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President Marcos (inset) delivers his third State of the Nation Address
before a joint session of Congress |
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. today chided corrupt
government officials involved in failed flood-control projects, as the country
emerged from inundation brought by three storms that dumped the southwest
monsoon rains.
“Mahiya naman kayo sa inyong kapwa Pilipino (you should be
ashamed towards your fellow Filipinos),” he said as members of Congress
gathered for his State of the Nation address at the Batasang Pambansa gave him a
standing ovation.
“Let us not pretend anymore. The whole public already knows
the racketeering going on involving the projects – kickbacks, initiative,
errata, SOP (standard operating procedures), ‘for the boys,'” he said.
“… Be ashamed because our fellow Filipinos were swept by
floods or were submerged in floodwaters. Be ashamed towards our children who
will inherit that debt incurred because of what you committed, because you
pocketed the funds,” he said in Filipino.
He said the Department of Public Works and Highways will list
and review all flood control projects that were started or completed in the
last three years; identify those that failed, the unfinished, and the ghost
projects, and make them public so that taxpayers can “share what they know that
will help in our investigations.”
The President also warned that he would not sign any proposed
national budget that would not be aligned with the administration’s programs. “…
for the 2026 national budget, I will return any proposed General Appropriations
Bill that is not fully aligned with the National Expenditures Program. And further, I am willing to do this even if
we end up with a reenacted budget,” he added.
During his speech, Mr. Marcos compared his administration to
that of his predecessor, ex-President Rodrigo Duterte.
The anti-drug campaign in the first three years of his
administration has nearly matched the accomplishments during the full six years
of the Duterte administration, with more than 153,000 individuals arrested,
9,600 of them high-value targets, he said.
“Most alarming was that more than 677 of them were
government personnel — over 100 were elected officials, and more than 50 were
police officers,” he said.
Marcos also criticized the 10 years that the 48 Chinese-made
Dalian trains had been in storage after being purchased in 2014 for ₱3.76-billion
by then President Noynoy Aquino Jr. for the Metro Rail Transit Line 3 (MRT-3).
The taxpayers waited too long for a service they had already
paid for, he said.
“But now, we’ve fixed it,” he said, noting that three carriages
are now operational, with more coming on line before year-end after modifications
to address weight and system compatibility issues, and safety clearances from
independent evaluators.
At the same time, he said, the previous 20 percent fare
discount at LRT and MRT for persons with disabilities, senior citizens, and
students has been raised to 50 percent, he said. He also introduced the “One
Plus Three” Family Pass, a Sunday-only promo allowing one paying passenger to
bring up to three family members for free on select rail lines.
But the President gave thanks to OFWs “Because of them, the
Filipino skills, kindness and heart are showcased in all corners of the world,”
he said.
Their personal remittances grew to US$3.02 billion (about P171
billion) in February 2025, up by 2.6 percent from the US$2.95 billion, or P167
billion the previous year.
The yearly address, Mr. Marcos’ third, also touched on the
following topics:
Foreign policy: “In
the face of new threats to our peace and sovereignty, we are now more resolute
in our preparations, vigilance, and self-defense. Nevertheless, we remain
restrained and patient, especially in guarding our entire archipelago and in
protecting our national interests…. Then as now, our foreign policy remains the
same: the Philippines is a friend to all. The Philippines is an enemy to none.”
Foreign investment:
“My single resounding message to the international business community is this:
The Philippines is ready. Invest in the Filipino… Our dependable and
hardworking Filipinos, innately skilled, adaptable, and possessed with a heart
for service, are here, ready to work and to succeed with you.” He also reported
that in his official visit to the United States last week, he secured over $21
billion (around P1.19 trillion), in investment pledges in the healthcare,
infrastructure, semiconductor, renewable energy, and digital technology
sectors.
P20 per kilo rice:
“We have proven that we can implement the P20 per kilo rice. Our farmers will
not lose income…. As of July, the subsidized rice is available at 123 locations
nationwide, including 88 Kadiwa ng Pangulo centers, public market stalls, local
government units, and other government-run outlets…. We will allocate P113
billion to bolster the programs of the Department of Agriculture, we will
launch these nationwide through hundreds of Kadiwa stores and centers in different
local government units.”
Electrification: 2.5 million households have been given access
to electricity since 2022, reducing the number of households without power to
around two million. “Even though we are well known for valuing renewable
energy, energy problems continue to affect every Filipino — such as three
million households still without electricity, frequent brownouts, and high
power prices.”
Water supply: “We
have received so many complaints that the water doesn’t even reach their
faucets…. We will ensure that those who neglect and fail in this important
public service are held accountable.”
School classrooms:
The President said 40,000 new classrooms will be built before the end of his
term in 2028, in partnership with the private sector. He also promised: “You
can be assured that your competence will not be measured merely by the number
of students you pass, but by the number of learners you help improve and
inspire to aim higher in life.”
Healthcare: “In
the span of three years, we increased the number of public hospitals and
specialty centers. We have also established 53 Bucas centers across 32
provinces in the country. These centers offer free check-ups, x-rays, lab
tests, and more—providing immediate outpatient services without the need for
hospital confinement…. Each of the 1,642
cities and municipalities in the country now have at least a doctor.” He said those who get treated at public hospitals will no longer have to pay for their stay, but did not specify whether related expenses like medicines and surgery will also be free.
On the missing sabungeros:
“We will go after and hold accountable the masterminds and those involved — be
it civilians or officials…. No matter how strong, heavily influential or
wealthy they are, they will not prevail over the law.”
