What was unsaid in the Sona

There are two parts in a speech: what was said, and what was not.

The first State of the Nation Address (Sona) of President Marcos Jr. took a detailed and provocative look at the ills of our society. It was peppered with complex policy points which, I fear, may be beyond the comprehension of the average Filipino. I cannot, however, blame the President, who himself, as claimed, prepared a complex speech simply because our problems are complex as well. It would be “obviously political” if the President had sugarcoated the real state of our nation. The speech was, indeed, meticulously prepared, like strong black coffee with no pretentious additives.

Beyond the complexity of the speech are stuff that were not said. There may be reasons for this omission, and they may be deliberate or unintentional. In any case, things unsaid in this week’s Sona may be considered uncomfortable truths that, when mentioned, would make the state of the nation unsound. Allow me to mention a few:

Amendment of Republic Act No. 7160 known as the Local Government Code of 1991, to meet the challenging roles of local officials during the COVID-19 pandemic;

Effective and coordinated policies against graft and corruption;

Job security and putting an end to contractualization;

Better pay for teachers;

Solving drug use and addiction;

Poverty alleviation, and;

Addressing transportation and traffic issues.

Be that as it may, the President’s Sona was well-written and well-delivered with a strong content. I hope all the policies and strategies he mentioned are doable to ensure better living conditions in our country. Let us help the President get things done. It is time to deliver.

REGINALD B. TAMAYO,Marikina City