EKSAKTONG alas-3:33 ng hapon nang dumating sa Batasang Pambansa si Pangulong Ferdinand Marcos  Jr. para sa kanyang unang State Of the Nation Addres (SONA) kahapon, July 25.

Dumiretso  ang Pangulo sa Executive Lounge ng Kongreso  kasama ang kanyang may bahay na si Lisa at Executive Secretary Vic Rodriqguez, mga senador at iba pa.

Kapansin-pansin na mas maraming mambabatas ang nasa Plenary Hall ngayon.

Maaga namang dumating si Vice-President Sara Duterte.

Nakatuon ang unang Ulat sa Bayan ni Pangulong Ferdinand Marcos sa ekonomiya.

Sa katunayan,  sinabi nito na magpapatupad siya ng sound fiscal management habang ang tax administration reforms ay  ikakasa rin  upang mapataas ang revenue collection.

Sa kanya pa ring  State of the Nation Address (SONA)   sinabi nito na ang expenditure priorities ay ire- realigned, at ang  spending efficiency ay pagbubutihin para agad na tugunan ang tinatawag na  pagkakapilat sa ekonomiya na nag-ugat mula sa epekto ng  COVID-19, at para na rin sa paghahanda para sa “future shocks.”

Ang Productivity-enhancing investments aniya ay ipo-promote.

“Our country must become an investment destination, capitalizing on the Corporate Recovery and  Tax Incentives for Enterprises or the CREATE Law  and the economic liberalization laws such as the  Public Service Act and the Foreign Investments Act,” ayon sa Pangulo.

“Ecozones will be fully supported to bring in strategic industries such as those engaged in high-tech manufacturing, health and medical care, and all emerging technologies. This is also seen to facilitate economic growth outside of Metro Manila,” dagdag na pahayag nito.

Bukod dito, sinabi pa ng Pangulo na ang tax system ay ia-adjust upang makahabol sa mabilis na developments ng  digital economy,  kabilang na ang  imposisyon ng value-added tax sa digital service providers.

“The initial revenue impact will be around Php 11.7 billion in 2023 alone. Tax compliance procedures will be simplified to promote ease of paying taxes. We will pursue measures to determine possible undervaluation and/or trade misinvoicing of imported goods. Through information and communications technology, the Bureau of Customs will promote streamlined processes,” ayon sa Pangulo.

“Disbursements for 2022 to 2023 will be maintained at above 20 percent of gross domestic product  or Php 4.955 trillion and Php 5.086 trillion, respectively, to ensure continuous implementation of priority programs. Disbursement will further increase over the medium-term from Php 5.402 trillion or 20.7 percent of our GDP in 2024 to Php 7.712 trillion or 20.6 percent of GDP   in 2028,” aniya pa rin

Sinabi pa nito na ang Medium-Term Fiscal Strategy  ng kanyang administrasyon ay ay naglalayong  “attain short-term macro-fiscal stability while remaining supportive of the country’s economic recovery and to promote medium-term fiscal sustainability. Furthermore, and more importantly, fiscal policy aims to bring together the National Government’s resources so that these are mobilized and utilized in order to gain the maximum benefit and the high multiplier effects for our economy.

Sa kabilang dako, ang measurable medium-term macroeconomic at fiscal objectives naman ay kinabibilangan ng mga  sumusunod na headline numbers.

Base aniya ito sa  forecast o pagtataya na consistent  sa guiding principles ng  “coherence of strategies, policy discipline and fiscal sustainability.”

• 6.5 to 7.5% real gross domestic product (GDP) growth in 2022; 6.5 to 8% real GDP growth annually between 2023 to 2028
• 9% or single-digit poverty rate by 2028
• 3% National Government deficit to GDP ratio by 2028
• Less than 60% National Government debt-to-GDP ratio by 2025
• At least 4,256 USD income (GNI) per capita and the attainment of upper middle- income status by 2024

The aforementioned headline goals summarize the objectives of this Medium-Term Fiscal Strategy (MTFF) being submitted to Congress, for its adoption and concurrence through a Concurrent Resolution  by the Senate and House of Representatives,” litaniya ng Pangulo.

“Once adopted, the MTFF will become an anchor for the annual spending and financing plan of the National Government and Congress when preparing the annual budget and undertaking related appropriation activities. It is therefore a forward-looking document that extends beyond the traditional three-year horizon to reach six (6) years, coinciding with the six-year coverage of the Philippine Development Plan (PDP) 2023 to 2028,” anito.

Pino-promote rin aniya ng MTFF ang transparency at credible commitment para isulong ang  tinatawag na “indicated socio-macroeconomic goals that optimize the government budget.”

“Medium-term growth targets and the assumptions regarding key macroeconomic variables underpin the medium-term fiscal plan.  The recent past and the COVID-19 pandemic has beset the macroeconomic environment with challenges and a series of external shocks.  Inflation has accelerated in recent months due largely to significant increases in international prices of oil and other key commodities,” lahad ng Pangulo.

“Still, the economic growth momentum remains firm as demonstrated by the strong 2022 first quarter GDP growth at 8.3 percent.  However, the recovery process from the impact of the pandemic is still on-going amid elevated uncertainty in the international economic environment. Revisions in the macro-economic assumptions incorporate these challenges and most recent economic developments, leading to upward adjustments in the following:

• Inflation rate for 2022 to 2023;
• Foreign exchange rate for 2023 to 2025; and
• Goods and services imports growth for 2022

The economy is expected to grow by 6.5 to 7.5 percent this year as we continue to reopen the economy while considering the recent external developments,” aniya pa rin.

“In the first quarter alone, GDP saw an increase in household consumption and private investments, along with a robust manufacturing industry, high vaccination rate, improved healthcare capacity, and an upward trend in tourism and employment.  This is expected to continue for the rest of the year.  This strong economic growth is projected to be sustained and expanded further to 6.5 to 8 percent from 2023 until 2028.”

“The average inflation for 2022 is projected to range from 4.5 to 5.5 percent, following the uptick in fuel and food prices as a result of the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict and the disrupted supply chains. It is slightly adjusted to 2.5 to 4.5 percent in 2023,  and is seen to return to the target range  of  2.0 to 4.0 percent by 2024 until 2028,” ang bahagi pa rin ng SONA ng Pangulo.

Samantala, bunsod ng naganap na pamamaril sa Ateneo de Manila University noong Linggo ay mas hinigpitan pa ng Philippine National Police (PNP) ang seguridad sa unang State of the Nation Address (SONA) ni PBBM.

Ayon kay Police Maj. Gen. Valeriano de Leon, PNP Director for Operations, itinalaga ang mga pulis na galing National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) sa mga lugar na kailangan ang mahigpit na seguridad.

“In terms of security, your PNP is all set for another significant event in our history,” ani De Leon.

Umaabot sa 22,000 pulis at force multipliers ang itinalaga ng PNP para sa SONA.

Maging ang traffic rerouting ay inayos na rin upang matiyak na maayos ang daloy ng  mga sasakyan.

Nagpasalamat din si De Leon sa desisyon ng Quezon City na suspindihin ang klase at trabaho sa  lungsod.

Nagkaroon din ng security adjustment matapos na payagan ang mga nagpoprotesta. (Daris Jose)