EDITORIAL — Persistent concerns

Inflation. Jobs. Salaries. The top concerns of Filipinos, as reflected in surveys, have remained the same. And President Marcos has consistently received the lowest marks in dealing with these problems, which he will again have to tackle in his third State of the Nation Address today.

While certain factors affecting these problems are beyond the President’s control, there are other factors in which governance plays a critical role. Efficiency, good government and the judicious use of public funds create the environment necessary for attracting investments that generate meaningful jobs and livelihood opportunities. Business groups have submitted a lengthy list of their proposed reforms along this line, with ease of doing business still a key concern.

Public health care, inadequate as it is, now stands to lose P89.9 billion in funding, thanks to government inefficiency and politics-driven budgeting acrobatics.

Self-rated poverty is at its highest since 2008, at 58 percent. Hunger is pervasive, with poor nutrition leading to physical and mental stunting. This food poverty has contributed to learning poverty. Philippine education is in crisis; new Education Secretary Sonny Angara faces high expectations that he can get the sector out of intensive care.

Food poverty needs more than band-aid solutions like Kadiwa. Boosting agricultural production must move from rhetoric to action. As concurrent agricultural secretary in his first year in power, the President had identified what is needed. Among these are an extensive cold-chain network, a reduction in the number of middlemen, and a host of farm support services that have been promised for several administrations now. For national food security, domestic production must be boosted and the country weaned from over-dependence on imports of basic items from rice to pork, milk and even galunggong and salt.

Addressing these problems could prove to be more challenging for the President with the disintegration of his UniTeam coalition. A good way to blunt any negative impact of political intramurals is good government. The nation is in a difficult state and needs firm and capable steering.