In light of recent political and socioeconomic issues in the country, President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. is expected to address corruption efforts to curb corruption, sustain international economic territory, and protect the sovereign territory of the Philippines from foreign dispute in his annual State of the Nation Address (SONA) this July 27.
Marcos said that these topics involve key developments such as the state-funded flood control projects and the government’s responses to these concerns, as well as the country’s achievement of upper-middle-income status and continued efforts to assert Philippine jurisdiction over the West Philippine Sea (WPS).
“I will discuss the government’s efforts to navigate this very difficult period in Philippine history, as the country faces various external challenges, including geopolitical tensions in the Middle East,” he said.
While the President also assures that his speech is more than “90 percent” complete, it remains subject to possible revisions before the SONA on Monday, according to reporters in Mabalacat City, Pampanga, on Friday.
Flood control concerns
Continuing President Marcos’ running theme of calling out corrupt government officials during his 4th SONA last year, one of the major themes in the address is expected to be the government’s efforts to tackle the flood control project investigations and their effects on political instability and public trust.
These investigations follow a series of scandals that began with the President’s audit of over 9,800 failed or non-existent projects worth hundreds of billions of pesos during the ++2025 SONA++ and the ++Senate Blue Ribbon Committee’s findings++ exposing the kickbacks political figures received from substandard work.
To this, Marcos has responded by reinstating the administration’s commitment to strengthening monitoring mechanisms and holding those responsible accountable for irregularities, with one of the most prominent actions being the online “++Sumbong sa Pangulo++” platform still running today.
President Marcos emphasized the public’s crucial role in the investigation during a press conference in Malacañang Palace in 2025, pointing out that flooding primarily affects common people.
“We need citizens to do their part—to fulfill their civic duty by reporting to the government anything they see that is wrong. All your grievances, if you’re upset, if you’re complaining, or if you’re frustrated because you feel there’s no one you can turn to. This is your chance. We now have a website where you can report them,” he said during the ++website’s official launch++.
In addition, the President’s catchphrase from the 4th SONA, “Mahiya naman kayo (Shame on you)!” echoed his administration’s vows to ensure that public allocation for infrastructure projects produce tangible and meaningful results.
At the same time, opposition lawmakers and some observers have raised concerns about the pace and scope of the investigations, arguing that accountability has been slow and that the public is still waiting for more convictions and recoveries of funds, according to ++ABS-CBN.++
Economic partnerships & sovereignty
Among these highlights, the Philippines’ economic performance and developmental outlook, including the country’s achievement of the upper middle-income country classification under the World Bank in 2025, and the securing of valuable foreign investment commitments through overseas trips are also expected in this year’s SONA.
During a ++press conference++ held at the end of the Philippine delegation’s Japan state visit on May 29, 2026, Marcos expressed how the elevated Comprehensive Strategic Partnership symbolized the cooperation between the two countries across traditional security measures and newer issues.
“This reflects how our cooperation has grown not only stronger but also deeper and broader, not only across the traditional areas of security… but also across new frontiers critical to our future, such as energy security… and artificial intelligence…. It sets the stage for ensuring that our productive partnership is fit for the future and will redound to even more meaningful benefits for our two countries and our two peoples,” he said.
As for the economic updated economic status with the ++World Bank++, the Philippines officially attained upper-middle-income country (UMIC) status after its gross national income (GNI) per capita reached $4,850 in 2025, surpassing the $4,636 threshold on July 1, 2026, ending the country’s nearly four-decade stay in the lower-middle-income bracket.
That being said, these changes are subject to ++opposition and criticism++ from civil society, with labor groups and lawmakers arguing that while macroeconomic indicators have improved, many ordinary Filipinos still struggle with high food prices and the general cost of living as they look to the SONA for answers.
The SONA is also expected to emphasize the assertion of Philippine sovereignty and rights in the WPS as tensions with China rise with the ongoing conflicts, resulting in physical altercations between both coast guards and raising the need for concrete action in national waters.
On July 20, just a week before the slated SONA, a Philippine Navy personnel suffered a serious head injury after being struck with a wooden baton by China Coast Guard personnel during an incident in Ayungin Shoal, West Philippine Sea, according to the Armed Forces of the Philippines and ++GMA News++.
Following this, Marcos has summoned Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Jing Quan to Malacañang Palace in Manila on July 20 to raise the matter and express his intent to “reset” the ties between the two nations, highlighting the continuing challenges over national waters despite the government’s efforts to safeguard maritime interests and the safety of overseas Filipinos.
With those issues in mind, the public is anticipating updates on government accomplishments as well as strategies to address ongoing issues impacting national development, security, and Filipino welfare during the president’s fifth SONA.
