorial Circle, the designated freedom park in the city.
In case groups decide to march from the University of the Philippines-Diliman Campus to the Luzon Avenue flyover along Commonwealth Avenue, Fajardo said the police will observe maximum tolerance and will allow them to express themselves.
Meanwhile, QCPD Director Brig. Gen. Nicolas Torre III said they have conducted a simulation of what could transpire during the SONA, including a possible face-off with protesters.
“Basically, this is a refresher of our crowd disturbance management technique and tactics,” Torre said. There will be around 5,000 police officers deployed at the House of Representatives and the Batasang Pambansa complex on July 24, half of them from the QCPD.
Torre also said maximum tolerance will be exercised.
The PNP earlier said more than 22,000 policemen and augmentation forces will be tapped to secure the President’s SONA.
Meanwhile, Senate Majority Leader Joel Villanueva said the new government branding “Bagong Pilipinas” clearly sets the direction and objectives that the administration of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.wants to accomplish.
“We are one with President Bongbong Marcos in ensuring that the government puts the welfare and interests of Filipinos first through good governance,” he said.
“It is a strong reminder for every public servant, that again public office is a public trust,” he said.
Senator Jinggoy Estrada said while some individuals have expressed reservations about the branding itself, he said the “Bagong Pilipinas” brand of governance and leadership is not simply about superficial image-building.
Estrada said it is about cultivating a culture of good governance and progressive leadership across all levels of government.
“It entails implementing policies and initiatives that promote transparency, combat corruption, and uplift the lives of our fellow Filipinos,” also said Estrada.
“Our country deserves a government that is responsive, accountable, and dedicated to the welfare of its citizens,” said the senator as he conceded that it is expected any new initiative will be subject to scrutiny and varying opinions.
Senator Francis Escudero described the new branding as inspiring. He said it’s a “new beginning…” and will hopefully encourage government officials and employees not to be burdened by the frustrations and failures of the past to do a good and better job today.”
Minority Leader Senator Aquilino Pimentel III quipped in Filipino: “Are we all about logo-vernance now?”
Senator Risa Hontiveros added that no slogan is needed.
“What can help is honest-to-goodness economic growth. Each agency should lay down what they should do,” she said.