What the Filipino People Are Saying About Marcos Jr.’s Leadership Ahead of the 2025 Philippine State of the Nation Address
Life has only gotten harder
A recent Pulse Asia survey shows that rising prices, low wages, and peace and order remain the top concerns Filipinos want President Marcos Jr. to address in his upcoming State of the Nation Address (SONA). Inflation, especially the high cost of rice, remains a major issue despite the government's Kadiwa stores offering limited access to subsidized rice. Critics see this as a temporary fix rather than a long-term solution.
The public awaits whether Marcos will present concrete plans to boost agricultural productivity and market access, or once again blame external factors such as global conflicts and El Niño.
The survey, conducted from June 26 to 30, found that 62% of respondents were most concerned about inflation, followed by calls for higher wages and improved peace and order. Legislated wage hikes remain unresolved, with the Senate and House proposing different rates and economic managers opposing them, warning of inflation and job losses.
Other issues include poverty (26%), job creation (25%), and anti-corruption (24%), while concerns like territorial integrity, OFW welfare, and terrorism ranked lowest.
A government serving foreign powers
Another major concern is the growing presence of U.S. military forces in the country. Under Marcos Jr., more military sites have been opened to the U.S. under the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA).
Gabriela Youth has criticized President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. for prioritizing a meeting with former U.S. President Donald Trump over addressing the national crisis brought by Typhoon Crising and the southwest monsoon, which have claimed at least five lives, left seven missing, and affected over 800,000 people in more than 1,500 barangays.
"While Filipinos are facing floods, displacement, and hunger, Marcos chose to fly to Washington to court foreign support and military deals,” said Gabriela Youth spokesperson Fran Reyes. “His actions reveal where his true loyalties lie—serving U.S. interests instead of the Filipino people.”
The trip includes talks on trade and expanding the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA), with plans to grant the U.S. more access to military bases, including new sites in Subic Bay. However, pressing concerns such as the threat of deportation faced by Filipino migrant workers reportedly did not make it onto the agenda.
“Instead of leading disaster relief efforts at home, Marcos is busy deepening our country’s dependence on foreign powers,” Reyes added. “Once again, Marcos proves he is a puppet of the U.S.”
Corruption still rampant
Progressive group Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) has raised alarm over what it describes as the largest “pork barrel” fund in Philippine history, now under the direct control of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. According to Bayan, the current budget reflects deep-rooted political favoritism, rewarding allies through discretionary allocations while key public services, such as healthcare, education, and social welfare, remain severely underfunded.
"While ordinary Filipinos face rising prices, job insecurity, and under-resourced hospitals and schools, Marcos is sitting on a war chest of political payoffs," said Bayan in a statement. “This is not a national budget. It’s a patronage machine.”
The group criticized how public funds are being used to secure loyalty in Congress and local government units instead of addressing urgent national concerns like inflation, food insecurity, and the crumbling education system. Meanwhile, Bayan also pointed out the government’s growing reliance on foreign loans, which it warns will burden future generations with unsustainable debt.
Adding to the controversy is the unresolved issue of the Marcos family’s ill-gotten wealth. Decades since the ouster of the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos, the family has yet to fully return or account for the estimated billions plundered from the national coffers. “Despite repeated calls for justice, the Marcoses continue to evade full accountability,” Bayan said, calling the current president’s silence on the issue a sign of complicity.
Human Rights violations continue
Despite his promises of unity and reform, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is facing mounting criticism from human rights groups who claim his administration has merely continued the repressive practices of former President Rodrigo Duterte. Activists, youth leaders, and civil society organizations say the current government remains hostile to dissent, especially through the ongoing operations of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC).
It’s becoming more apparent that Marcos Jr. is no different from Duterte in crackdown on dissent. “The government still treats dissent as a crime,” said a youth organizer from a Manila-based alliance. “If you speak out, whether you're a student leader, labor organizer, or indigenous rights advocate, you risk harassment, red-tagging, or worse.”
Human rights watchdog Karapatan has reported multiple cases of illegal arrests, surveillance, and threats against activists under the Marcos administration. In its 2024 year-end report, the group documented at least 20 politically motivated killings and over 800 cases of red-tagging since Marcos Jr. assumed office in mid-2022.
Meanwhile, NTF-ELCAC, originally formed under Duterte to lead the counter-insurgency campaign, continues to receive billions in funding. Critics say it is being used to suppress legitimate activism rather than address the root causes of armed conflict, such as poverty and landlessness. The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) has repeatedly called for a review of the agency’s operations after civilians, including teachers, unionists, and even humanitarian workers, were falsely accused of being communists.
In rural communities, particularly in Mindoro, Quezon, and parts of the Cordillera, residents have reported increased military presence and intimidation. In many cases, development workers and indigenous peoples resisting mining and land grabs have been tagged as rebel supporters, which rights groups say endangers their lives.
In a statement, Amnesty International noted that “the counter-insurgency program remains a blanket justification for the state to silence critics.” The group emphasized that these attacks not only violate basic human rights but also undermine democracy by criminalizing free speech and assembly.
Marcos Jr. has largely remained silent on these issues, offering vague assurances about protecting civil liberties while continuing the same security policies that his administration inherited. For many youth and grassroots groups, this silence is a signal that nothing has changed.
“As long as the state equates activism with terrorism,” the youth leader added, “there can be no real democracy under Marcos.”
Delays in Sara Duterte’s impeachment raise suspicion
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is under fire for allegedly protecting Vice President Sara Duterte from impeachment, as proceedings continue to stall in Congress. Critics say Marcos’s refusal to support the case has emboldened Senate allies and Duterte supporters to delay the trial and sideline serious allegations.
Despite the House approving articles of impeachment in early 2025, centered on Duterte’s alleged misuse of over ₱650 million in confidential funds, the Senate has yet to proceed. In June, Senate President Chiz Escudero returned the documents to the House, citing procedural concerns, a move that watchdogs call politically motivated.
Marcos has publicly claimed the matter is for Congress to decide, but sources say he privately discouraged House leaders from pursuing it. Progressive blocs and youth leaders continue to demand transparency and a fair trial, warning that further delays only reinforce impunity at the highest levels of government.
“Marcos is afraid that the truth will come out - not just about Sara, but about the entire rotten system he benefits from,” Bayan said.
What do we expect in PH in the State of the Nation Address of Marcos Jr.?
As President Marcos Jr. prepares to deliver his 2025 SONA, millions of Filipinos remain unconvinced by his promises. Three years into his term, the gap between rhetoric and reality continues to grow. Whether on inflation, corruption, human rights, or foreign policy, the nation is demanding more than words. t needs action, accountability, and change. The question now is: will Marcos finally listen?
Behind the grand speeches and polished optics lies a country still struggling. For many Filipinos, the 2025 SONA will be just another performance. But outside the halls of power, the real state of the nation is being written by those who fight every day, for truth, justice, and a future free from corruption and fear. The people will not be silenced and they will not forget.
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