Camille Naredo

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr delivers his 4th annual State of the Nation Address at the House of Representatives in Quezon City  on July 28, 2025. Jonathan Cellona , ABS-CBN News/File

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr delivers his 4th annual State of the Nation Address at the House of Representatives in Quezon City  on July 28, 2025. Jonathan Cellona , ABS-CBN News

Article (news)

SONA 2025

Harlene Delgado

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/178462235087420250728-marcos-sona-congress-JC1.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960" alt="President Ferdinand Marcos Jr delivers his 4th annual State of the Nation Address at the House of Representatives in Quezon City  on July 28, 2025. Jonathan Cellona , ABS-CBN News/File"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">President Ferdinand Marcos Jr delivers his 4th annual State of the Nation Address at the House of Representatives in Quezon City  on July 28, 2025. <em>Jonathan Cellona , ABS-CBN News/File</em></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA -- President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. will address the Filipino people for the fifth time on July 27, where he will report not only the nation&#x27;s current state but his administration&#x27;s goal in his remaining years in power. </p><p>In his previous State of the Nation Address, Marcos Jr. made a string of promises encompassing a wide array of sectors. </p><p>This is a review of a few of the vows Marcos Jr. made during his fourth SONA and what has happened one year after.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/7/20/marcos-5th-sona-to-be-simple-but-dignified-palace-1557">READ: Marcos 5th SONA to be &#x27;simple but dignified&#x27;—Palace</a></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>EMPLOYMENT</strong><strong><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1784622486073EMPLOYMENT.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960" alt="Workers cross the Guadalupe Bridge on foot from Makati to Mandaluyong City to reach the nearest busway station along EDSA on April 6, 2026. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Workers cross the Guadalupe Bridge on foot from Makati to Mandaluyong City to reach the nearest busway station along EDSA on April 6, 2026. <em>Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News</em></span></span></span></strong></div><p>First on the president&#x27;s speech was about job generation where he vowed to continue creating opportunities for Filipinos to address unemployment.</p><p>&quot;Dumarami ang mga nalilikhang hanapbuhay sa ating bansa ngayon. Magpupursige ang DOLE, DTI, DSWD, kasama pati ang DOT, at mga kaugnay na ahensiya, sa paghahanap ng paraan at ng mga oportunidad para sa natitirang apat na porsiyento ng ating puwersang manggagawa na hanggang ngayon ay walang trabaho,&quot; he said. </p><p>However, based on the latest Labor Force Survey of the Philippine Statistics Authority, the country&#x27;s unemployment rate has increased.</p><p>As of May 2026, it stands at 4.8 percent, equivalent to 2.5 million Filipinos who are jobless which was higher compared to the previous month of April at 4.7 percent or 2.41 million without work and in May 2025 at 3.9 percent or 2.03 million jobless Filipinos.</p><p>On the other hand, underemployed – or those who expressed the desire to have additional hours of work in their present job or in an additional job, or to have a new job with longer working hours – decreased last May at 12.2 percent or 6.04 million from April&#x27;s 15.2 percent or 7.41 million and May 2025&#x27;s 13.1 percent or 6.60 million. </p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/business/2026/7/8/unemployment-in-may-rises-underemployment-declines-0915">READ: Unemployment in May rises, underemployment declines</a></div><p>The PSA said the most drop in employment was seen in the agriculture and forestry sectors particularly rice and corn sectors. </p><p>&quot;So ang nakikita namin, basically ano ito, siguro impact ito ng weather condition nitong May 2026. Alam naman natin na may El Nino tayo na papasok, and this is also one possibility,&quot; National Statistician and Civil Registrar General Undersecretary Claire Dennis Mapa said in a press conference on July 8, 2026. </p><div><br/></div><div><strong>EDUCATION</strong><strong><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1784622528173EDUCATION.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960" alt="Teachers paint and decorate their classrooms in preparation for the upcoming school opening at Kapitbahayan Elementary School in Navotas City on June 2, 2026. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Teachers paint and decorate their classrooms in preparation for the upcoming school opening at Kapitbahayan Elementary School in Navotas City on June 2, 2026. <em>Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News</em></span></span></span></strong></div><p>In the education sector, Marcos Jr. promised to build 40,000 classrooms before his term ends in 2028 in a bid to reduce its persisting backlog in the country. </p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/2/11/-how-have-we-allowed-this-marcos-to-dedicate-remainder-of-term-to-fixing-education-1201">READ: Marcos to dedicate remainder of term to fixing education</a></div><p>ABS-CBN News has repeatedly reached out to the Department of Education for updated data on classroom shortage and construction accomplishments, but they have yet to respond as of writing.</p><p>Last April, Public Works Secretary Vince Dizon said they aim to <a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/4/16/dpwh-targets-at-least-9-000-new-classrooms-in-2026-1820">construct around 9,000 classrooms</a> this year and vowed for a strict vetting process in choosing the contractors in the wake of the flood control controversy.</p><p>The education department, for its part, had said it hopes to begin building 20,000 classrooms.</p><p>But Education chief Sonny Angara earlier said he does not expect to have 24,000 new classrooms completed within the year due to several technical constraints. </p><p>Under the new system, the Deped can partner with local government units to expedite classroom construction unlike in previous years where it was solely handled by DPWH. </p><p>&quot;We have the option to do it with local governments, to do it with DPWH, unlike before na mandatory na DPWH lang ang gagawa… Kaya kumpyansa din kami na bibilis din ang construction in the last two years of the Marcos administration,&quot; Angara said in a presser following a Memorandum of Agreement signing with the DPWH on April 16, 2026. </p><p>The Second Congressional Commission on Education took note in its final report published in January that the country&#x27;s education system faces an estimated backlog of 165,443 classrooms for decongestion, replacement, and repair, which may reach 219,000 by 2028. </p><p>The body highlighted that the response must cover both backlog reduction and accelerated replacement, adding that the education department&#x27;s initiatives to diversify construction efforts &#x27;will complement the slow progress of DPWH&#x27;. </p><p>&quot;These efforts need to be sustained for at least the next 10 years for meaningful progress to be made. The agency should also target voucher expansion and allocation more strategically, to meaningfully address congestion,&quot; it said. </p><div><br/></div><div><strong>AGRICULTURE</strong><strong><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1784622550054AGRICULTURE.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960" alt="President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. leads the “Bawat Barangay Makikinabang” event at the General Trias Sports Park on May 4, 2026. Yummie Dingding, PPA Pool/File"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. leads the “Bawat Barangay Makikinabang” event at the General Trias Sports Park on May 4, 2026. <em>Yummie Dingding, PPA Pool/File</em></span></span></span></strong></div><p>In the agriculture sector, the chief executive once again touted his campaign promise of P20 pesos per kilo of rice.</p><p>&quot;Sa mga nagtatanong kung nasaan na ang 20 na bigas, ito ang aking tugon: napatunayan na natin na kaya na natin ang bente pesos sa bawat kilo ng bigas, nang hindi malulugi ang ating mga magsasaka… ilulunsad na natin ito sa buong bansa sa pamamagitan ng daan-daang KADIWA store at center sa iba&#x27;t ibang lokal na pamahalaan,&quot; he said in his fourth SONA. </p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/7/9/gov-t-rice-subsidy-continues-thousands-of-para-aque-residents-get-aid-1401">READ: Parañaque families get 2nd tranche of rice aid</a></div><p>Data provided by the Department of Agriculture showed that from May 1, 2025 to July 13, 2026, the low-cost rice program is regularly available in almost 300 active sites in Kadiwa centers and local government units in all provinces across the country, garnering a total sale of P2.4 billion.</p><p>It reached 12 million beneficiaries and targets to hit 16 million this year, according to the agency. </p><p>For now, only beneficiaries from select sectors can access the P20 per kilo of rice namely senior citizens, persons with disability, solo parents, 4Ps beneficiaries, PUV drivers, minimum wage earners, farmers and fisherfolk, teachers and other non-teaching staff, and other qualified families that have been identified as lower-middle income households by their local government units.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>ENERGY</strong></div><p>Marcos Jr. also made mention of the energy sector where he vowed that his administration will provide electricity to millions of households before his term ends. </p><p>&quot;Sa susunod na tatlong taon, halos dalawandaang planta ang ating tatapusin… Hahabulin at tutuparin ng DOE at NEA ang nakatakdang dami ng mga kabahayang makakabitan ng kuryente ngayong taon hanggang 2028,&quot; he said. </p><p>Energy Secretary Sharon Garin said full household electrification now stands at 94.9%. </p><p>&quot;Pero iyong 5% iyong hinahabol palagi kasi the growth rate is also fast &#x27;no, but we&#x27;re concentrating more on Mindanao now kasi Mindanao is slower than Visayas and Luzon. At para lang may parity din &#x27;no, once you energize kasi progress comes eh,&quot; she said in a television interview on July 16, 2026.</p><p>She also vowed to push for renewable energy which she said makes up 25% of the country&#x27;s overall power generation mix. </p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/business/2026/7/14/marcos-urges-more-renewables-as-he-inaugurates-mterra-solar-plant-1620">READ: Marcos urges more investments in renewables as he inaugurates MTerra Solar plant</a></div><p>The energy chief added that the agency has signed agreements with local government units to expedite the processes under the net-metering program and make rooftop solar accessible to the public.</p><p>The president, in his previous address, also acknowledged the high power cost in the country. </p><p>But according to the energy department, the Philippines recorded the highest average electricity cost among the 11-member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations or ASEAN last June – even higher than Singapore. </p><div><br/></div><div><strong>INFRASTRUCTURE</strong></div><div><strong><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1784622588697INFRASTRUCTURE.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960" alt="President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. looks at a scale model of the Bataan-Cavite Interlink Bridge Milestones (BBM) project during ceremonies at the Maritime Academy of Asia and the Pacific in Barangay Alas-Asin, Mariveles, Bataan on March 31, 2023. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News/File"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. looks at a scale model of the Bataan-Cavite Interlink Bridge Milestones (BBM) project during ceremonies at the Maritime Academy of Asia and the Pacific in Barangay Alas-Asin, Mariveles, Bataan on March 31, 2023. <em>Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News/File</em></span></span></span> </strong>Marcos Jr. also put forward some big-ticket infrastructure projects such as the Bataan-Cavite interlink bridge which will cut travel time from Mariveles, Bataan to Naic, Cavite from 5 hours to just 45 minutes.  </div><p>&quot;Bago matapos ang taon, magsisimula na ang Bataan-Cavite Interlink Bridge. Ang tulay na ito ay tatlumpu&#x27;t dalawang kilometro ang haba na tumatawid ng Manila Bay,&quot; he said.</p><p>DPWH Secretary Vince Dizon said that while there has been some progress, it would take years and years to build the bridge, citing its complexity. </p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/business/2026/7/20/dizon-dpwh-to-award-key-contracts-for-bataan-cavite-interlink-bridge-very-soon-0932">READ: Bataan-Cavite Interlink Bridge won&#x27;t be finished under Marcos -- Dizon</a></div><p>Dizon noted that &#x27;big announcements&#x27; will be made soon as they are about to award new contract packages on the project.</p><p>&quot;Matagal-tagal &#x27;yan. Matagal yan. Kasi kumplikadong bridge yan. Hindi yan simple. Pero pag natapos yan, napakalaking ginhawa, napakalaking impact sa ekonomiya natin,&quot; he said in an ambush interview on July 20, 2026. </p><p>&quot;Definitely hindi matatapos ngayong term ni PBBM but hopefully within the term of the next president matapos. Hopefully,&quot; Dizon added.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>MISSING SABUNGEROS</strong></div><p>The president also made a strong commitment to go after the perpetrators behind the missing sabungeros or cockfight enthusiasts.</p><p>&quot;Hahabulin at pananagutin natin ang mga utak at mga sangkot, sibilyan man o opisyal. Kahit malakas, mabigat, o mayaman, hindi sila mangingibabaw sa batas. Higit sa lahat, ipararamdam natin sa mga salarin ang bigat ng parusa sa karumal-dumal na krimen na mga ito,&quot; he said. </p><p>As of now, the alleged &quot;mastermind,&quot; businessman Charlie &quot;Atong&quot; Ang and his co-accused remain at large. </p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/7/21/pnp-verifying-reports-atong-ang-has-fled-ph-0932">READ: PNP verifying reports Atong Ang has fled PH</a></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>FLOOD CONTROL FIASCO</strong><strong><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1784622626157FLOOD CONTROL FIASCO.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960" alt="President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., together with DPWHE Secretary Vince Dizon, Bulacan Governor Daniel Fernando, and other officials, inspects the ₱77.1-million flood mitigation structure in Barangay Frances, Calumpit, Bulacan, after visiting the ₱96.4-million river protection structure in Barangay Bulusan, also in Calumpit, on August 15, 2025. Mark Balmores, PPA pool/File"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., together with DPWH Secretary Vince Dizon, Bulacan Governor Daniel Fernando, and other officials, inspects the ₱77.1-million flood mitigation structure in Barangay Frances, Calumpit, Bulacan, after visiting the ₱96.4-million river protection structure in Barangay Bulusan, also in Calumpit, on August 15, 2025. <em>Mark Balmores, PPA pool/File</em></span></span></span></strong></div><p>One of the highlights of Marcos Jr.&#x27;s fourth SONA was the bombshell he dropped concerning flood control projects where he vowed to pursue cases and hold accountable those involved in the anomaly. </p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/7/18/flood-control-probe-faces-fresh-scrutiny-as-sona-nears-1354">READ: Flood control probe faces fresh scrutiny as SONA nears</a></div><p>&quot;Sa mga susunod na buwan, makakasuhan ang lahat ng mga lalabas na may sala mula sa imbestigasyon. Pati na ang mga kasabwat na kontratista sa buong bansa. Kailangan malaman ng taong-bayan ang buong katotohanan. Kailangang may managot sa naging matinding pinsala at katiwalian,&quot; he said. </p><p>A year since his declaration, cases are ongoing against some contractors including <a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/6/8/curlee-discaya-arrested-0748">Curlee and Sarah Discaya</a> as well as senator <a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/6/1/jinggoy-estrada-detained-in-payatas-jail-after-surrender-for-plunder-case-2048">Jinggoy Estrada</a> and former lawmaker Bong Revilla who are accused of benefitting kickbacks from flood control projects. </p><p>However, up to this day, former House Appropriations panel chairman Zaldy Co remains a fugitive from justice. </p><p>Meanwhile, the Office of the Ombudsman announced it is set to file complaints for preliminary investigation against Co and the President&#x27;s cousin, former House Speaker Martin Romualdez, for plunder and violation of the Anti-Money Laundering Act over the flood control scandal.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/6/4/zaldy-co-s-lawyer-still-unaware-of-his-whereabouts-1757">READ: Zaldy Co&#x27;s lawyer says unaware of his whereabouts</a></div><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/7/20/marcos-jr-won-t-interfere-in-potential-cases-vs-romualdez-palace-1816">READ: Marcos Jr. won&#x27;t interfere in potential cases vs. Romualdez — Palace</a></div><div><br/></div><div><br/></div><div><br/></div>

<p>President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. will address the Filipino people for the fifth time on July 27, where he will report not only the nation's current state but his administration's goal in his remaining years in power.</p>

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. will address the Filipino people for the fifth time on July 27, where he will report not only the nation's current state but his administration's goal in his remaining years in power.

One year after: Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s SONA promises in retrospect

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One year after: Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s SONA promises in retrospect

Harlene Delgado,

ABS-CBN News

Published July 26, 2026 08:00 AM PHT

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Ferdinand Marcos Jr

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State of the Nation Address

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