Cheyenne Suarez

Toned-down SONA long overdue, lawmakers say

Article (news)

Johnson Manabat

ABS-CBN News

Some lawmakers agreed with the decision of the Marcos administration to tone down the preparations for his 4th State of the Nation Address (SONA) this year. Sen. Kiko Pangilinan said it is long overdue in having a simple conduct of the SONA.&quot;Dapat lahat ng SONA ganito...simple lang di ba?&quot; Pangilinan told reporters.<div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/7/28/marcos-jr-s-4th-sona-in-touch-with-realities-we-live-in-right-now-sandro-marcos-1547">Marcos Jr.’s 4th SONA ‘in touch with realities we live in right now’: Sandro Marcos</a></div>Pangilinan hopes that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. would also include in his priority projects the welfare of Filipino farmers and fisherfolk, and address the online gambling problem.&quot;Sana yung problema ng mataas na presyo ng bigas, yung problema ng ating mga magsasaka at magingisda. Yung usapin ng online gambling - napakaraming pamilya ang nawawasak. Ako mismo, may personal na kilala at yung pamilya niya na nagpakamatay dahil nga nalulong dito sa online gambling,&quot; he said.Senator Camille Villar said she wishes to be part of the solution of the administration to the country&#x27;s problems.&quot;I&#x27;m looking forward what he has planned...maraming kailangang gawin para sa bansa, we are looking forward to be a part of the solution. I think it would be best that he is tackling his programs moving forward. The social programs that he has - infrastructure and anything that contributes to the development,&quot; according to Villar.<div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/7/28/hundreds-of-cops-deployed-to-secure-marcos-sona-1352">Hundreds of cops deployed to Commonwealth to secure Marcos SONA </a></div>&quot;Okay naman para magtrabaho na tayo,&quot; Villar said when asked her thoughts on the toned down SONA this year.Meantime, Senator Jinggoy Estrada is hopeful that Marcos will stand firm against the China on the issue of the West Philippine Sea (WPS).&quot;Yung firm stand ng gobyerno sa continuous bullying ng mga Chinese dito sa ating teritoryo,&quot; said Estrada.

Some lawmakers agreed with the decision of the Marcos administration to tone down the preparations for his 4th State of the Nation Address (SONA) this year.

Some lawmakers agreed with the decision of the Marcos administration to tone down the preparations for his 4th State of the Nation Address (SONA) this year.