Manila: Senators said President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.'s fifth State of the Nation Address (SONA) placed existing reforms on a clearer path toward creating quality jobs, protecting Filipino workers and overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), and strengthening food security.
According to Philippines News Agency, Senator Joel Villanueva said Tuesday the President spoke directly to families confronting the effects of the Middle East conflict, high electricity and fuel costs, and the struggle to find stable employment. 'We congratulate President Marcos on a State of the Nation Address that spoke plainly to what Filipino families are going through,' Villanueva said. He also thanked Marcos for recognizing Senate-backed reforms benefiting workers, students, OFWs and their families, assuring Malaca±ang of the chamber's support for the administration's legislative agenda.
Villanueva cited the AKSYON Fund and the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration-Kabuhayan Program, which have helped repatriated OFWs recover and rebuild their livelihoods. He said the continued implementation of these programs demonstrated the value of the Department of Migrant Workers Act during conflicts and other emergencies affecting Filipinos abroad.
Villanueva also noted Marcos' recognition of work-from-home arrangements as a way to cushion households and businesses from fuel price shocks. He said the Work-From-Home Act was initially intended to ease Metro Manila traffic but later proved useful during the pandemic and periods of global uncertainty by allowing employees and companies to remain productive.
On employment, Villanueva said the Enterprise-Based Education and Training Framework Act, the Expanded Tertiary Education Equivalency and Accreditation Program, and the Lifelong Learning Development Framework Act would help prepare Filipinos for emerging opportunities. The senator said these measures complement the Trabaho Para sa Bayan Act by aligning skills development, workforce planning and job creation with the needs of industries.
Marcos also cited the Green Lanes initiative for attracting more than PHP6 trillion in investments and an estimated 400,000 jobs. Villanueva said the gains are reinforced by anti-red tape reforms, but stressed that Filipino workers must be properly trained to secure the opportunities generated by new investments. 'As more investments come into the country, we must ensure that Filipino workers are ready to seize the opportunities they create,' he said.
Meanwhile, Senator Francis 'Kiko' Pangilinan said Marcos' decision to place agriculture and food security among the SONA priorities recognized the urgent need to stabilize food supply and prices. 'Food security must remain at the heart of our national agenda,' Pangilinan said. He said government support must reach farmers and fisherfolk through technical assistance, modern technology, training, financing, post-harvest facilities and stronger cooperatives.
Pangilinan is advocating the passage of Senate Bill 1990, or the proposed Agricultural Cooperatives Act, and Senate Bill 1991, or the proposed Agriculture and Fisheries Extension Act. Both measures have passed second reading in the Senate. He said stronger extension services would bring technical expertise and innovation to farming and fishing communities, while cooperatives could improve access to capital, production inputs, processing facilities and markets. 'Affordable, sufficient, and nutritious food will only be possible and accessible if we ensure that our food producers receive the support they need,' Pangilinan said.
The senators said sustained implementation of enacted reforms and swift action on pending measures would help translate the President's agenda into decent employment, stronger livelihoods and affordable food for Filipino families.
