Reporting the progress that his administration his made so far and charting the country’s path for the latter half of his term.
On Monday, July 28, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. will be speaking to the entire country for his fourth State of the Nation Address.
The Filipino chief executive will be facing legislators and other guests of honor at the Batasan Pambansa in Quezon City, with the program anticipated to begin at approximately 4:00 pm.
Key national issues and sectoral issues over the past year are expected to be tackled. But this year, another added layer to the address will the Marcos administration’s hitting of the halfway mark, which might also mean tracking thhe progress of the promises made in his first three years in office.
Moreover, it is also held with the heightened dynastic feud between the Marcoses and the Duterte family, led by former President Rodrigo Duterte and Vice President Sara Duterte.
Meanwhile, following the onslaught of tropical cyclones Dante and Emong, along with the prolonged rains brought by the Southwest Monsoon (Hanging Habagat), the 2025 SONA is touted as a simpler affair, with the red carpet at the entrance having been removed.
Highlights
• Marcos arrived at the Batasan Pambansa Complex using the Presidential chopper 30 minutes ahead of his scheduled speech.
• PBBM also walked his way and entered the Plenary Hall earlier than the supposed start time.
• Senate President Francis Escudero and House Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez call the joint session between both chambers.
• ‘The Voice US Season 26’ champion Sofronio Vasquez sings the Phikippine national anthem for SONA 2025, with The Nation’s Prayer following shortly afterwards.
• Marcos opens his speech by greeting distinguished guests, including former President Gloria Arroyo, and congratulating the recently elected winners of the midterm polls last May.
Introduction
- “Isantabi na natin ang ating mga pagkakaiba at magkasunod na sa tatlong bagay na nagbibigkis sa atin,” which he specified as being Filipino, patriots, and as servants of the public.
- Marcos also admitted that the weak showing of admin bets in the recent polls as a reflection of the public’s sentiment of the government, which he described as “frustrated and dismayed.”
- The message is clear, he said: “Kailangan pa nating galingan, bilisan [ang serbisyo ng pamhalaan].”
- PBBM: Economy growth, lower unemployment rate are all “fluff” if the populace does not see the effect of these in their lives.
- He promises to pour in more effort and resources in the last three years of the administration to better serve the public.
Labor and employment
- PBBM: Maayos na hanapbuhay ang kailangang pantiyak laban sa kahirapan, gutom.
- DOLE, DTI, DSWD, and DOT tasked to find and create more livelihood opportunities to the 4% of the workforce that remain unemployed.
- Gov’t to provide loans with minimal interest and no collateral to those seeking to open microenterprises. Plans are also underway to give capital and protection to intellectual properties.
- Marcos: We will not stop until we give 2.5 million poor families their own business.
- PH to improve industries, such as automobile, biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, minerals, textiles, and energy plants.
Agriculture
- The President also encouraged businessmen to invest in agriculture.
- Marcos to international businessmen: The Philippines is ready, invest in the Filipino
- PBBM: We have proven that we can lower rice prices to P20 without burdening farmers.
- ‘Benteng Bigas’ program now available in several provinces in the country.
- P113 billion set as budget for the Department of Agriculture’s programs, allowing the expansion of ‘Benteng Bigas’ and Kadiwa stores nationwide.
- Marcos: We will go after traders manipulating prices, torturing farmers for economic sabotage.
- Gov’t to boost local production of livestock, improve biosecurity measures with new facilities.
- Rice and other agricultural products also increased.
- Gov’t distributed aid to farmers, created new farm-to-market roads and irrigation systems, among others; new boats for fishermen.
- President Marcos requests Congress to amend Coconut Famers and Industry Trust Fund Act to adapt to evolving needs.
- Department of Science and Technology (DOST) assisting on improving agricultural processes and develop new mechanisms.
- Marcos vows that the next-generation farmers will own the land they are cultivating. Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) expediting distribution of CLOA and E-titles, and other documents proving that beneficiaries of agrarian reform program no longer have outstanding debts.
Energy and water
- PBBM: Energy issues still rife despite progresses made in diversifying sources like solar.
- LWUA now formulating measures against water districts and joint venture partners; Marcos assures to go after these companies.
- 2.5 million homes out of the five million when the admin began three years ago have been electrified.
- 200 plants capable of lighting 4 million homes or 2,000 factories to be completed in the next three years.
- Department of Energy (DOE) to accomplish electrification projects until 2028.
- 1 million homes to be put under Solar Power Home System, promising lower electricity bills and even selling excess energy to the grid.
- DOE’s net metering program to be expedited; lifeline rate to now include non-4Ps beneficiaries that consume energy below the lifeline rate.
- Marcos reveals reasons behind Siquijor brownouts: expired permits, dilapidated generator sets, lack of system in buying oil and parts. Marcos orders restoration of normal electric situation in the island before the end of the year.
- PBBM addresses widespread issues about water in multiple parts of the country, which has affected 6 million consumers nationwide.
Education and youth
- Marcos: Puspusan nating inaayos at pinapaganda ang sistema ng ating edukasyon.
- Academic Recovery and Accessible Learning (ARAL) launched this year; improving Early Childhood Learning Development and Care.
- Government also monitoring the state of the youth’s mental health, to add counselors nationwide.
- P1 billion funding approved for 300 Barangay Child Development Centers, Bulilit Centers nationwide.
- Marcos orders the Department of Health (DOH) to hasten vaccination of children in the soonest possible time.
- Under Yakap Caravan to monitor students and teachers health, providing free check-ups and medicines.
- 22,000 classrooms opened in the past three years; 40,000 more expected to open in partnership with private sector by 2028.
- Marcos bills tutoring and remedial program as “effective,” vows to expand it.
- DOLE and DSWD tasked to further expand internship and pre-employment programs for college students.
- Laptop dedicated to teachers have begun arriving, Marcos promises no anomalies in the acquisition of these units. Smart TVs, other digital equipment also ready for students.
- PBBM: 60,000 teaching added to the force; removed 100 documents from workload and vows to digitize remaining tasks.
- Marcos says there will be corresponding pay for teaching overload and overtime of teachers.
- TVET by TESDA slowly being introduced to Senior High School curriculum.
- Marcos also shares state education funding, says over 2 million students benefit from free public tertiary education with 260,000 added during his term.
- TESDA adds 200,000 more scholarships in 2024.
- Marcos claims Philippines now second in ASEAN in terms of continuity to college and technical-vocational courses offered by TESDA.
- Presidential Merit Scholarship to be given to High School graduates with high honors.
Social welfare
- 4Ps continues, Marcos asked Congress to amend law on the program.
- Marcos: 5 million households benefitted from the conditional cash transfer scheme under 4Ps.
- President orders LGUs to enter street dwellers into the 4Ps program.
- Walang Gutom Program to help 600,000 households in its second year, to increase to 750,000 by 2027.
- P1 billion funding to help DSWD feed more children.
Sports
- Marcos touts physical activities to combat growing obesity rate in the country; orders LGUs to improve parks, public spaces and initiate programs like Car-free Sundays.
- Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) to open track-and-field facilities in Pasig, Manila, and Baguio to public for free.
- Marcos vows support for the sports and athletes, gov’t to create new programs for sports development in the country starting with school-based intramurals.
- The President exemplifies award-winning atheletes Manny Pacquiao, Hidilyn Diaz, and Carlos Yulo, among others in his speech.
- Marcos quips PNP Chief Nicholas Torre as another member of that list, referencing his supposed bout against Davao City acting mayor Sebastian Duterte on July 27—where his opponent did not appear.
- PBBM also gives recognition to men’s curling team who represented the country in the Asian Winter Games.
Health
- Health facilities, physicians added across the country in the past three years, President promises to open more BUKAS centers.
- Philhealth added new benefits, now covers more illnesses.
- Gov’t expediting Philhealth’s process of payment to hospitals and healthcare facilities to ensure continued service to patients.
- Medical assistance program continues, Marcos says 11.5 million Filipinos have benefitted; process to be streamlined via eGovPH app.
- “Zero balance billing,” which provides free services like laboratory tests, scans, and other procedures for indigents in public hospitals, is now in effect according to the President.
Infrastructure and technology
- Infrastructure projects of the administration also in full swing, Marcos said. Some of these are also expected to open after his term expires in June 2028.
- PBBM: “We are not only building for today, we are also building for tomorrow.”
- He also presented the increased discount for students, PWDs, and senior citizens, as well as the “Pamilya Pass” for the three major rail lines in Metro Manila.
- The President also noted the recent introduction of Dalian trains into revenue service at MRT-3.
- Marcos also announced the return of Love Bus, which will serve the public for free, in more places in the Visayas and Mindanao.
- Bataan-Cavite Interlink Bridge to begin works this year with the project promising shortened travel times between the two provinces from five hours to only 45 minutes.
- PNR rail lines in Bicol are also being repaired after being damaged by tropical cyclone Kristine in 2024.
- Marcos: SLEX extension slated to open in 2026
- The President ordered DPWH, DOTr to monitor the construction works in southern Luzon to ensure its quality.
- Mindanao Transport Connectivity Improvement Project to complement Luzon Spine Expressway Network program.
- EDSA Guadalupe bridge retrofitting “badly needed,” to be done during his term with temporary detour bridges to be built on both lanes to facilitate works.
- DILG, DPWH, OPAPRU to investigate hanging bridge that collapsed in Isabela.
- Corruption, negligence, and lack of maintenance among major issues in infra development in the Philippines: Marcos
- PBBM underscores safety in ‘Build Better More’ program of his administration.
- The President also shared the launch of more free wi-fi sites in the country, free SIM cards to students and schools in far-flung areas.
- Marcos says eGovPH Super App has integrated government processes into a single application, with new features like NBI Clearance, Beep Card, and eTIN to be rolled out soon.
- PBBM directs Land Transportation Office (LTO) to not have backlogs again and deliver registration plates within the promised three-day period.
Peace and security
- PNP, Armed Forces get new equipment to maintain security in the country.
- Marcos: Reintegration program for former rebels have allowed rebels and their family to start anew.
- PBBM declares that there no insurgent groups left in the country, assures work being done to prevent new ones from rising.
- Police to respond to calls within 5 minutes, he added.
- Marcos vows to go after those involved in the case of the missing cockfighters, whether they may be private individuals or government officials.
- The President added that P83 billion worth of illegal drugs have been seized by the government during their raids.
- 156,000 have been arrested, 1,690 declared high-value targets including 677 government officials. He touts that the number of arrests made have nearly equaled figures of the entire Duterte administration within three years.
- Operations to continue against pushers, big-time and small-time.
International relations and overseas Filipinos
- International relations also given the spotlight; Marcos thanks Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs).
- “Sa harap ng mga bagong banta sa ating soberanya, mas maigting ngayon ang ating paghahanda, pagmamatyag, at pagtatanggol sa ating sarili,” Marcos said amid ongoing maritime disputes and in the midst of global geopolitical conflicts.
- President Marcos declares: “The Philippines is a friend to all… enemy to none.”
- Philippines to host Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit in 2026.
- Marcos looks back on the case of Filipinos held captive by Houthi rebels, which were freed after more than 400 days.
- He also cited the assistance and intervention made by the government to 600 OFWs who faced death row abroad.
- Marcos, on behalf of the Filipinos, expressed his thanks to Oman, Qatar, United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, and Kuwait for showing “compassion to our beleaguered compatriots.“
Disaster preparedness
- Government also improving readiness and resiliency of the country against the threat of climate change and calamities, which he says is the “new normal.”
- Marcos: “Dapat maging likas at automatic na ang mga wastong gawi sa tuwing may sakuna dahil tuloy-tuloy ang mga sakuna…“
- More evacuation centers to be built, promises to stop using schools in the future.
- New equipment are now being used by PAGASA and PHIVOLCS to monitor cyclones, earthquakes, and volcanic eruptions.
- PBBM also asks for the public’s cooperation in times of evacuation orders and their discipline for the properly disposal of waste.
- Marcos also blatantly admitted that many flood control projects were substandard and went collapsed during the storm.
Corruption
- • The President lashed out on those who were involved in corrupt practices in doing these projects, saying: “Mahiya naman kayo sa inyong kapwa Pilipino! Mahiya naman kayo sa mga kabahayan nating naanod o nalubog sa mga pagbaha. Mahiya naman kayo sa mga anak natin na magmamana sa mga utang na ginawa ninyo, na binulsa niyo lang ang pera.” He received a standing ovation from the legislators during this part.
- DPWH tasked to submit list of all flood control ptojects done or planned in the last three years; Regional Project Monitoring Committee to review and give report on finished, not completed, and ghost project. List to be publicized.
- An audit and performance review to be conducted to know how taxpayers’ money was spent, with cases to be filed against those proven to have benefitted from these corrupt practices.
- “Kailangang malaman ng taumbayan ang buong katotohanan. Kailangang may managot sa naging matinding pinsala at katiwalian.”
- For the 2026 General Appropriations Bill, Marcos vowed to return any proposals that is not fully aligned with the National Expenditure Program (NEP). He adds that he is willing to do this even at the risk of a re-enacted budget.
Final words
- Marcos: Susuong tayo sa susunod na tatlong taon na dala ang mga leksyon mula sa mamamayan
- “Huwag tayong matatakot o titiklop, huwag tayong mawawalan ng pag-asa,” the President said in the last few moments of his speech before stating that “tayo ang Bagong Pilipinas.”
- Marcos concluded his fourth State of the Nation Address after 1 hour and 10 minutes.