A Sona that is truly for the people
Every fourth Monday of July, Filipinos expect the chief executive to deliver the State of the Nation Address (Sona) and hope he would talk about the things that truly matter to them.
Last year’s speech was memorable. It was when President Marcos admonished government officials and told them to “have some shame” with regard to flood control projects across the country. These projects have failed to control the flooding, if the infrastructure even existed at all.
The 2025 Sona set in motion a series of corruption probes and gave way to indignation rallies. People were awakened about the grave consequences of corruption. It showed how corruption was a gut issue, because it took away much from the people: lives, homes, livelihoods.
One year hence, cases have been filed and arrests have been made. And yet the people know there is more below the surface.
This year’s Sona is happening at the height of public attention on the impeachment hearing of Vice President Sara Duterte, where unexplained wealth and the misuse of funds also figure prominently.
Unfortunately, the trial has magnified deep political rifts and reminded people that ultimately, personal loyalties matter more than public interest.
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Mr. Marcos will be making his speech at a particularly precarious time in his administration. Four years into power, his trust ratings are at their lowest, falling to 34 percent in June 2026. The percentage of those with little trust in him rose to 45 percent. Meanwhile, the Vice President has maintained a comfortable majority trust rating of 57 percent. These numbers are according to the Social Weather Stations, in a survey commissioned by the Stratbase Group.
Meanwhile, a Pulse Asia survey exhibits the same patterns. The survey found that Mr. Marcos received a trust rating of 28 percent, while Duterte registered a trust rating of 58 percent. But while she continued to enjoy strong trust ratings in Visayas and Mindanao (65 percent and 95 percent, respectively), distrust in her also grew significantly in the National Capital Region with a 15-percentage point rise to its current number at 43 percent.
Note that both surveys were conducted before the start of the impeachment trial.
These numbers reflect more than declining trust ratings—it signals rising public expectations. Filipinos are looking for decisive leadership, stronger accountability, and concrete action on the issues affecting their daily lives.
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For a Sona to be a speech truly and genuinely for the people, it needs to have been crafted from a position of empathy and compassion. What do people deem important to them in their daily lives? What hopes do they carry, and what anxieties keep them awake?
A Stratbase-commissioned question conducted from June 28 to July 3 and July 6 actually reveals what the people want the national government to do. Thirty percent of Filipinos are asking for more affordable food prices especially for rice, meat, and fish while 28 percent are also asking for more livelihood and job opportunities. But what is more interesting is the 28 percent that are asking for the elimination of corruption so the government can provide better services to the Filipino people.
The results show that these concerns are closely connected. Addressing high food prices and creating more livelihood opportunities require a government that uses public resources effectively and remains accountable to its citizens. They need to be assured that something is being done by their government in ensuring that their taxes go into worthy pursuits, instead of lining the pockets of officials, with transactions veiled in secrecy.
Our leaders have to show that they honor our commitments to the Open Government Partnership. Open government must go beyond the digitalization of services by institutionalizing greater public participation, open access to government information, transparent public procurement, and stronger accountability mechanisms that allow citizens to monitor how public funds are spent and how decisions are made. Restoring public trust also means fostering greater participation of various sectors in policymaking and oversight.
Filipinos are eager to hear what the President has to say with just two years remaining in his term. His words should show that he truly listens to his constituents, and that he makes their concerns his priority, whatever is happening on the political front. Such is the mark of a genuine leader.
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Dindo Manhit is the founder and CEO of Stratbase Group.
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