QUEZON CITY– President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. opened his fifth State of the Nation Address (SONA) on Monday, July 27, by returning to the issue he first raised a year ago, corruption in flood control projects, before laying out a wide-ranging agenda that included tax relief, cheaper electricity, disaster resilience, education, health care, energy security, and the country’s stand on the West Philippine Sea.
Speaking for about one hour and 30 minutes before lawmakers at the Batasang Pambansa, Marcos said the government had conducted an extensive investigation into questionable flood control projects, resulting in cases filed against contractors, senior Department of Public Works and Highways officials, and lawmakers.
He said the Office of the Ombudsman is preparing to file multiple cases against the former House Speaker Martin Romualdez, his cousin.
“We have reached the point where according to the Ombudsman, multiple cases will soon be filed against the former Speaker. It hurts me but we must do the right thing,” the President noted.
“I am not the President of my family. I am not the President of my friends. I am the President of the Philippines and my duty is to you: my responsibility is to the Filipino people,” he said.
The President also detailed the government’s response to the Middle East conflict, including the repatriation and assistance given to overseas Filipino workers, measures to cushion the impact of the global energy crisis, suspension of excise taxes on LPG and kerosene, financial assistance to the transport sector, and interventions to stabilize fuel and electricity prices. He also announced refunds for overcharged electricity consumers and a one-time tax abatement for micro-entrepreneurs.
Marcos renewed his call for tax reforms, urging Congress to pass measures that would expand income tax exemptions to annual earnings of up to P350,000 to provide relief to workers and the middle class.
On disaster preparedness, Marcos said the country has shifted from a reactive approach to one that is proactive and predictive, supported by digital technologies, satellite-to-mobile communications, and the newly adopted State of Imminent Disaster concept that allows government intervention before disasters strike.
The President also cited Negros Occidental as among the provinces implementing Oplan Kontra Baha, the nationwide flood mitigation and waterway clearing program.
For Negros Occidental, the administration’s emphasis on technology-driven disaster response also aligns with the earlier approval of additional funding for Project NOAH, whose budget provision was authored by Rep. Javier Miguel Benitez (Neg. Occ., 3rd District) to strengthen hazard mapping, flood forecasting, and disaster preparedness.
Marcos highlighted continued government support for agriculture through crop insurance, disease control against African swine fever and avian influenza, and the distribution of more than 500,000 hectares of agrarian reform land titles.
He also said about 200 energy projects capable of producing nearly 10,000 megawatts are expected to be completed before the end of his term.
He likewise floated revisiting nuclear energy as part of the country’s long-term energy mix while calling on Congress to pass the proposed Sariling Kuryente Act, which would make it easier for households to install solar power systems.
Marcos also received one of the loudest standing ovations after declaring that consumers should no longer bear system loss charges in their electricity bills, urging lawmakers to amend the Electric Power Industry Reform Act (EPIRA) and prohibit the collection of system loss charges and the value-added tax imposed on them.
Education and workforce development also figured prominently in the address, with Marcos highlighting the expansion of technical-vocational education, stronger digital transformation initiatives, artificial intelligence training, and career progression for teachers.
During this portion of the speech, the live broadcast showed TESDA Director General Jose Francisco “Kiko” Benitez, the former representative of Negros Occidental’s Third District, as the President discussed technical-vocational education and workforce readiness.
Marcos also addressed recent incidents of violence in schools, announced the promotion of around 85,000 teachers, expanded school counseling services, and continued investments in classrooms and educational technology.
On health, the President outlined expanded PhilHealth benefits, universal health care initiatives, and plans to establish a Virology and Vaccine Institute in the Philippines.
He also highlighted increased support for sports, citing Filipina tennis star Alex Eala and expressing hope that football’s growing popularity could one day lead the Philippines to qualify for the FIFA World Cup.
Marcos also announced that the Philippines is moving toward a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement with the United Arab Emirates, bringing the country’s total number of free trade agreements in force or under negotiation to 23.
He also unveiled plans for the country’s first spaceport as part of efforts to enter emerging industries.
On foreign policy, the President reiterated the Philippines’ support for peace in the Middle East and preparations for the country’s hosting of ASEAN meetings, while expressing confidence that the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao would hold peaceful and credible parliamentary elections.
Toward the close of his address, Marcos shifted to a broader appeal for unity, saying Filipinos are “a noble, gracious, and great race.”
“We are not greedy. We are not racists. We are not liars,” he said, drawing another standing ovation.
The President concluded his address by reaffirming the Philippines’ commitment to the 2016 Arbitral Award under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), vowing to uphold the country’s sovereign rights in the West Philippine Sea.
“We are Filipinos, and we do not yield”, he said, adding “Hindi tayo pasisiil.”
Paying tribute to the Armed Forces, the Philippine Coast Guard, and Filipino fisherfolk, Marcos ended his fifth SONA with a call to continue defending the country’s rights.*
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