Halfway through President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s term, clamour for concrete plans and decisive actions still echoes following his fourth State of the Nation Address (SONA).

According to critics in a pre-post SONA analysis by the Samahan ng mga Mag-aaral ng Agham Pampulitika ng Ateneo (SAMAPULA), Marcos Jr. failed to capture the actual gravity of persisting issues in the Philippines, if not completely overlooking them.

Kabataan Partylist Southern Mindanao Chairperson Cobbie Jan Canda likened the president’s speech to a “colorful” feature writing, having no actual mentions of tangible outcomes and plans on critical issues in the country.

“Hindi yun na-bring up because hindi bukal sa kalooban niya yung talagang pagseserbisyo sa sambayanang Pilipino, and talagang yung isinusulong niya ay yung mga interes na kung saan siya at yung pamilya niya yung makaka-benefit from,” Canda said.

Konsensya Dabaw member Mags Maglana also said that the president’s disregard for pertinent issues in his SONA was “intentional” as “he wants to put his best foot forward.”

“He doesn’t want to deal with the controversial and unresolved topics… Kaya may tendency, yung mga talagang malala din, yung fundamental issues hindi napag-uusapan,” Maglana explained.

“So kung mapapansin niyo, chinicherry pick yung mga magagandang performance obviously. Inaaccomodate lang yung mga medyo hindi masyadong maganda pero kayang habulin. So it’s highly selective as a report.”

Moreover, SAMAHAN Political Affairs and Engagement Department (SPAED) Director Luis Miguel Torres emphasized the gap between economic growth and economic development in the country.

Torres noted that while Marcos Jr. reported that there is growth in the country’s economic situation, such growth has failed to reach the masses.

“Kumbaga lost in translation sa writing at sa employment nito sa society natin. So who feels this growth, and where does this go?”

Similarly, Canda asserted that the president’s response to the ongoing learning crisis was unsatisfactory, as seen in the disparity between private and public educational institutions and in the insufficient allocation of financial resources.

“In the Philippine context, 88% ng higher education institutions are privatized, tapos ang nakapaloob dito ay 54% of student population. So yung 12% na mga state universities and colleges, nandoon yung 46% ng student population,” Canda expounded.

He further explained that the country’s inadequate budget allocation for education is “unconstitutional,” as it stands at 3.2% of the GDP, when it should be given at least 6%. In contrast, the budget for infrastructure in 2024 was P1.545 trillion, which accounted for 5.8% of the GDP.

Additionally, AB International Studies student Maverick Lance Malnegro highlighted the implications of the country’s current positioning in terms of foreign relations.

He pointed out Marcos Jr.’s failure to mention the country’s relations with the United States and the discussion on the tension surrounding the West Philippine Sea, despite earlier explicit assertions in his third SONA.

“There are big mentions of multilateral relations… However, it would seem that our international relations have a growing gap between practice and rhetoric, mainly because of these missing factors,” Malnegro remarked.

He explained that with Marcos Jr.’s move to align with the United States, the country has affirmed its receipt of their military aid and can no longer present itself as neutral in discussions such as one on Israel’s genocidal assault in Palestine.

Furthermore, Canda urged the youth to actively participate in discussions on the current state of the country by questioning and taking part in advocacies.

“It is important to be critically engaged in knowing ano ba talaga yung mga societal realities in our country. It is also important to be organized,” Canda affirmed. 

Tulubagon: A Pre-post SONA Analysis was held last July 28 at the 3F Pakighinabi Room at Ateneo de Davao University.