Cause-oriented groups carried out their own “State of the People Address" in Cebu City vis-a-vis with President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr.'s State of the Nation Address (SONA) on Monday, July 28, 2025.

Through the "People's SONA," members of progressive groups made a review on which promises the Marcos administration has delivered, or failed to do so. 

The groups gathered at the Fuente Osmeña Circle to vent out their sentiments.

The groups enumerated Marcos Jr.'s promises in his past SONAs. They said that nothing has been done about decent increase in wages, beneficial livelihood programs, and other concerns.

The groups, led by Bayan Central Visayas Chairman Jaime Paglinawan and Sanlakas-Cebu Secretary General Teody Navea, gave the President a grade of zero, or a failing mark.

From uptown, the rallyists walked the stretch of Osmeña Boulevard toward the Police Regional Office (PRO) 7 Headquarters, and on to the downtown area for a program.

According to Police Lt. Col. Maria Theresa Macatangay, deputy city director for operations of the Cebu City Police Office, the protest march was conducted peacefully.

In Tacloban City, members of progressive groups also carried out a peace rally. They called on the release of Tacloban 5, and on renewed efforts to impeach Vice President Sara Duterte after the Supreme Court voids the impeachment complaint for being unconstitutional.

To recall, the Tacloban 5 is a group of five human rights activists arrested in Tacloban City, Leyte in February 2020 for alleged illegal possession of firearms and explosives.

Members of the cause-oriented groups further called for decent housing program for victims of Super Typhoon Yolanda, proper waterworks system, and increase in wages.

According to University of the Philippines (UP) Diliman’s Dean of the College of Public Administration and Governance Kristoffer Berse, the public especially in the regions must listen or watch the SONA to be aware of the Marcos administration's programs and projects -  accomplished, being done, and about to be carried out. 

“Halimbawa for Central Visayas, ano pa ba yung mga achievement ng current government, current administration sa Central Visayas and ano pa ang kanyang balak gawin for the next three years, kaya importante ito para malaman natin, ng mga taong bayan, kung naging tama ba ang ating pag-boto,” Berse said.