U.S. PRESIDENT TRUMP’S radical economic policies on trade with 86 countries demands answers from our government under President Bongbong Marcos and his VP Sara Duterte.
Given that 27.2 percent of Filipinos have experienced hunger, according to the latest SWS survey, how will this Marcos-Duterte administration address this food security issue?
What production sectors will be affected adversely, and those that will somehow benefit, if at all?
So too, what particular businesses will be hard up, and those that will manage probably to make a killing, going forward?
HIGHER TARIFFS
The Filipino people are expecting immediate answers and clarifications on the impact of “higher tariffs” on our export and import products. For the ordinary housewife with just enough cash for 2 or 3 meals a day, how will she and her husband get by, especially to feed 3 or 5 kids?
The school year is about to end, and there will be expenses parents will have to shoulder, not to mention the coming 2025-2026 school year. How will parents cope with any increases in the educational requirements of their children?
Employed parents may have a fighting chance in meeting the food needs of their families, and perhaps the education expenses of their children. But would they have cash for contingencies like their health needs, or coping with possible disasters like flooding during the rainy season, or fires that may strike their homes or communities?
How about the millions of jobless Filipinos, how is the government responding to this basic problem, considering Trumps’ trade war? Isn’t this a fundamental task of the government – to provide employment or livelihood to all working-age Filipinos? The more Filipinos holding decent jobs and fair wages, the better for the country’s economy to propel towards real progress for the country.
While this administration has to face head-on the economic impact of Trumps’ trade war, it has also to consider that it’s election fever. Myriad questions are in the minds of the voters.
ELECTION FEVER IS ON
While this administration has to face head-on the economic impact of Trumps’ trade war, it has also to consider that it’s election fever. Myriad questions are in the minds of the voters.
Dynastic candidates have taken the lead with their campaigning, and have in fact already spent millions of pesos, to assure themselves of visibility to voters nationwide. Huge billboards, tarpaulins, TV exposures, and all sorts of campaign materials have saturated the cities and towns, dominated by the Marcos administration and the Duterte-PDP candidates.
Netizens are not surprised, knowing that the Marcoses and Dutertes, along with their fellow dynastic allies in government, have long accumulated and kept unimaginable huge election campaign war chests.
But aren’t these candidates, especially those currently still in government, like Senators Bong Go, Bato de la Rosa, Francis Tolentino, Imee Marcos, Pia Cayetano, Bong Revilla, Lito Lapid, and others, have been in power for years now under the Bongbong Marcos – Sarah Duterte leadership? What have they done so far for a more progressive society? Why are they making promises when they could have already done those while already in power as senators? They should be helping President Bongbong Marcos with their suggestions, if any, on this latest President Trumps’ “Trade War” policy.
UNANSWERED QUESTIONS
Regarding the candidacies of re-electionist Senators Bato de la Rosa and Bong Go, aren’t they suppose to be with their boss Mr. Rodrigo Roa Duterte in the Hague’s ICC detention cell, having been active in the bloody implementation of the drug war, since RR Duterte was the Davao city mayor?
On the elections, is Comelec, which failed to erase doubts on the rigging of the May 9, 2022 elections, as IT experts claimed, trustworthy enough to handle the elections fairly?
Too many questions today need to be answered by this administration – for the peoples’ peace of mind!
Bro Boni,
You confused me with this article.
The reelectionists for 6 years were not able to improve the country. The 3 years senators have not started any earthshaking solutions to the problems of corruption. poverty, injustice.
It might be logical to vote 12 new faces regardless of experiences. Wala rin nagawa yun 6 years & 3 years in office na mga senators.
Your Fan
Willie Buyson Villarama 04/16/25
Sad to say, govt.clings to the hope that because US and RP have “iron-clad” friendship, Trump will be softer in its tariff on us? ! That’s wishful thinking!
The main problem with us is that govt.has no independent national development program for the Phil.nation. Govt.follows US neoliberal policies that rebdound to its interest mainly. It’s borderless economy simply means that it will DUMP their high-value finished products to non-manufacturing and agriculture backward countries like the Phil. Meanwhile, we export low- value added agri crops, furnitures and other handicrafts, semi-conductor with somewhat higher value, and OFWs (labor export program started during FM with the opening of the POEA that signals the start of deregulation, as liberalization in trade and privatization intensified). And we accept that onerous trade relations with open arms promising even zero-tariff under Ramos administration and followed suit by administration per administration. The result is devastating as we are experiencing it now! We are trillions in debt already! Meanwhile, BBM continously remain a lackey to US geopolitical agenda in its conflict with China. BBM is asked to buy outmoded fighter jets and weaponries (proven by the Russian superiority in arms in Ukraine) even as our countrymen are jobless, homeless and hungry. It’s wake up call for us my countrymen!