Former President-turned-Senior Deputy Speaker Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo of Pampanga's 2nd district was impressed with President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.’s first State of the Nation Address (SONA).
“It is appropriately comprehensive and provides a blueprint for a medium-term action plan that can be completed with the full cooperation of Congress and the continued support of the Filipino nation,” Arroyo said of Marcos’s SONA in a statement Tuesday, July 26.
She continued by asking fellow lawmakers of the 19th Congress to support priority legislation of the newly-minted administration, of which Marcos enumerated 19, coincidentally.
“The President outlined 19 priority bills that will impact greatly on the people’s aspirations to return to the growth path and sustain the progress. It is the job of the 19th Congress to begin to implement the legislative task with focus, determination and momentum. I urge my fellow legislators to stay united and dedicated in support of the President’s legislative agenda," said Arroyo, a former president and speaker.
In her statement, Arroyo added that of the priority pieces of legislation mentioned by Marcos, she had already filed three of them in the 19th Congress: first, the bill creating a Philippine Nuclear Regulatory Commission (House Bill 481); second, the bill creating a Department of Water, Irrigation, Sewage, and Sanitation Resource Management (HB 482); and third, a bill seeking mandatory Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) for senior high school students.
Arroyo, after she tested positive for Covid-19, was unable to physically attend SONA as well as the commencement of the 19th Congress’ first regular session on July 25.
She was elected as House senior deputy speaker on the same day.
Read: https://mb.com.ph/2022/07/25/gma-leads-handful-of-new-house-deputy-speakers/