Businessmen want less politics and more economics as President Marcos delivers his penultimate State of the Nation Address tomorrow.
Days before the fifth SONA, business groups released their wish list of legislation that they hope the President will certify as part of his priority agenda. The measures aim to improve the business environment – an area where the country has seen its regional competitiveness progressively slipping.
The President has only a year left before the 2028 election fever threatens to overwhelm most of the activities across the country. The economic reforms are being sought by the business community as the nation grapples with the prolonged Middle East conflict, a weakened peso, the financing challenges posed by the country’s rise to upper-middle income status and a global tariff regime upended by Donald Trump.
Employers have warned that job losses due to AI and machines replacing humans are likely to be speeded up by the “highest-ever” wage hike approved by the populist labor secretary, which took effect over the weekend.
The health care system remains grossly inadequate, exacerbated by political intervention, and the education system is badly in need of fixing. There is a shortage of 166,000 classrooms, and the nation has yet to address the growing problem of bullying and violence among teenage students.
Farmers, now facing the threat of a super El Niño, are still waiting for the long-promised cold chain facilities and other farm support services. Fertilizer prices remain high, affected by the fuel crisis.
Meanwhile, surveys show that people want a progress report on the anti-corruption campaign that President Marcos launched with memorable flair in his SONA last year.
“Mahiya naman kayo” – have some shame – would have been the defining statement of his presidency. But this will depend on the results, or at least the progress, of the anti-corruption crackdown.
So far, the campaign has been dragged down by accusations of selective justice and unmet expectations.
While the expectations may have been unreasonably high, this was also due to the initial belief that the campaign would have sufficient teeth from the full backing of the presidency.
Malacañang said the SONA would include “a lot of accomplishments.” Beyond self-praise, the President’s annual report to the nation must provide a clear direction for the next two years.
The nation faces daunting challenges, and time is running out for the President to make a difference.