by: Chloe Arabella Cristobal
Copyedited by: Jeyana Sophia Caparros
Publication by: Claire Mendoza
Picture this. Major pressrooms overflow with a thrilling buzz in the air. Thousands of people gather around the Batasang Pambansa Complex awaiting his arrival. Multiple cameras stand still in their places anticipating the scenes that will unfold. Progress is checked, changes are monitored, and promises are revisited—all spearheaded and addressed none other than our President.
The State of the Nation Address (SONA) strikes headlines annually without fail. In the Philippines, the last Monday of July is not just any regular day. It serves as the time of year where the nation’s leader addresses the country’s standing across various sectors. Furthermore, it acts as the stage for the promotion and declaration of promises and progress: the two mighty pillars every country stands on. But the assurance of one doesn’t guarantee the presence of the other. In the course of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. (PBBM)’s term up ‘til now, a myriad of vows have been bestowed upon various branches of the government that pledge for the betterment of each sector. Yet, the question remains—do these commitments prove strong enough to withstand the test of time?
Economy
During his inaugural SONA, PBBM projected an economic growth target of 6.5% to 8.0% for the period 2023 to 2028. However, over the past two years, the administration has fallen short of these expectations. The economy expanded by only 5.6% in 2023, repeating the same growth rate the following year—still trailing behind the revised goal of 6.0% to 6.5% set for 2024.
Energy and Environment
In his first SONA as president, PBBM emphasized the need for more efficient water supply systems. In April 2023, he ordered the creation of a Water Resources Management Office to ensure the immediate implementation of Integrated Water Resources Management, however, there is currently no further news about the topic. There are also no further updates on the building of nuclear power plants.
Two out of the 18 promised proposals have been fulfilled: Republic Act No. 12019, known as the Loss and Damage Fund Board Act, was enacted on August 28, 2024. Additionally, Republic Act No. 12120—which initiates the development of the Philippine Downstream Natural Gas Industry under the Department of Energy—was signed into law on January 8.
Agriculture
In his 2024 SONA, PBBM pledged to prioritize the enhancement of domestic agricultural production. Of the eight agriculture-related commitments made the previous year, only one has been fully realized, while the remaining seven are still underway.
Since his 2022 presidential campaign, Marcos has consistently expressed his ambition to lower rice prices to ₱20 per kilo. The offer of this price was short-lived, only lasting from July 2022 to November 2023. Currently, the prevailing market price of locally produced commercial rice in Metro Manila remains between ₱38 and ₱57 per kilo. In response to the increase in rice prices earlier this year, the Department of Agriculture declared a food security emergency to bring the prices down.
Health
Despite his promises of improved welfare of the medical industry in his inaugural SONA, the Philippines still faces financing and staffing issues in the medical industry. So much so that 2023, Health Secretary Ted Herbosa proposed that unlicensed nurses be allowed to work in government hospitals.
Furthermore, A COVID-19-related commitment was stalled due to the government’s failure to allocate funding for vaccine procurement in 2024—a concern amplified by the emergence of the highly transmissible Nimbus subvariant in June earlier this year.
Education
₱1.05 trillion was allocated to the education sector in the 2025 General Appropriations Act to align with broader, long-term reforms to the education system outlined by the president in his 2024 SONA. This includes the revised K-10 framework of the MATATAG curriculum and ARAL (RA 12028) that established a free national learning intervention program from Kindergarten to Grade 10.
Infrastructure & Transportation
Out of PBBM’S 16 infrastructure promises made during his first three SONAs, only three have been completed, ten are still underway, and three have stalled. Notable completed projects during 2024 include the Panguil Bay Bridge—the longest sea-crossing bridge in Mindanao—the Expanded Plaridel Bypass Road, and Phase 1 of the LRT-1 Cavite Extension.
Foreign Relations
Over the course of his past three SONAs, PBBM has repeatedly affirmed his commitment to an independent foreign policy and the protection of the Philippines’ sovereign rights in the West Philippine Sea (WPS), while still fostering diplomatic ties with other nations. In line with the reinforcement of the country’s position in the WPS, the government added sites to its Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) with the United States.
Alongside this, the government also declared two pivotal laws in November 2024: the Philippine Maritime Zones Act and the Philippine Archipelagic Sea Lanes Act. Lastly, the government also published a comic book that “debunks China’s false narratives and disinformation” about the WPS in order to spread public awareness.
Governance
One of the core promises PBBM made was the quick and conditioned delivery of National IDs. However, in January 2025, biometrics revealed that the Philippines still had a backlog of 36 million which would need additional funds to solve.
In the fight against corruption, only two out of the 10 promises were fulfilled: a total ban on Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs), alongside the 2023 enactment of the Internet Transaction Act (RA No. 11967), which strengthens regulations in the country’s e-commerce landscape. However, it was stated by PAGCOR senior vice president Raul Villanueva in a senate hearing that smaller illegal offshore gaming groups still exist despite the ban.
References:
Final SONA modest, memorable: Andanar | Philippine News Agency
SO ano NA ba ang nagawa? Quick Facts You Must Know Before SONA 2025
SUMMARY: Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s Sona 2022
SONA 2024 PROMISE TRACKER – VERA Files
LOOKBACK: SONA 2022 promises, plans of Marcos Jr. and what happened after | ABS-CBN News
Philippines faces 36 million backlog in ID cards | Biometric Update