Marcos' 2nd SONA to tackle situation, plans, programs 

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. assured the Filipino people on Thursday evening that he will discuss in his second State of the Nation Address (SONA) next month the accomplishments in the first year of his administration, and his programs and plans for the country and for the Filipino people.

On the sidelines at the Award for Promoting Philippines-China Understanding (APPCU) ceremony in Makati City, President Marcos said that his SONA will be focused on the country’s present situation, what happened in the past year and what will happen in the years to come.

“Like any SONA, it will be a report to the nation as to what the situation has been, what happened in the last year since the last SONA, where we are now, what we have managed to do, and where we still have work to do. That is essentially the template that we’re going to use,” President Marcos said.

“So, the things that I mentioned in the first SONA, we will have a look and see ano na nangyari doon sa mga ating pinag-usapan nung unang SONA. At sa palagay ko naman, mayroon naman tayo ipapakita and that’s what the content of the SONA, I think, will probably be,” he added.

Marcos’ statement came after he was asked about the preparations for his second SONA, which will be held on July 24.

While the chief executive said that he would like to “preserve” some details about the SONA “and keep it until the time comes,” he emphasized, however, that preparations are underway including all the materials that will be needed.

Highlights of Marcos’ first SONA include the creation of the Philippine Development Plan for 2023 to 2028 to boost the country’s economy, and the efforts to address the rising prices and lack of supply of food by increasing the production of farmers by providing them financial and technical assistance.

The President also vowed to establish a national network of farm-to-market roads, moratorium on land amortization, agrarian reform beneficiary loans, promote the tourism industry, boost calamity response and strengthen government’s efforts against violence against women and children.

He also ordered the Department of Health (DOH) to boost the country’s health system to prevent a spike in COVID-19 cases, to promote more health centers and hospitals and to provide cheap medicines for the Filipino people.

The chief executive also discussed the government’s efforts to digitalize business transactions, prioritize infrastructure development, enhance public-private partnerships and modernize the old railway systems in the country.

He also highlighted his administration’s efforts to provide cheap and reliable energy, nuclear power plants, renewable energy, disaster resilience and freshwater supply.

President Marcos also stood firm to protect the welfare of the overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) and on the country’s foreign policy as he vowed not to abandon “even one square inch” of the country’s territory.

Lastly, the president proposed 19 measures for Congress to pass in support of his administration plans.