He is scheduled to his third SONA on Monday.
Beginning 4:00 pm on Monday, July 22, President Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos, Jr. will be speaking at the Batasang Pambansa in Quezon City to deliver his third annual State of the Nation Address (SONA).
Trendrod will deliver the highlights of his speech on the website starting at 4:00 pm today.
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Key highlights
• The speech commences after the National Anthem and The Nation’s Prayer at 4:06 pm.
• Of the three living past Presidents, only President Duterte did not attend the Marcos’ State of the Nation Address.
• Marcos begins his speech with the inflation of goods, particularly food and rice.
• “Hindi natin winawalang bahala ang inyong mga hinaing at hirap na dinadanas,” – Marcos to citizens.
• Marcos says rice production in the countey reached 20 million in the past year, highest since 1987.
• PBBM: Local rice production and agriculture is gov’t priority.
• Marcos bares aids given by the government to farmers and fisherfolks; to give vaccine against African Swine Fever (ASF).
• More than 130,000 titles distributed to farmers under agrarian reform program; certificate of condonation to be given to Php 57 bn-worth of loans.
• More than Php 2.7 billion of smuggled agriculture and fisheries product seized, given to citizens in need; other goods to be destroyed.
• PBBM: Local governments no longer collect fees for motorists transporting goods using national roads; LGUs asked to refrain from collecting fees using local roads.
• Marcos: Kadiwa stores to be made permanent.
• Farm-to-market roads, irrigation to be expanded.
• Irrigation dams to supplement food and water security for the general population, especially in the underserved areas.
• Government introduces new farming techniques, services to equip and protect farmers against drought.
• Marcos highlights the Philippines’ geographical location as reason for its high vulnerability to the extreme effects climate change.
• PH has been given a seat, chosen as chair of the Loss and Damage Fund Board.
• Gov’t building disaster-resilient facilities and command centers to prepare for worsening effects of climate change.
• The country is also preparing for the effects of La Niña.
• Pasig River revival named one of important environmental projects.
• Marcos: Various sectors to benefit from aggressive infrastructure projects as PH aims to become upper-middle income country.
• PBBM: “Despite challenges, we are steadily progressing towards our targets in the medium-term.”
• He also says that the power and internet connectivity are being improved continuously.
• Fiber backbone to give PH’s needed bandwidth.
• Common towers to be pushed for networks, gov’t to push for policy reforms and streamlined processes.
• Gov’t builds cybersecurity system.
• PBBM: “Nireremedyuhan natin ang mga lugar na walang kuryente at madalas may brownout.”
• Power projects in Visayas, Mindanao helped in preventing brownouts in Panay island last summer.
• “Unified Philippine grid is a fulfillment of dream of interconnectivity.” — President Marcos
• Lifeline rate program for 4Ps beneficiaries, noted as one of progresses in the electricity sector.
• EPIRA Law being reviewed and will be amended if needed.
• Budget approved for bridges and roads along Maharlika Highway; new sections of Luzon Spine Expressway network opened
• PBBM says Philippines is in “Railway Renaissance” as Metro Manila Subway sees progress, while MRT-7 and North-South Commuter Railway (NSCR) are “likewise progressing.”
• LRT-1 section from Baclaran to Sucat to open this topic year; 76 trains added to line.
• PNR Bicol Line reopened from Naga to Legaspi
• Private sector to improve NAIA, to make it capable of handling 48 flights per hour and cater to 62 million passengers per year.
• NAIA envisioned to become world-class gateway to the world under PPP.
• General Santos and Bicol airports expanded.
• Marcos: Public-private partnership for big ticket projects now institutionalized by law.
• 1/4 of “Build Better More” program to be funded under PPP.
• UP-PGH Cancer Center has been opened; existing hospitals and specialty centers being improved
• Urgent Care and Ambulatory Service or BUKAS centers opened in parts of the country to decongest hospitals.
• Super Health Centers to be built with LGUs.
• PhilHealth increases number of medicines covered for outpatient from 21 to 53, including nerve pain and epileptic seizures.
• PhilHealth increases coverage for acute stroke and pneumonia to Php 76,000 and Php 9,000, respectively.
• Breast cancer coverage limit increased from Php 100,000 to Php 1.4 million
• Chemotherapy for more types of cancer to be covered by PhilHealth starting this year.
• Vaccination drive to be furthered in regions with low-vaccination rates for babies.
• Philippine Plan of Action for Nutrition to be beefed up; government to enhance feeding programs in schools and day-care centers.
• A new grant under Pantawid ng Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) to be added in 2025; this will ensure nutrition of newborn child.
• DOST in the process of developing nutritious food and drinks.
• DOH has programs for mental health; PhilHealth introduced this year its packages for members.
• Palarong Pambansa relaunched this year after three-year hiatus.
• Marcos wishes 28 Filipino athletes to compete in Paris Olympics “good luck.”
• PBBM: Education system must be recalibrated to not only make them literate, but also critical thinkers.
• Digital gap to be bridged, reliable power to be ensured in education sector.
• Textbook production to be reformed, three-year process to be cut down to one year.
• Marcos challenges new DepEd Secretary Angara to improve state of education in the country as soon as possible.
• Teachers to be given teaching allowance starting 2025 through Kabalikat sa Pagtuturo Act.
• Funds have been allocated for expanded career system for public school teachers, which will allow them to pick between teaching or school administration paths with ample opportunities.
• Marcos: 51 of 87 universities in world rankings are public schools
• PBBM: Higher enrollment rate in college, technical-vocational courses
• Local I.T. schools like Mabalacat City College given recognition.
• PH space program have generated data for use of agriculture and environment sectors
• A new satellite named ‘Mula’ to be built, which would be the country’s biggest satellite to date.
• PBBM: Employment rate has increased
• Marcos: 4Ps have proven its efficacy; 4200 families have graduated from the program last year
• Persons with disabilities (PWDs) to be empowered with livelihood opportunities and programs
• Government employees to be given additional medical allowance
• The President notes that nvestment pledges in the previous years have commenced, bringing revenue and new jobs to the country.
• Marcos: Conscious efforts to improve ease of doing business have produced intended multiplier effects
• Security of banks and financial platforms to be strengthened to protect the public from scammers, money mules
• PESO employment system boasts 98% placement rate
• President Marcos shares digitalization of government paperworks like E-Travel for plane and sea passengers.
• Marcos says Philippine E-Visa next in agenda.
• The President also noted challenges in the tourism sector.
• PBBM vouches for experiential tourism and a multi-faceted strategy in the sector.
• Citing Bangko Sentral, Marcos says OFWs entered $37 billion in remittances last year.
• UN has adopted the resolution protect the human rights of seafarers while at sea.
• Aid given and new centers opened for Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs).
• Backwages/claims of Filipinos who previously worked in Saudi Arabia have been given.
• Marcos says crime rate has decreased in the country, but adds its not yet enough.
• PBBM: Strong pillars of Philippine criminal justice system and independent judiciary system are in unison
• The President also signed RA 12009 last Saturday, government procurement to be “modern and innovative.”
• “No guerrilla fronts remain active in our country as of today,” Marcos said noting that only 7 weaker groups are target of “focused operations.”
• He also shared that a lot of former rebels have been reintegrated into the society, with some part of the armed forces or police force.
• Marcos also said that the government vows to honor and comply with deliverables under peace agreements.
• Due to improved peace situation, the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) saw 140% increase in investments last year; poverty incidence lowered
• Marawi rehabilitation projects continues under the Office of the President
• Marcos says government’s “bloddless” campaign against drugs adhere to “8 Es,” and adds that “extermination was never one of them.”
• The President also adds that the 71,500 operations have led to the seizure of Php 44 billion-worth of drugs and arrest of 97,000 personalities — including 6,000 high value targets and 77 elected officials.
• Drug-affected barangays in the Philippines reduced by 32%.
• “We will assert our rights and interest in the same fair and Pacific way that we have always done” — Marcos on territorial disputes
• PBBM repeats a previous statement, saying that “The Philippines cannot yield. The Philippines cannot waver.”
• “Ang West Philippine Sea ay hindi kathang-isip lamang. Ito ay atin at ito ay mananatiling atin hanggang nag-aalab ang diwa ng ating minamahal na bansang Pilipinas,” President Marcos said. He then received standing ovation and applause from legislators.
• He then thanked the armed forces and fishermen who continue to assert the country’s maritime rights on the West Philippine Sea.
• PBBM: Philippines shows healthy signs of post-pandemic resilience comparable to strong economies in the region
• Marcos says that government lifted 2 million families out of poverty.
• President Marcos: We are promoting investor-led growth to create an environment conducive to investors.
• He describes the country’s financial system to be “robust and resilient.”
• Marcos on Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators: “Effective today, all POGOs are banned.”
• The President instructs gambling authority PAGCOR to cease and wind down the operations of POGOs by the end of the year.
• Concurrently, he also mandates the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) to find new jobs to Filipino workers due to be affected by the POGO ban.
• To end, Marcos reminds the citizenry to always fight against evi: “Lagi po nating labanan ang mali at masama.”
• President Marcos’ third State of the Nation Address (SONA) ends at 5:27 pm or approximately 81 minutes after it started.