Ferdinand Marcos Jr. Delivers Fifth State of the Nation Address

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. delivered his fifth State of the Nation Address on July 27, 2026, marking the start of the final two years of his six-year term. The address focused on a legislative agenda through 2028, prioritizing food security, infrastructure, energy, digitalization, and defense modernization, alongside maritime tensions with China and international defense partnerships.

While the administration highlighted the Philippines achieving upper-middle income economy status, the President faces significant pressure to address a decline in public trust, which a June 2026 Social Weather Stations survey placed at 34%. Critics and economists argued that macroeconomic growth has not reached the poorest sectors struggling with inflation and fuel costs. The President also faces scrutiny over flood control project investigations and the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte.

Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian pledged the Senate's commitment to reviving the economy through measures such as amending the Rice Tariffication Law and passing the Ginhawa Bill. Other lawmakers, including Senators Risa Hontiveros, Loren Legarda, and Lito Lapid, demanded concrete proof and specific timelines for addressing corruption and the cost-of-living crisis, urging the administration to move beyond promises to provide actual results for Filipino families.