PRESIDENT Marcos gestures as he delivers his fifth SONA on Monday in Quezon City. (Mark Balmores)
ILOILO CITY—Several Ilonggos reacted positively to the State-of-the-Nation Address (SONA) of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Monday, July 27.
Marcos received a positive reaction for urging Congress to pass a new tax amnesty program that will cover unpaid estate taxes, income taxes, donor's taxes, and Value-Added Tax (VAT).
Ilonggos also welcomed his push to expand the annual income tax exemption ceiling to P350,000 for the middle class and the removal of systems loss charges and corresponding VAT on electricity bills.
They also cited the Marcos administration for reiterating the ruling on the West Philippine Sea (WPS).
“Marcos may not be the best. In fact, I didn't vote for him, but at least he is directing the country to the right path,” said Terre.
Some Ilonggos reacted negatively to the annual address.
Ilonggos said that the President may be blaming the wrong people for the flood control mess amid his announcement that the Ombudsman will soon file cases against his cousin former House Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez.
The Police Regional Office-6 reported that the SONA protests in Western Visayas were generally peaceful with no major untoward incidents.
“This positive outcome was the result of comprehensive security preparations, heightened police visibility, sustained intelligence monitoring, and close coordination with partner agencies, local government units, force multipliers, and community stakeholders,” said PRO-6.