Sona 2024 fact check
PH PRESIDENT FERDINAND MARCOS JR. composite image from Inquirer file photos
MANILA, Philippines—In his third State of the Nation Address (Sona), President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., aside from announcing a ban on Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (Pogos), touched on several other topics ranging from agriculture to the upcoming Paris Olympics.
This report by INQFocus fact checks the President’s claims on these topics, as well as his closing remarks, which quoted a prominent English philosopher.
READ: Highlights: Sona 2024
What Marcos said: “Totoo, puwersa ng merkado — sa ating bansa at maging sa buong daigdig — ang siyang nagdidikta ng presyo. Bunsod ito, halimbawa, ng giyera, problema sa supply, at puwersa ng kalikasan, tulad ng El Niño na naranasan din sa ibang bansa.”
Rating: INACCURATE
While market forces made prices higher, a local think tank, Ibon Foundation, previously said that the government should be blamed, too, for the high inflation prints, saying that its interventions have not done a lot to address the problem and assist the poorest of the poor.
GRAPHICS by Ed Lustan / INQUIRER.net
The government, last year, also pointed to “smugglers and hoarders” as the “only reason” for the record-high prices, especially of rice.
SOURCE: Ibon Foundation
What Marcos said: “Sa kabila ng mga hamon na ating kinakaharap, nasaksihan natin ang pinakamataas na ani ng palay sa bansa nitong nakalipas na taon. Pumalo ito sa lagpas dalawampung milyong tonelada — ang pinakamataas na ani mula pa noong 1987!”
Rating: CORRECT
Based on data from PSA and DA, last year’s palay output was 1.5 percent higher than 19.76 million MT in 2022. Rice consumption is already at 13.5 million MT but since a 50-day buffer is required, 1.85 million MT more was needed.
SOURCE: Department of Agriculture. GRAPHICS by Ed Lustan / INQUIRER.net
What Marcos said: “Lokal na produksyon pa rin ang ating mas bibigyan ng halaga.”
Rating: INCOMPLETE (NEEDS CONTEXT)
Marcos issued EO 62 last month, slashing the tariff on imported rice to 15 percent from 35 percent. While this is seen to bring down retail prices of rice, the reduced tariff is expected to hurt local farmers. Based on data from the Bureau of Plant Industry, 2.17 million MT of imported rice have arrived as of June 6.
SOURCES: Malacañang, Bureau of Plant Industry
What Marcos said: Kaya patuloy nating sinusuportahan ang sektor ng agrikultura, upang mapabilis, mapadali, at mapalakas ang produksyon — mula sa pagpunla, pag-ani at paghuli, hanggang sa pagbiyahe at pagbenta — at upang maiwasan din ang pagkasira ng mga produkto.
Rating: INCOMPLETE (NEEDS CONTEXT)
Neda had said that the government is “working diligently” to assist the agriculture sector, pointing out that from 2022 to 2024, DA’s budget increased by 69 percent. Ibon Foundation pointed out, however, that the sector only grew 1.2 percent since 2022, “not even half of the average since 2001.”
As pointed out by Ibon Foundation, government interventions should be enough to lift farmers, even fisherfolk, from being the poorest sectors of the population at 30 percent and 30.6 percent, respectively.
SOURCES: National Economic Development Authority, Ibon Foundation
What Marcos said: “Nagsilbing kaagapay ng taumbayan ang Kadiwa sa panahon ng mataas ang presyo ng pagkain. Dahil naging epektibo ito, ang mga Kadiwa Centers ay magpapatuloy pa.”
Rating: INCOMPLETE
While Kadiwa Outlets already started selling rice for P29 per kg to the poor, the Federation of Free Farmers had stressed that this would be “hard to sustain” since the government is expected to lose P20 for every kilo of rice that it rolls out to the centers.
SOURCE: Federation of Free Farmers. GRAPHICS by Ed Lustan / INQUIRER.net
What Marcos said: “Matindi ang naging epekto ng dumaang El Niño, lalo na sa mga sakahan. Sa tinamong pinsala mula sa pagkasira ng mga pananim, nagkaroon ng proteksyon ang ating mga magsasaka sa pamamagitan ng ating binigay na crop insurance. Sa nakalipas na dalawang taon, mahigit siyam na [bilyong] pisong halaga ang naging bayad-pinsala sa mga apektadong magsasaka at mangingisda.”
Rating: CORRECT
As the DA stated last month, Marcos visited several regions across the Philippines to hand over the assistance, which included the over P700 million from the program Presidential Assistance to Farmers and Fisherfolks, where beneficiaries received P10,000 each.
SOURCE: Department of Agriculture
What Marcos said: “The recently launched “Walang Gutom 2027” will be fully rolled out from the initial two thousand three hundred households, now all the way to three hundred thousand food-poor households across the country by the end of the year. But the program will go on until we feed the one million most food-poor families by 2027.”
Rating: INCOMPLETE (NEEDS CONTEXT)
While the DSWD said that it already started the validation and registration for the program, which will give the beneficiaries P3,000 worth of “food credits,” every month, a former DSWD chief had pointed out that the government has to work to really address the problem.
SOURCE: Department of Social Welfare and Development
What Marcos said: “Our employment rate has increased to 95.9 percent. We also saw a significant increase in high-quality jobs. Underemployment too has decreased from 11.7 percent in May of 2023 to 9.9 percent today. This is our lowest since 2005.
Rating: INCOMPLETE
Ibon Foundation said that jobs are really of lower quality and being reported as “employed” means less and less with regard to livelihood. It said that the “overall problem” is that 32.1 million, or 74 percent of “employment” is “overwhelmingly in poorly-paid no-or-zero-benefit irregular informal work.
SOURCES: Philippine Statistics Authority, Ibon Foundation
What Marcos said: With the noble aim of breaking the cycle of poverty across the country, the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program has not only consistently accomplished its annual targets- it has also proven its efficacy over the years.
Rating: INCOMPLETE (NEEDS CONTEXT)
While five million households are “active beneficiaries” of 4Ps, there are 19.2 million households without savings as of end 2023. Based on SWS data, 16 million households considered themselves as poor, way higher than 12.9 million households in March.
SOURCES: Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, Ibon Foundation, Social Weather Stations
What Marcos said: With tripartite consensus, minimum wage levels have been increased in various sectors in all regions, including the BARMM, for workers in private establishments. Makapagdudulot ito ng ginhawa sa mahigit apat na milyong mga kababayan natin at kanilang mga pamilya.
Rating: INACCURATE
The P9,606 average minimum wage for a month, based on data from the National Wages and Productivity Commission, is only 69 percent of the P13,797 poverty threshold set by the government in the first six months of 2023. Meanwhile, the P442 average daily minimum wage is only 37 percent of the P1,210 family living wage as of June 2024, Ibon Foundation said.
What Marcos Jr. said: “Halos dinoble na rin ang diskwento na ibinibigay sa mga PWDs, at sa mga senior citizens na tulad ninyo para sa mga basic necessities at prime commodities.”
Rating: MOSTLY CORRECT (NEEDS CONTEXT)
Last March 21, the Department of Agriculture (DA), Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), and Department of Energy (DOE) signed a joint administrative order (JAO) implementing a special discount of five percent on the regular retail price of basic necessities and prime commodities (BNPC) without exemption from the value-added tax (VAT) for Filipino senior citizens and persons with disabilities (PWDs).
“The JAO operationalizes the initiative of Congress under House Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez to raise the weekly discount to P125 from P65—or a total of P500 per month. This consists of P260,” said the DA in a statement.
“As a result of lifting the value maximum discount, the JAO also raised the total value of goods that could be purchased to P2,500 a week from P1,300 or P10,000 a month from P5,200,” said the DA.
READ MORE: Weekly senior citizen, PWD weekly discount hike JAO signed
While Marcos Jr. was accurate in implying an increase in the weekly discount for senior citizens and persons with disabilities (PWDs), his use of the term “doble” (double) to describe the discount might be misleading. This is especially so considering that Joint Administrative Order (JAO) No. 24-02 explicitly prohibits “double discounts.”
Section 8, “No Double Discount,” of JAO No. 24-02 states: “In the purchase of BNPC which are on promotional discount, the Senior Citizen or Person With Disability can avail of the establishment’s offered discount or the 5% discount provided herein, whichever is higher and more favorable.”
SOURCES: DTI, DA, INQUIRER.NET archive
Marcos Jr. also highlighted key accomplishments across various sectors, including notable developments in the health sector with a focus on PhilHealth’s benefit packages.
What Marcos Jr. said: “Sa PhilHealth naman, dinamihan na ang klase ng generic na gamot na kasama sa benepisyo para sa mga outpatient. Mula sa dalawampu’t isang generic na gamot, ay limampu’t tatlo na. May mga bagong gamot para sa altapresyon, at mayroon na rin para sa nerve pain at sa epileptic seizures.”
Rating: CORRECT
According to PhilHealth’s Circular No. 2023-0029, which outlines the implementing guidelines for the outpatient drug benefit package—known as the PhilHealth Guaranteed and Accessible Medications for Outpatient Treatment (GAMOT)—the package now includes an additional 32 commonly prescribed outpatient medications. This expands the initial coverage of 21 medications under the Konsulta program.
SOURCE: PhilHealth
What Marcos Jr. said: “Bilang tugon sa dumaraming insidente at tumataas na presyo ng pagpapagamot, itinaas na ng Philhealth nang mahigit doble ang mga benepisyo para sa mga malulubhang karamdaman, tulad ng acute stroke at pulmonya. Ang limit na ngayon para sa mga kundisyon na ito ay itinaas na hanggang pitumpu’t anim na libong piso at siyamnapung libong piso.”
Rating: MOSTLY CORRECT (NEEDS CONTEXT)
Last October, PhilHealth approved the increased coverage for high-risk pneumonia, ischemic stroke, and hemorrhagic stroke.
READ: PhilHealth hikes coverage for high-risk pneumonia, stroke
While Marcos Jr.’s claim about the increase in benefits is accurate, it lacks specific details regarding the types of conditions covered.
The President’s statement did not specify “high-risk” pneumonia but simply mentioned “pneumonia,” which could potentially mislead individuals into thinking that all types of pneumonia are covered at the new higher rate.
A circular released by PhilHealth in November last year clarified that the benefit package specifically covers cases of “high-risk pneumonia.”
The state insurer defined high-risk pneumonia as “a subset of pneumonia cases with a higher likelihood of complications, severe illness, potentially adverse outcomes, or pneumonia-related mortality.”
Marcos Jr. mentioned increased coverage benefits for acute stroke up to PHP 76,000. However, PhilHealth Circular No. 2023-0021 details that the reimbursement amounts for ischemic and hemorrhagic strokes differ, with ischemic stroke covered up to PHP 76,000 and hemorrhagic stroke up to PHP 80,000.
PhilHealth explained that ischemic strokes are caused by blood vessel blockages that limit blood supply to the brain, while hemorrhagic strokes result from blood vessel ruptures.
SOURCES PhilHealth, INQUIRER.NET archives
What Marcos Jr. said: “Upang mapa-igting pa ang paglaban natin sa cancer, tinaasan ng PhilHealth nang mahigit isanlibong porsyento ang benepisyo para sa pagpapagamot ng breast cancer. Ang dating limit na isandaang libong piso, ngayon ay ginawa na nating 1.4 million pesos.”
Rating: CORRECT (NEEDS CONTEXT)
Earlier this year, PhilHealth president and CEO Emmanuel Ledesma Jr. announced a substantial increase in coverage for breast cancer under the state insurer’s “Z Benefits” package, raising the amount from P100,000 to P1.4 million— a 1,300 percent increase.
The PhilHealth board approved the increase in February, and it took effect in March in celebration of National Women’s Month. Besides the increased coverage, the benefit package now includes Stages 0 to 4 of breast cancer and has expanded eligibility criteria, allowing more members, including those already undergoing treatment, to avail of the benefits.
However, it should be noted that as of January 2023, only 18 hospitals nationwide had entered into a contract with PhilHealth to provide specialized care under the Z Benefits package for breast cancer. Only two are located in Metro Manila: East Avenue Medical Center in Quezon City and the Philippine General Hospital in Manila.
SOURCES: PhilHealth, INQUIRER.NET archives
What Marcos Jr. said: “Ang benepisyo naman para sa colon cancer ay pinag-ibayo na rin.”
Rating: INCOMPLETE (NEEDS CONTEXT)
Last year, PhilHealth issued Circular No. 2023-005, titled “Z Benefits Package for Colon and Rectal Cancers (Revision 1).” This new circular replaces the previous Circular No. 028-2015 titled “The Z Benefits for Colon and Rectum Cancer.”
Several changes were made to the policies, procedures, and terminologies in the newer circular. However, both versions detailed mostly the same package rates for the Z benefits for colon cancer:
For rectal cancer, the latest circular has streamlined the package rates and no longer differentiates between the use of a linear accelerator and cobalt as modes of radiotherapy. The package rates for rectal cancer under the latest circular are as follows:
An online news report published on February 14 cited Ledesma, who announced that the Z Benefits package for colon and rectal cancers had been recently enhanced.
The PhilHealth president said the improvement will allow patients with metachronous colorectal tumors to re-avail themselves of the package for both colon and rectal cancer, ensuring they receive continued support and coverage.
SOURCE: PhilHealth
What Marcos Jr. said: “PhilHealth has also released this year its mental health benefit package for all its members.”
Rating: CORRECT
Last year, the PhilHealth Board of Directors approved the development of an outpatient benefits package for mental health, including coverage for general and specialized mental health services.
According to Circular No. 2023-0018, the reimbursement rates for the mental health package per patient in a given fiscal year are as follows:
Previously, PhilHealth covered only mental health conditions such as dementia, bipolar disorders, schizophrenia, and anxiety disorders under the Mental and Behavioral Disorders category through inpatient admission case rates, which amounted to PHP 7,800.00.
SOURCE: PhilHealth
What Marcos said: “Sa susunod na taon, ilulunsad naman ng PhilHealth ang benepisyo nito para sa mga batang may kapansanan.”
Rating: INCOMPLETE (NEEDS CONTEXT)
PhilHealth already offers a benefits package for children with disabilities under PhilHealth Circular No. 2017-0029, also known as the “Z Benefit Package for Children with Developmental Disabilities,” published in February 2018.
READ: PhilHealth launches package for disabled kids
The package provides benefits ranging from P3,626 to P 5,276.
In his Sona, Marcos Jr. did not specify the details of the upcoming benefits package for children with disabilities, nor did he clarify if it would differ from the existing package.
SOURCES: PhilHealth, INQUIRER.NET archives
Public health reform advocates and budget watchdogs questioned Circular No. 003-2024 issued by the Department of Finance (DOF), which directs PhilHealth to remit unused government subsidies amounting to P89.9 billion to the national treasury.
The circular, issued in February, was reportedly in compliance with the 2024 budget law directing the DOF to issue guidelines to implement the collection of unprogrammed appropriations sourced from the fund balances of government-owned and -controlled corporations (GOCCs).
READ MORE: Watchdogs question PhilHealth fund transfer
Independent health reform advocate Dr. Tony Leachon, former Finance Undersecretary Cielo Magno and Filomeno Sta. Ana III, executive director and cofounder of the local think tank Action for Economic Reforms, warned that the new DOF circular might be a new way for the government to misappropriate funds.
In justifying its action to target PhilHealth’s excess funds, the DOF argued that the state health insurer has accumulated substantial fund balances over the past few years.
“The national government is in a better position to effectively utilize the unused subsidies for programs that directly and immediately benefit the Filipino people while advancing the goals of Universal Health Care,” it noted.
But Leachon, Magno and Sta. Ana stressed that the circular violated Republic Act No. 11223, or the Universal Health Care Act of 2019.
READ MORE: DOH: Excess PhilHealth funds partly went to health workers’ allowance
In September 2023, the personal information of PhilHealth members — including names, addresses, dates of birth, gender, phone numbers, and PhilHealth identification numbers — was compromised after the state insurer’s website and online application were hacked.
READ MORE: PhilHealth: Some members’ data compromised by system breach
The National Privacy Commission (NPC) and cybersecurity experts have described the PhilHealth data leak as staggering, as initial assessments revealed that over 730 gigabytes of data had been compromised.
READ MORE: Leaked Philhealth data ‘staggering,’ says NPC
Earlier this month, PhilHealth admitted that the over 42 million members whose data were compromised in a hacking incident last year have not yet been notified about the extent of the breach.
READ MORE: PhilHealth: 42-M victims of data leak not yet notified of hacking’s extent
What Marcos said: “No guerilla fronts remain active across the country today. Only seven weakened groups remain to be dismantled, and they are the subject of focused operations.”
Rating: INCOMPLETE (NEEDS CONTEXT)
Back in January, Marcos said, too, that there were no longer active guerrilla fronts, but in May, the NTF-Elcac said that there are still two active fronts to be dismantled this year. Out of the original 89 guerrilla fronts in the Philippines, 22 are still existing.
SOURCE: National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict
What Marcos said: On the fight against dangerous drugs, our bloodless war on dangerous drugs adheres, and will continue to adhere, to the established “8 Es” of an effective anti-illegal drugs strategy. Extermination was never one of them.
Rating: INACCURATE
Based on data from Dahas Project of the University of the Philippines’ Third World Studies Center, there have already been 727 drug-related killings since Marcos took office. At least 359 were recorded in Marcos’ second year alone, with 34.3 percent committed by state agents.
SOURCE: Dahas Project
What Marcos Jr. said: “To the twenty-eight of our finest athletes are competing in Paris now for the glory of the Philippines.”
Rating: INACCURATE
From July 26 to August 11, 22 Filipino athletes will participate in the Olympic Games Paris 2024. This marks a century since the Philippines made its Olympic debut.
READ MORE: Paris Olympics
SOURCE: olympics.com (official Olympics website), INQUIRER.NET archive
What Marcos Jr. said: “So, ladies and gentlemen, let me end by recalling the words of a great man: Let not any one pacify his conscience by the delusion that he can do no harm if he takes no part, and forms no opinion. Bad men need nothing more to compass their ends, than that good men should look on and do nothing.”
“He is not a good man who, without a protest, allows wrong to be committed in his name.”
READ MORE: TRANSCRIPT: 3rd Sona of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
Rating: CORRECT (NEEDS CONTEXT)
Marcos Jr.’s closing statement included an excerpt from a portion of British philosopher John Stuart Mill’s inaugural address at the University of St. Andrews in 1867.
Compared to Marcos Jr.’s quoted version—which focused primarily on the danger of inaction by good people and the moral duty to stand against wrongdoing—the full text of Mill’s address is more extensive and detailed.
The portion from Mill’s original speech discusses the importance of international morality, the need for an informed public opinion, and the vital role of active civic engagement. He emphasized the collective responsibility of individuals to prevent tyranny and uphold justice, highlighting how an informed and engaged populace is essential for a just and noble society.
The passage “Bad men need nothing more to compass their ends, than that good men should look on and do nothing” from Mill’s speech is often associated with the popular phrase, “The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing,” which is frequently attributed to English political philosopher Edmund Burke.
However, David Bromwich, a Sterling Professor of English at Yale University, has stated that this phrase is misattributed, and there is no evidence that Burke actually said it. Additionally, the Oxford Essential Quotations notes that the exact quote cannot be found in Burke’s writings.
SOURCES: Oxford Essential Quotations, Reuters
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TRANSCRIPT: 3rd Sona of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.