Manila: Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian said Wednesday the economic reforms outlined by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. in his 5th State of the Nation Address (SONA) should be sustained to deliver lasting benefits to Filipinos. In a statement, Gatchalian welcomed the President's strong focus on easing the economic burden on Filipino families and improving the country's competitiveness.
According to Philippines News Agency, Gatchalian cited the President's proposal to amend the Electric Power Industry Reform Act (EPIRA) by removing system loss charges from consumers' electricity bills, a measure he has long advocated to provide immediate relief to households and businesses. He also backed the proposed "Sariling Kuryente Act," which seeks to expand the use of rooftop solar and battery storage to strengthen the country's energy security.
"Affordable, reliable, and secure energy is one of the strongest foundations of a competitive economy. Lower power costs encourage investments, help businesses expand, create quality jobs, and improve the purchasing power of Filipino households," Gatchalian said. He added that sustained investments in infrastructure, agriculture, logistics, digitalization, and strategic industries, as outlined in the President's SONA, would be critical to attracting more investments and generating quality jobs, provided these programs are implemented efficiently.
He also echoed the President's call to provide tax relief for middle-income earners and small businesses. "The middle class has carried much of the economic burden in recent years. Meaningful tax relief, coupled with lower electricity costs and better employment opportunities, will strengthen consumer spending and support economic growth," Gatchalian said. He said the Senate remains committed to advancing reforms that will make the Philippine economy more competitive and resilient while ensuring that the benefits of economic growth reach every Filipino family.
On education, Gatchalian vowed that the Senate would ensure the sustained implementation of programs supported by the historic PHP1.35 trillion education budget to address persistent challenges in the sector. In his SONA, Marcos highlighted the expansion of the School-Based Feeding Program (SBFP) and the hiring of 10,000 School Counselor Associates I to strengthen the implementation of the School-Based Mental Health Program.
The 2026 national budget allocated PHP25.7 billion for the expanded SBFP, which will cover all Kindergarten and Grade 1 learners while continuing support for stunted and wasted learners in Grades 2 to 6. The program also increases the number of feeding days from 120 to 200 and is expected to benefit nearly 4.5 million learners. The budget likewise earmarked PHP2 billion for the hiring of 10,000 School Counselor Associates I to ensure learners receive timely psychosocial support.
