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5 August 2025 – Makati Business Club would like to share below a summary and quick analysis of PBBM’s 4th State of the Nation Address highlighting key sectors involved in MBC’s advocacy initiatives. 

I. Good Governance and Transparency​
  • The government will publish three years of DPWH flood control projects, will audit the projects, and file criminal cases against erring contractors.
  • Marcos will not accept a budget (General Appropriations Bill)  that is not aligned with his National Action Plan.
  • Transparency in the bicameral process for the 2026 National Budget
  • The impeachment process against the Vice President, Sara Duterte
  • The Freedom Of Information Act
  • The E-Governance Act
  • Political reforms: dynasty bill, political parties etc. 
  • Roll-out of E-invoicing for BIR
II. General Economy
  • Administration has been tempering inflation
  • Announced that the PH is “ready for investments” 
  • Lack of discussion of the country’s fiscal status (tax collection, tax incentives etc.)
  • Addressing industry effects US-imposed tariffs 
  • Discussion on trade and trade agreements
  • Improving ease of doing business
III. Agriculture and Food Security
  • The government will allot Php 113B for DA programs including farm-to-market roads, irrigation projects, investments on machineries and facilities. 
  • Strengthen checks and balances for traders manipulating prices to  avoid economic sabotage 
  • Increasing production of agri products (i.e. rice, cacao, corn, garlic, onions, pineapple, etc)
  • Introduction of modern farming techniques in collaboration with DOST such as inter-cropping and off-season farming to aid farmers to have income all-year round. 
  • Providing scholarships for agriculture, emphasizing the importance of creating a career path and appealing to youth. 
  • Continued implementation of food voucher  feeding program for children and students (Walang Gutom 2027). 
  • No mention of any updates to the Rice Tariffication Law – addressing low farmgate prices of palay and influx of unchecked cheaper imported rice – making it difficult for local rice farmers to compete. 
  • Overreliance on rice importation. 
  • Concrete strategy on manipulation of prices by traders and ensuring fair income for local farmers.
IV. Energy
  • PH power prices continue to be high
  • Continued clean energy push (solar, windmill, natural gas)
  • The electrification program led to 2.5 homes with electricity (from 5M before the administration began). 
  • Promotion of Net metering program
  • Inclusion of all 4P beneficiaries in the government’s Lifeline rate program.
  • Transmission issues not mentioned (MBC’s position is that PBBM should issue an EO allowing BOT for transmission lines)
  • Specific reforms in EPIRA and regulation for natural gas not mentioned. 
  • No update on government’s RE targets (35% by 2030, 50% by 2040)
  • Implementation of EVOSS as well as addressing delayed power projects were not raised. 
V. Infrastructure and Transport
  • Return of love bus pilot is ongoing in Davao and Cebu (fully subsidized fares). 
  • Bataan-Cavite interlink bridge will begin construction. Mariveles to NAIC travel time will be reduced from 4-5 hrs to 43 mins. 
  • SLEX extension will be utilized in 2026 (Batangas to Quezon) 
  • Implementation and improvements to right of way acquisition not mentioned. 
  • Reasons for delays to MRT 7 extension 
  • No mention of subway progress
  • Counterpart funding allotted for foreign assisted projects removed from the 2025 national budget was not addressed.
VI. Education and Skills
  • Strengthening  of Early Childhood Care and Development Act
  • More funding for education in rural areas 
  • Private sector support to fund additional classrooms
  • Provision of internet access to at least 12,000 public schools before year end.
  • Signing of the Enterprise Based Training Act IRR 
  • TVET to be included in senior highschool programs with financial assistance for students 
  • Additional Php 60 billion budget for free college and TVET education.
  • Presidential Merit Scholarship for high honors
  • Highlight on proper implementation of Enterprise Based Training Act to address industry-academe gaps and pathways for workforce development (The private sector is ready to support industry-led skills development initiatives)
  • Passage of the Life-long Learning Development Act 
  •  Strengthening the Philippine Qualifications Framework
VI. Digital Economy and Broadband

Digital Economy & Technology

  • eGov app launched in 2023 with almost 40 govt agency and LGU services (driver’s license renewal, philhealth, pag-ibig, airport, national ID, etc.) integrated into the app. 
  •  NBI clearance, Beep card, and BIR e-TIN will soon be added to the eGov app. 

Internet / Broadband Connectivity

  • Expansion of free Wifi and load for students
  • 1 million Bayanihan SIM cards distributed in 2025 containing free data. 
  • Phases 1-3 of national fiber backbone completed to speed up Internet
  • From 4,000 free Wifi sites in June 2022 to almost 19,000 at present
  • Expansion of cell towers
  • DICT & DepEd to ensure connectivity in all public schools by end of 2025
  • Regulation of artificial intelligence
  • Addressing online gambling 
  • Cybersecurity Bill (to build capacity to respond to threats)
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