Joselito Malig

Article (news)

Daniza Fernandez

ABS-CBN News

MANILA — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s fifth State of the Nation Address (SONA) was “reactive” and lacked a “grand vision,” analysts pointed out on Monday.Among the topics and issues that the president discussed during this year’s SONA include flood control scandal updates, energy crisis, consumer issues, and upholding the country’s sovereignty in the West Philippine Sea.For De La Salle University Political Science and International Studies Professor Julio Teehankee and WR Numero Research President and CEO Robin Garcia, the president fell short in showing the direction that the nation will take.“Personally, hindi pa rin ito ‘yung hinahanap ko kasi sabi ko nga, last two minutes, dapat ipakita na niya kung ano ‘yung grand vision kung paano niya maipapanalo itong laban na ito,” Teehankee told ANC.“Okay, mukhang kakasuhan mo [Marcos] ‘yung pinsan [Martin Romualdez] mo, other than that, ano pa? Hindi man na-mention ‘yung anti-dynasty, partylist reform pero to be fair, hindi rin naman ito na-mention last SONA,” he added.The first issue that Marcos mentioned in his SONA is the alleged involvement of his cousin, former House Speaker and Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez, in the flood control mess. Citing the Ombudsman, the president said charges are looming against his cousin.Garcia, meanwhile, said the president’s speech is “reactive to what happened.”“So, instead of wielding the sword of, controlling the narrative, not just reacting to what happens to you externally, what happens to his administration, he has to be more bold in saying na, ‘Okay, this is where we really want to go as a society under my presidency,’” Garcia said.Despite this, Teehankee and Garcia are both pleased by how Marcos started his SONA “strong” by mentioning the flood control scandal and ended it likewise “strong” by being firm on the claim in the West Philippine Sea.<div>BUSINESS SECTOR’S NEEDS ADDRESSED</div>Further, the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) said their needs have been addressed, including the increasing of annual income tax exemption to P350,000 and the waiving of minimum corporate income tax for small businesses.“From the business point of view, lahat ng sinasabi namin, sinagot niya at nadagdagan pa. Ang hindi ko lang alam, sa dami ng assistance ‘tsaka ‘yung mga bibigay niya pati mga agencies ng gobyerno, can we afford these? ‘Di ko alam kung kaya nating magawa ito. I hope we can,” PCCI chairman emeritus and director Sergio Ortiz-Luis said.Ortiz-Luis, however, noted a few things that were not mentioned by the president.“Sa tourism parang wala akong narinig,” he said. “Of course, ‘yung sa investors meron akong narinig. Natutuwa ako na pati export nabanggit at hindi ko lang narinig ano ba ‘yung gagawin para mapalakas pa ‘yung export natin.”“Matagal na namin sinasabi na kailangan ‘yung gagastusing promotion at product development, ‘wag titignan na expense, it should be investment for the government. Ganu’n din sa MSME (micro, small, and medium enterprises),” he added.Ortiz-Luis said the president’s SONA is uplifting for the business sector.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s fifth State of the Nation Address (SONA) was “reactive” and lacked a “grand vision,” analysts pointed out on Monday.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s fifth State of the Nation Address (SONA) was “reactive” and lacked a “grand vision,” analysts pointed out on Monday.

Marcos’ fifth SONA ‘reactive,’ lacked ‘grand vision’ — analysts

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Marcos’ fifth SONA ‘reactive,’ lacked ‘grand vision’ — analysts

Daniza Fernandez,

ABS-CBN News

Published July 28, 2026 12:46 AM PHT

Read More:

SONA

Julio Teehankee

Robin Garcia

Sergio Ortiz-Luis

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