President Marcos Jr. Promises Economic Relief and Corruption Crackdown in Fifth State of the Nation Address

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. delivered his fifth State of the Nation Address on July 27, 2026, pledging economic relief for citizens and a crackdown on high level corruption. The President announced that former House speaker Martin Romualdez would face court cases linked to a flood control scandal. This address took place while an impeachment trial against Vice President Sara Duterte is currently in progress.

To combat inflation, Marcos proposed raising the annual personal income tax exemption threshold from P250,000 to P350,000 and abolishing the minimum corporate income tax for small businesses. He also called for a tax amnesty covering unpaid VAT, estate, donor's, and income tax liabilities. Outlets with a center-right lean framed these promises by highlighting critics who questioned how the government would fund such pledges.

On energy, the President sought an immediate amendment to the Electric Power Industry Reform Act to prohibit power distributors from passing system loss charges and associated value added taxes on to consumers. He further suggested that the Philippines revisit nuclear energy production to boost energy security. Senator Erwin Tulfo stated that the Senate Committee on Energy would translate these priorities into legislative action, including a review of the Oil Deregulation Law to increase transparency in fuel pricing.

Marcos also promoted the US-led Pax Silica initiative to create an AI industrial hub and noted that government AI literacy programs have reached 1.8 million individuals. He urged Congress to update the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act to allow for waste-to-energy technologies. Additionally, he called for stronger legislative protections for children against online harms, including pornography and fake news.

The address was met with public demonstrations in Quezon City, where thousands of protesters opposed the Pax Silica project and demanded fair wages. Police reported that at least 51 demonstrators were arrested for vandalism and wearing balaclavas during these protests. Outlets with a center-left lean framed the event by emphasizing the controversy surrounding nuclear energy, waste-to-energy proposals, and the environmental concerns linked to the Pax Silica initiative.