Marcos” unemployment report ‘far from reality,’ says Senate minority

The Senate minority bloc refuted President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.’s report on the country’s employment rate during his second State of the Nation Address, saying this was “overstated” and “far from reality.”

In his speech, Marcos said the employment rate as of May 2023 rose to 95.7 percent and the underemployed figure is at 11.7 percent.

Pimentel explained that the 95.7 percent rate should mean full employment.

“That’s far from reality,” Pimentel said.

“Masayadong mataas e…Kung tingnan natin ang figure na binigay ni presidente sa employment rate natin practically we have full employment…I do not believe it cause I could see unemployment all around us,” he added.

Pimentel said the government must double check its figures and challenged the relevant agencies supplying the president the data to come up with “really accurate figures.”

The minority chief said the president should have given details on how the “trillions in pledges” can be translated into actual economic activity and job generation.

For Senate Deputy Minority Leader Risa Hontiveros, this figure is overstated.

“Overstated ‘yung kanilang employment percentages and underemployment percentages… Pag 95% ang employment sa isang ekonomiya, full employment na ‘yon. So, you mean to tell me, Mr. President, more than full employment na tayo? Hindi po,” she said.

The opposition lawmakers also raised several issues that the president either missed or lacked emphasis on.

Pimentel stressed the non-mention of a legislated wage hike and the lack of explanation on the additional EDCA sites as well as the “frequent sightings” of American military aircrafts within Philippine territory.

The minority leader also noted that even the Congress–which gave overwhelming support to the Maharlika Investment Fund Act–did not applaud the mention of the newly signed law.

“‘Yung Maharlika, kung napansin ninyo, when he first mentioned it, napansin ko walang pumalakpak e. So, I don’t think that even Congress is excited about Maharlika,” Pimentel said.

The senator said the administration should not be proud of this legislation because the seed capital is from the assets from government banks which could be deposit liabilities.

“So, Maharlika is not an achievement–the Maharlika Investment Fund– and I think Congress knows it. When it was first mentioned, wala namang applause. Walang spontaneous applause,” he said.

Hontiveros also noted the lack of mention of the words “West Philippine Sea” in Marcos’ SONA.

“Hindi nila binanggit ang pangalang West Philippine Sea. Ang sabi lang nila ulit sovereignty through dialogue. Naku ha, baka isang century tayo nakikipag-dayalogo sa China, dinededma pa rin niya tayo,” she said.

Hontiveros said Marcos should have mentioned the Hague ruling in his speech to assert sovereignty over the China-claimed territory.

“Ang isang hindi nagawa ni presidente kanina sana sabihin niya na once and for all, explicitly, na tinataguyod nila ang ating tagumpay sa the Hague kasi once ginawa nila ito then we will be in full support sa lahat ng aksyon ng Executive,” she said.

“Hindi malakas ang sinabing paninidigan para sa sovereignty. Mas mahina kesa sa posible kasi sa diplomasya sa politka, gagamitin mo ang pinakamalakas na sandata mo and this is the most powerful, peaceful, nonviolent, diplomatic political [way]… ‘Yun ‘yung Hague ruling,” she explained.

Hontiveros also expected that Marcos would make a stand against POGOs when he talked about economic reforms and fiscal monetary policies.

“Sana sinabi rin ni presidente– sisingilin na lang natin ang kulang na utang sa buwis ng POGO at paalisin na…So ang dami nilang sinabi na parang listahan lang pero may mga importante sanang sinabi sila na the silence was deafening,” she said.

On the President’s strong statement against smuggling, Hontiveros stressed that even key government officials are supposedly involved in agricultural smuggling.

“[Ang smuggling] na nga ang isa sa mga pinakamalaking problema hanggang sa ngayon sa agrikultura kung saan wala pa tayong full time Agriculture secretary to the point na ‘di ba sa pinakahuling hearing ng Blue Ribbon, sinabi pa ni Executive Secretary na hindi kailangan ng sugar order para makapag angkat ng asukal,” she said.

“‘Yun na nga ‘yung isang naging ugat ng sugar smuggling, economic sabotage na very sadly mga government officials mismo at agencies ay mga kasabwat. At speaking of asukal, isa yan sa mga pangunahing bilihin, pagkain na in-enumerate ni presidente na di umano bumaba na raw ang presyo pero hindi pa talaga nangyayari yon,” she added.

If she will give Marcos a grade for the content of his SONA, Hontiveros said she will give him a 70 percent rating.

“Kung ang kanilang State of the Nation Address ay hindi rin kumpleto at accurate, makatotohanang picture, kulang na kulang pa sa kung ano ang plano niyo sa susunod na kalahating dekada, hindi rin ako makapagbigay ng passing grade. So, 70 at best,” she said.–LDF, GMA Integrated News