More Cebu execs praise SONA

CEBU, Philippines — While President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Jr.’s third State of the Nation Address (SONA) the other day expectedly drew mixed reactions across the country, more Cebu Province leaders have expressed satisfaction with it.

5th district Congressman and Deputy Speaker Duke Frasco said the continuing efforts and initiatives of the Department of Tourism (DOT), especially on tourism digitalization will "further promote the Philippine culture and our identity while unlocking the untapped potential of these new facets of Philippine tourism,”

Frasco took note of the various achievements of the Marcos' administration on tourism which was attributed to digital reforms and infrastructure like the "airport upgrades, development of tourism sites, the implementation of E-Travel system, introduction of E-Gates as standard fixtures at airports to further enhance mobility, and plans for the Philippine E-Visa"

" These initiatives have indeed demonstrably enhanced the productivity and operational efficiency of the tourism sector," Frasco said.

His wife, DOT Secretary Christina Garcia-Frasco, particularly lauded the president's directive to implement E-visa services for “important source markets, such as India, recognizing the transformative impact this initiative will have on our country's tourist arrivals as it streamlines and simplifies the visa application process making it more convenient for visitors to travel to the Philippines”.

“We are one with the president in prioritizing the passage into law of the CREATE More Bill. This legislative measure paves the way for a viable fiscal landscape for service- oriented enterprises such as in the tourism industry in providing incentives that are aligned with their operational needs,” she said.

Garcia-Frasco also agreed with the president's pronouncement that "the tourism challenge has already evolved and now requires a multifaceted strategy" and that "we shall interpose the wholesome and hospitable Filipino brand in all the key tourism touchpoints from tourist arrival to departure."

“This resonates with our ongoing efforts to promote our culture and identity and aligns perfectly with the strategic direction we have been actively pursuing, anchored on the National Tourism Development Plan 2023 to 2028,” she said.

Mandaue City Lone District Representative Emmarie “Lolypop” Ouano-Dizon, on the other hand, said that she appreciates the efforts of the president in trying to address the issues of food security and prices of basic commodities.

“I thank him for the sincere efforts in trying to address the issue of food security and prices of basic commodities,” said Ouano-Dizon, describing the President’s SONA as a "feel good" and powerfully delivered.

She stressed that the country’s economic progress should have a “trickle down” effect to the Filipino masses as she was delighted by the President’s announcement on the increase of Philhealth benefits, which would redound to the Filipino’s well-being.

Another highlight in the President’s speech is the added benefits that public school teachers will start receiving next year, which Ouano-Dizon said is a huge morale booster.

“Dapat adunay impact sa ordinaryong Pilipino ang paglambo sa atong ekonomiya, just as I am happy to note sa dako nga increase sa benefits sa Philhealth kay daghan kaayo ang matabangan ani. Another highlight is the added benefits that our teachers will start receiving next year, which is a huge morale booster,” she said.

She placed emphasis on two things that made her proud of the Marcos administration. First, she said, is the president’s resolve to defend the West Philippine Sea as ours, and the other is his decision to ban the online gambling firms that operate in the Philippines, the “Philippine Offshore Gaming Operations (POGO) and all its attendant problems”.

“It is about time we stand firmly for what is right,” Ouano-Dizon said.

Lapu-Lapu City Lone District Rep. Cindi King-Chan, on the other hand, said that as a legislator, she is “fully committed to fulfilling her mandate that align with the President’s vision for the nation and with unity as the cornerstone of our government, she confident that we will achieve all the goals he has set forth for our country and for the betterment of the Filipino people”.

Lapu-Lapu City Mayor Junard Chan, for his part, said that he is happy that the President talked about “security, agriculture, water supply, disaster response, infrastructure environment, information technology, energy projects, programs for the poor, roads and bridges projects, airports, seaports and railway system”, as well as “PPP projects or Public-Private, health, turismo, education, employment, West Philippine Sea, poverty reduction, total banning of POGO operations”, among others.

Meanwhile, Cebu City South District Rep. Edu Rama said that the President delivered a concise and comprehensive report on the gains and milestones of his administration and the current state of our nation.

As a member of the House Committee on Information and Technology, he lauded the president on the progress made on the N”ational Fiber Backbone and the rollout of Free Internet Wi-Fi program”, as this “shall ensure that Filipinos all over the country are connected to the internet”.

“We support the President's directive to ban all POGOs and to wind down and cease the operations of POGOs by the end of the year. This move reflects a commitment to prioritizing the welfare and security of our people. We, as legislators, are energized and committed to working towards a Bagong Pilipinas where every Filipino benefits from inclusive growth, improved services, and enhanced opportunities,” Rama said.

For second district board member Stanley Caminero, he was happy to hear the developments on the health sector, which was mentioned by the President in his SONA.

Caminero, a doctor and the Cebu Provincial Board committee on health chairman, was also elated on the increase on the breast cancer PHIC benefit package from P100,000 to P1.2 million.

“This means a lot to us doctors, especially us surgeons, because it means after we do surgery on breast cancer patients, they have no more reason not to complete the treatment with chemo like before, for reasons of unaffordable post-op chemotherapy treatment,” he said.

He furthered that this ceiling coverage for patients would benefit poor patients who can now avail the chemotherapy treatment.

He also welcomes the increasing coverage of chemotherapy on colon, lung, ovary and prostate cancer which are leading cancer cases.

For Dumanjug Mayor Efren "Gungun" Gica, the SONA was "by far the most inspiring" SONA he heard.

He was referring to the inauguration of the Dumanjug-Corella Line that was one of the improvements on the power services that the President mentioned in his SONA.

The bloodless drug war, total ban on POGO, and the President's stand on the West Philippine Sea are the issues that also stood out from Marcos' SONA, he also said.

Office of the Presidential Assistant for the Visayas Undersecretary Terence Calatrava  likewise said that the “president comprehensively speaks of the current thrust of the government and the initiatives of his administration which is congruent to the aspirations of the Filipino people”.

Akbayan Party, on the other hand, said the president’s “unequivocal stand on the West Philippine Sea, coupled with the declaration of a total ban on POGOs represents a significant triumph for our nation's sovereignty and the welfare of our citizens”.

“By fortifying our stance on the West Philippine Sea, President Marcos, Jr. heeded the collective aspirations of Filipinos to assert our territorial integrity amid China's violence and harassment against our fishers and frontliners. This declaration not only underscores our dedication to upholding international law but also embodies a formidable defense of our national interests,” it said in a press statement.

Concurrently, Akbayan Party said that the ban on POGOs addresses critical issues of corruption, criminal activities, and their detrimental socio-economic impacts.

“We call for the strict enforcement of this ban and the holding accountable of all those responsible for the proliferation of POGOs in our country,” it further said. — (FREEMAN)