Para kay Deputy Speaker Ralph Recto hindi lang basta ‘throwback’ sa nakaraang taon ng administrasyon ang State of the Nation Address (SONA).
Bagkus ito aniya ang pagkakataon na mailatag ang ‘battleplan’ ng pamahalaan sa mga susunod na taon upang maisakatuparan ang Bagong Pilipinas.
Kaya naman aabangan aniya niya ang bagong marching orders ng Pangulong Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. para matugunan ang mga isyu na malapit sa taumbayan.
“The SONA is not a Wikipedia of every solution to every problem we confront. But at the very least, it should satisfy the people on what will be done to things that matter to – and bother – them the most…It is an opportunity for the President to present the architecture of Bagong Pilipinas where it is hoped that the full potential of the Filipino is harnessed, merit is given chance, and hard work rewarded,” ani Recto.
Inaasahan naman ni Albay Representative Joey Salceda na hindi na gaano tututok sa pandemic recovery ang mensahe ng Pangulo sa kaniyang talumpati.
Gayunman, kinikilala nito na ang pagbangon mula sa pandemya ang isa sa mahahalagang napagtagumpayan ng administrasyon.
“The most important triumph of this administration is getting us out of the climate of fear and uncertainty that the COVID-19 pandemic brought. Output is growing rapidly. Prices are getting under control. New jobs are being created. The peso has been saved from spiraling down. The economy is alive and kicking,” ani Salceda.
Upang magtuloy-tuloy naman ang magandang takbo ng ekonomiya ng bansa, mahalaga aniya ang modernisasyon sa agrikultura, energy independence at pagpapasigla sa manufacturing, technology, creatives, at service sector.
Importante naman aniya ngayon na makahanap ng pondo para sa ilalatag na agenda ng Chief Executive.
Kaya umaasa ang House Tax chief na mabanggit din ng Pangulo sa kaniyang SONA ang wealth tax.
Kasama dito ang tax sa luxury items, update sa road user tax, tax sa pick up trucks, at foreign digital services.
“Of course national ambition requires resources. And growth has tended to accrue towards the rich. So, I am hoping he announces a move towards fiscal consolidation, with a focus on taxing the wealthy. And I think it’s time to enact these taxes on the wealthy, now that the economy is back on track. You want to impose taxes on the rich during good times so that you have reserves for bad times. We never know,” sabi pa ni Salceda. | ulat ni Kathleen Jean Forbes
