Ahead of President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr.’s fourth State of the Nation Address (SONA) on Monday, July 28, 2025, farmers and residents of General Santos City are hoping the country’s top official will address persistent issues in the agriculture sector, particularly what they claimed as unfulfilled promises from previous speeches.

In Marcos’ SONA in 2024, he vowed to support the agriculture sector to increase rice production and claimed farmers have already been given assistance in the form of seeds, fertilizers, and other agricultural inputs.

“Nitong nakalipas na taon, higit isandaang milyong kilo ng mga sari-saring binhi, suwi, at pataba na ang ipinamahagi sa mga magsasaka. Namigay rin ang pamahalaan ng mahigit tatlong daang libong inahin upang ito ay maparami,” Marcos said in his previous SONA.

However, several farmers in the city claimed they have yet to feel the impact of the assistance.

“Wala siguro ba, wala gyud niya natabangan ang mga mag-uuma gyud kay nasamot naman hinuon kalisud ang mga mag-uuma karon labi  na karung pwerteng baratuha ang palay. Ang mga mag-uuma imbes na muginansya, wala, tabla pa, malugi pa,” farmer, Hinaro Barber, said.

Due to the rising cost of rice farming, some farmers said it is better to plant other crops like kangkong (water spinach), which they say yields more income.

“Ibutang natu sa ½ hectare nga palayan tapos i-compare natu sa ½ hectare pud na tangkungan, diri sa amua adlaw adlaw sila mu harvest og 500 (bundle) unya mu income sila og dos mil kada adlaw daku gyud siya maigo kontra sa palay kay labi na karung ing ani nga madaot pa imung palay barato pa ang palay,” Barber added.

Aside from this, residents also continue to demand accountability for another campaign promise of P20 per kilo of rice.

“Wala niya natuman ang P20… nagpaabot gani mi,” tricycle driver, Alper Wenceslao, said.

As the president prepares to address the nation again, farmers and residents are calling on him to present concrete actions to address the issues in the agriculture sector and fulfill the promises he once made.

“Dapat gyud ba ang mag mag-uuma, matabangan gyud niya. kung walay mag-uuma walay makaon kung walay maharvest,” Barber said.

“Basta isulti na lang ang tinuod unsay gyd ang sitwasyon,” another resident, Rafie Bancuyo, said.

“Tumanon tu niya ang P20 sa bugas,” Wenceslao added.