President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. just delivered his penultimate State of the Nation Address (SONA), in which he brandished his administration’s achievements from the past year and its commitments for the next and last months of his leadership. But critics found the hour-and-26-minute speech — despite its many rounds of applause — wanting.
Gabriela Representative Sarah Elago said the reforms that Marcos pitched would not provide long-term relief. “Sunud-sunod ang inanunsyong ayuda, subsidyo, at iba pang pansamantalang ginhawa, pero hindi nito tinutugunan ang ugat ng krisis,” she said. “Hangga’t nananatili ang mga patakarang nagpapataas ng presyo at nagpapahirap sa mamamayan, band-aid solution lang ang mga ito.”
Senator Risa Hontiveros likewise said that she was waiting for “receipts” for how the lives of Filipino families may still be improved. “Halimbawa, sa larangan ng agrikultura, although binanggit ng presidente na mataas pa rin ang ani sa palay, ang aning iyan ay itinanim ang mga binhi bago sumipa itong matinding problema natin sa tubig,” she told reporters after the speech.
If there’s any certainty that this SONA provides, it’s that Marcos wants to end his term safe, if not outstandingly.
Marcos started the SONA on Monday, July 27, with a crucial update on the flood control corruption cases. He previously called for an investigation into 15 top-earning government contractors linked to alleged ghost infrastructure projects, prompting hearings in Congress that opened the floodgates to finger-pointing, the so-called “cancellation” of influencers related to the accused contractors, arrests, and even the continued hot pursuit of former House Appropriations Chair Elizaldy “Zaldy” Co.
This time, he announced the pile of cases to be lodged against his cousin, former House Speaker Martin Romualdez. “Meron nang mga unang nakasuhan at nakulong: mga kontratista, matataas na opisyal, pati na mga mambabatas,” he said. “At dumating na tayo sa punto na, ayon sa Ombudsman, ay malapit na ang paghain ng patong-patong na kaso sa dating [House] speaker.”
“Masakit man sa akin ito, ngunit kailangan nating gawin ang tama. Hindi ako pangulo ng pamilya. Hindi ako pangulo ng aking kaibigan. Ako ay pangulo ng Pilipinas,” he added.
What does Marcos’ “Bagong Pilipinas” look like, apart from the kind of Philippines every other president before him has envisioned? And with Marcos approaching the last stretch of his presidency, are we there yet?
Throughout the speech, he bared many other achievements: the recovery of P800 million worth of ill-gotten wealth from the anomalous infrastructure projects, securing new fuel sources amid conflicts in the Middle East, the resumption of drilling in the Malampaya gas field, the Philippines’ involvement in the controversial Pax Silica initiative, and government reforms that facilitated around P6 trillion in investments.
Promises and demands from this year’s SONA include the removal of the systems loss charge from consumers’ electricity bills (which earned Marcos a standing ovation), tax relief for workers earning P350,000 annually or less, revisiting plans for nuclear energy, investing in electric vehicles, the opening of the MRT-7 line in 2027, and even the country’s first-ever spaceport in Cagayan.
Elephants in the Plenary Hall
Though he mentioned Pax Silica, he skirted around concerns surrounding the proposed 1,618-hectare industrial hub, mainly the possible displacement of Indigenous Peoples and the hub’s use of water. “It will bring quality jobs to our people, accelerate our industrial competitiveness, and revitalize our economy,” he said, without painting a more concrete picture of what “accelerating” and “revitalizing” would look like.
Marcos also failed to mention the search for Zaldy Co and Sen. Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa, who face arrest warrants for the flood control case and the International Criminal Court’s drug war case, respectively. And sidelined, still, are issues regarding human rights, environmental protection, and continuous calls for the passage of measures such as the SOGIE Equality Bill and the Divorce Bill.
No Clear Goal
The president, in his penultimate SONA, failed to define his administration’s legacy. More importantly, he didn’t seem to take a clear stand on the nation’s more polarizing issues.
“Sa nalalabing dalawang taon ng administrasyon, tatapusin natin ang mga nasimulan at tutuparin ang ating pangako sa sambayanan,” he said at the very beginning of the speech. It’s an unremarkable statement to make when everyone is expected to deliver on their promises, no matter how lofty or inconsequential.
In 2022, Marcos ran under the UniTeam banner with Vice President Sara Duterte, but this has been rendered moot by their rift. While he may not admit it, one of the president’s crowning achievements could be Duterte’s removal and disqualification from public office. Unsurprisingly, he did not touch on her ongoing impeachment trial, as the Palace previously stated that the president is choosing not to “interfere in a matter over which a co-equal branch has exclusive jurisdiction.” But aside from the other issues he neglected to mention, her trial remains the biggest elephant in the room, and one that Marcos cannot give even the smallest nod to.
So how does Marcos want to be remembered? In place of unity, his administration’s slogan, “Bagong Pilipinas,” is touted as an all-encompassing call for economic and social transformation, echoing the “Bagong Lipunan” concept of his late father’s administration. But the campaign, just like the idea of unity, suffers from a vagueness in concept. What does Marcos’ “Bagong Pilipinas” look like, apart from the kind of Philippines every other president before him has envisioned? And with Marcos approaching the last stretch of his presidency, are we there yet?
As Sen. Juan Miguel “Migz” Zubiri said, this administration must now follow through on the reforms the president outlined in his speech. But if there’s any certainty that this SONA provides, it’s that Marcos wants to end his term safe, if not outstandingly.
Frequently Asked Questions
President Bongbong Marcos confirmed the Ombudsman is preparing multiple cases against his cousin, former House Speaker Martin Romualdez, alongside earlier indictments of contractors, officials, and lawmakers.
Lawmakers Sarah Elago and Risa Hontiveros said the announced subsidies were temporary band-aid fixes that ignored the root causes of rising prices and hardship.
Pax Silica is a proposed 1,618-hectare industrial hub Marcos praised for jobs and competitiveness, but critics flag risks of Indigenous Peoples’ displacement and heavy water use.
No. He avoided any mention of the ongoing trial, citing separation of powers, even though it remains one of his administration’s most consequential unresolved issues.
“Bagong Pilipinas” is President Bongbong Marcos’ administration’s slogan for economic and social transformation, echoing his father’s “Bagong Lipunan,” though critics say the concept remains vague and undefined.
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