Rowegie Abanto

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. delivers his keynote speech as he presides over the awarding ceremonies for the Ani ng Dangal awarding program held at the Metropolitan Theater in Manila on February 20, 2024. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News/File

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. delivers his keynote speech as he presides over the awarding ceremonies for the Ani ng Dangal awarding program held at the Metropolitan Theater in Manila on February 20, 2024. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News

Article (news)

SONA 2025: Big task ahead as Marcos enters crucial second half of presidency

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/175334784078220240220-bbm-ani-ng-dangal-JC-8.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner" spellcheck="false" style="text-align:left">President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. delivers his keynote speech as he presides over the awarding ceremonies for the Ani ng Dangal awarding program held at the Metropolitan Theater in Manila on February 20, 2024. <em>Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News/File</em></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Monday afternoon will deliver his fourth State of the Nation Address (SONA), marking the start of the second half of his term — the period that one analyst said could &quot;make or break&quot; his administration&#x27;s legacy.</p><p>The chief executive will deliver his constitutionally-mandated address at the Batasang Pambansa in Quezon City, where the <a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/7/25/no-fashion-coverage-house-urges-lawmakers-to-tone-down-sona-spectacle-1146">traditional SONA fashion is to be toned down </a>in light of the recent storms that unleashed widespread flooding across the country.</p><p>He is expected to report progress on his campaign promises and lay down plans to tackle other urgent problems that beset millions of Filipinos.</p><p>Matthew David Ordoñez, a political science lecturer at De La Salle University, noted that Marcos &quot;had a rough start&quot; in his presidency with agricultural woes, high inflation rates, and unemployment.</p><p>But Marcos has so far &quot;recovered and survived with his valiant performances in foreign policy on top of political feuds with the Dutertes,&quot; Ordoñez told ABS-CBN News in an email exchange.</p><p>&quot;The remaining years will make or break his administration. He will need to articulate his plans to move beyond survival mode and produce more significant results in his governance and [improve] the lives of the Filipino people,&quot; he said.</p><p>Based on a July Pulse Asia survey, controlling the<a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/business/2025/7/4/inflation-quickens-in-june-but-still-slower-than-target-range-0910"> rising prices of basic commodities and services</a> topped the list of issues that Filipino adults wanted Marcos to address in his Monday&#x27;s SONA. </p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/7/17/pulse-asia-66-pct-disapprove-of-gov-t-efforts-on-inflation-1733">Pulse Asia: 66% disapprove of gov&#x27;t efforts on inflation</a></div><p>&quot;The top priorities of the Filipino people are still &#x27;bread and butter&#x27; issues of controlling inflation, prices of goods, and employment. He should continue focusing on economic development policies,&quot; said Ordoñez.</p><p>He added that the president should demonstrate that <a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/business/2025/4/11/neda-to-become-depdev-after-marcos-signs-law-1556">reforming the country&#x27;s socioeconomic planning agency</a> would lead to &quot;tangible policy outcomes rather than being merely an ornamental change.&quot;</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>FLOOD CONTROL</strong></div><p>Ordoñez said the president should address disaster risk reduction and management, as well as environmental policies, to minimize the effects of flooding.</p><p>In a statement Sunday, the Teachers&#x27; Dignity Coalition said the Marcos administration failed to deliver on its promise to address widespread flooding, which it said has continued to <a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/7/25/over-440-schools-currently-serving-as-evacuation-centers-in-10-regions-deped-1544">disrupt school operations</a>.</p><p>&quot;Ang nasaksihan natin ilang araw pagkatapos ng SONA 2024 ay kabaligtaran. At nitong nakaraang linggo lamang, hindi naman kalakasan ang mga bagyo, pero matindi ang naging pagbaha kaya napilitan ang mga lokal na pamahalaan at maging ang Malacañang na magsuspinde ng klase nang buong linggo,&quot; the group&#x27;s national chairperson Benjo Basas said in the release.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/7/27/death-toll-from-habagat-tropical-cyclones-now-at-31-ndrrmc-1602">Death toll from habagat, tropical cyclones now at 31: NDRRMC</a></div><p>(What we witnessed just days after the 2024 SONA was the opposite. And just this past week, although the storms weren&#x27;t particularly strong, the flooding was so severe that local governments and even Malacañang were forced to suspend classes for the entire week.)</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/7/26/at-midterm-marcos-climate-and-energy-targets-move-in-different-directions-2150">At midterm, Marcos’ climate and energy targets move in different directions</a></div><p>In his SONA last year, Marcos reported that <a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DbmRfP75Vvc">thousands of flood control projects had been completed and more were underway</a>.</p><p>&quot;Kung ganoon karami ang flood control project at binigyan pa ng napakalaking budget ang DPWH (Department of Public Works and Highways) ngayong 2025, bakit parang mas lumala ang mga pagbaha na kahit ang mga matataas na lugar, kahit pa mga bundok, ay binabaha na rin?&quot; Basas asked.</p><p>(If there are that many flood control projects and the DPWH was even given a huge budget for 2025, then why does it seem like the flooding has gotten worse, reaching even elevated areas and even mountains?)</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/business/2025/7/15/marcos-gov-t-to-propose-p6-793-trillion-budget-for-2026-1403">Marcos approves proposed P6.793-trillion budget for 2026</a></div><p>Aries Arugay, chairperson of the University of the Philippines Diliman Department of Political Science, reminded Marcos that his majority mandate was a &quot;big burden&quot; that the Filipino electorate entrusted to him and his government.</p><p>&quot;Let&#x27;s remember that there were many campaign promises, and I do hope that our Filipino citizens would remember what these promises are and will hopefully ask and ensure that the Marcos Jr. administration delivers on this,&quot; Arugay told ANC in a recent interview.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/7/24/marcos-says-filipinos-need-mindset-shift-as-typhoons-become-inevitable-1505">Marcos says Filipinos need mindset shift as typhoons become inevitable</a></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>POGO, ONLINE GAMBLING</strong></div><p><strong></strong>In his last year&#x27;s SONA, Marcos announced a <a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/11/8/marcos-issues-eo-officially-banning-pogos-1601">ban on Philippine offshore gaming operators </a>that had been linked to various crimes — a move <a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/7/22/senators-praise-thank-marcos-for-pogo-ban-2211">lauded even by his critics</a>.</p><p>Ordoñez said Marcos should provide progress on controlling illegal immigration, human trafficking, and other POGO-related crimes. </p><p>&quot;A decisive victory on this front would be an important show of force and boost confidence in his administration,&quot; he said.</p><p>Ahead of his Monday&#x27;s SONA, Marcos is also under pressure to address online gambling that some say has been <a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/7/8/cbcp-joins-calls-to-regulate-online-gambling-1148">menacing poor Filipino families</a>.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/business/2025/7/15/marcos-studying-mounting-calls-for-total-ban-on-online-gambling-1551">Marcos studying calls for total ban on online gambling</a></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>EDUCATION SECTOR</strong></div><p>Marcos needs to provide solutions to the <a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/4/30/over-24-million-filipinos-functionally-illiterate-gatchalian-1753">country&#x27;s education crisis</a>, Ordoñez also said, noting that the Department of Education under Vice President Sara Duterte &quot;was heavily scrutinized.&quot; </p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/7/25/at-midterm-marcos-education-and-infrastructure-targets-are-still-in-progress-0029">At midterm, Marcos’ education and infrastructure targets are still in progress</a></div><p>&quot;He would need to fix what his political opponent <a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/10/21/no-let-up-in-probe-on-ovp-deped-under-sara-duterte-lawmaker-says-1600">seemed to have broken</a> in order to gain further advantage in his narrative against the Dutertes, while fixing <a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/5/18/gov-t-should-prioritize-education-crisis-diokno-1740">education as a key ingredient to the nation&#x27;s development</a>,&quot; he said.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/6/22/sara-duterte-on-skipping-marcos-jr-s-sona-i-don-t-think-he-will-provide-anything-substantial-0645">Sara Duterte on skipping Marcos Jr&#x27;s SONA: I don&#x27;t think he will be providing anything substantial</a></div><p>The Teachers&#x27; Dignity Coalition in the same statement renewed its call for a substantial salary increase and educational reforms that included better benefits for education workers, job security for private school teachers, and a simplified and accessible system for performance evaluation and promotions, among others.</p><p>Marcos in his <a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/7/22/marcos-jr-promises-better-benefits-allowances-for-public-school-teachers-1747">2024 SONA promised that teachers would receive additional benefits</a> expected to make their lives easier while performing their duties.</p><p>&quot;Ilan sa mga isyung ito ay nabanggit na at naipangako na rin noong mga nakaraang SONA, pero hanggang ngayon ay hindi pa rin natutugunan,&quot; Basas said.</p><p>(Some of these issues have already been mentioned and promised in previous SONAs, but until now, they remain unaddressed.)</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>FOREIGN POLICY</strong></div><p>Marcos&#x27; fourth SONA also comes just days after he returned from his trip to the United States, where he negotiated with US President Donald Trump to reduce the hefty tariffs imposed by the US against the Philippines.</p><p>The deal led to a 1 percentage-point reduction — now 19 percent against the previous 20 percent —  after Manila agreed to open its market to Washington with zero trade dues.</p><p>The president described the deal as a <a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/7/22/trump-oks-only-1-cut-in-tariffs-on-ph-zero-tariffs-for-us-goods-in-ph-0258">&quot;significant achievement,&quot;</a> but <a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/business/2025/7/23/-19-pct-vs-zero-lawmakers-react-to-ph-us-trade-deal-1217">some were not as impressed.</a></p><p>Moving forward, Marcos would &quot;need to explain his strategy&quot; because diplomacy and foreign trade have &quot;become essential given the many current international issues the Philippines has to navigate,&quot; Ordoñez said, noting nevertheless that foreign policy is arguably Marcos&#x27; strength.</p><p>UP&#x27;s Arugay said that he would be interested in how the tariff deal would be framed in Monday&#x27;s SONA.</p><p>He is also interested in how the US trip, as well as the Philippines&#x27; relationship with the United States, &quot;will be leveraged by Marcos Jr. in the remaining years of his administration.&quot;</p><p>&quot;Historically, Philippine presidents have always tried to use foreign policy and particularly [their] relationship with great powers as a way to bolster their popularity and legitimacy,&quot; Arugay said.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>WHAT WILL MARCOS SAY ABOUT IMPEACHMENT?</strong></div><p><strong></strong>Marcos is entering the remaining half of his term with a <a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/7/14/marcos-jr-s-trust-rating-rises-in-june-2025-sws-survey-2313">fresh bump in ratings</a>.</p><p>Ordoñez surmised that the delay of Sara Duterte&#x27;s impeachment trial &quot;may have improved&quot; Marcos&#x27; approval ratings, &quot;especially among the Duterte supporters.&quot;</p><p>When asked if he thinks Marcos would touch on the <a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/2/5/house-impeaches-vp-sara-duterte-1551">impeachment case of the vice president</a>, Ordoñez said the president — who has <a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fN_pO-Eif_M">distanced himself from the issue</a> in past statements —  &quot;would have less to lose politically if the impeachment trial in the Senate were to proceed,&quot; as the <a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BL8OIor4_CI">midterm elections have concluded</a>.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/7/9/palace-says-sara-duterte-impeachment-trial-is-not-political-persecution-1602">Palace says Sara Duterte impeachment trial is not political persecution</a></div><p>&quot;He can afford to deal with the impeachment quietly and let the process run its course. If VP Duterte is decisively impeached, then his legacy would be secured,&quot; Ordoñez said, referring to her possible conviction.</p><p>The <a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/7/25/supreme-court-duterte-impeachment-articles-unconstitutional-1601">Supreme Court on Friday however ruled that the impeachment case against Sara Duterte was unconstitutional</a>, saying it violated the order that bars the filing of the same complaint within a year. </p><p>The high court said that a fresh impeachment case against the vice president could only be filed in February next year.</p><p>&quot;However, it may cause violent reactions from Duterte&#x27;s followers, so he will need to handle it carefully,&quot; Ordoñez continued. </p><p>&quot;He would still have three years before the blowback from the next elections can affect his legacy and cause Duterte&#x27;s allies to get elected.&quot;</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/7/26/vp-duterte-lawyers-on-wait-and-see-mode-after-sc-rules-impeachment-unconstitutional-0839">VP Duterte lawyers on ‘wait and see’ mode after SC rules impeachment unconstitutional</a></div><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/7/27/house-to-seek-reversal-of-sc-ruling-on-vp-sara-impeachment-1336">House to seek reversal of SC ruling on VP Sara impeachment</a></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEOS:</strong></div><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Kmqpbec68MQ?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/6FCjCAgdEmc?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div><div><strong><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/FXaHRq4VamA?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span></strong><br/></div>

<p>President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Monday afternoon will deliver his fourth State of the Nation Address, marking the start of the second half of his term — the period that one analyst said could "make or break" his administration's legacy.</p>

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Monday afternoon will deliver his fourth State of the Nation Address, marking the start of the second half of his term — the period that one analyst said could "make or break" his administration's legacy.

SONA 2025: Big task ahead for Marcos Jr. as he enters crucial second half of presidency

News

Entertainment

Lifestyle

Sports

Metro.Style

More

Traffic

Manila

Horoscope

Nation

SONA 2025: Big task ahead for Marcos Jr. as he enters crucial second half of presidency

Rowegie Abanto,

ABS-CBN News

Published Jul 28, 2025 06:00 AM PHT

Read More:

ABSNews

ANC promo

Ferdinand Marcos Jr

Marcos 4th SONA

SONA 2025

State of the Nation Address

Batasang Pambansa

ABS-CBN is the leading media and entertainment company in the Philippines, offering quality content across TV, radio, digital, and film. Committed to public service and promoting Filipino values, ABS-CBN continues to inspire and connect audiences worldwide.

Corporate

Investors

Governance

International Distribution

Corporate

Governance

Investors

International Distribution

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

AI Policy

Terms of Service

Advertise with Us

© 2025 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2025 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2025 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.