SONA 2025: Where will Marcos find money to fund promises, asks public admin expert

While the fourth State of the Nation Address (SONA) addressed issues relevant to the public, a public administration expert on Tuesday raised questions about how President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. intends to find funding for the many promises he made.

Maria Fe Mendoza, professor emeritus at University of the Philippines - National College of Public Administration and Governance (UP - NCPAG), described the 2025 SONA as “very populist”, saying the President touched national issues that resonate with the public. 

“Very populist ang kanyang SONA….Kung populist siya, talagang nakikipag-usap siya sa mga tao at ito ‘yung mga resibo na hinihingi niyo sakin. Parang ganun ang dating niya,” Mendoza said on “BaliTanghali”.

(The SONA was very populist. It seemed like he was talking with the public and was presenting the receipts of his accomplishments. He came across like that.)

“Ang flipside nun, saan niya kukunin ang pondo? We have a P17 trillion debt at 62% ng GDP ay from debt. Kokonti na lang ang productive savings para dun sa pag-allocate ng funds para sa sinasabi niyang benepisyo sa health, education at agriculture,” she said.

(On the flipside, where will he get the budget for his promises? We have a P17 trillion debt and 62% of our Gross Domestic Product is from the debt. We have meager productive savings to fund the health, education, and agriculture benefits he vowed to provide.)

Marcos delivered his SONA at the Batasang Pambansa in Quezon City on Monday, laying out his plans for the last three years of his administration. 

The 2025 SONA lasted for 1 hour and 11 minutes. Marcos started at 4:06 p.m. and finished at 5:17 p.m. Among the promises he delivered is the expansion of the P20-per-kilo subsidized rice nationwide and providing internet access to all public schools in the country before the end of 2025. 

The President also served notice to government personnel who steal public funds, specifically those meant for flood control projects.

“Marami nagsasabi kasi ang tatay niya ay kleptocracy. Corruption. So maraming nagsasabi, ‘ano ba yan, pagbabagong-uri para sa mga Marcos?’”, Mendoza said. 

(Many are saying are raising the issue of his father’s (the late president Ferdinand Marcos, Sr.) kleptocracy and corruption. So many reacted, ‘What is this? Are the Marcoses doing a transformation?)

Kleptocracy is defined as a society or system ruled by people who use their power to steal their country's resources.

“Totoong ang daming nangurakot sa flood control projects at tama lang na gawan ng paraan para ma-stop ang mga yun…So kailangan tutukan ang mga yun —sino nakinabanag, ano ang ghost projects, ano ang gagawin. Pero ayun nga, may political will ba na gawin?” Mendoza added. 

(It is true that many corrupt individuals benefited from the flood control projects so it is just proper for this to be stopped… They need to focus on this and find out who benefitted, what are the ghost projects, and what actions should be done. But then again, do they have the political will to make this happen?)

During his SONA, Marcos also tasked the Department of Public Works and Highways to submit a list of flood control projects of the past three years.

The President said a regional monitoring committee will examine the projects to see their progress and if they actually exist.

"We will publish this list so that the public can see it. At the same time, there will be an audit and performance review of these projects to check and make sure and to know how your money was spent,” said Marcos. 

"Sa mga susunod na buwan makakasuhan ang mga lalabas na maysala mula sa imbestigasyon pati na ang kasabwat na kontratista sa buong bansa.  Kailangan malaman ng taumbayan and katotohanan, kailangan may managot sa matinding pinsala at katiwalian," he said.

(In the coming months, we will file charges against those who will be found accountable based on the investigation. The public needs to find out the truth and we will hold them accountable for the serious harm and corruption.) — Sundy Locus/RF, GMA Integrated News