Philippines at a Crossroads: Marcos' 4th SONA

Halfway through his term, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. delivers his fourth State of the Nation Address (SONA) amidst big expectations from the public.

- By CECILE J. BALTASAR

The Philippine STAR recalls his past addresses to the nation in a bid to bring to mind some of the president's past promises to boost the country's state.

SONA 2022

In his inaugural SONA in 2022, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. was optimistic that the Philippines was in good hands.

"The best Filipino minds [will] help us navigate this global crisis that we are facing. We will endure. Let our Filipino spirit ever remain undimmed," he said.

Marcos shared that despite "forces that are beyond our control," he would "implement sound fiscal management," which included tax administration reforms.

He would turn the Philippines into an investment destination, he said. Marcos planned to capitalize on the Corporate Recovery and Tax Incentives for Enterprises (CREATE) Law, as well as the Public Service Act and the Foreign Investments Act.

The Bureau of Customs, Marcos said, would promote streamlined processes to "ensure continuous implementation of priority programs."

The president was pleased that the economic growth momentum remained firm during the first year of his term.