Donna Mae Alaga 
The clock is ticking, President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.
It is high time for the public to know how close we all are to the “Bagong Pilipinas” PBBM has oft-repeatedly promised in his lofty speeches across his three State of the Nation Addresses (SONAs).
Though thrice standing ovations here and there would testify the magnitude of achievements and dreams PBBM bannered throughout his third SONA, it’s obvious to spectators and critics alike that there are still pending promises in line and they will continue to pile up into backlogs unless the current administration will do something about them.
Underfunded education
As far as the new DepEd Secretary, former senator Sonny Angara is concerned, we are on the brink of a crashing quality of the education system. No amount of ardent, nationalistic speeches could slam the data on the poor comprehension levels of high school students, for instance. Another notable example was the budget cuts made on Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) which gravely affected tertiary students despite the benefits of the Universal Quality Tertiary Education Act. Yet, it seems the priorities of the current administration are shuffling in places as if this sector will not reflect the road trodden by generations to come.
Incomplete infrastructure projects
With the goal of skyrocketing tourism development, ease of mobility, and agriculture, increasing railway projects, seaports, airports, and roads were laid out perfectly in the blueprint of plans PBBM hoped for in the sector of infrastructures. Absence of tangible and timely completion of these projects could not fill the gaps on how far we are from the “build, better, more” vision and clearly define a picture where they should be finishing what they have promised instead of adding new, unattainable ones.
Underappreciated healthcare
Despite the grave aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic which struck our nation years ago, we barely plummeted back to the new normal. However, the unreasonable million worth of substandard medical products purchased by the government on Pharmally before should remind us that the fiscal framework PBBM planned to ensure funds to go directly where they are meant to be, was futile. These funds could be better spent on alleviating the lack of specialized medical facilities, affordable pharmaceutical products, and underpaid medical professionals. Virology Institute of the Philippines mentioned in his first SONA in 2022, which has never been created amidst soaring variants of the COVID virus, sounds promising but various public hospitals and centers are much more in dire need of such funding.
The nation seems to be at stake of walking down the same road we have suffered all these years.
Thus, aside from strict vigilance, we should always demand transparency, not mere assurance, and tangible outcomes to prove we are not riding with the disillusioned plans to boost our false hope high.
Time and time again, the government has shown what it can only do, for now. PBBM could either continue to babble about the same curated narrative of “Bagong Pilipinas” or spend the remaining years of his term turning it into reality rather than a mere dream. Grab on tight to that to-do list, PBBM, because the price of rice is not yet 20 pesos.
