President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.’s fifth State of the Nation Address (SoNA) on Monday drew mixed reactions from business leaders, political analysts and sectoral groups.

Business organizations welcomed the President’s agenda on energy, investment and government accountability. Critics, however, said the speech fell short on issues affecting workers, education and governance.

Among Marcos’ key proposals were amendments to the Electric Power Industry Reform Act (EPIRA) to stop utilities from passing system loss charges on to consumers.

He also proposed tax relief for workers and small businesses, stronger energy security and governance reforms following investigations into questionable flood control projects.

Major business groups, including the Makati Business Club, the European Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines, the American Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines, the German-Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and the Federation of Philippine Industries, said the President addressed many priorities long sought by the private sector.

“President Marcos Jr. set a crucial tone of accountability at the outset of his address,” Makati Business Club executive director Julia Abad said.

Still, she urged the administration to pursue key governance reforms, including the Right to Information Act, budget transparency measures, and bank secrecy reforms “to build strong foundations for effective governance.”

Doubters

The Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry likewise welcomed the proposed tax package but said it wanted to hear more about competitiveness, ease of doing business, energy and food security, and collaboration with foreign investors.

Not everyone was convinced.

University of Santo Tomas political science professor Dennis Coronacion said the President’s anti-corruption message would remain unconvincing until cases are actually filed against former House Speaker Martin Romualdez over allegedly anomalous flood control projects.

“As long as there is no concrete action or visible progress in the cases against his cousin, ordinary Filipinos will find it difficult to believe the President’s statements in his SoNA,” Coronacion said.

Sen. Imee Marcos was even more blunt, calling the President’s pronouncements on Romualdez “pawang pambubudol na naman” (just another scam) and questioning why the investigation had moved so slowly.

Labor groups also found the speech lacking.

Kamanggagawa Partylist Rep. Eli San Fernando said the President failed to address longstanding demands for higher wages, the abolition of regional wage rates, and an end to contractualization.

“President Bongbong Marcos has nothing to be proud of. It was a State of No Achievement for workers,” San Fernando said, although he welcomed the proposals to remove the electricity system loss charges and expand income tax exemptions.

Political will

Teachers’ groups echoed similar concerns. While they welcomed classroom constructions, teacher promotions and school feeding initiatives, they said the President failed to tackle chronic classroom shortages and teachers’ pay.

“Teachers have never wavered in their commitment to educate the nation’s youth. What they seek is not recognition alone but concrete government action,” the Teachers’ Dignity Coalition said, reiterating its call for a P15,000 across-the-board salary increase.

Meanwhile, Akbayan Partylist Rep. Perci Cendaña criticized Marcos for omitting the LGBTQ+ community and the long-pending Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity and Expression (SOGIE) Equality Bill in his address.

“In the end, this fight for a SOGIE bill will require political will from the executive,” Cendaña said.

Marcos’ SoNA centered on anti-corruption, economic resilience, energy security and social protection while outlining his administration’s priorities for its final two years.

He said investigations into allegedly anomalous flood control projects had resulted in cases against contractors, Department of Public Works and Highways officials, and lawmakers, with nearly P25 billion in assets recovered, frozen, or preserved.

Crisis response

Marcos also highlighted the government’s response to the Middle East conflict, including the repatriation of more than 12,000 overseas Filipino workers, fuel subsidies, and emergency assistance.

He touted progress in infrastructure, agriculture, health care, education and housing, while reporting advances in power generation, renewable energy, and natural gas development.

The President urged Congress to amend the EPIRA law to remove the system loss charges paid by consumers and to pass the proposed Sariling Kuryente Act to promote household solar power.

He also reaffirmed the Philippines’ commitment to defending its sovereign rights in the West Philippine Sea through peaceful and lawful means.