President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. delivered his State of the Nation Address on Monday in Manila, focusing on tax reforms, power policies, and flood-control measures.
The address comes at a critical juncture for the administration as it seeks to restore public trust following a corruption scandal involving flood-control projects. The outcomes of these policy shifts will determine the government's ability to stabilize electricity costs and modernize the national tax structure.
Speaking at the Batasang Pambansa, Marcos said he outlined a series of updates intended to address systemic issues in the Philippines' infrastructure and economy. A primary focus of the speech was the government's response to the flood-control corruption scandal, which has pressured the administration to provide transparency and accountability in public works [1].
Beyond infrastructure, the president proposed new reforms for the power sector and the tax system. These initiatives aim to lower the cost of electricity and streamline tax collection to fund social services and economic development [2].
This event marked the president's fifth State of the Nation Address [3]. Some reports also characterized the speech as his penultimate address [4].
Security remained a priority throughout the day. To ensure order during the event, authorities deployed nearly 3,000 police personnel in the Caraga region alone [5]. Specifically, 2,913 officers were stationed in the area to maintain security and prevent disruptions during the national broadcast [5].
“President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. delivered his State of the Nation Address on Monday in Manila.”
The 2026 SONA serves as a strategic attempt to pivot the administration's narrative from the flood-control scandal toward economic modernization. By coupling a response to corruption with tangible promises of power and tax reform, the president is attempting to secure legislative support and public confidence ahead of his final term milestones.
