EDITORIAL: Promises Deferred

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s fourth State of the Nation Address (SONA) painted a picture of urgency, aspiration, and reckoning. Delivered against a backdrop of mounting public frustration and persistent development challenges, his speech struck both hopeful and hard-line tones—vowing reforms across vital sectors while threatening to expose and punish those responsible for failed government projects. But as with any political address, rhetoric must now contend with reality.

A major focus of the SONA was social services. The president acknowledged a painful truth—that many Filipinos are disappointed with how government services are being delivered. This rare moment of candor was quickly followed by a series of bold promises: more classrooms, cheaper rice, expanded e-governance, and improved access to energy and education. The administration’s intent to ramp up these services is commendable. However, the glaring question remains: how will these promises be fulfilled, and will the implementation be swift, sustainable, and shielded from politics?

Take, for example, the P20-per-kilo rice program—a campaign promise from 2022 that is now being rolled out more widely through KADIWA stores. While this move may provide short-term relief to consumers, it comes dangerously close to being perceived as election-season populism. The resumption of this initiative, alongside other giveaways like free public transport in Manila, was widely covered in the run-up to the 2025 midterm elections. This calls for greater scrutiny and transparency to ensure that such programs do not become tools for political gain rather than genuine poverty alleviation.

On education, Marcos’ promise to build 40,000 new classrooms before 2028 addresses a pressing problem, given the current 165,000-classroom backlog. But the math is daunting and the commitment requires more than just private sector partnership; it demands sustained political will, effective project management, and above all, accountability.

Perhaps the most striking—and most applauded—portion of the president’s address was his vow to crack down on corruption in flood control projects. With blunt language and rare fire, he promised to name names, publish lists of failed projects, and bring both erring officials and contractors to justice. If carried out with integrity and follow-through, this could mark a turning point in how infrastructure funds are used—or misused. Yet Filipinos have heard such crusades before. The challenge lies in moving from investigation to prosecution, from outrage to reform.

On the digital front, the expansion of the eGov app is a welcome development in modernizing public service. Making over 40 government services accessible through a mobile platform reflects a government willing to innovate. Still, digital solutions must go hand-in-hand with digital literacy and infrastructure, especially in remote areas that remain underserved.

The administration’s drug war, meanwhile, raises complicated questions. While Marcos touted high-value arrests and large seizures, his own acknowledgment that drug dealers are returning to communities signals the limits of enforcement-based strategies. A shift toward prevention, rehabilitation, and addressing root causes of addiction should accompany any numbers-driven campaign.

Finally, Marcos’ focus on social welfare—particularly the 4Ps program—is another area of continuity from previous administrations. His call to revisit the 4Ps law to ensure families do not “graduate” prematurely from government support is pragmatic. But here too, implementation is key. Safety nets should not be reduced to mere statistics; they must empower the poor to break out of poverty permanently.

The president’s SONA had breadth. It laid out a vision that, on paper, promises transformation in agriculture, education, health, digital services, and governance. But ultimately, Filipinos will judge this administration not by the scale of its pronouncements but by the sincerity of its performance.

In the months ahead, President Marcos Jr. and his administration must prove that these are more than recycled campaign slogans or reactive pledges. Transparency, efficiency, and political will must define the government’s next steps. The people have waited long enough—not just for better services, but for a government that delivers on its word.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s fourth State of the Nation Address painted a picture of progress and promise—a country on the rise, with the government taking bold steps in infrastructure, social services, and national security. But beneath the hopeful tone and sweeping statements lies a familiar gap: one between rhetoric and reality.

Take housing. While Marcos once championed the Pambansang Pabahay Para sa Pilipino (4PH) program with an ambitious goal of six million housing units by 2028, the target has since been cut nearly in half. Now set at 3.2 million units, the revision reflects more than just logistical challenges—it reveals an urgent need for transparency and policy consistency. The president’s failure to provide updated timelines or concrete funding strategies in his latest SONA leaves the future of affordable housing unclear, particularly for low-income families desperate for dignified shelter.

On investments, Marcos declared that “The Philippines is ready. Invest in the Filipino.” Yet, he offered no major investment figures, no tax reforms, no bold new industrial policies. The applause line was stirring, but substance was thin. A more open and competitive economy requires more than streamlined business registrations—it demands strategic, inclusive growth anchored on clear incentives and long-term planning.

Employment remains a pressing issue. With around 4% of Filipinos still unemployed, the president’s directive to various agencies to “find jobs” seems both vague and reactive. In a country where underemployment also plagues a large portion of the workforce, a detailed roadmap linking job creation to new industries, digital transformation, and green infrastructure would have been more assuring.

Marcos also addressed energy, citing three million households still without electricity. His promise to electrify two million homes through solar power by 2028 is ambitious and commendable—but again, specifics were lacking. Meanwhile, his response to the Siquijor power crisis, including ordering investigations and promising new power plants, underscores the fragility of our energy systems. Ensuring energy justice and sustainability will require not just quick fixes, but deeper reforms in regulation, procurement, and local utility management.

The president’s commitment to low-interest loans for small businesses, farmers, and fisherfolk is a welcome support mechanism—but questions remain about the scope, accessibility, and sustainability of these credit programs, especially for microenterprises outside urban centers.

On the deeply troubling issue of the missing sabungeros, Marcos vowed a “full and independent” investigation. For the families of those affected—and a public long disillusioned by unresolved cases—this must be more than just a promise. The government owes the nation not only answers, but accountability. Justice delayed has already compounded public mistrust.

Meanwhile, in the fight against hunger, the Walang Gutom program and school-based feeding initiatives show the government’s intent to address child malnutrition. The addition of P1 billion to these efforts is a positive step, though broader structural interventions in agriculture, food distribution, and household income are still needed.

Marcos’ gratitude to nations that pardoned OFWs and his tribute to Filipino seafarers served as powerful reminders of the risks borne by those who work abroad to support their families. But as global crises and labor abuses persist, the government must intensify its diplomatic protections and reintegration services for returning workers.

Public spaces and active lifestyles were a surprising but welcome inclusion in the president’s speech. The call for car-free Sundays and free use of sports ovals suggests a government beginning to understand the link between urban design and public well-being. Yet these small wins should be part of a larger vision for livable, equitable, and climate-resilient cities.

Finally, the president’s claim that “there are no remaining guerrilla groups” in the country is a bold one—and, if true, a significant milestone. But true peace is not simply the absence of armed conflict; it is the presence of justice, opportunity, and inclusive development. The reintegration of former rebels must go beyond roads and irrigation—it must include education, livelihoods, and healing.

President Marcos has laid out a wide-ranging agenda—one that touches on many of the country’s deepest needs. But for all the optimism, many of the programs remain vague, underfunded, or scaled back. Filipinos deserve more than good intentions. They deserve measurable progress, clearly communicated plans, and a government that consistently turns promises into practice. The real state of the nation will ultimately be judged not by what was said on the podium, but by what is delivered on the ground.