#SONA2023: Groups call Marcos’ 1st year of presidency ‘lackluster’

Josiah Antonio and Robert Mano, ABS-CBN News

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img alt="Anti- and pro-Marcos Jr. groups held separate demonstrations in Quezon City on July 24, 2023 ahead of President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr" s="" second="" State="" of="" the="" Nation="" Address.="" Maria="" Tan="" and="" Mark="" ABS-CBN="" src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2023/news/07/24/anti-and-pro-marcos-jr-groups-07242023.jpg"/><figcaption>Anti- and pro-Marcos Jr. groups held separate demonstrations in Quezon City on July 24, 2023 ahead of President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr&#x27;s second State of the Nation Address. Maria Tan and Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News</figcaption></figure></div> Supporters urge president to carry onMANILA — Activists described President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr.s’ first year as president as lackluster as he is set to hold his second State of the Nation Address on Monday.“Focus siya sa pagpapapogi, itong bago logo, bagong slogan, simbolo ‘yan na hindi marami, malaki ang kaniyang nagawa, idinaan na lang sa rebranding at pagbabago ng image,” Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) chairperson Teddy Casiño told ABS-CBN News.“Hindi nagkaroon ng radikal na pagbabago sa usapin ng economic policy, reporma sa ating politika. Naghahanap pa rin ang tao ng tunay na pagbabago,” he added.Alliance of Health Workers national president Robert Mendoza said that Marcos lacked action to address the COVID-19 pandemic.“Tayong mga health worker, dismayado tayo kasi marami siyang ni-promise nung first SONA niya - uunahin niya ang kapakanan ng mga health workers, tinatawag kaming mga bayani. Ngunit hindi naman namin naramdaman ‘yung tunay na pangangalaga’t pagkalinga sa mga health workers,” Mendoza said.“Bagsak talaga siya roon sa usapin ng healthcare delivery system. Sa tagal ng panahon, mayroon tayong problema doon sa malalang understaffing, mababa na sahod, at patuloy na kontraktwalisasyon. Dapat talaga, tinugunan niya talaga ito. Pero mas lumala ang kalagayan ng ating mga healthworkers sa kasalukuyan,” he added.Kilusang Mayo Uno chairperson Elmer “Bong” Labog added that Marcos&#x27; programs for workers were not enough amid the inflation.“Hinihila namin sa alaapaap kung ano ang plano ni Bongbong Marcos Jr. para sa mga manggagawa at sa mga pangkaraniwang mamamayan. Tila wala kaming nababanaagang plano hinggil sa pag-unlad ng aming kabuhayan,” the labor leader said.“Ang P40 na dagdag sa sahod ay pabalat bunga sapagkat napakaliit na halaga ito kumpara sa napakataas na tantos ng implasyon na hindi na makaagapay ang sahod ng mga manggagawa,” he added.While they are not expecting anything, Casiño said that it would be good if Marcos heeds the people’s concerns especially in economic concerns.“We have been through many SONAs at alam naman natin na bawat taon ay puro pagpapakitang-gilas and rosy projections ang binibigay ng mga pangulo. Magugulat ako and matutuwa kung magsasabi siya ng totoo,” he said.“Kung tutugunan niya ‘yung panawagan ng ating mga kababayan na dagdag na sahod, kabuhayan, pagkain sa mesa, kung ‘yan ay magkakalugar sa kanyang State of the Nation Address, I would be very happy,” he added. <ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/07/24/23/marcos-jrs-2nd-sona-had-a-lot-of-revisions-sandro">President Marcos Jr.&#x27;s 2nd SONA had &#x27;a lot&#x27; of revisions, son Sandro says</a></li></ul>Meanwhile, pro-Marcos groups also held an activity near Commonwealth Ave. in Quezon City.According to One Movement Inc. chairman Marlon Mendoza, nearly 4,000 people from Metro Manila and provinces attended the event. He said they were not paid to go to the event and urged Marcos to ignore his bashers. “Para sa aming mahal na pangulo, huwag siyang sumuko, manindigan at maging matibay at higit sa lahat ay laging manalangin dahil hindi naman nawawala yung mga tao na gustong kumontra at ayaw ng pag-unlad ng ating bansang Pilipinas,” said Mendoza.<div> RELATED VIDEO</div><figure class="op-interactive"><iframe allow="autoplay; fullscreen" frameBorder="0" height="100%" id="ivsplayer01" scrolling="no" src="https://player.ivideosmart.com/ivsplayer/v4/dist/html/iframe-src.html?iframeid=ivsplayer01&amp;key=e8c22c015ca9eafa76f1e3edfa03c603&amp;spid=3001339&amp;vid=2730908" width="100%"></iframe></figure><div class="iwantbar">Watch more News on <a href="https://www.iwanttfc.com/#!/browse/Genres/News/tag_id_genres/id_news" target="_blank">iWantTFC</a></div>

Anti- and pro-Marcos Jr. groups held separate demonstrations in Quezon City on July 24, 2023 ahead of President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr's second State of the Nation Address.

#SONA2023: Groups call Marcos’ 1st year of presidency ‘lackluster’

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#SONA2023: Groups call Marcos’ 1st year of presidency ‘lackluster’

Josiah Antonio and Robert Mano,

ABS-CBN News

Published Jul 24, 2023 04:36 PM PHT

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Ferdinand Marcos Jr

Bongbong Marcos

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State of the Nation Address

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One Movement Inc

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