Eastern Visayas Media Without Borders
Tacloban City–House Minority Leader and 4Ps Party-list Rep. Marcelino “Nonoy” Libanan on Monday delivered a hard-hitting Contra-SONA, commending select achievements of the Marcos administration but warning that many Filipinos are still left behind.
Speaking before his colleagues in the House of Representatives, Libanan stressed that statistics alone do not reflect the everyday struggles of ordinary citizens.
“While we welcome the President’s appeal for unity, genuine unity must be rooted in meeting the people’s most urgent needs—not in political convenience,” Libanan said.
He acknowledged the administration’s focus on economic growth, infrastructure, and social programs, but said these gains “must be felt at the grassroots, not just measured in numbers.”
Citing official data, Libanan noted that while poverty incidence dropped from 18.1 percent in 2021 to 15.5 percent in 2023, nearly 17.5 million Filipinos remain poor.
More striking, he pointed to a June 2025 SWS survey showing that 49 percent of Filipino families still consider themselves poor, highlighting the deep disconnect between economic indicators and lived realities.
On inflation and the cost of basic goods, Libanan cited the gap between the government’s promises and market conditions.
“The President promised ₱20 per kilo rice. But in reality, consumers still face prices of ₱45 to ₱60. For many Filipinos, this dream is still out of reach,” he said, as he slammed smuggling, price manipulation, and the lack of farm reform.
He called for a comprehensive and long-term national agricultural plan—not just temporary price controls or increased imports. “We must invest in our farmers, rural productivity, and food sovereignty. The solution must come from the strength of our own harvests.”
Turning to labor, Libanan said the call for a legislated wage hike is long overdue.
“Our workers, the backbone of our economy, deserve a national minimum wage that reflects the cost of living and restores dignity to every Filipino family,” he pointed out, while criticizing piecemeal wage board adjustments.
On education, Libanan supported the President’s goals but said systemic issues remain. He noted the alarming performance of Filipino students in international assessments and called for greater investment in teacher training, curriculum reform, and equity in access to quality education.
“Education is not just about infrastructure—it is about preparing our youth to compete in the world,” he said.
On health, Libanan echoed the President’s admission that healthcare remains expensive and inaccessible for many. He called for full enforcement of the Zero Balance Billing policy, better compensation for frontliners, improved rural hospital capacity, and urgent funding for mental health programs.
He added: “The real test is whether our hospitals are ready—and accessible—to all who need them.”
The Minority Leader also took aim at the country’s energy sector, citing high electricity costs, persistent brownouts in the provinces, and the continued reliance on fossil fuels.
He backed the President’s plan to plant 100 million coconut trees, and urged the government to aggressively promote the use coconut oil in local biodiesel production, while also calling for the immediate enforcement of the Biofuels Act’s mandated increases in blending with fossil fuels.
On infrastructure, Libanan supported “Build Better More” but said more focus must be given to daily commuter woes, decentralization, and connectivity.
He pushed for prioritization of the long-delayed Luzon–Visayas bridge linking Sorsogon and Northern Samar. “This is not just a bridge; it’s a national lifeline,” he declared.
He also addressed the recent flooding across Luzon, emphasizing the need for audits of flood control projects, durable seawalls in Pacific-facing provinces, and full implementation of the Solid Waste Management Act.
“Public funds meant to protect lives must not be lost to corruption. Transparency and follow-through are non-negotiable,” he said.
Libanan criticized the administration’s silence on online gambling, warning of its devastating social costs despite massive revenue gains. He called for a total ban on predatory platforms, alongside livelihood support for displaced workers.
“We must not profit at the expense of broken families,” he said.
Finally, he called for urgent political reforms, including campaign finance transparency, true political party development, and revisions to the Party-List Law to ensure marginalized groups are genuinely represented. “We must move away from personality-driven politics and strengthen our democratic institutions.”
Libanan ended on a hopeful but firm note: “The best part of the President’s SONA is that he knows our problems. Now we urge him to solve them. The success of the President must be the success of the Filipino people.”
