Same old... same old...

As State of the Nation Addresses go, this one by BBM last Monday is par for the course.

- BOO CHANCO

It told us nothing new about the state of our nation we aren't sorry about. And there was no big vision. Only bits and pieces of unfinished business from the past.

But BBM started on the right note. He said the message the people expressed in the last election is clear to him. "Bigo at dismayado ang mga tao sa pamahalaan, lalo na sa mga pangunahing serbisyo."

BBM is also right to observe that the economic indicators the economic managers are so proud of are not very meaningful if ordinary Filipinos are still struggling in their daily lives.

BBM went on to say that the lesson to him is simple: his administration must not only get things done right, they must be quick in delivering on the expectations of the people.

Then BBM went on to promise a long list of populist giveaways to sweeten his strained relationship with the people. Among these is the expansion of area coverage of the P20/kilo rice in Kadiwa Centers, free Love Bus service in key metro areas, free wifi, free dialysis (three times a week), more freebies to help farmers and many more.

BBM was not clear how all these freebies will be funded and presumably, he knows these populist ideas are not sustainable given our tight fiscal space. Could BBM be thinking of scrapping pork funds and cutting government waste to raise the funds he needs to win the people back?

BBM said that "for the 2026 National Budget, I will return any proposed General Appropriations Bill that is not fully aligned with the National Expenditure Program. And further, I am willing to do this even if we end up with a reenacted budget."