An immediate ban on POGOs, underscoring of a bloodless fight against illegal drugs, and a reaffirmation of a commitment to defend territories in the West Philippine Sea are key pronouncements that earned President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. three standing ovations during his third SONA on Monday, July 22.
Hinatulan ng Tagum City RTC sina ACT Teachers Party-list Rep. France Castro at dating kinatawan ng Bayan Muna na si Satur Ocampo dahil sa paglalagay panganib ng buhay ng mga menor de edad, hindi pagkidnap gaya ng pahayag ng dating broadcaster na si Jay Sonza.
Outside, not so far from Batasang Pambansa, where the president delivered his third SONA, protestors braved the rain Monday to deliver their version of the state of the nation.Most prominent were placards shouting their demand for higher wages.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. launched his administration’s Bagong Pilipinas battlecry in last year’s SONA, as he declared that “the state of the nation is sound, and is improving.”
Recognizing the “deep-rooted” social and political grievances of the armed conflict, the Marcos administration has agreed to resume peace talks with the National Democratic Front of the Philippines.
Two years after Marcos’ first SONA, three of the measures on his legislative wishlist related to the armed forces are still pending in Congress.
Marcos, in his 2023 SONA, did not make new promises about addressing corruption or promoting good governance.
Of Marcos’ 13 promises on the economy in his 2023 SONA, three remain stalled, six have been fulfilled and four are still in progress.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has so far fulfilled only two of his 24 promises in his SONA in 2022 and 2023 to improve the delivery of social services in the country, although it has been declared as a priority under his administration.
A number of energy projects are still concentrated in Luzon, specifically renewable energy projects that the Marcos administration is targeting to make up 35% of the country’s energy supply by 2030.
