Incoming Senate President Juan Miguel “Migz” Zubiri wants to hear about a legislative roadmap of the priority measures of the new administration, and government solutions to the rising inflation rate, cost of goods, Covid-19 cases, and ways to strengthen the economy in President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.’s first State of the Nation Address (SONA).
“Bilang presidente ng Senado (As Senate President), hopefully by tomorrow maging presidente po tayo ng Senado (we are elected Senate President), hihintayin ko po ang legislative roadmap ng ating Pangulo, mga priority measures na gusto niyang mangyari (I will wait for the legislative roadmap of our President, the priority measures he wants enacted),” Zubiri said in a DZBB interview on Sunday, July 24, just a day before Marcos’ first SONA on July 25.
On top of a legislative roadmap, Zubiri listed rising inflation, cost of goods as issues he wants addressed in the maiden SONA.
“Gusto rin po natin mapakinggan kung paano natin maitigil ang pag-akyat ng presyo ng bilihin (I want to hear how he will stop the rising prices of goods). Inflation ika nga. How do we arrest inflation and how do we bring down the cost of goods across the board when it's food, fuel, energy.”
He wants Marcos to address the Covid-19 pandemic; as cases are on the rise again due to the emergence of various Omicron strains, Marcos should bare his marching orders for the vaccination and health protocols.
“Number two, paano natin muli babantayin itong (how do we guard against) Covid-19. As you know sa dami po ng panibagong variant, nagkakaroon po ng panibagong spread ng (with the new variants, there is a new spread of) Covid-19...We want to come up with measures paano natin mai-control ito lalo na sa (on how to control the spread especially through the) vaccination program, ano ang kanyang marching orders para sa (what are his marching orders for the) vaccination program and health protocol,” the incoming Senate President said.
Zubiri also highlighted the strengthening of the economy, specifically the micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), and the agricultural sector.
“Strengthening the economy, kailangan natin pakinggan ang ating Pangulo paano nya papalakasin ang ekonomiya... Nasa loob pa tayo ng pandemya, paano po natin matutulangan ang MSMEs (we need to hear how our President will strengthen the economy. We are still in a pandemic... How do we help our MSMEs),” Zubiri said.
“Yung agriculture center, ako’y interestado pakinggan 'yun kasi syempre si Presidente po ang ating (I’m interested to hear his take on agriculture as the President is also the) Secretary of Agriculture,” he continued.
He then added that he would also like Marcos to continue the Build, Build, Build initiative of the previous Duterte administration.