(Photo from the Presidential Communications Office)
What garnered strong support, to the point where "BBM" chants echoed throughout the House of Representatives, was the President's announcement that all Philippine Offshore Gaming Operations (POGO) in the country will be banned effective July 22, 2024.
"Disguising as legitimate entities, their operations have ventured into illicit areas far removed from gaming, such as financial scamming, money laundering, prostitution, human trafficking, kidnapping, brutal torture- even murder. The grave abuse and disrespect to our system of laws must stop," declared Marcos.
"Effective today, all POGOs are banned," Marcos enforced.
He also tasked the Philippine Amusements and Gaming Corporation to ensure the termination of all POGOs in the country by the end of the year.
The President further stated that this is the time for the Department of Labor and Employment and the country's other economic managers to help Filipino POGO employees find new jobs.
"This will solve many of the problems that we are encountering. It will solve many of the problems that we have been encountering, but it will not solve all of them," Marcos added.
In his nearly hour-and-a-half speech, Marcos also announced a salary increase for government employees next year, to be given in four parts, and the provision of a medical allowance for them.
(Screenshot from the live feed of RTVM)
He also increased the teacher's allowance to P10,000 and provided them with personal accident insurance through the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS).
Marcos also said that he is pushing for the National Learning Recovery Program to address the need to enhance students' knowledge. "Recent assessments have revealed the poor reality that more than half of our grades 6, 10, and 12 students have failed to reach the ideal proficiency levels, faring low in information literacy, problem-solving and critical thinking skills," Marcos announced at the SONA.
He also stressed that the West Philippines Sea belongs to the Filipinos and that this is not a mere figment of imagination.
"The Philippines cannot yield. The Philippines cannot waver."
The President also reported a drop in the poverty rate to 15.5% from 18% in 2021 and the graduation of more than 420,000 from the 4Ps (Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program), among whom are former students from impoverished families who are now engineers and teachers.
