(by continuing and rephrasing past policies)
Contrary to what apologists expressed during the State of the Nation Address, its vision, direction, and hopes under the Marcos administration is all but a continuity of his predecessor.
With rephrased terms and new names, the regime "tries its best" to "reverse the state of crisis" with its "bold and determined response" amidst simultaneous challenges of price hikes and energy shortages, all brought by the COVID19 pandemic and by the war over Ukraine.
However, his message is mostly about continuing his predecessors- that of neoliberalism and globalisation, that of intensified foreign competition with trade and investment liberalisation alongside throwing crumbs to the masses and describing it as "welfare." Yes, "the state of the Nation is Sound" but how about 13 trillion debt, 6.8 % inflation rate, oil and commodity price hikes, 20 pesos the price of an egg, contractualisation remains at large, how about 20 pesos for a kilo of rice? For sure apologists would babble that the administration is "new", "freshly delivered" from a "bitterly fought election" and therefore he should be given a "chance" to resolve these problems. But a continuity of neoliberal policies? What a mockery as the nation roils in the economic crisis with millions of Filipinos lost their jobs and livelihoods.
After all, Marcos admitted that the country lives in difficult times and had to endure- and trying to find "solutions" most of which contrary to the aspirations of the people. True that he and his economic team "finding ways" to "recover" the economy, but it is the same neoliberal orientation from that team that limits the manufacturing sector in an absence of heavy industry, it is the same orientation that innovation and creativity remains commerical and tourist-oriented, while entrenched interests dominate the orientation of agricultural and industrial production through their control of the market. Words like "Sound Fiscal Management", "Tax Reform", are all ruses that points directly to the consumer with less support for programs and more taxes while favouring that of entrenched interests both foreign and local with the promise of "corporate recovery and tax incentives" as well as "liberalising public services".
And since he's concurrently as Agriculture secretary, will he revisit the Rice Tariffication Law? Will he halt rice and sugar imports that, according to farmer groups, merely line the pockets of unscrupulous traders and corrupt government officials? Will he provide farm and fishing input subsidies? How will he stabilize vegetable supply and demand when farmers prefer to throw away rather than trade their produce because they cannot even recoup their investment? Pardon for being dismissive especially that agriculture in the eyes of the order means crumbs for the smallholders and cooperatives, while favours the plantations controlled by foreign conglomerates and its local landlord partners. The talk of resolving hunger, food security and sovereignty may end as empty talk as the same administration liberalised the import of rice and foodstuffs, including fish caught by Chinese poachers in the West Philippine Sea. Agrarian Reform remains in question as well, as while he promises to condone loans from Landbank to over 654000 beneficiaries, or by distributing government-owned land mostly to military retirees, peasants who demand land distribution over disputed areas like Hacienda Tinang are being accused as rebels simply because of their just calls. Wouldn't be surprised that the order treats agrarian reform, rural empowerment, or improving agriculture as just palliative solutions primarily meant to silence the angry peasant as it raises its fists against despotic landlords and corrupt bureaucrats.
But regardless of those words this situation ain't a matter of a need for a sound fiscal management not can be promised with 20 peso per kilo of rice. Tax reform may sound a serious pressing need only to target the vulnerable instead of the well-offs, while spending for the bureaucracy according to priorities meant to consolidate the order in the face of crisis. The idea of recovery may also sound enticing, but the fact that making the country depending on foreign investment and attracting with tax exemptions, 100% foreign ownership of utilities makes the idea far from what his supporters envision- that of a renewed nationalism in a new "new society."
While on the other hand some promises may be agreeable, the question is: will it happen? Or remain in paper as the order continues to remain an appendage of interest? During Duterte's last SoNA, the promise of creating a "Center for Disease Prevention and Control and the Virology" and "Vaccine Institute of the Philippines" sounds sanctimonious in the face of his regime’s scarce public health funding. And now, with Marcos speaking in the rostrum that same promise resonate as he vowed to establish the Philippines’ own "Center for Disease Control" and Prevention and a "vaccine institute". Yet, this promise would be far from reality if not half-baked- for "practically", the order find it cheaper to buy vaccines from abroad than setting-up a "vaccine institute" despite countries became engaging in production be it Indonesia, Cuba, or Vietnam- worse, buying means corruption as bureaucrats wanting a big chunk of the budget.
By sounding more patriotic than Duterte, and claiming "friends to all and enemies to none" to justify an "independent foreign policy", yet failing to denounce intrusion by China over the West Philippine Sea, what more of its control over shoals, reefs to create artificial islands serving as military bases- a violation of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea and the final judgement of the Permanent Arbitration Tribunal last 2016. Apologists would even disregard the decision "in the name of friendship between China and the Philippines", favouring mere diplomatic conversations with China and some piecemeal "agreements" even it sacrifices sovereignty. On the other hand, agreements with the United States like the "Visiting Forces Agreement" and the "Enhanced Defence Cooperation Agreement" are as if treated like talismans even when the United States having half-hearted in its overtures towards its rivals. Hence, is the administration, like its predecessors truly having an "independent foreign policy" when in fact remain at the appendage of both Fu Manchu and Uncle Sam? It is not surprising especially in an administration, while assuming to be patriotic, remains reluctant to pursue self-reliance through industrialisation, yet trying to "leap forward" to the "Fourth Industrial Revolution" with slow internet connectivity and lack of foundations (heavy industry, production of machine tools, chemicals) to make happen. Even the idea of having a national gas industry remains an idea as concessions, contracts over Malampaya and Recto Bank under the past Duterte administration remains an issue.
Sometimes this note wonders if apologists of the administration clings to the idea of the late dictator: that his son will fulfill the words "economic emancipation", "political liberation", and "social unity" according to his works. However these words way far from the actions that both the father and the son capitulate to the whims of the banksters, to the so-called "oligarchs" apologists despised- is it so? Or just some happened to be critical of the Marcoses and Dutertes therefore they have to face the wrath?
Perhaps after listening to the "State of the Nation Address" would say that the policies are meant to consolidate again the order under the present administration than to realise the aims of the folk. Again, the state of the nation is "sound" but that sound is distorted as crisis remains at large. Apologists may again insist to "unite" and "move on", but expect the people will "unite" but against them, and to move forward as they continue opposing their narrative.