At a glance
FIFTH SONA — Length: 85 minutes with at least 93 rounds of applause and two standing ovations. Around 8 minutes longer than Sona 2025
HIGHLIGHTS
•Starts with updates on the investigations on corruption allegations on flood control projects
•Tackles the effects of the Middle East war, particularly on the safety of overseas Filipino workers, employment, repatriation, and oil supply
•Philippines secured oil supply from Japan, South Korea, Oman, India, Russia, and China to ensure domestic supply for at least two months
•BIR implemented the “one-time tax abatement”
•Expand the energy programs of the country, to include hydrogen power plants and pursue nuclear energy projects
•Condolences extended to parents of victims of Tacloban school shooting and appeals to protect the children from “harmful influences and forces”
•Promotes US-led Pax Silica industrial hub that “will create an ecosystem that will have AI at its core” and give jobs to people and revitalize the economy
•BARMM first parliamentary election to take place
LEGISLATIVE AGENDA AND PLEDGES
•Asked Congress to pass tax relief measures, like expand exemptions for income tax and add those who earn P350,000; small businesses will no longer be required to pay minimum corporate tax; amnesty for penalties for taxes not paid
•Amend the National Building Code
•Update the 25-year-old Ecological Solid Waste Management Act
•Pursue nuclear energy projects
•Asked Congress to pass the “Sariling Kuryente” Act
•Demand for amendment of Epira and remove the burden of system losses from consumers
•Plan to build our own Virology and Vaccine Institute
•Expand the GAMOT program
•Rocket launch test slated for next year, it will be done in partnership with a South Korean aerospace company
ACCOMPLISHMENTS
•With the help of Congress, excise tax on LPG and kerosene suspended for three months
•Limited the increase in price for imported rice
•Job fairs around the country, especially for OFWs who lost their jobs due to the war
•Several banks and e-wallets have lowered or removed online transaction fees, some banks also extended payments of loans
•GSIS, SSS, and NHMFC extended payment deadlines of loans
•P20 per kilo of rice continues to be available, and at least 800 Kadiwa stores are made available around the country
•At least 2 million farmers and fishermen received support from the Presidential Assistance to Farmers, Fisherfolk, and Families
•Provided protection for electric bills by pushing for refunds from power companies and the allowance for some households to pay their bills in installments from May to July
•Cash relief assistance through AICS and diesel subsidies were provided to drivers
•Brought back service contracting program for public bus and jeepneys
•Discounts provided for transport fares for passengers, particularly those who ride the LRT2 and MRT3
•Terminal fees, landing and take-off fees, harbor and anchorage fees, and storage fees in airports and ports were reduced
•Removed tariffs on EV vehicles to increase their use in the country
•Valenzuela to Malolos route of North-South Commuter Railway set to operate next year
/cb
