Some Ilocos Norte residents on Friday bared their sentiments and “wish list” for President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.’s first State of the Nation Address (SONA).
Marcos’ maiden SONA will take place on Monday, July 25, at the official start of the 19th Congress at the Batasang Pambansa Complex in Quezon City.
Aware of the oil prices hikes and their domino effect on the cost of basic goods and other services, Lyndon Madrid, a farmer from Dingras, Ilocos Norte, said the President, being the acting chief of the Department of Agriculture, should be consistent with its food sufficiency policy and provide a better marketing strategy for agriculture products.
“I wish a processing center for every province will be established for farmers to directly market their products,” Madrid said, citing that a ready market for their products would be a great boost for farmers.
Meanwhile, retired police officer Dexter Diovic Corpuz of Laoag City hopes that a world-class hospital with the best health program will be made accessible and available to every Filipino.
Aside from lowering the rates of electricity, which has become “too heavy” to bear among Ilocos Norte residents, Arthur Valente, a pastor and a government worker from Currimao town, said the government should enact a law that will allow private individuals or homeowners to use large-scale renewable energy.
Whatever surplus energy they produce should be bought by the government or electric cooperatives for distribution, Valente added.
Albert Ugalino, a senior citizen from Magsinggal, Ilocos Sur, is also dreaming of riding a railway that would link the Ilocos region to Metro Manila to facilitate a better transport system.
Edith Liwanag, 40, a former overseas Filipino worker, also said various government transactions such as the renewal of car registration and driving license, among others should be simplified to avoid long hours of waiting.
Florante Nicolas of San Nicolas, Ilocos Norte also wished to have a shelter for persons with physical, mental, and developmental activities, and other “neglected” individuals. (PNA)
