MANILA — President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. issued a scathing rebuke of corruption in government infrastructure projects during his fourth State of the Nation Address (SONA), singling out anomalous flood control projects and ordering the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to submit a full audit of projects over the past three years.
“Mahiya naman kayo sa inyong kapwa Pilipino. Mahiya naman kayo sa mga kababayan nating naanod o nalubog sa baha. Mahiya naman kayo lalo sa mga anak nating magmamana sa mga utang na ginawa n’yo,” Marcos said, condemning officials involved in ghost or substandard flood mitigation initiatives.
The President said he personally witnessed the failure of many flood control structures.
“Kitang-kita ko na maraming proyekto para sa flood control ay palpak at gumuho. ‘Yung iba ay guni-guni lang,” he added.
Marcos also blasted water districts and their joint venture partners over persistent water interruptions affecting over six million Filipinos.
“Titiyakin nating mapapanagot ang mga nagpabaya at nagkulang sa mahalagang serbisyong-publiko na ito,” he declared.
EDUCATION, HEALTH
Beyond the criticisms, the President highlighted key initiatives to expand access to healthcare and education. He reaffirmed the implementation of zero-balance billing in all Department of Health (DOH) hospitals, assuring the public: “Libre po… wala nang babayaran ang pasyente dahil bayad na ang bill ninyo.”
In education, Marcos pledged to build 40,000 new classrooms before the end of his term, adding to the 22,000 already constructed.
He also announced measures to support teachers, including compensation for overtime and teaching overload, provision of laptops, and digitalization of paperwork.
“Makakatanggap na kayo ng kabayaran para sa inyong teaching overload at para sa inyong overtime,” he said, noting that teacher performance will now be evaluated based on student empowerment rather than mere pass rates.
Marcos further vowed to connect all public schools to the internet by the end of 2025.
“Napakahalaga ng internet sa ating pagtahak patungo sa Bagong Pilipinas… Ito ay para sa lahat,” he said.
While affirming his administration’s commitment to infrastructure development, the President emphasized that investments in people must take precedence.
“Kung tayo ay nagpupundar ng malaki para sa imprastraktura, mas malaki pa ang pinupundar natin para sa ating mamamayan,” Marcos concluded.
P20 PER KILO RICE NATIONWIDE
President Marcos also ordered the nationwide implementation of the P20-per-kilo rice program, a key campaign promise, following successful pilot tests in selected provinces.
He also announced the revival of the iconic “Love Bus” as a free transport service, and laid out expanded efforts to tackle unemployment through tourism and inter-agency collaboration.
Marcos said the affordable rice initiative will now be rolled out across the country through KADIWA stores in coordination with local governments.
“Sa mga nagtatanong kung nasaan na ang beinte pesos na bigas? Ito ang aking tugon,” the President declared. “Napatunayan natin na kaya na natin ang beinte pesos sa bawat kilo ng bigas, nang hindi malulugi ang mga magsasaka.”
Initially piloted in areas such as San Juan, Pangasinan, Cavite, Occidental Mindoro, Cebu, Bacolod, Guimaras, Siquijor, and Davao del Sur, the program aims to make rice more affordable for consumers while supporting farmers by offering better buying rates for palay and optimizing warehouse use.
“Ilulunsad na natin ito sa buong bansa, sa pamamagitan ng daan-daang KADIWA stores at centers sa iba’t ibang lokal na pamahalaan,” Marcos said.
He also warned traders against manipulating rice and palay prices, saying violators would be dealt with harshly.
“Binabalaan ko ang mga trader na magtatangkang mag-manipula ng presyo ng palay at bigas, o manloloko ng mga magsasaka. Hahabulin namin kayo, dahil ang ginagawa ninyo ay economic sabotage,” he said.
LOVE BUS, ETC.
Apart from agriculture, Marcos unveiled a nostalgia-driven transport initiative: the return of the “Love Bus” — Metro Manila’s first air-conditioned buses introduced in the 1970s—this time as a free service.
“Magtatanong ako sa iba sa inyo… Naalala ba ninyo ‘yung tinatawag ‘Love Bus’? Ito ‘yung popular na pampublikong bus sa Metro Manila na sinimulan noong 1970s,” he said.
“Ngayon, hindi lang natin ibabalik ang Love Bus, ito ay gagawin pa nating libre. Pauna pa lamang, pilot testing pa lamang ‘yung sa Davao at sa Cebu. Susundan pa ito sa iba pang lugar sa Visayas at Mindanao,” Marcos added.
The President also stressed the importance of creating jobs through tourism, especially in hotspots like Boracay, and said national agencies will focus their efforts on reducing unemployment to below four percent.
“Kaya sa huling tatlong taon ng Administrasyon, ibubuhos pa natin ang lahat-lahat. Hindi lamang upang mapantayan, kundi mahigitan pa ang pagbibigay-ginhawa sa ating mga kababayan,” he said.
“Magpupursige ang Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), kasama na rin ang Department of Tourism (DOT), at mga kaugnay na ahensiya, sa paghahanap ng paraan at mga oportunidad para sa natitirang apat na porsiyento ng ating puwersang manggagawa na hanggang ngayon, walang trabaho.”
With just half of his term remaining, Marcos vowed to accelerate delivery of flagship programs to ease the burden on Filipino families and address long-standing economic woes./PN