Marcos Vows to Uphold Arbitral Ruling in Fifth SONA

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. delivered his fifth State of the Nation Address on July 27 in Manila, emphasizing national sovereignty and domestic development. He vowed to uphold the 2016 arbitral ruling regarding the West Philippine Sea, describing the award as final and binding. Marcos pledged to use all peaceful and legal means to protect the country's rights against foreign or domestic interference, specifically honoring the Armed Forces of the Philippines, the Philippine Coast Guard, and Filipino fisherfolk for their patrols in the region.

This commitment follows recent tensions with Beijing and protests by the Department of Foreign Affairs over offensive AI-generated content published by China Daily. In his address, Marcos also focused on regional infrastructure and disaster response, specifically in Cebu. He announced the opening of the first segment of the Cebu Bus Rapid Transit and noted that terminal fees at Cebu Port were eliminated to provide relief during a Middle East-driven energy crisis.

On the domestic front, Marcos detailed the distribution of P3 billion in aid to 600,000 families following earthquakes in the Visayas and Mindanao, and the implementation of Oplan Kontra Baha for flood mitigation. He further reported the recovery of nearly P25 billion from corruption in flood control projects to be redirected toward social services. Cebu Governor Pamela Baricuatro welcomed the priorities, stating the President's commitments to healthcare and disaster preparedness align with the province's local agenda.