President’s SONA: Building a better, stronger Bagong Pilipinas

Assalamu alaikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh. I feel a deep sense of renewed purpose and commitment to public service after witnessing President Ferdinand “Bongbong” R. Marcos, Jr. (PBBM) deliver his fourth State of the Nation Address (SONA) on July 28, 2025.

- DBM SECRETARY AMENAH F. PANGANDAMAN

As PBBM noted, our economy is strong, marked by low inflation, investor confidence, and job growth — signaling to the world that we are open for business, and encouraging the international business community to invest in the Filipino.

Indeed, the PBBM administration has significant achievements in various sectors. More than giving a rundown, the President surprised us by acknowledging the disappointment of our people with government services. With this, he issued a powerful directive to all government agencies: to serve better and faster.

We, at the Department of Budget and Management (DBM), are ready to support the President’s call to ensure that agencies address service gaps faster, and that these services adhere to quality, transparency, and accountability while fulfilling our mandate to promote the sound, efficient, and effective management and utilization of government resources.

2026 national budget

This is why I deeply respect the President for his pronouncement to return any General Appropriations Bill or the proposed budget from Congress, if it is not fully aligned with the National Expenditure Program (NEP), even if we end up with a reenacted budget.