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SONA Promise Tracker

VERA Files tracks the promises President Marcos Jr. made during his State of the Nation Addresses.

2023

2022

SONA 2023 Scorecard

Top Promises

Generate additional jobs for 4.3% of workforce, 11.7% of underemployed Filipinos

Status: In progress

Generate additional jobs for 4.3% of workforce, 11.7% of underemployed Filipinos

Status: In progress

We will generate additional jobs for the remaining 4.3% of our workforce, as well as for the 11.7% underemployed Filipinos seeking better employment opportunities.

(SONA 2023)

Update: 07/19/2024

Latest data from the PSA puts the number of employed Filipinos at 48.87 million as of May 2024. This is higher than the same period last year by 610,000. Unemployment rate slightly declined from 4.3% in May last year to 4.1% in May 2024, but this is the highest it has been in the last four months.
The underemployment rate improved significantly in May this year at 9.9% after hitting 14.6% last April. This translates to 4.82 million Filipinos wanting additional jobs or wishing for longer working hours in either their current job or a new job — 840,000 fewer than last year’s 5.66 million.
On Sept. 27 last year, Marcos signed into law RA 119621 or the TPB Act, which mandates the creation of the government’s “master plan on employment generation and recovery.” Following this, the TPB Inter-Agency Committee chaired by the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) presented last June the list of agenda that will inform the creation of the master plan. The list includes “prioritizing the creation of more quality and decent jobs,” as well as putting in place robust employment policies.

Dismantle drug syndicates

Status: In progress

Dismantle drug syndicates

Status: In progress

We will relentlessly continue our fight against drug syndicates, shutting down their illegal activities [applause] – we will shut down their activities and dismantle their network of operations.”

(SONA 2023)

Update: 07/12/2024

From July 2022 to December 2023, the Philippine National Police conducted 36,803 drug operations that resulted in the arrest of 49,700 drug personalities, of whom 3,284 were “high value targets.”
The Marcos administration has declared 28,243 barangays, or 67.24% of total barangays nationwide, drug-cleared.
Marcos said his administration will continue its “bloodless” campaign against illegal drugs while going after large-scale drug syndicates.

Penalize "unscrupulous law enforcers and others" involved in illegal drug trade

Status: In progress

Penalize "unscrupulous law enforcers and others" involved in illegal drug trade

Status: In progress

“We will install individuals with unquestionable integrity, who will be effective and trustworthy in handling the task of eliminating this dreaded and corrosive social curse.”

(SONA 2023)

Update: 07/12/2024

According to Marcos, 177 police officers have been charged for wrongdoings during anti-drug operations – such as planting of evidence, unlawful arrest and excessive violence – since the start of his administration.
But VERA Files Fact Check noted in March that there have only been two known court convictions on erring cops during anti-drug raids. Last month, another case led to the conviction of four cops during a 2016 drug bust killing, making it the third.

Provide more options to educate out of school youths

Status: In progress

Provide more options to educate out of school youths

Status: In progress

We continue to exhaust all efforts to keep our young people away from the sinister influences in the dark corners of society. We are making available to them their participation in formal schooling, alternative learning, non-diploma courses, or in technical-vocational education and training or TVET. TVET continues to prove itself to be an empowering educational intervention. There are many examples of how its graduates have gone on to secure competitive technical jobs.

(SONA 2023)

Update: 07/16/2024

DepEd and the Technical Education And Skills Development Authority (TESDA) signed two joint memorandum circulars strengthening the technical and vocational livelihood (TVL) track for senior high school students on May 10, 2024.
Under these memorandum circulars, the two agencies will hold free mandatory assessment and certification of senior high school students enrolled in the TVL track. Congress allotted P438 million for the program implementation.
Along with this assessment, TVL teachers will undergo a capacity building program to become qualified competency assessors of the TVL students, with a P50 million budget.

Stand firm for independent foreign policy, with national interest as primordial guide

Status: In progress

Stand firm for independent foreign policy, with national interest as primordial guide

Status: In progress

[I]n the area of foreign policy, I will not preside over any process that will abandon even one square inch of territory of the Republic of the Philippines to any foreign power. With respect to our place in the community of nations, the Philippines shall continue to be a friend to all, an enemy to none … We will stand firm in our independent foreign policy, with the national interest as our primordial guide.

(SONA 2022)

Update: 07/12/2024

On March 25, Marcos signed Executive Order 57 to strengthen the country’s maritime security as it “continues to confront a range of serious challenges that threaten not only the country’s territorial integrity but also the peaceful existence of Filipinos.” The order effectively renamed and reorganized the National Coast Watch Council into the National Maritime Council chaired by Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin.
The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) reported that as of June 18, the Marcos administration has filed 163 diplomatic protests over China’s presence and activities in the West Philippine Sea. This includes the 30 notes verbale filed this year.

File charges against smugglers and hoarders of agricultural products and pass the amendment to the Anti-Smuggling Act

Status: In progress

File charges against smugglers and hoarders of agricultural products and pass the amendment to the Anti-Smuggling Act

Status: In progress

“Pandaraya ang kanilang ginagawa. Napapahamak hindi lamang ang mga magsasaka, kundi tayo na ring mga mamimili. Kaya hindi natin papayagan ang ganitong kalakaran. Bilang na ang mga araw ng mga smugglers at hoarders na ‘yan.”

(SONA 2023)

Update: 07/12/2024

In September 2023, the Bureau of Customs filed four criminal complaints against three rice traders who are allegedly connected to a raided warehouse in Bulacan. In October of the same year, the DA filed cases against 40 onion smugglers while an alleged big-time onion smuggler was arrested the month after.
The House of Representatives unanimously approved on final reading the proposed Agri-Fishery Commodities and Tobacco Economic Sabotage Act of 2023 in September 2023. The bill considers agricultural smuggling as “economic sabotage,” punishable by life imprisonment.
In December 2023, the Senate approved on final reading a similar bill, repealing the Anti-Agricultural Smuggling Act of 2016.
In February 2024, the DA formed a technical working group to aid Congress in amending the law and prepare its position and inputs on the proposed bills.

Find ways, such as reviving Kadiwa Centers, to bring down food prices

Status: In progress

Find ways, such as reviving Kadiwa Centers, to bring down food prices

Status: In progress

“Papalawigin pa natin ang Kadiwa… Our aim is to boost our local agricultural production — through consolidation, modernization, mechanization, and improvement of value chains–augmented by timely and calibrated importation, as needed.” (SONA 2023)
At gagawa tayo ng mga paraan upang maramdaman ng mga mamimili ang pagluluwag ng presyo ng mga produktong pagkain sa kayang halaga, gaya ng muling pagbubuhay ng mga Kadiwa Centers.

(SONA 2022)

Update: 07/12/2024

In a press release on May 19, the DA announced that Kadiwa centers in Metro Manila would sell rice at P29/kilo.
Last June, the National Food Authority (NFA) approved DA’s Bigas 29 program, which aims to sell “aging but good” rice stocks to select beneficiaries in Kadiwa sites. The program was launched for a large-scale trial run in 10 Kadiwa centers in Bulacan and Metro Manila on July 5.
To date, there are 265 regular Kadiwa stores, and 121 pop-up stores nationwide.

Explore Promises

By Sector By Status

Agriculture Armed Forces Corruption and Good Governance Drugs and Crime Economy Education Energy and Environment Foreign Relations Infrastructure Labor Peace Process Social Services

File charges against smugglers and hoarders of agricultural products and pass the amendment to the Anti-Smuggling Act

In progress

1 Update/s

Revise the Fisheries Code

In progress

1 Update/s

Amend the Cooperative Code

In progress

1 Update/s

Find ways, such as reviving Kadiwa Centers, to bring down food prices

In progress

1 Update/s

Agriculture Armed Forces Corruption and Good Governance Drugs and Crime Economy Education Energy and Environment Foreign Relations Infrastructure Labor Peace Process Social Services

Dismantle drug syndicates

In progress

1 Update/s

Penalize "unscrupulous law enforcers and others" involved in illegal drug trade

In progress

1 Update/s

Agriculture Armed Forces Corruption and Good Governance Drugs and Crime Economy Education Energy and Environment Foreign Relations Infrastructure Labor Peace Process Social Services

Implement Maharlika Investment Fund

Stalled

1 Update/s

Pass a new Government Procurement Law

Fulfilled

1 Update/s

Pass a new Government Auditing Code

Stalled

1 Update/s

Implement Local Government Code based on Supreme Court clarification

In progress

1 Update/s

Pass LGU income classification

Fulfilled

1 Update/s

Pass excise tax on single-use plastics

Stalled

1 Update/s

Pass Ease of Paying Taxes

Fulfilled

1 Update/s

Pass Anti-Financial Accounts Scamming Act

Fulfilled

1 Update/s

Pass Motor vehicle user's charge/road user's tax

In progress

1 Update/s

Pass VAT on digital services

Fulfilled

1 Update/s

Pass The Blue Economy Law

In progress

1 Update/s

Pass Tatak-Pinoy Law

Fulfilled

1 Update/s

Pass rationalization of mining fiscal regime

In progress

1 Update/s

Agriculture Armed Forces Corruption and Good Governance Drugs and Crime Economy Education Energy and Environment Foreign Relations Infrastructure Labor Peace Process Social Services

Recalibrate the K to 10 curriculum

Fulfilled

1 Update/s

Provide more options to educate out of school youths

In progress

1 Update/s

Retain free tertiary education in SUCs for qualified students

In progress

1 Update/s

Support Balik-Scientist Program with upgraded faciltilies, R&D funding

In progress

1 Update/s

Expand medical, nursing education programs; help nursing graduates hurdle board exams

In progress

1 Update/s

Agriculture Armed Forces Corruption and Good Governance Drugs and Crime Economy Education Energy and Environment Foreign Relations Infrastructure Labor Peace Process Social Services

Pass a law creating the Department of Water Resource Management

Stalled

1 Update/s

Achieve full household-electrification by 2028

In progress

1 Update/s

Conduct a performance review of the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines

In progress

1 Update/s

Agriculture Armed Forces Corruption and Good Governance Drugs and Crime Economy Education Energy and Environment Foreign Relations Infrastructure Labor Peace Process Social Services

Embark on more foreign trips for more foreign investments

In progress

1 Update/s

Stand firm for independent foreign policy, with national interest as primordial guide

In progress

1 Update/s

Agriculture Armed Forces Corruption and Good Governance Drugs and Crime Economy Education Energy and Environment Foreign Relations Infrastructure Labor Peace Process Social Services

Improve internet speed in our country

In progress

1 Update/s

Implement the Mega-Bridge Program

In progress

1 Update/s

Agriculture Armed Forces Corruption and Good Governance Drugs and Crime Economy Education Energy and Environment Foreign Relations Infrastructure Labor Peace Process Social Services

Generate additional jobs for 4.3% of workforce, 11.7% of underemployed Filipinos

In progress

1 Update/s

Grow the services sector: IT-BPM and Tourism

In progress

1 Update/s

Pass the Philippine Immigration Act

Stalled

1 Update/s

Agriculture Armed Forces Corruption and Good Governance Drugs and Crime Economy Education Energy and Environment Foreign Relations Infrastructure Labor Peace Process Social Services

Grant amnesty to rebel returnees

Fulfilled

1 Update/s

Agriculture Armed Forces Corruption and Good Governance Drugs and Crime Economy Education Energy and Environment Foreign Relations Infrastructure Labor Peace Process Social Services