SENATOR Loren Legarda urged the government to lay down plans that will strengthen the education system.

Legarda said she expects President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to divulge his education plans and programs on his first State of the Nation Address as the World Bank reported in 2021 that over 80 percent of Filipino students fall below the minimum proficiency levels, suggesting an education crisis in the country.

Legarda said that she is also eager to hear Marcos discuss his priority programs and policy reforms on health, food security, agriculture and sustainability programs, economic and fiscal policies, human rights and social justice, unemployment and underemployment, legislative agenda and the critical role of the local governments.

“I am looking forward to hearing President Marcos’ specific plans on the country’s pandemic recovery and transition to a better normal,” she said.

The lawmaker also wants to hear how the government will handle the huge national debt, which now stands at P12.68 trillion.