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President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. delivers his State of the Nation Address at the opening of the 3rd regular session of the 19th Congress on July 22, 2024. The President is accompanied by Senate President Franics “Chiz” Escudero and House of Representatives Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez. 

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MARCOS- 3rd SONA

Paul Xavier Jaehwa Bernardo

ABS-CBN News

<p>MANILA —  President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. ordered Monday a ban on Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs) and assured the public that the government is addressing their concerns about rising food prices as he delivered his third State of the Nation Address (SONA).</p><p>At the end of his report to the nation, his longest at about an hour and a half, Marcos drew cheers from attendees as he <a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/7/22/marcos-jr-orders-pogos-to-cease-operations-by-end-of-year-1603"><strong>finally addressed calls to prohibit POGOs</strong></a>, which have been linked to criminal activities like crypto scams, torture and human trafficking.</p><p>&quot;Effective today, all POGOs are banned,&quot; he said in his speech at the Batasang Pambansa Complex.</p><p>He asked the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. to &quot;cease&quot; POGO operations by the end of the year, and the Department of Labor and Employment &quot;to find new jobs for our countrymen who will be displaced&quot; by the closures.</p><div><strong>GOVERNMENT AWARE OF ISSUES WITH FOOD PRICES</strong></div><p>The President also said his administration<a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/business/2024/7/22/marcos-addresses-high-prices-of-basic-commodities-in-third-sona-1617"><strong> is not ignorant on the public&#x27;s grievances regarding the high prices of food</strong></a>, especially rice.</p><p>The government has distributed seedlings and fertilizer to help farmers boost their output, and given fingerlings and boats to fishermen, Marcos said.</p><p>He also highlighted the expansion and permanent establishment of the Department of Agriculture&#x27;s Kadiwa markets, which offer affordable food products to low-income families.</p><p>The President also asserted that the administration would continue using &quot;proper diplomatic channels and mechanisms under the rules-based international order&quot; to settle disputes in the West Philippine Sea.</p><div><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/7/22/marcos-philippines-cannot-yield-waver-on-west-ph-sea-despite-resupply-deal-with-china-1202"><strong>Marcos: Philippines &#x27;cannot yield, waver&#x27; on West PH Sea despite resupply deal with China</strong></a></div><p>The Philippines and China have a longstanding history of territorial disputes in the South China Sea, parts of which include the West Philippine Sea.</p><p>However, tensions escalated following a June 17 confrontation in which Chinese coast guard members wielding knives, sticks and an axe foiled a Philippine Navy attempt to resupply its troops. This resulted in one Filipino sailor losing a thumb.</p><p>In his SONA, Marcos said officials &quot;continuously try to find ways to de-escalate tensions in contested areas with our counterparts without compromising our position and our principles.&quot;</p><div><strong>THE PHILIPPINES &#x27;CANNOT YIELD&#x27; ON WEST PH SEA</strong></div><p>&quot;The Philippines cannot yield, the Philippines cannot waver,&quot; Marcos said, drawing another standing ovation from the audience.</p><p>Marcos&#x27; speech also covered his <a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/7/22/marcos-extermination-never-part-of-drug-war-strategy-1240"><strong>anti-illegal drugs campaign</strong></a>, the <a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/7/22/marcos-jr-pushes-for-educational-reforms-though-technology-1536"><strong>&quot;digital gap&quot; in the country&#x27;s education system</strong></a>, a <a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/business/2024/7/22/marcos-eyes-review-of-epira-to-bring-down-power-costs-1622"><strong>review of the Electric Power Industry Reform Act</strong></a> to lower power rates, the need to strengthen cyber-defense capabilities against cyberattacks, <a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/7/22/marcos-says-ph-to-focus-on-experiential-tourism-1808"><strong>focus on &quot;experiential tourism,&quot;</strong></a> and the rehabilitation of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport, among other topics.</p><div><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/7/22/president-ferdinand-marcos-jr-s-state-of-the-nation-address-2024-1904"><strong>READ: President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.&#x27;s State of the Nation Address 2024<br/></strong></a></div><p>Ahead of the speech, a video purportedly showing Marcos using drugs went viral.</p><p>However, the Department of Information and Communications Technology has said the clip was a &quot;deepfake&quot; or digitally created.</p><p>Government agencies have warned of criminal cases against those who made and spread the videos, with the Department of National Defense urging American authorities to investigate a screening of the video in California.</p><div><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/7/22/officials-dismiss-fake-malicious-video-showing-marcos-allegedly-doing-drugs-1418"><strong>READ: Officials dismiss ‘fake, malicious’ video showing Marcos allegedly doing drugs</strong></a></div><div><strong><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:900px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/172164756834720240722-sona-antti-gov-protest-MT-14.jpg" style="width:900px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Protester destroy an effigy of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. during a rally before the third State of the Nation Address of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. Protesters focused on the government&#x27;s violation of human rights , sovereign rights over West Philippine Sea, unemployment, wage increases and other social issues that the country is still facing. <em>Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News</em></span></span></span></strong></div><div><strong>Protests</strong></div><p>Several groups, both supportive and critical of the government, converged along Commonwealth Avenue in Quezon City to stage rallies for the SONA.</p><p>The rallyists burned effigies twice, which the police did not prevent despite an earlier warning that such action was prohibited due to its environmental impact.</p><p>At a rally for Marcos supporters, one staff member of the event organizers was injured when an LED screen was toppled by strong winds.</p><p>Notably, Vice President Sara Duterte, whose alliance with Marcos had crumbled, was absent from the event. Her office said Duterte, who is in Bohol, would not tune into the SONA through television or any other gadgets.</p><div><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/7/22/vp-duterte-to-completely-snub-sona-she-will-not-watch-it-on-tv-or-gadgets-1506"><strong>READ: VP Duterte to completely snub SONA: &#x27;She will not watch it on TV or gadgets&#x27;<br/></strong></a></div><div><strong>— With reports from Rowegie Abanto, Michael Delizo, Katrina Domingo, Pia Gutierrez and Jauhn Villaruel</strong></div>

<p>In his third SONA, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. ordered a ban on POGOs and assured the public that the government was addressing their concerns about rising food prices</p>

In his third SONA, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. ordered a ban on POGOs and assured the public that the government was addressing their concerns about rising food prices

Marcos orders POGO ban, tackles food prices in 3rd SONA

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Marcos orders POGO ban, tackles food prices in 3rd SONA

Paul Xavier Jaehwa Bernardo,

ABS-CBN News

Published Jul 22, 2024 07:49 PM PHT

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SONA

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