The 3rd State of the Nation Address (SONA) of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has given hope to the cross-section of people in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) and the Soccsksargen Region.

“Happy to know that President Marcos has a huge part of his heart for Bangsamoro,” Andong Salman, a passenger jeepney driver from this city, said in the vernacular in an interview.

Salman said he was elated that the national government is “prioritizing” the price reduction of basic commodities.

Meanwhile, a teacher in Polomolok, South Cotabato was jubilant upon hearing that the current administration has programs for public school teachers to improve their capacities and increase their take-home pay.

“Programs for teachers are great. Glad to know this is one of the priorities of this administration,” aspiring public elementary school teacher Angelika Sunio, 23, of South Cotabato said in an interview with a local radio station.

“His statement that no more teachers will stay at Teacher 1 level is amazing.”

Meanwhile, Salvador Sanchez, a farmer in M’lang, North Cotabato, was also glad the President mentioned improving the Malitubog-Maridagao (Malmar) irrigation project, which aims to achieve food sufficiency in the coming months.

“The Malmar project is currently serving some 7,000 hectares of farmlands. With the addition of Phase 2 of the project, another 10,000 farmers will be served in the boundaries of Maguindanao and North Cotabato provinces,” Sanchez said in a separate radio interview.

On the other hand, a decommissioned former combatant of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) was hopeful that the Mindanao peace process would be completed.

“I am happy that the President mentioned extensively the peace agreement with the MILF and the gains of the Mindanao peace process, including the granting of amnesty to former combatants,” peace advocate Solomon Suan of Maguindanao del Sur said in a radio interview.

Despite being on a busy weekday, many people in the BARMM and the Soccsksargen listened to the President’s 3rd SONA via radio stations and various social media platforms.

“Many are looking forward to achieving most, if not all, of the President’s promise, plans, and programs for the betterment of every Filipino,” said Isagani Tugal, a person with disability in this city. (PNA)