IN AN EFFORT to call for accountability against the Marcos-Duterte administration, progressive and multi-sectoral groups stride along Commonwealth Avenue for the People’s State of the Nation Address (SONA) on July 27 to call out President Ferdinand “Bong Bong” Marcos Jr. in his fifth SONA.
With the theme “Itakwil ang papet, pasista, at pahirap na Rehimeng Marcos! Labanan ang imperyalismong gera at pandarambong,” the people’s SONA is an annual protest held by progressive groups to coincide with the President’s SONA, demanding policy changes on labor, land reform, human rights, and national sovereignty.
A few of the major issues raised during the protest were pointed towards the nation’s concerns with the educational sector, unreasonable tax and price increases, threats to press freedom, ongoing flood control anomalies, and the country’s submission to Pax Silica last April 2026.
During President Marcos Jr.’s address, one of the first things that he acknowledged was the continuous effort made by his administration in conducting an intensive investigation into the ongoing flood control anomalies. “Pinigilan natin ang paglabas ng pera ng bayan na… mapupunta lamang sa mga bulsa ng mga tiwaling kontraktor at opisyal,” he stated.
In an interview with The Bedan, Leodegario “Ka Leody” Quitain de Guzman, Chairman of Bukluran ng Manggagawang Pilipino (BMP) and Leader of Partido Lakas ng Masa (PLM), questioned the integrity of the President with regard to his long-standing promise of fixing the large flood control anomalies. “Parang ang nagnanakaw lang ay lumalabas ay ‘yung kalaban nila. Pero pareho lang naman sila Marcos at Duterte, pareho lang silang akusado,” de Guzman asserted.
Teddy Casiño, Chairperson of Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (BAYAN), also raised questions on how the Marcos administration can handle its promise of accountability if the administration is selective, stating, “Ito ‘yung mga may malaking papel… diyan sa flood control pero dahil miyembro ng gabinete niya ayaw niyang pa-imbestigahan dahil baka siya ‘yung ituro.”
On concerns regarding economic measures, President Marcos stated relief measures that the government has implemented, such as the “Benteng-Bigas” program, the 50 percent discount on Light Rail Transit (LRT) and Metro Rail Transit (MRT) rates, a 10 pesos-per-liter subsidy for jeepney drivers, and securing of oil supply despite the closure of the Strait of Hormuz through diversifying imports from different countries.
The President’s remark followed his past statement that the Philippines has achieved upper-middle-income country status. This is alluding to the income classification published by the World Bank on July 1, which stated that the Philippines has officially attained upper-middle-income status as the country’s gross national income per capita reached 4,850 dollars in 2025, surpassing the 4,636 dollars threshold for upper-middle-income economies under its latest income classifications. Contradicting this claim, de Guzman called out the narrative made by the Marcos camp, “‘Yan ay pambubudol dahil ang classification niya hindi naka-address para sa sweldo ng mga manggagawa, kundi para sa classify sa pag-utang at interest na ipapataw ng World Bank.”
With regards to the controversial subjection of the country to Pax Silica, a US-led coalition that aims to globally expand Artificial Intelligence (AI) and semiconductor supply chains in an attempt to dismantle China’s rare earth mining, President Marcos mentioned in his address that “The Pax Silica Industrial Hub will create an ecosystem that will have AI at its core. It will bring quality jobs to our people, accelerate our industrial competitiveness, and revitalize our economy.”
Casiño opposed the notion as the government’s decision to enter Pax Silica would displace indigenous communities and drain the country’s natural resources. “Aagawin sakanila upang ma-ipatayo ang minerals processing and data centers na napakatakaw sa kuryente at tubig,” he expressed.
The President also mentioned his future initiatives that he vows to achieve before the end of his term: tax relief measures that would relieve the burden of the middle class, such as the substantial amendments promised to the Electric Power Industry Reform Act (EPIRA) law that would prohibit Meralco from distributing systems loss charges and the associated Value Added Tax (VAT) to consumers, opening of 12 MRT-7 stations and the beginning of the operation of the North-South Commuter Railway (NSCR) to alleviate the problem of commuters, completion of the distribution of land titles to agrarian reform beneficiaries, and push to a modern waste management practice.
Despite this, John Ray Luciano, National Deputy Secretary-General of the College Editors Guild of the Philippines (CEGP), reminds the Filipino people to always critically engage in the SONA, even as simple as observing one’s daily living, as it is a reflection of the government’s actual reality, stating, “Kitang-kita natin ‘yung pagtindi ng kahirapan, paglala ng education crisis, paglala ng atake sa mga campus na mamamahayag, sa mga mainstream media, at sa mga alternative media.”
While President Marcos highlighted the administration’s efforts in the anti-corruption campaign, economic relief and growth, disaster resilience, healthcare, and national security, several contentious national issues were not discussed, including the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA), red-tagging, attacks on press freedom, the killings of activists and human rights defenders, among other issues for which the Filipino people seek resolution.