President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s declarations that the Philippines will neither yield nor waver in asserting its rights over the West Philippine Sea (WPS) and that all Philippine offshore gaming operators (POGO) are now banned from the country were met with rousing standing ovations on Monday, July 22.
The president made the announcements during his third State of the Nation Address (SONA) at the Batasang Pambansa.
“In the face of challenges to our territorial sovereignty, we will assert our rights and interests in the same fair and pacific way that we have always done. Proper diplomatic channels and mechanisms under the rules-based international order remain the only acceptable means of settling disputes,” Marcos said.
The president, on announcing the banning of all POGOs, also instructed the Philippine Gaming and Amusement Corp. to wind down and cease their operations by the end of the year.
“Disguising as legitimate entities, their operations have ventured into illicit areas furthest from gaming such as financial scamming, money laundering, prostitution, human trafficking, kidnapping, brutal torture, even murder,” he said.
“The grave abuse and disrespect to our system of laws must stop,” the president said.
The president did not mention the Negros Island Region as hoped by some Negros leaders and the Bacolod City housing program in his SONA.
“Nonetheless it was an inspiring speech that was sober in its assessment of what we have accomplished, what has just been started and what still needs to be done,” Rep. Francisco Benitez (Neg. Occ., 3rd District) said.
“We applaud the President for his steadfast defense of our sovereign rights in the West Philippine Sea,” Benitez said.
Benitez also said it was a rousing and inspiring SONA, although challenges were clear in addressing inflation and rising food prices and education.
Bacolod Rep. Greg Gasataya lauded the president’s political will on the West Philippine Sea and POGO.
Negros Occidental Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson also said he was happy with the president’s banning of POGO.
The president’s SONA covered very important issues and concerns that people wanted to hear about, the governor said.
Lacson said the president’s not mentioning the NIR was okay since it is already a law.
Negros Occidental Vice Gov. Jeffrey Ferrer congratulated the president for focusing on POGO and the contentious territorial dispute in the West Philippine Sea.
“These two major issues have both international and local implications, and it’s great to see progress being made on them,” he said.
“The President’s attention to the rising cost of rice, a matter that greatly impacts many Filipinos, demonstrates his dedication to addressing crucial issues,” Ferrer also said.
Rep. Alfredo Marañon III (Neg. Occ., 2nd District) and Rep. Manuel Sagarbarria (Neg. Or., 2nd District) called the president’s SONA the best that he has delivered.
“Of the three SONA’s the President delivered this is the probably the best as he laid down in detail his plan on agriculture, education and his directive on POGOs to cease operations,” Marañon said.
Frank Carbon of the Metro Bacolod Chamber of Commerce and Industry said it is comforting to note that the president and his national government agencies are aware of most of the problems of the country and they are doing something about them.
But, what is notable is the president’s recognition that the economic growth of the country hinges on investments, he said.*