Manila: President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has acknowledged that much work remains to be done to turn his administration's commitments and aspirations into reality. In his latest vlog released on Saturday, Marcos said his fifth State of the Nation Address (SONA) on July 27 was more than just a speech, with the government needing to carry out the programs and initiatives for Filipinos.
According to Philippines News Agency, Marcos shared details about the lengthy process of preparing his speech, saying the work started several weeks before the address. He noted that his team conducted research on various subject matters, including statistics, developments, and government initiatives that would be continued. They also worked on the flow of the speech, determining which topics should be discussed first, which should follow, and what should be placed in the middle.
Marcos said he personally worked on the language and made changes to make the speech more appropriate for oral delivery. He explained that his penultimate SONA had to be crafted 'for rhetoric rather than for reading.' He revealed that he continued making revisions until the last minute and even made some adjustments while delivering the speech.
Marcos said the speech went through several stages of drafting and editing before it was finalized. His team worked on different portions before reviewing the entire address. The draft had to be shortened because it was initially too long.
On the eve of the SONA, Marcos practiced the speech, timing its delivery and rehearsing on a podium with a microphone. On SONA day, he devoted his time to the final rehearsal and familiarized himself with its contents without exhausting his voice.
Beyond the preparation, Marcos emphasized the importance of following through on the issues raised by Filipinos. The President said the government has programs aimed at addressing hunger, including assistance to local government units to distribute rice to families in need, as well as feeding programs for children in schools.
He also cited the government's Yaman ng Kalusugan Program (YAKAP) health program, which provides medical consultations and medicines to students, parents, and teachers. For dialysis patients, the Philippine Health Insurance Corp.'s (PhilHealth) support and assistance for medicines had been increased, while government interventions for cancer, human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS), and mental health concerns have also been expanded.
Marcos highlighted the government's Zero Balance Billing policy in Department of Health-run hospitals and the removal of value-added tax on certain medicines. He said these efforts aim to make life more comfortable for Filipinos and to help with their health.
Marcos said the government would continue to listen to citizens and determine what more could be done to address their concerns. He assured that all letters from citizens, regardless of age, would be read, and the government would take action on the issues raised.
