SONA 2026: A guide for kids

President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. delivered his fifth State of the Nation Address (SONA) on Monday at the Batasang Pambansa before members of the Senate and the House of Representatives, cabinet officials, and other dignitaries.

In his speech, Marcos recalled that it had already been a year since his last SONA when he revealed the large-scale corruption in the government's flood control projects.

Marcos reported that investigations were conducted, which have led to the arrest and detention of several government officials and lawmakers. Assets of the accused have also been recovered and frozen, while funds stolen from the public have been returned to the Treasury.

"Makakaasa kayo na ang gulong ng hustisya ay tumatakbo," he said.

During his SONA, Marcos also reported on what his government has accomplished in the past year, what his government has tackled and continues to address, and the plans he has in store for various sectors and communities.

Support for Filipinos affected by Middle East crisis

Marcos vowed to continue supporting OFWs affected by the tensions in the Middle East.

Since the conflict heightened early this year, over 12,000 OFWs have been sent back home to the Philippines, while more than 140,000 OFWs were assisted by the government.

Returning OFWs were given aid to restart their livelihoods, while returning OFW teachers will be redirected to public schools.

Aside from OFWs, Marcos reported that his government responded with measures to aid sectors affected by the crisis and will continue to support Filipinos in need.

The government will help a total of 3.5 million beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) and Walang Gutom Program, 1.5 million minimum wage earners who are members of the Social Security System (SSS), and 2.5 million underserved Filipinos.

Moreover, the president also plans to help the Filipino middle class increase their take-home pay, calling on Congress to expand the annual income tax exemption threshold.

Transportation

The transportation sector was among the hardest hit sectors amid the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. To help, the government gave cash relief assistance to jeepney and PUV drivers, while commuters benefited from free rides and discounts in various public transport.

During his fifth SONA, Marcos vowed that the government would allot some of the recovered funds to help more Filipinos, including support for those in the transport and agriculture sectors.

In 2027, the trains of North-South Commuter Railway will begin operating between Valenzuela and Malolos, benefiting commuters.

In the same year, 12 stations of MRT 7 will finally open, which will take passengers further to Sacred Heart, Quezon City from North Avanue.

Infrastructure

As for infrastructure, Marcos said that the section of the South Luzon Expressway-TR4 from Sto. Tomas City, Batanga, to Tiaong, Quezon will be completed. Almost 17,000 motorists are set to benefit from it.

This year, the government will begin constructing Ligtas Pinoy Centers, which are designed to withstand extreme weather conditions and calamities. The first centers will be built in areas frequently hit by calamities, such as Bicol, Eastern Samar, Bukidnon, and Davao de Oro.

Marcos also said that the amendment of the National Building Code should be prioritized so that it meets modern standards.

Education

According to Marcos, the government will further strengthen the Senior High School (SHS) curriculum, which includes enhancing work immersion to better prepare graduates for the labor market.

He also announced a new scholarship program that will provide P100,00 each to five students in every barangay nationwide.

Moreover, the government aims to strengthen the security in schools to protect students from bullying incidents and emergencies. In line with this, the first batch of 10,000 school counselor associates will be introduced to public schools for the benefit of the students.

Marcos also said that his administration will continue to provide teachers with innovative teaching aids, including laptops, tablets, lapel microphones, free mobile data, and smart TVs.

Meanwhile, more than 80,000 teachers and school heads have been promoted, while over 30,000 new teaching positions have been created,

Health

Marcos reported that almost 7.5 million families have benefited from PhilHealth in the past year alone.

To improve support for children with developmental disabilities, he announced the doubling of PhilHealth benefit packages for them to expand coverage for consultations and therapy sessions.

The number of therapy sessions covered by PhilHealth will be increased from 90 to 150.

He added that the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) will also offer additional financial assistance to beneficiaries through its Project Aruga.

Agriculture and agrarian reform

It was in Marcos' SONA last year when he vowed to ask Congress to amend the Coconut Farmers and Industry Trust Fund Act to make it more responsive to farmers' needs and to boost exports.

Marcos said that the government is targeting to plant 100 million coconut trees by 2028 to boost the country's coconut industry.

So far, 18 million coconut trees have been planted under his administration.

Marcos also reported that over 400,000 land titles have been distributed to farmers within four years. His administration aims to finish the distribution by 2027.

He vowed that his administration will continue condoning the unpaid debt by agrarian reform beneficiaries.

Power and energy

In his speech, Marcos called for the amendment of the Electric Power Industry Reform Act (EPIRA), which will remove systems loss charges from the electricity bills of consumers.

Systems loss pertains to the electricity that is lost during transmission and distribution. This may be caused by technical issues or illegal acts such as the use of "jumpers."

"Hindi naman kasalanan ng konsyumer kung bakit nagkaroon ng systems loss, kaya hindi naman tama na kailangan sila pa ang pagbabayarin dito,” he said.

Marcos also announced during the SONA that there are around 200 energy projects in the pipeline to help boost the country's power supply. He had noted that "perhaps it is time for us to revisit nuclear energy production."

These 200 power projects will have a combined capacity of nearly 10,000 megawatts. Forty-five have been completed, and 31 are set to be finished this year. The rest are slated to be completed by the end of Marcos' administration.

Disaster preparedness

Marcos reported that the government has extended assistance to 600,000 families affected by the recent earthquakes in Visayas and Mindanao, amounting to at least P3 billion worth of assistance.

"We have moved on from the reactive approach. Now, we’re not only proactive, but predictive as well, aided by digital tools,” he said.

According to Marcos, the government's response to disasters and calamities has improved, with primary disaster resource centers now established across the country.

Thanks to this nationwide network, delivering relief efforts to affected areas and communities can now be done within 24 hours.

The government also has Mobile Energy Systems to deliver emergency power to areas without electricity, while the Government Emergency Communications System ensures smooth telecommunications during disasters.

Space

Marcos said that the Philippines plans to conduct a rocket launch test in Cagayan in 2027. This will be in partnership with a South Korean aerospace company.

"Cagayan is both geographically and economically primed to serve as our gateway to space and host the country’s first spaceport. A sounding rocket launch test is slated for next year. Yes, we are going to launch our rocket into space," —CDC/MGP, GMA News