MARCOS DELIVERS 4TH SONA TODAY

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. is set to deliver his fourth State-of-the-Nation Address (SONA) on Monday, July 28, likely with a familiar backdrop of trains, bridges, and rice, symbols that have come to define his administration's image of progress.

- By ARGYLL GEDUCOS

But beyond the stylized visuals and slogans, how much of what he promised in his first three SONAs has actually been accomplished?

Now, halfway through his six-year term, the President faces a growing need to move from promises to proof.

His administration’s track record on transportation, agriculture, and infrastructure reveals a mixed picture: One key promise has been delivered, while others remain delayed or are still ongoing.

Rails

In his SONA last year, Marcos spoke of a “railway renaissance” that would modernize public transportation and decongest Metro Manila. Flagship projects, such as the MRT-7, the North-South Commuter Railway (NSCR), the Metro Manila Subway, and the Mindanao Railway, were all positioned as cornerstones of this promise.

Progress on the rails has been visible though incomplete.

Rice