PBBM’s admission of shortcomings at SONA applauded

Business and non-government organizations appreciated President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s admission of his administration’s shortcomings, relayed during his fourth State of the Nation Address (SoNA) on Monday.

In a statement, Victor Lim, president of the Federation of Filipino Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry Inc. (FFCCCII), commended President Marcos Jr. for his “exceptional” candor and forthright acknowledgment of governmental weaknesses, particularly his unequivocal condemnation of excessive political corruption, which resonated profoundly with the business community.

“This corruption is not merely a moral failing; it is a primary driver of our country’s entrenched poverty, deepens social inequities, and critically undermines our national economy. It manifests in perceived massive wastages, fuels perennial fiscal and budget deficits, and necessitates unsustainable borrowing, diverting resources desperately needed for genuine national development,” he said.

The FFCCCII leader said he and his organization “strongly” endorse the President’s focus on bolstering essential social services and uplifting the quality of education as foundational pillars for inclusive progress.

Lim said the FFCCCII also offers its “vigorous and unequivocal” support for President Marcos’ specific commitment to combat the corruption, particularly “ghost projects,” which he called “phantom initiatives (that) represent direct and unconscionable theft from the Filipino people. We call for rigorous, systemic, periodic, and transparent audits and performance reviews across all government agencies and projects,” he said.

Urgent call

The FFCCCII is making an “urgent” call on the administration and the legislature to enact profound, systemic anti-corruption reforms.

“We need strengthened institutions, unimpeded transparency, robust accountability mechanisms, certainty of punishments, and unwavering enforcement of the rule of law. Only through such fundamental systemic reforms can we restore public trust, ensure efficient use of public funds, unlock sustainable economic growth, and genuinely uplift the lives of all Filipinos,” the organization said in a statement.

Meanwhile, Alyansa ng Bantay sa Kapayapaan at Demokrasya, People’s Alliance for Democracy and Reforms, Liga Independencia Pilipinas, and Filipinos Do Not Yield Movement chairman emeritus, Dr. Jose Antonio Goitia, is hailing President Marcos Jr.’s SoNA, calling it “firm, honest, and long overdue.”

“For once, we have a President who’s not pretending everything is okay. He’s facing the mess and cleaning it up,” Goitia said, referring to the President’s candid remarks on corruption in government infrastructure projects, particularly in flood control.