House Deputy Speaker Rufus Rodriguez said President Duterte's final State of the Nation Address (SONA) is bereft of any details on how the Philippines can move forward after the COVID-19 pandemic.
Rodriguez lamented that he didn't hear Duterte elaborate his specific plans on how the nation could win the fight against a global health crisis.
"The SONA... dwelt on the administration’s achievements. However, the farewell SONA was wanting on details on the overall vision of how the nation could overcome the pandemic in the long-run," Rodriguez said.
"The Filipinos are constantly waiting for an overall blueprint on our survival against this pandemic, considering the Delta variant and possible other variants to arise," the lawmaker added.
"The SONA did not also present definite plans and programs to revive our economy and address the problem of unemployment caused by COVID-19," the Cagayan De Oro City representative further said.
On the scale of one to 10, the Cagayan de Oro city lawmaker gave Duterte "a grade of 8."
I join the call of the President in emphasizing that vaccination of most, if not all Filipinos, is one of the most significant facets towards overcoming this crisis," he said.
Nevertheless, he said the President's efforts in the area of peace, through the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) law, free college education, Universal Health Care Law and the creation of Malasakit Centers should be lauded.
"President Duterte should also be lauded for going against onerous contracts against the people, such as those he mentioned in the area of water distribution," Rodriguez said.
" He should also take a look at electricity rates, which are among the highest in our region. The law that is supposed to reform the power sector has failed us and has brought about even higher rates," he pointed out.