Marcos admits skipping several issues in fifth Sona

MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Saturday said that he had to leave out some points in his fifth State of the Nation Address (Sona), but to watch out for his next address for the undiscussed issues.

“Marami kaming nailagay na kailangan na hindi namin na maisama, dahil masyado ng mahaba kaya’t abangan na lang ninyo sa susunod na Sona,” Marcos said in his vlog on Saturday.

(“There were many things we wanted to include but couldn’t, because it was already getting too long—so just watch out for them in the next Sona,”)

Two weeks after his Sona, the President said that there were national matters and issues that were not able to make the final draft due to concerns on the length of his already “long” speech and his voice waning while speaking over time.

“So dahan-dahan naming ginawang mas maiksi para naman hindi umabot ng dalawang oras kalahati ang ang speech. Masyadong mapapagod ang tao pati ako mauubos ang boses ko,” he explained.

(“So, we gradually shortened it so the speech wouldn’t end up lasting two and a half hours. People would get too tired, and I’d lose my voice,”)

His annual address at the Batasang Pambansa in Quezon City on July 27 lasted for 1 and 26 minutes–his longest since he assumed the presidency.

Marcos shared the preparations and circumstances that were considered for his fifth Sona after many had called out to question key topics that were left out in his address.

READ: What Marcos addressed and missed in his 2026 Sona

The President emphasized that the speech he delivered was written by him with the help of his team. He added that even at the last minute, he decided to change some things while speaking.

Some of them issues left out were raised by members of the Youth for Coalition, who sent a letter to Marcos, calling out issues of malnutrition and hunger among the younger generation.

The President highlighted the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s Walang Gutom program, Kadiwa ng Pangulo, and other programs, which all seek to curb involuntary hunger through initiatives such as food assistance.

Marcos also reiterated the existing Zero Balance Billing by the Department of Health over raised concerns on the country’s health care and medical services.

He said that under the program, patients may incur zero out-of-pocket expenses on medical services, laboratory tests, medicines, and doctors fees through government subsidies and the Philippine Health Insurance Corp.

“Alam ko na ang Sona ay higit pa sa isang talumpati marami pang trabaho ang kailangang gawin para maisabuhay ang lahat ng ating tinatalakay at minimithi bilang isang bayan ang inyong aktibong pakikilahok sa mga usaping panlipunan ay mga katangian ng pagiging isang bagong Pilipino,” he said.

(“I know that the Sona is more than just a speech; much work remains to be done to bring to life everything we discuss and aspire to as a nation. Your active participation in social issues embodies the qualities of the new Filipino,”)

At the end of his fifth Sona, Marcos reaffirmed that in the remaining two years of his term, he aims to “finish what we have started and fulfill our promises to the Filipino people.” /gsg