President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. walks to the session hall of the House of Representatives to deliver his State of the Nation Address at the opening of the 3rd regular session of the 19th Congress on July 22, 2024. RTVM Screengrab

MANILA — President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. delivered his third State of the Nation Address (SONA) on Monday, July 22, 2024.

• President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s State of the Nation Address 2024

In terms of length of the speech, Marcos' third SONA was the longest at 1 hour and 21 minutes, though not far off from his previous 1 hour 14 minutes in 2022 and 1 hour 11 minutes in 2023.

After two full years in office, Filipinos were expected to demand from Marcos a report consisting of concrete accomplishments as the country continues to face countless issues, many of them afflicting the nation for decades now.

• Marcos urged to tackle POGOs, 2025 polls, poverty, other 'gut issues' in 3rd SONA

ABS-CBN News compiled some of the promises, policies, directives, and other pronouncements discussed by Marcos during his 2023 SONA and how are they being implemented now — if they were set into motion at all. 

PRIORITY BILLS

In his 2023 SONA, Marcos enumerated over a dozen bills he would like to see Congress pass in order to fast track the country's growth trajectory.

These are:

· Excise tax on single-use plastics

· VAT on digital services

· Rationalization of mining fiscal regime

· Motor vehicle user’s charge/road user’s tax

· Military and Uniformed Personnel Pension

· Amendment of the Fisheries Code

· Amendment of the Anti-Agricultural Smuggling Act

· Amendment of the Cooperative Code

· New Government Auditing Code

· The Blue Economy law

· The Philippine Immigration Act

· New Government Procurement law

· Anti-Financial Accounts Scamming Act

· Tatak Pinoy law

· Ease of Paying Taxes Act

· LGU income classification law

Of the 16 bills, only five became law in the past year, namely the Tatak Pinoy law, Ease of Paying Taxes Act, LGU income classification law, Anti-Financial Accounts Scamming Act, and New Government Procurement law, the last two only signed on the eve of the SONA. 

• House commits to keeping 'legislative momentum' on priority bills

MAHARLIKA FUND

"For strategic financing, some of the nation’s high-priority projects can now look to the newly established Maharlika Investment Fund, without the added debt burden," Marcos said during his SONA last year.

Since then, Marcos has appointed the individuals who would lead the Maharlika Investment Corporation (MIC).

As of this month, the Department of Finance said that the MIC has finalized its investment and risk management framework, which now allows it to begin engaging with investors.

DEPARTMENT OF WATER

"So, given that urgency, we have created the Water Resources Management Office to specifically handle the delicate job involving this most precious resource. Nakikipag-ugnayan tayo sa Kongreso upang maipasa ang batas para sa pagbuo ng isang Department of Water Resource Management," Marcos said in SONA 2023.

• 'Department of Water' eyed amid supply woes

Bills have been filed for the creation of the department.

In the Senate, Sen. Grace Poe has authored Senate Bill No. 102 seeking to create a Department of Water Resources "to put in place robust policies that will help address the country's water woes."

Last May, Malacañang said Marcos Jr wants to fast-track the creation of the "Water Department."

ENERGY CONCERNS

"Alongside power generation, we are also as relentless in pursuing total electrification. Since my assumption into office, almost half a million homes have been given access to electricity. We will spare no effort to achieve full household-electrification by the end of my term. 100 percent is within our reach," Marcos said last year.

In his latest SONA, Marcos called on Congress to review the country's key law on electricity, the  Electric Power Industry Reform Act (EPIRA), in a bid to bring down power costs.

• Marcos eyes review of EPIRA to bring down power costs

"Binabalikan at binubusisi ulit natin ang EPIRA upang malaman kung angkop pa rin ba ito sa ating sitwasyon o napapanahon na para ito ay amyendahan. Hinihiling ko sa Kongreso na pagtulungan na natin ito alang-alang sa kapakanan ng mga Pilipino," Marcos said in his latest SONA.

ADDRESSING EL NIÑO

"Tayo rin ay naghahanda sa El Niño na nagbabadyang tumama sa mga darating na buwan. Nagsimula na tayong maghanda, at ang mga buffer stocks at ang mga kagamitang patubig ay inihahanda na," Marcos said last year.

In June, weather bureau Pagasa announced that the El Niño weather phenomenon has ended, but its impact could continue in some parts of the country.

During its height, Marcos has distributed billions worth of aid to farmers, fishermen, and other agriculture workers impacted by El Niño all over the country.

• Marcos distributes financial aid to Palawan, Marinduque farmers and fishermen

During his last SONA, Marcos admitted El Niño's impact was "severe" but that it was somewhat offset by the crop insurance.

"Matindi ang naging epekto ng dumaang El Niño, lalo na sa mga sakahan. Sa tinamong pinsala mula sa pagkasira ng mga pananim, nagkaroon ng proteksyon ang ating mga magsasaka sa pamamagitan ng ating binigay na crop insurance. Sa nakalipas na dalawang taon, mahigit P9 bilyon halaga ang naging bayad-pinsala sa mga apektadong magsasaka at mangingisda," Marcos reported in his last SONA.

 In July, agriculture damage due to El Niño was pegged at nearly P10 billion.

HEALTH AND CHILDREN 

"We have launched convergent programs to address hunger and nutrition-related issues amongst our people, especially the children... We are catching up on the routine vaccinations of our children... Nananawagan ako sa lahat ng mga magulang na kumpletuhin ang mga bakuna ng kanilang mga anak, at magtungo sa pinakamalapit na health center para sa mga libreng bakuna," Marcos said in his SONA last year.

In his latest SONA, Marcos announced that he has approved an additional cash grant specifically targeted to ensure the nutrition of children aged zero to 2 years old from the "poorest families."

• Marcos Jr. approves more cash aid for indigent mothers

Marcos also said that the country will do its best to beef up its vaccination drive among children, following an "alarming" Unicef report that found millions of children worldwide were left un-or undervaccinated due to the pandemic.

• UN alarmed as childhood immunization levels stall

"Tuloy-tuloy ang ating paghahabol sa pagbakuna sa mga sanggol at mga bata lalo na sa Region 6 at BARMM," Marcos said. 

MARAWI REHAB

"Limang taon mula noong matinding kaguluhan, babangon na ang Marawi City. Nanunumbalik na ang sigla sa pamayanan. Maraming proyekto ang nakumpleto at mga imprastrakturang naitatayo. Kasalukuyan na tayong nagpoproseso ng tulong pinansyal para sa mga biktima ng Marawi siege upang sila ay makapagsimula muli," Marcos said in his 2023 SONA.

• Marcos says 'much remains to be done' in Marawi, six years after war

In December 2023, Presidential Assistant for Marawi Rehabilitation Assistant Secretary Felix Castro reported to the House panel that some projects for Marawi rehabilitation encountered delays, with the bulk water supply project only at 39 percent complete, while the sewage treatment plant and facilities for water supply to temporary and permanent shelters have yet to begin construction.

• Mindanao lawmakers 'disappointed' over progress of Marawi rehabilitation

Castro explained that there have been several failures of biddings, and in some cases, the contractors left the project.

In his latest SONA, Marcos briefly mentioned Marawi.

"In Marawi, the rehabilitation and rebuilding continue — under the supervision now of the Office of the President. Our focus remains on restoring energy, water, and livable communities," he said.

SIM REGISTRATION LAW

"The first bill that I signed into law was the SIM Registration Act because we are mindful of the risks and vulnerabilities that can lead to negative consequences. Digital users and consumers shall be protected from identity theft, phishing, other online scams, through essential systems and safeguards, such as cybersecurity, data privacy, consumer complaint mechanisms, and financial literacy campaigns," Marcos said in his SONA last year.

But a year after its implementation, several lawmakers and groups are already questioning if that law has worked to curb scams and other illicit acts.

• Senators slam NTC for failure to prevent text scams

Senators have criticized the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) for its supposed failure to properly implement the SIM Card Registration Law and prevent text scams.

CLIMATE CHANGE

"Climate change is now an important criterion in our integral national policies, in planning, decision-making, up to the implementation of programs. The potential advantages of such enlightened policies extend to jobs and livelihood, with the unlocking of the development of the green and blue economies," Marcos said in his 2023 SONA.

In his last SONA, Marcos touted that the Philippines has secured a seat on the Board of the Loss and Damage Fund and has been selected as host country to that fund. 

• PH hosts climate loss and damage fund board

After his latest SONA, Marcos was urged to "walk the talk" and implement all the promises he told the Filipino people.

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