Manila: President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Monday used his fifth State of the Nation Address (SONA) to draw a line between his administration's first four years and its final stretch, presenting both an accounting of the government's accomplishments and a roadmap for the remaining two years of his term centered on accountability, economic transformation, social protection, food and energy security, education, and the defense of Philippine sovereignty. Delivering his address before a joint session of Congress at the Batasang Pambansa Complex, Marcos spoke for one hour and 26 minutes, a bit longer than his one hour and 10-minute SONA in 2025, outlining what he described as the next phase of the administration's push for a "Bagong Pilipinas" (New Philippines).
According to Philippines News Agency, the President received repeated applause throughout the speech, with some of the loudest ovations coming after he vowed to pursue corruption cases regardless of political ties, defended the country's sovereign rights in the West Philippine Sea, and promised that no Filipino would be left behind as economic gains continue to expand.
Marcos opened his penultimate SONA to provide an update on his previous address' main attraction - the flood control scandal - which is now entering a decisive stage following the government's sweeping investigation into alleged irregularities in flood control projects. Marcos announced that the Ombudsman is now preparing to file multiple cases against former House Speaker Martin Romualdez, his cousin. The probe stemmed from the administration's review of thousands of flood mitigation projects after widespread flooding exposed unfinished, substandard and allegedly 'ghost' infrastructure despite billions of pesos in government spending.
Marcos underscored that family ties would not stand in the way of accountability. He said investigators followed evidence 'without fear or favor,' resulting in criminal charges against contractors, senior Department of Public Works and Highways officials and lawmakers. The President added that nearly PHP25 billion worth of public funds and assets have been recovered, frozen or preserved, while more than PHP800 million has already been returned to the National Treasury.
Beyond anti-corruption, Marcos framed the country's economic strategy around attracting high-value industries rather than relying solely on traditional manufacturing. He said government reforms, including the Green Lanes for Strategic Investments, have already facilitated more than PHP6 trillion worth of investments over the past three years, projected to generate over 400,000 jobs. Marcos said the Philippines is positioning itself deeper into global value chains by expanding advanced manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, logistics, luxury goods, semiconductors, and artificial intelligence (AI).
One of the biggest applause lines of the speech came when Marcos turned to high electricity prices. Calling the practice unfair to consumers, he urged Congress to immediately amend the Electric Power Industry Reform Act (EPIRA) to prohibit charging systems loss to electricity users. Marcos likewise reaffirmed the administration's energy diversification strategy, saying the country would continue expanding renewable energy while moving forward with preparations for nuclear energy, describing it as a critical component of achieving long-term energy security and lower power costs.
Marcos reiterated that food security remains among his administration's top priorities. He cited continued investments in irrigation systems, farm mechanization, post-harvest facilities, cold storage, modern agricultural equipment, and digital technologies to raise farm productivity. The President also highlighted the construction of dams and reservoir irrigation systems across the country, saying these projects are intended to guarantee year-round water supply, increase rice production and strengthen climate resilience.
Marcos devoted a substantial portion of his address to education, saying learning recovery and student welfare remain central to the administration's long-term agenda. He announced that the government would feed more than 4.5 million Kinder, Grade 1, and nutritionally at-risk learners through the expanded school-based feeding program. To address student welfare, the President said the government would deploy the first 10,000 School Counsellor Associates in public schools as he noted recent incidents of violence in schools involving students.
Marcos also outlined major healthcare reforms, saying the administration is shifting toward preventive healthcare while expanding PhilHealth benefits. He said the government's YAKAP Program has already provided medical consultations to 4.5 million Filipinos out of 25 million registered beneficiaries. The President said PhilHealth's GAMOT Program now covers 75 essential medicines, while more than 2,000 medicines have been exempted from value-added tax, including hundreds used for cancer, hypertension, diabetes, and mental health treatment.
Foreign policy and national security formed the emotional climax of the address as Marcos responded to recent tensions in the West Philippine Sea. The remarks came days after two Philippine Navy personnel were injured during a violent confrontation with the China Coast Guard near Ayungin Shoal, prompting the President to personally visit the wounded servicemen in Palawan and summon the Chinese ambassador to Malaca±ang. Without mentioning China by name, Marcos denounced recent insults directed at Filipinos.
Rather than unveiling sweeping new flagship programs, Marcos used his fifth SONA to argue that the administration is entering a new phase focused on completing reforms already underway. From pursuing corruption cases, lowering electricity costs, expanding healthcare and education, attracting strategic investments, strengthening food and energy security, modernizing agriculture, and defending Philippine sovereignty, the President cast the remaining two years of his administration as a period of implementation rather than transition.
