BY THE MALAYA BUSINESS NEWS TEAM
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. zeroed in on corruption in public sector projects and fiscal discipline in his State of the Nation Address (SONA), and said he would no longer tolerate poor workmanship or collusion that undermines public safety.
He vowed to stamp out graft in infrastructure projects, especially in flood control, and directed the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to submit a full accounting of flood mitigation projects implemented over the past three years.
In a strongly worded statement, Marcos condemned those who misuse public funds, saying they betray not only the present but also future generations.
He cited the impact of floods on displaced families and warned that those who divert infrastructure funds “steal the future of the Filipino people.”
‘Shame on you’
President Marcos minced no words. Focusing on flood control projects riddled with substandard work or existing only on paper, he said some schemes were “imaginary,” citing his recent inspection of typhoon-hit areas.
Without naming names, Marcos said it was no secret that some officials continue to exploit projects for personal gain through kickbacks, so-called “SOPs (standard operating procedures),” and backroom deals.
“To those who conspire to steal public funds and rob our people’s future—shame on you,” he declared. “Shame on you for the homes lost to floods. Shame on you for the debt our children will bear because you pocketed what was meant for them.”
The remarks drew one of the longest ovations during the address, with Marcos vowing accountability.
The president emphasized that public infrastructure must be properly planned and executed, adding that he would no longer tolerate poor workmanship or collusion that undermines safety and accountability.
He cited the failure of the Cabagan-Santa Maria Bridge in northern Luzon.
He contrasted that recent disaster with older roads and bridges – including the San Juanico Bridge built under his father’s administration – and blamed poor maintenance and shoddy work for putting lives at risk.
“Projects must be properly designed; the safety of the people is paramount,” he said, emphasizing that future highway, bridge and flood-control projects will be closely monitored.
Alleged pork barrel
Marcos also addressed national budget concerns, amid criticism over alleged “pork barrel” spending and questionable allocations. He reaffirmed his support for the record P6.326-trillion 2025 budget, but made clear he would no longer tolerate major revisions to the executive’s spending priorities.
“For the 2026 national budget, I will return any proposed General Appropriations Bill that is not fully aligned with the National Expenditure Program,” Marcos declared. “I am willing to do this even if we end up operating under a reenacted budget.”
This marks the President’s strongest public warning to Congress yet on budget realignments. The 2025 spending plan—the most contested of his term—saw lawmakers introduce significant changes to the Department of Budget and Management’s (DBM) proposed allocations.
Misused infrastructure funds
His warning also ties in with growing concerns over misused infrastructure funds, especially in flood control.
Marcos said questionable projects would be subject to audit, and reiterated the need for “maximum prudence” in budgeting to avoid waste and manage rising debt levels.
During the signing for the 2025 national budget, Marcos noted that “even “grand ambitions” must be tempered” to keep debt in check.
Although he vetoed about P194 billion of items he deemed non-essential, observers point out that key programs felt the squeeze: education funding was cut and a subsidy for the government health insurance (PhilHealth) was removed in the final budget.
Job creation
Job creation featured high on Marcos’s agenda. He promised “expanded support for small enterprises and livelihoods, including “low-interest and collateral-free” loans for micro and small businesses.
Marcos said the government will partner with the labor, trade, welfare and tourism departments to foster new “livelihood and employment opportunities” across sectors.
The aim is to generate jobs in rural and urban areas alike by empowering entrepreneurs and community programs.
To boost manufacturing
In a bid to spur “investment and industrial growth,” the president laid out plans to boost Philippine manufacturing and agriculture.
He said his administration will “grow our manufacturing industry” – covering sectors such as automotive, electronics, biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, textiles and power generation – and urged the business community to “invest in farming and food production.”
“The Philippines is ready. Invest in the Filipino,” Marcos declared, highlighting the country’s large, skilled workforce and recent tax incentives. He noted that recent reforms (such as the CREATE More tax law) have drawn nearly a trillion pesos in new investments, and pledged further incentives to attract foreign capital.
Social services improvement
President Marcos also highlighted improvements in PhilHealth benefits for kidney patients. He announced that hemodialysis – three sessions per week – will be fully covered for PhilHealth members throughout the year, including related medications, under zero-balance billing for hospitalizations.
PhilHealth has expanded its annual dialysis coverage from 90 to 156 sessions at P6,350 per session, translating to nearly P990,000 in support per patient.
Marcos also unveiled a significantly enhanced Z Benefit package for kidney transplant patients, raising coverage from P600,000 in 2024 to as high as P2.1 million in 2025 – a comprehensive plan that includes surgical and post‑operative care and medications.
In education, Marcos vowed to construct “40,000 additional classrooms” before his term ends. Working with Congress and the private sector, he said the administration will allocate funding to address the backlog of roughly 165,000 unbuilt classrooms nationwide.
Voter frustration acknowledged
On general governance, Marcos acknowledged voter “frustration with government services” and pledged to improve delivery.
He said the midterm election results sent a “clear message” of public disappointment, and he promised to “boost public service delivery,” fight inflation and “restore trust in government.”
“The lesson is simple: we must do better and do it faster,” Marcos said, vowing that future programs will be implemented with greater speed and transparency.
