QUEZON CITY— Leaders from Negros Occidental generally welcomed President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s fifth State of the Nation Address (SONA), with many expressing support for his proposals to lower electricity costs, strengthen disaster resilience, and continue economic reforms.
Reacting after the SONA on July 27, Deputy Speaker and Bacolod Lone District Rep. Alfredo Abelardo Benitez described the speech as “very grounded,” saying it addressed the issues ordinary Filipinos face every day.
“He answered the questions of the people,” Benitez said, pointing to the President’s proposals on electricity prices and other high-impact programs.
Benitez particularly backed the proposed amendments to the Electric Power Industry Reform Act (EPIRA), saying Congress is pushing for targeted amendments instead of an overhaul of the entire law to allow faster implementation of reforms, including the removal of system loss charges passed on to consumers.
On flood control, Benitez said Bacolod’s Oplan Kontra Baha has already produced visible results following weeks of heavy rains.
He cited continuous declogging, desilting, dredging, and regular maintenance operations, noting that despite intense rainfall last week, the city recorded no major flooding.
He added that additional “River Warriors” will soon be deployed to sustain the program.
Benitez said the SONA stood out because many of the administration’s programs are already being implemented at the local level.
Rep. Javier Miguel Benitez (Neg. Occ., 3rd District). described the President’s fifth SONA as “one of his better SONAs,” saying the loudest applause inside the session hall came when Marcos called for the proposed Sariling Kuryente Act and the removal of system loss charges and value-added tax on those charges from consumers’ electricity bills.
He also welcomed the proposed middle-class income tax relief and other measures aimed at reducing the financial burden on Filipino families.
However, Benitez said he hoped the President had also discussed the sugar industry, the creative industries, and the broader implications of artificial intelligence, including environmental concerns such as electricity and water consumption.
He also said that while he appreciated the President’s opening discussion on flood control, many Filipinos would still want to see greater accountability and justice for those found responsible for alleged irregularities in flood control projects.
Rep. Julio Ledesma IV (Neg. Occ., 1st Distrist) lauded the president for directly tackling the “elephant in the hall”—the flood control issue—straightaway.
Rep. Emilio Yulo (Neg. Occ., 5th District) said he was happy beause a number of activities and advocacies he implemented or exposed were mention by the president, such the Social Security System, PhilHealth, and systems loss.
Meanwhile, Bacolod Mayor Greg Gasataya also expressed support for the President’s priorities, saying the SONA affirmed that the city’s HEART Agenda is aligned with the national government’s direction.
In his Facebook post, Gasataya said Bacolod’s initiatives on public health, education, digitalization, waste-to-energy, waterway rehabilitation, workforce development, and disaster resilience complement the administration’s priorities.
He likewise welcomed the President’s call to amend EPIRA, saying prohibiting the pass-on of system loss charges and VAT to consumers would directly reduce electricity bills and provide much-needed relief to Filipino households.
The mayor also welcomed the administration’s recognition of local governments as active partners in nation-building, saying stronger national-local collaboration leads to more meaningful public service.*
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