Senator Ramon "Bong" Revilla, Jr. expects President Marcos to discuss ways to address inflation as well as his plans on food security and national security in his third State of the Nation Address on July 22.

In a statement, Revilla said that he is positive that the President's third SONA will adequately and comprehensively report the administration’s progress in addressing the country’s most pressing concerns.

“Umaasa akong magiging kalakip din nito ang mga hakbangin na gagawin pa ng ating pangulo para sa pagpapatuloy ang kanyang mga magagandang naabot sa loob ng unang dalawang taon ng kanyang panunungkulan (I am hoping that this would include steps that the President would do to continue the administration's achievements in the past two years),” the senator said.

In terms of inflation, he cited a Pulse Asia survey this month, which states controlling inflation remains the top national concern. According to the survey, 72 percent of Filipino adults believe that soaring prices of basic commodities should be addressed immediately.

Revilla said that he is looking forward to hearing during SONA the President's next steps in slowing inflation in the country.

“Gusto ko rin mapakinggan ang mga susunod na hakbang ng Pangulo kung paano pa mapapabagal ang inflation sa ating bansa (I want to hear the President's plans in slowing down inflation). But I would like to echo his words that the current inflation rate is still within the government's target of 2-4 percent. While it is a genuine concern, under control pa naman ito (it's still under control)," the lawmaker said.

"The inflation rates since the start of the year are all within the target set by the government. Kaya sigurado tayo na may ginagawa ang administrasyon (For sure, the administration is doing something),” the senator added.

Revilla is also confident that PBBM will discuss where the nation is already on its roadmap to ensure food security.

“Aantabayan rin natin ang magiging ulat ng Pangulo patungkol sa food security. Sa loob ng nagdaang taon, nakita natin ang mga sinikap ng administrasyon para mapayabong ang agrikultura katulad ng pagtatalaga ng bagong kalihim sa Department of Agriculture na tututok sa sektor, pagpasa ng batas na muling bubuhay at magpapalakas sa industriya ng pagaasin, pagaabot ng tulong-pinansyal sa mga magsasaka at mangingisda, at marami pang iba. Pakikinggan natin kung ano pa ang gagawin at mga ipagpapatuloy para masiguro na may sapat na pagkain sa hapag ng bawat Pilipino (We will also wait on the President's report regarding food security. In the past two years, we saw that the administration made efforts in improving the agriculture sector such as installing a new Department of Agriculture that will focus on the sector, and passing laws that will revive and strengthen the salt industry, providing financial aid to faremrs and fisherman, and a lot more. Let's see what else they would do to ensure that there's enough food on the Filipino people's tables),” he remarked.

Meawnhile, Revilla also expects that PBBM will tackle ways that the government has taken to ensure that national security is strengthened.

“Sa huli, ito ang isa sa mga pinaka-inaasahan ko – ang pagtalakay ng Pangulo sa pagpapaigting ng ating pambansang seguridad. (This is where I expect from the most - is tackling national security). I am confident that he will share to the Filipino people what his administration is doing to bolster national security. Eager na akong pakinggan ang sasabihin ng Pangulo sa Lunes, at ang mga susunod na hakbang natin tungo sa Bagong Pilipinas (I am eager to hear what the President will report on Monday, and the next steps towards 'Bagong Pilipinas'), he said.

Concerning the promotion of social justice, Revilla once again thanked the President for approving the legislation he championed in Congress that would greatly benefit what he called as “the least, the lost, and the last.”

Revilla’s Expanded Centenarians Act (RA 11982) approved by PBBM last February 2024 shall grant P10,000 cash gift to senior citizens who will reach the age of 80, 85, 90, and 95, apart from the P100,000 they will receive upon reaching 100 years old. On the other hand, the senator’s “Kabalikat sa Pagtuturo Act” (RA 11997) institutionalized public school teacher’s teaching allowance and increased it from P5,000 to P10,000.

The President also approved Revilla’s “No Permit, No Exam Prohibition Act” (RA 11984) banning the “no permit, no exam” policy in schools and mandating them to accommodate and allow disadvantaged students unable to pay tuition and other fees to take examinations. Apart from these Revilla-authored laws, his “Free College Entrance Examinations Act” (RA 12006) has recently become law.

Under the law, all private HEIs are mandated to waive the entrance examination fees imposed on students applying for college admission provided that they meet the requirements.