By Glaiza Salanio

President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. delivered his third State of the Nation Address (SONA) in the Batasang Pambansa Complex plenary hall on Monday, June 22, to give an overview of his second year as president.

He was welcomed by Senate President Francis “Chiz” Escudero, House Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez, and other government officials, excluding Vice President Sara Duterte, who is currently in Bohol.

Food and water security

In his speech, he highlighted the food and water security concerns of the country, ensuring that the government will continue to support the agricultural sector; including modernizing irrigation systems, providing assistance to farmers and fishermen, and implementing programs to address hunger and malnutrition.

“Kaya patuloy nating sinusuportahan ang sektor ng agrikultura, upang mapabilis, mapadali, at mapalakas ang produksyon — mula pagpunla, pag-ani at paghuli, hanggang sa pagbiyahe at pagbenta — at upang maiwasan din ang pagkasira ng mga produkto,” he said.

He also announced the KADIWA program expansion to help people deal with high food prices by establishing a farm-to-customer market chain.

Disaster adaptation and mitigation

Additionally, President Marcos discussed climate adaptation and mitigation measures such as building evacuation centers and the operations of the Disaster Response Command Center, which serves as the central hub for disaster response efforts.

He also stated that more than 5,500 flood control projects were already done, and there are still more ongoing.

Infrastructure

Furthermore, he talked about the infrastructure projects of his administration, saying that they “remain sustained, strategic, and on schedule.”

He also mentioned the success of the Free Wi-Fi program as well as the continuous upgrades of the power and internet services in both capacity and connectivity of the country.

Moreover, he said to anticipate steady growth in the nation’s power supply to meet rising demand while his administration actively addresses power shortages and blackout causes in unserved and underserved areas.

“Batid nating lahat na ang presyo ng kuryente dito sa ating bansa ay mataas. Kaya patuloy tayo sa pagdagdag ng mga imprastraktura ng kuryente na magpapababa ng presyo sa kalaunan. Sa kabilang banda, tinitiyak din nating makatarungan ang paniningil sa mga konsyumer,” he assured.

Aside from these, he outlined future infrastructure developments, such as the expansion of airports and seaports, the construction of major expressways and bridges, and the progress of railway projects like the Metro Manila Subway.

Health

According to President Marcos, with the creation of the UP-PGH Cancer Center and the Philippine Cancer Center of the Department of Health, the government is advancing healthcare with new specialty hospitals and expanded medical services nationwide, namely Bagong Urgent Care and Ambulatory Service (BUCAS) Centers, Super Health Centers, and Mobile Clinics. 

PhilHealth benefits were also enhanced to provide more services for Filipinos.

He emphasized that they are prioritizing vaccinations, nutrition, mental well-being, and active and healthy lifestyles as part of their recalibrated health approach towards prevention and healthy habits.

Education

In light of the recent educational assessments that have shown that more than half of grade 6, 8, and 12 students failed to reach the ideal proficiency level, he claimed that “our system of education must be strategically calibrated to make sure that our youth are not only taught to become literate. But, it must also consciously develop them into problem-solvers, and into critical thinkers — hungry for success and ready for the future.”

These efforts include enhancing student proficiency in critical skills, bridging digital gaps in classrooms, and supporting teachers with comprehensive benefits and career advancement.

Employment

In addition, President Marcos reported that the employment rate has increased to 95.9%. and underemployment has decreased from 11.7% in May 2023 to 9.9%, which is the lowest since 2005.

He shed light on the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) and PWD benefits, work wages, cybersecurity measures for financial security, job placement, and the digital transformation agenda with the E-Travel system and E-Visa.

He then thanked the Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW) after gaining $37 billion for the past year, as reported by the Bangko Sentral.

Peace and order

Meanwhile, he presented the significant strides made in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), including economic growth, governance improvements, legislative advancements, and preparations for upcoming elections in 2025.

He also reported the government’s comprehensive approach to combating illegal drugs, focusing on the “8 Es,” strategy (excluding extermination), significant operations, seizures worth billions, and arrests of high-value targets, including government officials.

International Relations

President Marcos’ speech underscored the Philippines’ commitment to asserting its territorial sovereignty through diplomatic means, particularly in contested areas like the West Philippine Sea, while emphasizing peace-building efforts, especially as the country prepares to host the ASEAN Summit in 2026. 

He also praises the vigilance and sacrifices of the Armed Forces, Coast Guard, and fishermen in safeguarding national interests in the West Philippine Sea.

“Tanggapin ninyo ang taos-pusong pasasalamat ng buong bansa, dahil sa inyong ginagawang pagmamatyag at sakripisyo,” he stated.

Economic status

In terms of economic status, he noted the reduction in poverty rates in the country and ongoing efforts to promote investment-led growth through policy reforms, along with securing the right allocation of funds for critical priorities and impactful programs.

“Mga kababayan: sa lahat ng ginagawa nating ito at mga gagawin pa, mataas ang aking kumpiyansa na malalampasan din natin ang hamon na ating pinagdaraanan. Dahil ito ang pangunahing hinaing ng taumbayan, hindi tayo titigil sa paglaban sa kahirapan, at sa paghahanap ng lunas upang maibalik sa normal ang presyo ng bilihin — lalo na ang bigas,” he said.

POGO

President Marcos capped off his SONA by declaring the complete ban of all Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs) in the country.

“Effective today, all POGOs are banned. I hereby instruct PAGCOR to wind down and cease the operations of POGOs by the end of the year,” he declared.

As per him, all officials, law enforcers, government officials, and citizens must remain vigilant, principled, and prioritize the health of the nation to solve all of the problems that we are facing.

He concluded his speech by citing John Stuart Mill, “Let not any one pacify his conscience by the delusion that he can do no harm if he takes no part, and forms no opinion. Bad men need nothing more to compass their ends, than that good men should look on and do nothing. He is not a good man who, without a protest, allows wrong to be committed in his name.”

“Mga minamahal kong kababayan, lagi po nating labanan ang mali at ang masama. Lagi po natin ipaglaban ang tama at ang mabuti. Lagi po nating mahalin ang Pilipinas. Lagi po nating mahalin ang Pilipino. Mabuhay po kayo at mabuhay ang Bagong Pilipinas!” he ended.