President Ferdinand 'Bongbong' Marcos Jr. (Noel Pabalate/ MANILA BULLETIN)

Ranking congressmen have cited President Marcos' genuine concern for underprivileged Filipinos as one of their many takeaways from the State of the Nation Address (SONA) on Monday afternoon, July 22. 

“The President’s SONA showed very clearly his empathy towards our underprivileged and most exploited sectors," said Bulacan 6th district Rep. Salvador Pleyto Sr. 

"He hit the nail right in its head. It was not merely a plan of action, but rather also an outline of what his administration already did to uplift the lives of ordinary Filipinos,” noted Pleyto, a vice chairman of the House Committee on Public Works and Highways. 

1-Pacman Party-list Rep. Mikee Romero agreed as he hailed President Marcos for mentioning the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program or 4Ps during his annual speech.  

"The President's highlighting of the 4Ps proves that the House is right when it prioritized the bill amending the 4Ps law and sent it to the Senate. The House will assemble its bicam contingent as soon as the Senate notifies us," Romero said. 

The 4Ps is the national government's flagship poverty alleviation program.

"The sooner the 4Ps amendments are sent to the President, the sooner also will the beneficiaries gain," said Romero, chairman of the House Committee on Poverty Alleviation. 

"The improvements embodied in the amendment will hasten the graduation of many from poverty," he said.