Marcos vows to 'pour everything' in next 3 years 

In the same hall where he once said “the state of the nation is sound,” President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Monday returned to Congress to mark the halfway point of his presidency, this time with a firmer call to action, according to a report by Philippine News Agency.

“Isantabi na natin ang ating pagkakaiba, at magkasundo na sa tatlong bagay na nagbibigkis sa atin: sa ating pagiging Pilipino, ang ating pagiging makabansa, at ang ating sinumpaang tungkulin sa taumbayan (Let’s set aside our differences, and come to terms with the three things that bind us together: our Filipino identity, our patriotism, and our sworn duty to the people),” Marcos said in his fourth State of the Nation Address (SONA) delivered at the Batasang Pambansa in Quezon City.

In a brisk but resolute speech that lasted one hour and 10 minutes, slightly shorter than last year’s one hour and 22 minutes, Marcos mapped out the next half of his presidency, laying out a sweeping agenda on jobs, food, education, healthcare, infrastructure, good governance, and security.

He also directly confronted long-simmering public frustration with government inefficiencies.

According to the President, the economy is doing well, business confidence is up, inflation is down, and jobs have increased based on the latest data.

But all of these, he said, are meaningless, mere decoration, if Filipinos are still struggling in their daily lives.

“Kaya sa huling tatlong taon ng administrasyon, ibubuhos pa natin ang lahat-lahat. Hindi lamang upang mapantayan, kundi mahigitan pa ang pagbibigay-ginhawa sa ating mga kababayan (That is why in the last three years of the administration, we will pour everything — not just to match but to surpass our efforts to bring comfort to our people),” Marcos said.

His 2025 SONA drew at least 124 rounds of applause, with the loudest and longest for his order to audit billions of pesos worth of flood control projects, many of which have failed to address massive flooding in Metro Manila and nearby provinces.

Jobs, microenterprise at the core

“Maayos na hanapbuhay talaga ang mabisang pantiyak laban sa kahirapan at laban sa gutom (Decent jobs are the best shield against poverty and hunger),” Marcos declared.

He reported that the unemployment rate is down to four percent and pledged to help 2.5 million poor families start microenterprises through government capital, training, and interest- and collateral-free loans.

Agencies like the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), and Department of Social Welfare (DSWD) and Development will coordinate to deliver these programs, Marcos said.

P20 rice, feeding program scale-up

Marcos also showcased the rollout of PHP20-per-kilo rice in select areas as “proof of possibility,” noting that farmers still made a profit under the subsidy scheme.

“Ito ang aking tugon. Napatunayan natin na kaya na natin ang bente pesos sa bawat kilo ng bigas, nang hindi malulugi ang mga magsasaka (This is my response. We have proven that we can have PHP20/kg. rice without putting our farmers at a disadvantage)!” he said, to strong applause.

The government also expanded its nationwide feeding program for schoolchildren, following promising results in early pilots.

“Ipinagpapatuloy ng DSWD at ng DepEd [Department of Education] ang feeding program nila para sa mga daycare center at pampublikong paaralan, na nakapagbigay ng masustansyang pagkain at gatas sa mahigit tatlo't kalahating milyong mag-aaral sa buong bansa (DSWD and DepEd will continue their feeding program in daycare centers and public schools to provide nutritious food and milk to over three and a half million learners in the country),” Marcos said.

“Dahil alam naman natin, basta't may laman ang tiyan, may laman ang isipan (Because we know, when the stomach is full, the mind is full),” he added.

Kadiwa outlets will also be expanded nationwide, Marcos said, while warning smugglers and hoarders: “Hahabulin namin kayo… dahil ang ginagawa ninyo ay economic sabotage (We will go after you — because what you're doing is economic sabotage).”

Water woes

While not naming names, Marcos took aim at failing water service providers, just weeks after the Local Water Utilities Administration (LWUA) submitted a critical report to Malacañang widely believed to center on PrimeWater, which is operated by the Villar family and has drawn complaints from residents in multiple provinces.

“Titiyakin nating mapapanagot ang mga nagpabaya at nagkulang sa mahalagang serbisyong-publiko na ito (We will ensure that those who neglect and fail in this important public service are held accountable),” he said.

Teaching overload pay, deeper education reforms

In a nod to long-standing demands, the President said public school teachers will now receive payment for overtime and overload pay.

He also touted the opening of 60,000 new teaching positions and vowed to build 40,000 more classrooms, alongside reforms to teaching loads and training.

The key reforms include the integration of tech-voc education into Senior High School, the pilot of Grade 13, and free laptops for teachers and counseling support for students.

Unrelenting drug war, missing ‘sabungeros’ case

On the government’s anti-drug campaign, Marcos said law enforcers will continue to go after drug dealers.

“Sa tatlong taon lamang, halos mapantayan na ang kabuuang huli noong nakaraang administrasyon (In just three years, the total arrests have almost matched the previous administration's),” he said.

“Sa kabila ng mga ito, tila nagbabalikan daw ang mga pusher. Kaya, patuloy ang ating mga operasyon laban sa mga drug dealer, big-time man o small-time (Despite these, they say that it seems pushers are making a comeback. So, our operations against drug dealers, whether big-time or small-time, will continue).”

Breaking his silence on a high-profile mystery, the President vowed justice for the missing "sabungeros," or cockfighting enthusiasts, believed to have been abducted by crime syndicates.

“Nagtutulungan ang buong pamahalaan para lutasin ang mga kaso ng mga nawawala dahil sa walang pakundangang kagagawan ng mga sindikato sa likod ng madilim na mundo ng mga sabungan (The entire government is working together to solve the cases of missing persons due to the ruthless actions of the syndicates behind the dark world of cockfighting),” he said.

The Chief Executive also vowed to hunt down and hold accountable the masterminds and those involved, whether civilians or officials.

“Kahit malakas, mabigat, o mayaman, hindi sila mangi-ngibabaw sa batas (No matter how influential, powerful, or wealthy, they will not be above the law),” he said.

Flood control audit: Standing ovation, loudest cheer

The most thunderous applause of the day came when Marcos ordered a full audit of all flood control projects, blasting costly but ineffective infrastructure.

This was following the recent floods in various areas in Metro Manila and nearby provinces triggered by monsoon rains and clogged waterways, which exposed flaws in flood mitigation projects despite billions of pesos in spending.

“‘Wag na po tayong magkunwari. Alam naman ng buong madla na nagkakaraket sa mga proyekto... Kaya sa mga nakikipag-sabwatan upang kunin ang pondo ng bayan at nakawin ang kinabukasan ng ating mga mamamayan, mahiya naman kayo sa inyong kapwa Pilipino! (Let's stop pretending. The entire public knows that there is racketeering in these projects... So to those who conspire to take the public funds and steal the future of our citizens, be ashamed on your fellow Filipinos!),” Marcos said.

“Mahiya naman kayo sa mga kabahayan nating naanod o nalubog sa baha. Mahiya naman kayo lalo sa mga anak natin na magmamana sa mga utang na ginawa ninyo, na binulsa niyo lang ang pera (Be ashamed that houses were swept away or submerged in flood. Be ashamed as our children will inherit the debts you incurred, just pocketing the money),” he added.

Unity, direction, discipline — and heart

Marcos closed his fourth SONA with a message both reflective and resolute, a personal pledge shaped by the lessons of his first three years in office.

“Ito ang magbibigay sa akin ng bago at pinag-ibayong gana sa trabaho, sigla sa serbisyo, at dedikasyon sa Pilipino (These lessons renew my energy for work, fuel my passion for service, and deepen my dedication to the Filipino),” he said.

“Huwag nating hayaang malihis ang ating pagtuon at pagtahak sa landas ng kaunlaran, dahil nasa abot-tanaw na natin ito. Ito ang dapat nating patunguhan. At kayang-kaya natin itong marating at maisakatuparan (Let us not stray from the path of progress, because it is already within sight. That is where we must go. And we can — and will — get there together).”

As applause echoed in the hallowed Batasan Pambansa hall, Marcos exited with a renewed challenge to finish strong.