MANILA — President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. has put his administration on notice that the commitments made in his fifth State of the Nation Address (SONA) must now translate into concrete programs and tangible results, stressing that delivering on those promises is the real work facing the government.
Marcos said his July 27 SONA should not be treated merely as an annual presidential speech but as a roadmap for government action as his administration moves deeper into the remaining years of his term.
“Alam ko na ang SONA ay higit pa sa isang talumpati. Marami pang trabaho ang kailangang gawin para maisabuhay ang lahat ng ating tinatalakay at minimithi bilang isang bayan,” Marcos said in his latest vlog.
The President highlighted government initiatives on food security, healthcare and social assistance as among the programs his administration must continue expanding to ease the burden on Filipino families.
These include assistance to local governments for rice distribution to needy households and feeding programs aimed at addressing hunger among schoolchildren.
Marcos also cited the Yaman ng Kalusugan Program, or YAKAP, which provides consultations and medicines to students, parents and teachers.
He said government support for dialysis patients has been expanded through PhilHealth, alongside strengthened interventions for cancer, HIV/AIDS and mental health.
The administration has also implemented the Zero Balance Billing policy in government hospitals and removed value-added tax on selected medicines to reduce patients’ out-of-pocket expenses.
“Lahat iyan ay pinarami natin at ito’y tulong para naman mas maging maginhawa ang buhay ng ating mga kababayan at makatulong tayo sa kanilang kalusugan,” Marcos said.
Beyond implementing existing programs, Marcos said the government would continue listening to public feedback and identifying additional measures to address problems raised by Filipinos.
He assured those who send letters to the Office of the President that their concerns would be read and considered.
“Dito sa maraming iba’t ibang sulat na natanggap natin, lahat nang sumulat po sa akin ay asahan ninyo bata man o matanda ay babasahin ko lahat ito,” he said.
“Titiyakin natin na kung meron pa tayong maaring gawin matugunan ang mga inyong binabanggit na problema ay asahan ninyo gagawin naman ng inyong pamahalaan ito,” he added.
Marcos also offered a behind-the-scenes account of how his fifth SONA was prepared, saying work on the address began weeks before its delivery.
His team reviewed government data, ongoing programs and developments across different sectors before arranging the material in a sequence intended to make the address easier for the public to follow.
The President said he personally worked on the wording of the speech, noting the difference between writing material meant to be read and crafting remarks intended for oral delivery.
“We fine-tuned it so that alam niyo po iba ang ang pagsulat para sa mga babasahin. Iba ‘yung pagsulat para sa pagsasalita,” he said.
Marcos said revisions continued until the final moments and even during the actual delivery whenever he found a clearer way to express a point.
The original draft was eventually shortened after his preparation team determined that it contained more material than could reasonably fit into the address.
Marcos said some of the issues removed from the final version could instead be tackled in his final SONA.
He also recalled rehearsing the speech a day before the event, timing his delivery and practicing at a podium with a microphone. Another rehearsal was held on SONA day while he took precautions not to strain his voice.
But Marcos stressed that beyond the preparation and delivery of the presidential address, the greater challenge for his administration is ensuring that the programs and commitments presented to the nation are carried out and felt by ordinary Filipinos./PN
