SoNA: Typhoons and tariffs

President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. started his week leading to his fourth State of the Nation Address (SoNA) riding the momentum of high-level diplomacy, but weighed down by the all-too-familiar struggles at home. His visit to the United States — highlighted by a notably cordial meeting with US President Donald Trump — was symbolic of the enduring “ironclad” relationship between Manila and Washington. Yet beneath the smiles and handshakes, the underlying economics remain stubbornly unbalanced: US tariffs on Philippine goods persist, only marginally decreased despite renewed diplomatic overtures.

The optics of this visit were politically advantageous. President Marcos has long championed the pivot back to traditional Western allies, and his handshake with Trump plays well to a base nostalgic for stronger US-Philippine ties. But diplomacy, no matter how warm, must be measured by its results. And here, the numbers tell a more sobering story. Tariffs remain in place, stifling trade competitiveness for Philippine exporters. It is a reminder that foreign relations must go beyond symbolism to deliver material gains for the Filipino people. Further, there remains no clear position from the US on the ongoing conflicts with China in the West Philippine Sea.

Back home, nature dealt the administration a far less forgiving hand. Three successive typhoons — “Crising,” “Dante”, and “Emong” — battered Metro Manila and its surrounding regions over the past week, leaving swaths of the capital submerged in floodwater. Despite the billions of pesos funneled into flood control infrastructure in recent years, large parts of Manila and nearby provinces continue to suffer from paralyzing floods each time a storm hits.

This latest onslaught has once again exposed the fragility of our disaster preparedness systems. From clogged drainage systems to delayed evacuations, the chaos during the storms has sparked public outrage and deepened doubts about how efficiently national and local governments are using public funds. It’s not just about typhoon response; it’s about whether we are actually building resilient cities, or simply reacting to the same annual cycle of devastation.

President Marcos now faces a critical moment. His SoNA must not simply celebrate diplomatic wins or list projects in abstract. Filipinos want to know why, despite ballooning infrastructure budgets, floodwaters still rise with each monsoon. They want answers on accountability: Where the money went, who delivered, and who failed.

Additionally, the President would do well to steer clear of the distracting political noise surrounding the now seemingly failed impeachment bid against Vice President Sara Duterte. With the Supreme Court having ruled and promulgated a decision effectively barring the initiation of any impeachment proceedings for a year, further discussion only politicizes the address and detracts from the more urgent national concerns, such as disaster resilience, food security, and economic equity. The SoNA should serve as a roadmap forward, not a replay of past tensions already resolved by the institutions of law.

As the rain continues to fall and the waters rise in the streets of Manila, the nation waits — soaked, frustrated and listening. President Marcos must offer more than reassurance; he must deliver resolve.