President Bongbong Marcos delivered his third State of the Nation Address in July 2024, marking nearly half of his term as the 17th President of the Philippines. He highlighted various economic and political achievements, but despite these, widespread protests continue across the country. Some are demanding his resignation, while others call for swift changes in the government. So, what has President Marcos accomplished so far?
According to Marcos, his administration has made significant strides in multiple sectors. A key focus has been on economic reforms and infrastructure development, which are seen as crucial for the country’s growth and improving the quality of life for Filipinos.
One of the major reforms Marcos mentioned is the modernization of customs procedures and enhanced enforcement efforts. The Philippine customs department has long been associated with corruption, allowing the elite to evade import taxes and smuggle goods worth billions of pesos. Marcos claimed that his government has successfully seized over 2.7 billion pesos worth of smuggled agricultural products. This crackdown has helped protect local farmers by stabilizing market prices.
Smuggled agricultural products often sell at lower prices than locally produced goods, making it hard for local farmers to compete. This leads to reduced sales and income for farmers, threatening their livelihoods and future production.
Another significant economic reform was the imposition of a price ceiling on rice and the extension of reduced tariff rates for essential imports. By capping rice prices, the government aimed to shield consumers from price spikes, ensuring that even the poorest families could afford this staple food. Lowering tariffs on essential imports was intended to prevent shortages and keep prices stable.
In terms of infrastructure, Marcos highlighted the aggressive construction of roads, bridges, and railways. He stated that over 12,000 kilometers of roads and more than a thousand bridges have been built or upgraded across the country. The Philippines is also experiencing what Marcos called a “railway renaissance,” with the Metro Manila Subway achieving significant progress.
Marcos also mentioned the inter-island linkage bridge program, with two major bridges expected to open in 2024. The Panguil Bay Bridge, the largest in Northern Mindanao, and the Guicam Bridge, which will connect an island to the Mindanao mainland, are key projects in this program.
A major accomplishment of his administration is the completion of phase one of the National Fiber Backbone, significantly improving internet connectivity across the Philippines. The project, along with ongoing phases two and three, is expected to be completed by 2026, supporting the growing digital economy. The Free Wi-Fi Program has also expanded, benefiting nearly ten million unique user devices across over thirteen thousand locations, including schools and remote areas.
The administration has also focused on meeting the country’s energy needs by enhancing power supply and reliability. The inauguration of the Mariveles-Hermosa-San Jose transmission line has strengthened the Luzon power grid, while the completion of the Cebu-Negros-Panay backbone project has stabilized the power situation in the Visayas. The Mindanao-Visayas Interconnection Project, which unified the power grids of the three major island groups, marked a historic achievement, enabling efficient power exchanges and reducing the risk of blackouts.
In addition to infrastructure and economic reforms, Marcos also highlighted progress in food and water security.
Ensuring food and water security has been a key challenge, especially amid global market pressures and natural disasters. Despite these challenges, the Philippines saw its highest rice production in decades, surpassing twenty million tons. However, this only met part of the country’s needs, leading to continued rice imports. The administration has supported local production by distributing over a hundred million kilos of seeds and fertilizer and providing three hundred thousand breeder animals to farmers.
In agrarian reform, over 130,000 land titles have been awarded to beneficiaries, and efforts to subdivide collective Certificates of Land Ownership Award (CLOA) for individual beneficiaries have been accelerated. More than 70,000 agrarian reform cases, including 2,000 long-pending ones, have been resolved, providing justice and support to the agricultural community.
In terms of social protection and employment, the Marcos administration has seen positive results. The 4Ps program has continued to assist families in need, with over 420,000 families graduating from the program and improving their socio-economic status. Employment rates have risen to 95.9 percent, with a notable increase in high-quality jobs, middle-skilled employment, wage and salaried jobs, and full-time positions. The administration’s social protection programs have also provided assistance to those in remote and disadvantaged areas, helping them become self-sufficient.
Marcos’ most significant achievement may be in international relations. His administration has worked to promote mutual interests and ensure national security. The Philippines’ lobbying efforts led to the adoption of a United Nations resolution to protect the human rights of seafarers. The administration has also strengthened partnerships with other nations, resulting in investments, quality jobs for Filipinos abroad, and improved national security.
Lastly, Marcos announced the banning of Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs), which were involved in illicit activities such as financial scams, money laundering, and human trafficking. He directed the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation to wind down POGO operations by the end of the year and instructed the Department of Labor and Employment to find alternative jobs for displaced Filipino workers.
Despite these achievements, criticisms remain. Lawmakers from the Makabayan bloc gave Marcos’ third State of the Nation Address a failing grade, accusing him of promoting anti-poor policies. They pointed out that Marcos did not address critical issues like the 50,000 peso entry-level pay for teachers or propose wage hikes for private sector workers. Critics also accused Marcos of prioritizing foreign interests at the expense of Philippine sovereignty, especially concerning the increased US military presence in the country.