SoNA 2026: Romualdez gambit to space odyssey
For a country whose vast population queues for hours for P20 per kilo subsidized rice, one cannot help but ask if satellites can be eaten.
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Daily TribuneFor a country whose vast population queues for hours for P20 per kilo subsidized rice, one cannot help but ask if satellites can be eaten.
Watching the State of the Nation Address (SoNA) was like watching a circus in disbelief.
President Bongbong Marcos opened his report to the nation with something beyond the wildest dreams of his audience in the halls of the Batasang Pambansa and those glued to their TV sets.
The Ombudsman, he declared, was set to file multiple charges against former Speaker Martin Romualdez, ranking government officials and contractors involved in the flood control projects scam.
His announcement elicited thunderous applause from the legislators seated in their swivel chairs and dressed in impeccable attire. Romualdez, who was notably absent, must have been seething watching his erstwhile lapdogs cheering. The same characters whose pockets he filled with ayuda, AKAP, AICS, TUPAD, along with a limitless “one for you, two for me” discretionary fund.
The Ombudsman filing tons of cases against cousin Martin drew loud applause and made big headlines, but the public was skeptical given the fact that the action came quite late and Romualdez seemed unperturbed.
Then came the rocket-to-space dream. For a country whose vast population queues for hours for P20 per kilo subsidized rice, one cannot help but ask if satellites can be eaten.
Which brings to mind the overture of DA Secretary Francisco Laurel Jr. with his pre-SoNA statement: “We need P500 billion to fix agriculture.”
P500 billion! Not one sentence on how. Not one phrase for what, not a plan or hint how and who will benefit. Laurel asks for P500-B without a roadmap. No “this is for irrigation, this is for seeds, this is for palay support.” Just a gargantuan number.
So I ask: Is it for more imported rice to be sold at P20? For more rockets? For fatter commissions?
Because here on the ground, the math is simple: Government buys imported rice at P45. Sells it at P20. The P25 per kilo subsidy goes to Vietnam. But our farmers sell palay at P14. And get zero subsidy.
Subsidize the farmer, not the importer, Mr. Laurel. Forget your toy rocket, Mr. President.
The day after the SoNA, President Bongbong surreptitiously flew to Davao City. He visited the housing project of former mayor Sara Duterte that was finished before PRRD ended his term.
Photos of his inspection trip were blazoned on social media but suddenly disappeared. He made mention of the modernization of the transport system by transitioning to electric vehicles.
That too was started by Mayor Sara. Today, 10 electric Yutong buses operate as part of the Davao City Interim Bus Service. Twenty more units have been ordered by the city government and are expected to arrive around December this year.
Then PBBM can come again for the photo op.
