MANILA – President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. announced on Monday that the government is preparing to file multiple cases before the Office of the Ombudsman against his cousin, former House Speaker Martin Romualdez, in connection with the flood control scandal, underscoring that no one – including his own relatives — is beyond the reach of the law.
Opening his fifth State of the Nation Address (SONA) before a joint session of Congress, Marcos said the cases were the result of his administration’s extensive investigation into alleged irregularities in flood control and other public infrastructure projects.
“Malapit na ang paghahain ng patung-patong na kaso laban sa dating Speaker. Masakit man sa akin ito pero kailangan nating gawin ang tama,” Marcos said.
The President acknowledged that Romualdez is his cousin but stressed that his obligation is to the nation.
“Hindi ako Pangulo ng aking pamilya. Hindi ako Pangulo ng aking kaibigan. Ako ay Pangulo ng Pilipinas at ang tungkulin ko ay sa inyo, mga kapwa ko Pilipino,” he said.
Marcos said investigators conducted a thorough probe that followed the evidence wherever it led, resulting in criminal complaints and arrests involving contractors, lawmakers and senior officials of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).
He added that the government had halted payments for defective, fictitious and non-existent projects while recovering, freezing or preserving nearly P25 billion in funds and assets tied to the investigation.
More than P800 million has already been returned to the National Treasury, he revealed, while the prosecution of the cases is now in the hands of the Office of the Ombudsman and the strengthened National Prosecution Service.
EASING BURDENS
After outlining the administration’s anti-corruption drive, Marcos shifted to measures aimed at easing the financial burden on Filipinos.
Among them was a proposal for Congress to amend the Electric Power Industry Reform Act by removing systems loss charges that are passed on to consumers, including the value-added tax imposed on those charges.
“Kung pagbawas ng presyo ang usapan, sa aking palagay, panahon na para tanggalin na natin ang systems loss na ipinapasa sa consumer,” he said.
Marcos argued that electricity users should not pay for losses incurred by power distributors, a proposal that drew a standing ovation from lawmakers in the session hall.
The President also announced that the government has earmarked more than P60 billion to continue assistance programs until the end of the year, saying the funds would support Filipinos still feeling the effects of recent economic and global crises.
He said part of the money recovered from corruption cases would be redirected to finance expanded social protection programs.
Under the plan, assistance will reach about 3.5 million beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) and Walang Gutom Program, 1.5 million minimum wage earners who are members of the Social Security System, and 2.5 million poor Filipinos who have yet to receive government aid.
Support will likewise continue for transport workers, farmers, fisherfolk, agricultural stakeholders and overseas Filipino workers affected by global uncertainties, bringing the total number of beneficiary families to more than 7.5 million.
Marcos also appealed to Congress to approve tax reform measures that would exempt workers earning up to P350,000 annually from income tax, reduce income tax rates for other employees, remove the minimum corporate income tax for small businesses, and grant tax amnesty covering unpaid income, estate, donor’s and value-added taxes, including related penalties.
CASH FOR WORK
Marcos said cash-for-work programs have been deployed to help clean more than 200 esteros and waterways nationwide, including key waterways in Iloilo and Capiz, as part of the government’s flood mitigation campaign.
The initiative is part of Oplan Kontra Baha, which was launched alongside the administration’s crackdown on alleged ghost and substandard flood control projects.
“Nakatulong ang mga cash-for-work programs sa malawakang paglilinis ng mahigit dalawandaang estero at waterway mula Luzon hanggang Mindanao. Sa Ilocos Sur, Cagayan, Camarines Sur, Negros Occidental, Cebu, Capiz, Iloilo, Lanao Del Norte, Maguindanao del Sur, Misamis Oriental, at Bukidnon,” Marcos said.
The initiative mirrors previous cash-for-work activities implemented by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) in Western Visayas, where temporary workers were mobilized to clear waterways, unclog canals, clean coastal areas and remove vegetation to help mitigate flooding and other disasters.
Marcos said the waterway cleanup complements the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority’s continuous clearing of esteros and drainage systems in the National Capital Region.
Despite the ongoing efforts, the President said proper waste disposal remains critical in reducing flood risks. He urged Congress to amend the 25-year-old Ecological Solid Waste Management Act to incorporate modern waste management practices, including waste-to-energy and waste treatment technologies.
FOOD SECURITY
The President also highlighted the administration’s food security initiatives, saying the “Benteng Bigas, Meron Na!” program has already benefited more than 12 million Filipinos nationwide.
He said more than 26,000 metric tons of subsidized rice have been distributed to over 2.5 million families, with the government targeting to expand the program until it reaches eight million households.
Marcos added that nearly two million farmers and fisherfolk have also received support under the Presidential Assistance to Farmers, Fisherfolk, and Families (PAFFF).
Looking beyond economic concerns, the President called for stronger safeguards to protect children from the harmful effects of social media, warning against fake news, online hate, violent content and unrestricted access to pornography by minors.
He said these online threats contribute to mental health issues and other social problems, urging government, families and communities to work together in protecting the country’s youth.
Marcos concluded by reaffirming his administration’s commitment to pursuing accountability in government while advancing reforms aimed at lowering the cost of living, expanding social protection, strengthening food security and improving the welfare of Filipino families./PN
