Marcos sets ambitious goals, more vows in SONA 2024

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. delivered his third State of the Nation Address (SONA) at the Batasang Pambansa on July 22, providing an update on the country’s progress and outlining new promises for the Philippines.

He laid down his administration’s current projects, improvements, and plans on various sectors of the country, mostly agriculture, infrastructure, health, education, economy and employment, and peace and order. 

Marcos spearheaded his speech by admitting that the price of basic commodities in the country such as rice that ranges from 45 to 65 pesos per kilo will void the current data that named the Philippines as one of the best-performing in Asia. 

“Bagamat maganda ang mga istatistikang ito, wala itong kabuluhan sa ating kababayan na hinaharap ang realidad na mataas ang presyo ng mga bilihin, lalo na ng pagkain — lalo’t higit, ng bigas,” he stated.

In response to rising tensions between China and the Philippines in the West Philippine Sea, the President highlighted this plans to strengthen defenses for sovereign territory.

"We are now more conscious as a people, and strategic in heightening our aerial and maritime domain awareness. We are continuing to strengthen our defense in posture." Marcos said.

He promised that the Philippines will assert its territorial sovereignty and maritime rights, even with extensions of foreign entities.

"We are continuing in strengthening our defensive posture. Both with developing self-reliance and through partnerships with like-minded states." Marcos said.

Marcos also promised to continue the government’s “bloodless” war on drugs, focusing on the "8 Es" of anti-illegal drug strategy, which does not include extermination.

"Our bloodless war on dangerous drugs adheres, and will continue to adhere, to the established “8 Es” of an effective anti-illegal drugs strategy." He stated.

He also highlighted the seizure of more than forty-four billion pesos worth of illegal drugs, and the arrest of more than ninety-seven thousand drug personalities in his campaign anti-drugs.

With endeavors for peace and order, Marcos ordered the shutting down of Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs), stating that they are banned and to cease operations by the end of the year.

"Kailangan nang itigil ang panggulo nito sa ating lipunan, at paglalapastangan sa ating bansa,” Marcos stated.

Marcos showcased the support his administration gave to the agricultural sector such as the distribution of over 100 million kilos of seeds, fertilizers, and seedlings to over 300,000 farmers.

“Nitong nakalipas na taon, higit isandaang milyong kilo ng mga sari-saring binhi, suwi, at pataba ang ipinamahagi sa mga magsasaka. Namigay rin ang pamahalaan ng mahigit tatlong daang libong inahin upang ito ay maparami,” he stated.

Over 130,000 land titles were distributed to landowners in the past two years and resolved over 70,000 agrarian reform cases.

“Sa nakalipas na dalawang taon, mahigit isangdaan at tatlumpung libong titulo na ang ating naigawad sa mga benepisyaryo. Tuloy-tuloy din at pinabibilis pa natin ang paghahati-hati ng mga collective Certificates of Land Ownership Award o CLOA para sa mga indibidwal na benepisyaryo nito,” Marcos said.

He promised to continue the support for the agricultural sector and increase KADIWA centers that paves the way for farmer-consumer production and lower the commodities’ price.

“Katuwang ang mga lokal na pamahalaan, dinadagdagan pa natin ang mga KADIWA sa iba’t ibang panig ng bansa. Higit sa lahat, layunin nating gawing permanente rin, at mas madalas pa ang pagdaraos ng mga KADIWA!,” Marcos reiterated.

Marcos also promised to prioritize local production of rice despite the importation the country relies on.

Among the infrastructure developments Marcos showcased were the completion of more than 5,500 flood control projects, the construction of Metro Manila Subway, MRT-7, and North-South Commuter Railway projects.

He promised to upgrade the internet services in the country after the “much too low” household internet connectivity of the Filipinos being 77 percent. 

“Sa ating Free Wi-Fi Program, halos sampung milyong unique user devices ang nakikinabang sa libreng internet sa mahigit labintatlong libong lugar sa buong Pilipinas. Patuloy pa nating pinararami ang mga libreng Wi-Fi sa buong bansa,” Marcos stated.

Marcos also vowed to continue building more power infrastructures to reduce the electricity prices.

Meanwhile, he promised to open 12,000 kilometers of roads and over 1,200 bridges to be improved and finish the C-LEX, NLEX-SLEX Connector, and Plaridel Bypass expressway projects by the end of the year.

“The C-LEX, NLEX-SLEX Connector, and the Plaridel Bypass will be fully completed by the end of this year. CALAX and the C5 South Link will be fully operational by next year,” Marcos stated,

Marcos highlighted the approval of the UP-PGH Cancer Center as the first Public-Private Partnership approved in his term that will benefit more than 400,000 Filipinos with the deadly disease.

“Together with the Philippine Cancer Center of the DOH, which broke ground last March, these two specialty hospitals will soon join our nation’s fight against cancer,” he said.

Marcos assured that PhilHealth increased its benefits for breast cancer treatment, and will improve the assistance for lung, liver, ovary, and prostate cancer chemotherapy before the end of 2024.

“Bilang tugon sa dumaraming insidente at tumataas na presyo ng pagpapagamot, itinaas ng Philhealth nang mahigit doble ang mga benepisyo para sa mga malulubhang karamdaman, tulad ng acute stroke at pulmonya. Ang limit na ngayon para sa mga kundisyon na ito ay itinaas na hanggang pitumpu’t anim na libong piso at siyamnapung libong piso,” he explained. 

Meanwhile, he promised that increased funding and medical assistance programs will be implemented, especially in the rural areas.

“Samantala, titiyakin natin na ang bawat isang probinsya ay mabibigyan ng Mobile Clinic, upang ang laboratory exam at ilan pang pangunahing serbisyong-medikal ay mapapalapit natin sa ating mga kababayan.” Marcos underscored.

Following the transition of the Department of Education Secretaries from Vice President Sara Duterte to former Senator Sonny Angara, Marcos ensured that the national learning recovery program for information literacy, problem-solving and critical thinking will push through.

He challenged Angara to improve the quality of education in the country as soon as possible.

“Ito ngayon ang magiging hamon sa ating bagong Kalihim: na tiyakin ang pagbangon at pagtaas ng kalidad ng edukasyon sa bansa, sa lalong madaling panahon.”

“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!,” he added.

He also promised to provide computers, smart TVs, digital books, and reliable internet access, as well as the removal of outdated and error-ridden textbooks. 

“The production of instructional materials, especially textbooks, which are up-to-date and error-free, must be ensured. The whole process, from approval of manuscript to procurement, all the way to distribution, will be cut short from its present three years to just one year,” Marcos stated. 

Marcos also promised to improve the career acceleration of educators in the country to further boost the capacity of Filipino learners to be globally-competitive.

“With this system in place, we will accelerate the career growth of teachers. Sa sistemang ito, wala nang public school teacher ang magre-retire na Teacher I lamang,” Marcos reiterated. 

With his campaign for economic growth and development, the President emphasized promoting investment-led growth in the creation of job opportunities for Filipino citizens.

Marcos highlighted the PHP 30 rise in the minimum wage levels of workers across the country.

"With tripartite consensus, minimum wage levels have been increased in various sectors in all regions, including the BARMM, for workers in private establishments." He said.

This also meant an extension in the services of job order and contract of personnel working in government, also to recieve medical allowances, and a salary increase in four tranches 

"Para naman sa ating mga kawani ng gobyerno, mayroon silang maaasahang medical allowance bilang karagdagang benepisyo sa susunod na taon ... Mayroon ding napipintong omento sa suweldo na makukuha nila sa apat na tranches."

Meanwhile, Marcos stated that Overseas Filipino Workers will continue to receive his support, and when they return, will recieve support for finding employment or supporting a business with their families.