Indeed, President Marcos Jr. and his administration had made significant progress in the one year of his administration
Next Monday, President Marcos Jr. will deliver his second SONA or State of the Nation Address.
As a prelude on what to expect, the President said, “ We have made significant progress.”
Significant progress on what? – this may be asked.
As acting secretary of agriculture, BBM found the need for food security as the primary concern following rising inflation and other concerns created by worldwide events like the oil and gasoline crisis that also created domino effects not only on transport fares, but also on almost all consumer goods.
Santa Banana, all this following the COVID-19 pandemic.
As acting agriculture secretary, the President realized food security is a priority to ensure food on the table for the people.
This arises from multiple problems in agriculture which also include the assurance that producers and farmers must have to be modernized and assured enough return on investments to enable them to produce more.
This concern includes fisherfolk for a return on the fish they catch.
What became an immediate problem of agricultural production was the frequent smuggling of vital food items like rice, sugar, imported meat and fish, and onions because of the existence of cartels that not only smuggle agricultural products but hoard and manipulate prices to the detriment of consumers.
In the wake of these, the President has decided to continue as secretary of agriculture in an acting capacity for good reasons to ensure food security for the people at affordable prices.
It is also for these reasons why on my part I have not given a rating for the President during his first year in office since it would be unfair.
A slogan or a new logo being pushed by BBM, which Malacanang claimed did not cost anything on the part of the government, is nothing more than what the leadership wants the country to be or ought to be.
It provides nothing more than a challenge on the part of the President and his administration.
Other concerns, like China’s incessant aggressive intrusion on the Philippine Sea within the country’s Exclusive Economic Zone or EEZ, have also become a priority of the administration.
On Agrarian Reform, the President has condoned the unpaid debts of agrarian reform beneficiaries.
That will help the beneficiaries of agrarian reform from their heavy load.
Indeed, President Marcos Jr. and his administration had made significant progress in the one year of his administration.
The multiple state visits of BBM to other countries likely made the entry of foreign investments.
The many pledges and foreign investments that will provide jobs for the country will be realized soon enough.
As I said, we cannot deny that President Marcos Jr. had indeed made significant progress since he made his first SONA.
All I can say, he is likely to make good what he promised when he said, “The dreams of Filipinos are also my dreams. “ More to come.
Elevate issue to UNGA
Last week, the Philippines celebrated its seventh year of a victory over China at the Permanent Court of Arbitration at the Hague over China’s territorial claims, particularly its nine-dash line claiming almost the entire China Sea.
The PCA likewise gave due recognition to territorial rights of the Philippines at the West Philippine Sea and its claim to its Exclusive Economic Zone.
However, the problem is that China insists on its nine-dash line claim and has been encroaching on the West Philippine Sea and even the EEZ, to the point of harassing two Philippine Coast Guard ships on a rescue mission to deliver food and supplies to troops stationed in the South China Sea and also harassing Filipino fishermen who simply want to earn their livelihood.
The Department of Foreign Affairs must already have hundreds of diplomatic protests, but it seems China does not give a damn.
To make matters worse, the Chinese embassy in the Philippines even went to the extent of claiming it was the United States that “masterminded” the Philippine victory at the arbitral court at the Hague.
Following China’s incessant aggressive stance in the West Philippine Sea, the Philippines has deemed it necessary to raise the issue before the ASEAN or the South China Nations which have shown support.
There are also proposals for the Philippines to raise the issue to the United Nations General Assembly.
The latest is the fact that the Office of the Solicitor is eyeing to resort to legal means.
But, there are fears that bringing back to the arbitral court at the Hague the issue against China could result in the reversal of the Philippine victory at the PCA.
So, following these with the insistence of China that the PCA win of the Philippines does not mean anything to China, Santa Banana, we come to a dead end, my gulay!
Every year we can celebrate the PCA victory but if China does not respect it and continues with its aggressive stance at the West Philippine Sea and at EEZ, what can we do?
Well, we can at least resort to diplomatic talks with China, hoping that China will respect our rights at the West Philippine Sea and at our EEZ.
That is all we can do.
Hopefully, with the all-out support of the Senate and the community of nations supporting the PAC decision in favor of the Philippines, China would have no choice but to comply with the UNCLOS or the United Nations Convention for the Law of the Sea insofar as the Philippine Sea and the EEZ are concerned.
The big question now is: Will China obey whatever the UNGA says?
Will China stop its aggressive stance?
That’s the question.
Rebrandings
President Marcos Jr., it appears, is all out on rebranding with his “Bagong Pilipinas” logo.
There is a presidential memorandum made by Malacanang directing all government agencies, corporations, and state colleges and universities to be guided by the principles, strategies and objectives of the “Bagong Pilipinas” brand of governance and leadership in planning their programs, activities and projects, which should be the government’s “over all theme.”
It also calls for “deep and fundamental transformation in all sectors of society and in government, and fosters the State’s commitment towards the attainment of comprehensive policy reforms and full economic recovery.”
The song ‘Bagong Pilipinas Bagong Mukha,”, composed by Filipino rapper Andrew E hopefully will stir up “goals and aspirations.”
The memo from Malacanang will have an accompanying logo that will be used in letterheads, websites, official media accounts and other documents of all state agencies and all entities.
In fact, BBM recently used “Bagong Filipinas” in his speech.
To be fair, past Presidents also used their own brands.
The late strongman Ferdinand E, Marcos had his “New Society’’ while Rodrigo Dueterte had his “ Change is Coming,” a vow to resolve the pressing problems of government, like corruption, criminality, illegal drugs and breakdown of law and order, coupled by Duterte’s “Build, Build, Build” infrastructure program.
Before Duterte, Pinoy Aquino had “ Daang Matuwid” and “Kung Walang Korap, Walang Mahirap,” while Erap Estrada also had his” Erap Para sa Mahirap” and Gloria Macapagal Arroyo had her “Strong Republic.”
And so did Fidel V. Ramos with his “ Next Asian Tiger Economy” and “Kaya Natin ‘To.”
Even the late Cory Aquino also had her “Tama Na, Sobra Na, Palitan na” against the dictatorship of Marcos Sr.
Now comes the Marcos enemies criticizing “Bagong Pilipinas” which they say reminds them of Marcos Sr.’s “Bagong Lipunan (“New Society”) , the prelude to dictatorship.
The rebranding and new logo of the BBM administration, to me, fits what’s happening with the administration’s mantra of a new rising, vibrant and full speed ahead policy of BBM to set up the Philippines as the new economy in this part of the world.