Dennis Gaviola

Article (news)

Vivienne Gulla

Kaxandra Salonga

ABS-CBN News

<p>MANILA -- A lawmaker expressed dismay over the absence of the proposed legislated wage hike and the proposal to reduce value added tax in President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s 2026 State of the Nation Address.</p><p>Akbayan Party List Representative Percival Cendaña said the measures mentioned by the President in his SONA are “short” of the necessary solutions to address the increasing cost of food and basic commodities.</p><p>“He was able to mention the problem of the high cost of basic goods. But he came short of the necessary package of solutions. Nakakadismaya na walang binanggit sa pagtaas sa sweldo ng ating mga manggagawa through a 200-Peso wage hike at pagbaba sa presyo ng mga bilihin by reducing VAT from 12% to 10%. We have no illusion that the President will support these reforms. Gayunpaman, tuloy ang ating laban kasama ng mga manggagawa para maisabatas ang mga ito,” Cendaña said in a statement.</p><p>Senior Citizens Party List Rep. Rodolfo “Ompong” Ordanes is also saddened that there was no mention of the proposed universal social pension for senior Filipinos.</p><p>“Wala man lang malinaw at partikular na programang nabanggit para sa aming mga senior citizens sa State of the Nation Address ng Pangulo. We welcome the expansion of VAT-free medicines and YAKAP, which can help many senior citizens, but we had hoped to hear concrete commitments on universal social pension, geriatric healthcare, and easier access to the benefits already guaranteed under our existing laws,” he said in a statement.</p><p>“Hindi po ito paninisi, kundi isang magalang na pakiusap na sana ay mabigyan ng mas malinaw na pansin ang mga pangarap at pangangailangan ng ating mga nakakatanda. Umaasa kami na sa mga susunod na hakbang ng administrasyon ay magkakaroon ng mas malinaw na direksyon at kongkretong programa na tunay na magpapakita na ang kapakanan ng ating mga senior citizens ay isang pambansang prayoridad. Bilang kinatawan ng ating mga nakakatanda, mananatili kaming katuwang ng administrasyon sa pagsusulong ng mga panukala at programang magbibigay ng mas maginhawa at mas marangal na pamumuhay para sa bawat senior citizen sa ating bansa,” Ordanes added.</p><p>House Deputy Speaker Jefferson Khonghun, meanwhile, believes the President focused on unifying both Houses of Congress, which is why he did not mention the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte in his SONA.</p><p>“This is a unifying President. Ayaw niya nang may away. Ayaw niya ng makarinig ngayon ng kaguluhan. So binigyan niya ng importansya ‘yung unifying presence niya sa Senado at sa Kongreso,” Khonghun said.</p><p>But he applauded the President’s statement on the West Philippine Sea.</p><p>“Napakatindi ng pagmamahal ng ating Presidente sa bayan, dahil talagang ipinaglaban niya ‘yung karapatan ng ating mga mangingisda, talagang binigyan niya ng importansya ‘yung ating mga kasundaluhan, lalu na ‘yung mga nakipaglaban sa ating karapatan sa West Philippine Sea,” Khonghun said.</p><p>“Napakagandang pakinggan na ang ating Presidente mismo ‘yung pangunahing talagang nagbibigay ng direksyon lalung lalu na kung paano natin tatalakayin ang ating soberanya at karapatan sa West Philippine Sea,” he added.</p><div> </div><div><strong>ADDRESSED &#x27;ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM&#x27;</strong></div><div> </div><p>For ML Party-list Rep. Leila de Lima, it as a “plus point” that Marcos immediately addressed what she called the “elephant in the room.”</p><p>“Gustong gusto ko po yun na sa umpisa pa lang ay tungkol na kaagad sa korapsyon. Kasi yun naman talagang pangunahin based on the surveys,” De Lima said.</p><p>“At least he’s able to address the elephant in the room. But at least he knows, I think, na kailangan pa ng improvement. Na talagang yung big fish or big fishes ay maisama na,” she added.</p><p>She also said Marcos’ proposals to expand income tax exemptions and his remarks on national sovereignty and China’s actions in the West Philippine Sea were among the “well-applauded” portions of the speech.</p><p>Meanwhile, Public Works Secretary Vince Dizon said Marcos delivered one of his “most honest” and “clearest” SONAs.</p><p>“I think ito yung isa sa pinaka-honest at pinakaklarong SONA at ang gusto lang mangyari ng pangulo, simple lang. Magtrabaho tayong lahat dahil andaming hirap na dinadanas ng mga kababayan natin,” Dizon told reporters after the speech.</p><p>Dizon said the president left no ambiguity about his position on the flood control issue.</p><p>“Kitang kita naman, umpisa pa lang, in-address na niya kaagad yung issue sa flood control scandal at tingin ko wala nang kaklaro pa sa sinabi ng ating Pangulo,” he said.</p><p>“Nagsabi na ang Ombudsman, malapit na. Nakita niyo na yung kasong kanyang finile, meron nang preliminary investigation. Hintayin natin ang gagawin ng Ombudsman,” he added.</p><p>When asked if the Department of Public Works and Highways would see fewer anomalies this year, Dizon said the agency would work to prevent a repeat of the alleged irregularities.</p><p>“‘Yun ang gagawin natin…. gagawin natin ang lahat para masiguradong hindi na ito mauulit,” he said.</p><div> </div><div><strong>&#x27;HOW ABOUT NORMAL FILIPINOS?&#x27;</strong></div><div><strong> </strong></div><p>For Davao City Rep. Paolo Duterte, more than expressing sympathy for a relative, Marcos should also consider the situation of normal Filipinos who are still waiting for the truth.</p><p>&quot;Maganda sanang pakinggan ang pahayag na iyan kung pareho rin ang ipinapakitang malasakit sa sambayanang Pilipino. Habang naaawa siya sa kanyang pinsan, kailan siya huling naawa sa milyun-milyong Pilipinong lugmok sa kahirapan, dumadaing sa walang tigil na pagtaas ng presyo ng pagkain, mataas na singil sa kuryente, at patuloy na pagliit ng halaga ng kanilang kinikita?&quot; he said, referring to former House Speaker Martin Romualdez.</p><p>Rep. Duterte also said the president should also focus on ensuring that every Filipino benefits from the policies of the government.</p><p>&quot;Hindi simpatiya para sa mga makapangyarihan ang hinihingi ng taumbayan. Ang hinihingi nila ay katotohanan, pananagutan, at hustisya.</p><p>Hangga&#x27;t hindi nasasagot ang mga tanong tungkol sa bilyun-bilyong pondong ginugol sa flood control, sa kontrobersiya ng PhilHealth funds, at sa Maharlika Fund, mananatiling kulang ang anumang SONA sa mata ng mga Pilipinong patuloy na naghihirap,&quot; he said.</p><p>&quot;Ang tunay na kalagayan ng bansa ay hindi nasusukat sa palakpakan sa loob ng Batasang Pambansa. Nasusukat ito sa laman ng hapag-kainan ng bawat pamilya, sa presyo ng mga bilihin, sa kalidad ng serbisyo ng gobyerno, at sa tiwalang unti-unti nang nawawala sa mga institusyon ng pamahalaan,&quot; Duterte added.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>OTHER SOLONS&#x27; REACTIONS</strong></div><div><br/></div><p>Other lawmakers weighed in on Marcos’ statement with ACT Teachers party-list Representative Antonio Tinio stressing government action should not stop here.</p><p>Tinio also said the cases should be filed in the first place.</p><p>“Nagpatupad talaga nito ay executive branch. So ‘yung kailangan may kooperasyon at pagtrabaho talaga nung mga department. DPWH, first of all. ‘Yung pag-release ng pera, ‘yung DBM, ultimately lahat sila answerable to the president. So kaya hindi puwedeng, una, hintayin natin talaga bang kakasuhan,” Tinio told reporters after the SONA.</p><p>“Pangalawa, hindi pwedeng tumigil dito. Kailangan panagutin ang executive as well, including the president,” Tinio added.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>‘BAGSAK ‘YUNG SONA’</strong></div><div><br/></div><p>If Tinio had to grade the SONA from a scale of one to 10, the lawmaker said he would give a failing score.</p><p>Among reasons is how the speech was supposedly filled with just promises.</p><p>“Puro pangako. So maraming pinangako, pagbaba daw ng income tax, pagtanggal ng systems loss sa kuryente, at iba pa, pero mga pangako palang ito. At pangatlo, Pax Silica. Ibigsabihin, nag-aantay tayo ng industrialization plan… Bakit hindi plano na pangangailangan ng mga Pilipino ang nakauna? ‘Yung Pax Silica, manufacturing para sa mga sandata, lalo na yung AI-powered na sandata ng US. So, kaya po, unfortunately, para sa ‘tin, bagsak ‘yung SONA,” Tinio said.</p><p>Kabataan party-list Representative Renee Co also expressed disappointment over the SONA, but for the supposed lack of statements on steps towards ensuring there is accountability.  </p><p>“May inasahan tayong pagbanggit ng mga proseso ng pananagutan hindi lang kay VP Sara, pero kahit ‘yung paano po ba ‘yung proseso ng pagpapanagot sa lahat ng flood control. So it&#x27;s to say that we&#x27;re disappointed na wala tayong narinig paano ba ‘yung direction natin sa pag-e-ensure na may proseso ng pananagutan whether it is sa pag-respeto ng impeachment processes na nangyayari ngayon sa Senado o even kung ano ‘yung update ng lahat ng mga sangot sa korapsyon sa flood control,” Co told reporters.</p><p>As for Akbayan party-list Representative Perci Cendaña, he believes the true measure of accountability would go past the case filing stage.</p><p>“Ang totoong sukatan kung seryoso ang pangulo ay kung maco-convict ‘yung mga kinasuhan at pinakulong nila kasi kung hindi ito maco-convict sa dulo, lip service lamang ito,” Cendaña said.</p><p>And Gabriela party-list Representative Sarah Elago said removal of system loss charges from electricity bills is not enough, as 12 percent Value Added Tax (VAT) should have been taken out altogether.</p><p>Marcos mentioned the matter on electricity bills during the SONA.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/business/2026/7/27/marcos-wants-systems-loss-charges-removed-from-electricity-bill-rooftop-solar-made-easier-1727">Marcos wants systems loss charges removed from electricity bill; rooftop solar made easier</a></div><p>“Ang gusto ng tao, tanggalin ‘yung 12 percent VAT. Hindi lang system loss pero sa kabuuan, 12 percent VAT sa kuryente, sa langis at pagkain. At pangalawa, wala rin tayong narinig pagdating sa pagtataas ng sahod tungo sa nakabubuhay na antas,” Elago said.</p><p>Palace Press Officer Usec. Claire Castro, meanwhile, gave the president’s SONA a grade of 100 percent, saying the time was not enough to list all achievements.</p><p>“Sa dami mga ng accomplishments, kulang pa po ‘yung oras. So for me, alam ko na tututol ‘yung iba, pero sa ngayon na nadinig ko ‘yung pangulo, kung papaano niya ito i-deliver, bibigyan ko siya ng 100 percent,” Castro said.</p><div> </div><div><strong>&#x27;DAMAGE CONTROL&#x27;</strong></div><div> </div><p>For Aksyon Klima Pilipinas, Marcos&#x27; SONA was more of doing damage control over the administration&#x27;s failures and misreading of the realities on ground, than presenting an honest report about the state of the country.</p><p>&quot;At first glance, some of the President&#x27;s new or renewed promises indicate a stronger commitment to a cleaner, greener transportation sector - more electric vehicles, expanded railways, and improved transport hubs. We expect to see these properly integrated into national climate and development plans, especially the 2026 Nationally Determined Contribution that remains not finalized to this day,&quot; the group said.</p><p>&quot;Yet after another glance or two, it is clear that the climate and environment agenda itself is not as big of a priority as it initially seems. In addition, many of his messages still indicate the status quo in Philippine governance: short-term relief, insufficient targets, - or misreading realities on the ground,&quot; it added.</p><p>The group also said the President failed to offer solutions to address the super El Niño that is expected to come in the coming months, while the energy outlook for the country remains bleak.</p><p>&quot;While proper evacuation centers are genuinely needed, ignoring this possibility of &quot;super&quot;-disasters can be seen as the administration trying to prevent panic among Filipinos - or not seeing this critical issue as a priority. This would be a mistake that this government is making, with so much of our economy and society to be heavily affected - food security, water sufficiency, farmers, fisherfolk communities, among others,&quot; it said.</p><p>For Aksyon Klima Pilipinas, the administration should also focus on the vulnerable communities.</p><p>&quot;We need adequate and accessible food and water. We need lower electricity rates and a clean, safe, and stable energy sector. We need our forests to remain standing and our oceans to remain thriving. We need stable livelihoods, not ones to be displaced by technocratic and elitist practices and foreign interests. We need not just short-term relief, but long-term resilience against both potential disasters and slow onset events,&quot; it said.</p><p>&quot;We need to know that the BBM administration has a true long-term vision and strategies to ensure the Philippines can transition to a low-emissions, climate-resilient, and sustainably-developed State, where no one is left behind,&quot; it added.</p>

<p>A lawmaker expressed dismay over the absence of the proposed legislated wage hike and the proposal to reduce value added tax in President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s 2026 State of the Nation Address.</p>

A lawmaker expressed dismay over the absence of the proposed legislated wage hike and the proposal to reduce value added tax in President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s 2026 State of the Nation Address.

Solon dismayed over absence of proposed legislated wage hike, reduced VAT in President’s 2026 SONA

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Solon dismayed over absence of proposed legislated wage hike, reduced VAT in President’s 2026 SONA

Vivienne Gulla,

Kaxandra Salonga,

ABS-CBN News

Published July 27, 2026 07:53 PM PHT

|

Updated July 27, 2026 08:46 PM PHT

Read More:

House of Representatives

SONA 2026

State of the Nation Address

wage hike

reduced VAT

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