Marcos: The state of the nation is sound

Photo from Presidential Communications
Photo from Presidential Communications

PRESIDENT Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. said during his first state of the Nation Address (Sona) that the country’s state “is sound.”

Marcos said that despite the hardships that Filipinos go through over the past years due to the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) and the current crisis brought about by the soaring process of basic commodities and services, the country “will endure.”

“Batid ko na hindi madali ang ating pinagdaraanan sa nakaraang higit na dalawang taon. Alam ko rin na ang bawat isa sa inyo ay ginagawa ang lahat ng inyong makakaya upang patuloy na harapin ang lahat na ng pagsubok sa kasalukuyan,” Marcos said as he concluded his Sona Monday, July 25, 2022.

“I do not intend to diminish the risk and challenges that we face in these turbulent times in global history, and yet, I see sunlight filtering through these dark clouds...We will endure. Let our Filipino spirit ever remain undimmed. I know this in my mind. I know it in my heart. I know it in my very soul, the state of the nation is sound,” he added.

Marcos said he has put together the “best of Filipino minds” to help navigate the country in the current global crisis that the country is facing.

He assured that there will no longer be lockdowns despite the increasing cases of Covid-19, as he vowed to put balance on health, economy and the welfare of the people.

He also admitted that the country could no longer afford lockdown, noting that the Alert Level System will remain for now while reclassification of Covid-19 preventive measures is still being studied to make it more compatible with the current milder strains that afflict the patients.

He highlighted the importance of Covid-19 booster doses to ensure that Covid-19-related hospitalization will remain low.

Health

Marcos sought the assistance of the Congress for the establishment of the country’s own Center for Disease Control (CDC) and Prevention and a vaccine institute.

He pushed for the passage of a National Disease Prevention Management Authority bill for the creation of the CDC, which will be attached to the Department of Health.

Marcos also vowed to build more health centers and hospitals under his administration not only in Metro Manila but most especially in provinces.

“Bukod dito, upang mailapit natin ang health care system sa taumbayan nang hindi sila kailangang pumunta sa sentro ng kanilang bayan, lalawigan o region, ay maglalagay tayo ng mga clinic, mga RHU na pupuntahan ng mga doktor, nurse, midwife, medtech, isang beses, dalawang beses sa isang linggo — nang sa gayon, magiging mas madali sa may karamdaman na magpapagamot nang hindi na kailangang magbiyahe nang malayo,” he said.

“One of the cornerstones of a strong healthcare system is the provision of competent and efficient medical professionals. We will exert all efforts to improve the welfare of our doctors, our nurses, and other medical frontliners,” he added.

Marcos said he is working to make prices of medicines in the country low, particularly by inviting more manufacturers in the country.

He said he directed the Philippine Competition Commission to ensure equality and to end the cartel among the pharmaceutical companies in the country.

“Dahil kapag bukas ang merkado, bababa ang presyo ng gamot para mapakinabangan ng ating mga mamamayan,” said Marcos.

“This is one of the hard lessons that we learned when the pandemic struck, and therefore, we must act on that shortcoming,” he added. (SunStar Philippines)

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