Rowegie Abanto

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. delivers his 4th State of the Nation Address 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

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SONA 2025

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/178507647616820250728-marcos-sona-congress-JC3.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. delivers his 4th State of the Nation Address on July 28, 2025. <em>Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News/File</em></span></span></span>MANILA — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.&#x27;s final two years in office will be shaped by his actions toward exacting accountability and addressing the economic problems pounding the country, a political analyst has said as the chief executive delivers his <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">fifth State of the Nation Address</a> (SONA) on Monday.</div><p>Marcos, 68, will deliver his second to last SONA at the Batasang Pambansa in Quezon City a year since he issued his famous &quot;<a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/7/28/-mahiya-naman-kayo-marcos-order-probe-on-corruption-in-flood-control-projects-1725">mahiya naman kayo!</a>&quot; (shame on you) script to call out those involved in anomalies in flood control projects, which signaled his crusade against corruption.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/7/26/one-year-after-ferdinand-marcos-jr-s-sona-promises-in-retrospect-0800">One year after: Ferdinand Marcos Jr.&#x27;s SONA promises in retrospect</a></div><p>&quot;He needs to deliver accountability for the scandals while responding to economic pain,&quot; Matthew David Ordoñez, a political science lecturer at De La Salle University who recently earned his doctorate in public administration at Shanghai Jiao Tong University, told ABS-CBN News in an online exchange.</p><p>For Ordoñez, Marcos&#x27; real task in his constitutionally required address is not to announce <a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/business/2026/7/1/philippines-now-an-upper-middle-income-country-2222">his government&#x27;s recent successes</a> but to save whatever legitimacy his government can retain by the end of his term in 2028. </p><p>Marcos is entering his final two years as president with his <a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/7/19/marcos-trust-rating-dips-duterte-steady-in-sws-q2-survey-1428">trust ratings taking a hit</a>, which is usually observed in previous presidents&#x27; waning years.</p><p>To rebuild trust, Ordoñez said Marcos should &quot;focus on delivering a few concrete, visible wins, particularly on corruption accountability and easing inflation.&quot;</p><p>&quot;People will forgive low popularity if they see genuine justice and measurable relief,&quot; he said. &quot;A penultimate SONA is typically when a president cements his legacy, defining how his administration will be remembered.&quot;</p><p>A <a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/7/24/sona-2026-corruption-leads-issues-filipinos-want-to-hear-pulse-asia-0847">Pulse Asia survey</a> released ahead of Marcos&#x27; July 27 SONA showed that Filipinos wanted him to prioritize discussions on anti-corruption efforts and programs to tame <a class="fr-strong fr-green" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/business/2026/7/22/ph-power-rates-seen-as-more-expensive-than-singapore-s-this-month-1846">high prices</a> of goods fueled in part by the Middle East war.</p><p>Marcos &quot;must address the flood control scandals linked to his own allies and the separate allegations of misuse of confidential funds in the Vice President&#x27;s office. He has postured as a reformist; now is the time to show genuine resolve,&quot; the analyst said.</p><p>Aside from short term solutions, Marcos should also outline &quot;forward-looking&quot; moves in addressing economic problems, such as mainstreaming electric vehicles and accelerating renewable energy, he said, &quot;to reduce long-term vulnerability.&quot;</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/business/2026/7/22/ph-power-rates-seen-as-more-expensive-than-singapore-s-this-month-1846">PH power rates seen as more expensive than Singapore&#x27;s this month</a></div><p>Ordoñez said the president may also use his SONA to address another hot-button issue: the Pax Silica project, which is to host AI infrastructure, data centers, and advanced semiconductor manufacturing facilities in Tarlac.</p><p>Pax Silica &quot;has moved forward with minimal consultation and <a class="fr-strong fr-green" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/business/2026/7/26/scientists-farm-workers-dispute-bcda-s-pax-silica-promises-1625">heavy environmental and social risks</a>&quot; and that Marcos should respond to the mounting opposition to the project and explain how the government would &quot;ensure that benefits truly outweigh the costs,&quot; he added.</p><p>Marcos&#x27; address comes on the heels of the 59th ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting and Related Meetings eclipsed by <a class="fr-strong fr-green" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/7/24/china-again-uses-water-cannon-on-ph-vessels-1142">recent</a> <a class="fr-strong fr-green" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/7/20/ph-navy-officer-sustains-head-injury-after-confrontation-with-china-coast-guard-1605">clashes</a> in the West Philippine Sea.</p><p>According to Ordoñez, while Marcos has made &quot;measurable progress&quot; in foreign policy and military modernization, such as a &quot;more assertive articulation of sovereignty,&quot; it has yet to be seen whether the improvements are enough.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/7/10/6-in-10-filipinos-approve-of-marcos-response-to-west-philippine-sea-0956">6 in 10 Filipinos approve of Marcos&#x27; West Philippine Sea response—survey</a></div><p>Marcos&#x27; fifth SONA will also be delivered against the backdrop of the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte, his former ally.</p><p>The Senate, sitting as an impeachment court, recently approved to subpoena Duterte&#x27;s financial records, including her Bureau of Internal Revenue documents.</p><p>Marcos has largely distanced himself with Duterte&#x27;s impeachment trial but his involvement has become seemingly unavoidable, as the tax code mandates a president&#x27;s approval, among other conditions, for the release of one&#x27;s records.</p><p>While he is unlikely to address impeachment in his SONA, Marcos&#x27; &quot;best approach is neither to block nor to weaponize the process: he should approve the release strictly in accordance with legal requirements, without fanfare or partisan commentary,&quot; Ordoñez said, noting that &quot;this keeps the focus on the evidence rather than on his personal stance.&quot;</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/7/25/experts-say-marcos-must-define-legacy-in-penultimate-sona-amid-crises-1622">Experts say Marcos must define legacy in penultimate SONA amid crises</a></div><p>The political science lecturer noted that Marcos&#x27; final years may define the post-UniTeam political landscape as the potential conviction of Duterte &quot;could open up a more competitive field&quot; in the 2028 presidential race. </p><p>&quot;But mishandling it could also deepen polarization and destabilize governance,&quot; he said.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/7/24/house-passed-half-of-52-ledac-priority-bills-but-only-one-enacted-so-far-0118">House passed half of 52 LEDAC priority bills, but only one enacted so far</a></div><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/business/2026/7/23/ph-economy-worse-due-to-poor-planning-and-weak-policies-think-tank-1615">PH economy worse due to poor planning and weak policies—think tank</a></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEOS:</strong></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/R1vkwvo8aoI?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span></strong><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/9lTcSKYo4WY?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><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/81OHxZp2GJI?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span></strong><br/></div>

<p>President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s final two years in office will be shaped by his actions toward exacting accountability and addressing the economic problems pounding the country, a political analyst has said as the chief executive delivers his fifth SONA on Monday.</p>

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s final two years in office will be shaped by his actions toward exacting accountability and addressing the economic problems pounding the country, a political analyst has said as the chief executive delivers his fifth SONA on Monday.

SONA 2026: Solving corruption and economic woes expected to shape Marcos' final two years

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SONA 2026: Solving corruption and economic woes expected to shape Marcos' final two years

Rowegie Abanto,

ABS-CBN News

Published July 27, 2026 06:00 AM PHT

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