PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. defended his administration’s swift response to the escalating Middle East conflict during his fifth State of the Nation Address (SONA) on Monday, emphasizing safety nets for Filipino seafarers, proactive energy diplomacy, and domestic infrastructure upgrades.
Speaking before a joint session of Congress at the Batasang Pambansa, Marcos reported that quick diplomatic intervention allowed the country to prioritize the safety of thousands of Filipino maritime workers stranded or operating in conflict zones.
The president confirmed that high-level bilateral talks with Iranian authorities helped secure safe passage for Philippine-flagged vessels and crew members traversing the Strait of Hormuz, a major shipping lane for global oil and gas supplies.
“We also held discussions with Iran for the safety of our thousands of fellow seafarers in the Strait of Hormuz. In the midst of such trials, your safety and welfare will remain our top priority. Your government will always remain focused and ready to assist,” Marcos said in Tagalog.
The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) reported last July 18 that around 3,000 Filipino seafarers onboard 400 ships remain stranded in the Strait of Hormuz following its closure as a result of renewed hostilities between United States and Iran.
Meanwhile, the agency reported that 3,718 Filipino seafarers had successfully exited the Strait of Hormuz. This was in part of the United Nations’ safe-passage program for ships.
Marcos added that the administration’s immediate diplomatic intervention cushioned the economic fallout from the closure of the Strait of Hormuz.
Through agreements with alternative trade partners, the government secured enough fuel reserves to protect the domestic market against immediate supply shortages.
“In spite of the Strait of Hormuz blockade, we were able to buy and import from several countries such as Japan, South Korea, Oman, India, even Russia, and China. Because of this, we ensured that our national supply remained sufficient for nearly two months,” he said.
The president noted that local oil companies cooperated with government directives to stagger price increases rather than passing on sudden, sharp spikes to consumers, followed by mandatory price rollbacks when global oil markets stabilized.
To reinforce domestic supply chains and reduce freight bottlenecks, Marcos highlighted ongoing investments in maritime and transport infrastructure.
These include major port modernizations — such as expanded regional roll-on/roll-off (Ro-Ro) facilities at the Port of Lucena — and large-scale coastal linkages like the 32-kilometer Bataan-Cavite Interlink Bridge, aimed at bypassing urban traffic to speed up commercial shipping between Central and Southern Luzon.
“Lessons from recent months are clear,” Marcos concluded, stressing that national resilience relies on proactive diplomacy, rapid government response, and persistent infrastructure development.
