SENATE Minority Leader Aquilino ‘Koko’ Pimentel III on Saturday highlighted the importance of education as great equalizer and suggested bigger budgetary allocation as well as inclusion of computer-coding in the school curriculum.

“We should also go out of our way to help those with mental health conditions or problems. Many of them were born with this condition. This was not and never was self-caused,” Pimentel said.

Pimentel made the statement as he called on President Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos, Jr to discuss the true situation of the country in his 2nd State of the Nation Address on Monday.

Pimentel said Filipino people deserve unfiltered truth.

“During the President’s SONA, it is my hope that he will discuss the real situation of the Filipino People at the household level,” Pimentel said.

Among the issues Pimentel said should take the spotlight during SONA are the high cost of living, inadequate income, problems on education, unemployment and underemployment, and ballooning national debt.

While macroeconomic figures are important, Pimentel said the SONA should concentrate on microeconomic matters which concern and affect the lives of the ordinary Filipino.

“The cost of living is very high. The income of the typical Filipino family is not enough for their basic needs and for their decent existence as a family of human beings. Those who are employed are not paid living wages. Many are unemployed and many more are underemployed,” Pimentel stressed.