How do we give our children a better future through education?” Villanueva said in a statement.
He said Filipinos, who continue to grapple with rising costs and economic uncertainty, are pinning their hopes on the government.
As of May, the unemployment rate rose to 4.8 percent, or an equivalent 2.5 million jobless Filipinos, Villanueva said.
Underemployment is at 12.2 percent, or 6.04 million Filipinos who seek more hours of work or an extra job.
Hunger incidence, according to the March Social Weather Stations survey was at 23.2 percent, higher than the November 2025’s 20.1 percent.
Inflation is at 6.4 percent in June 2026, way higher compared to 1.4 percent in June 2025, Villanueva said.
Old challenges continue to hound the education sector, such as low literacy rate, lack of classrooms, and low Math and reading proficiency.
Villanueva added that recent shooting incidents and violence in schools have also become a serious concern.
“Real challenges call for real action. The nation’s biggest problems can’t wait,” he said. “The best anti-poverty program is a decent job. The best way to fight hunger is to ensure that every Filipino who wants to work has access to job opportunities.” “At the end of the day, the measure of any SONA is simple: Will it bring more jobs, put food on the table, and give every Filipino child a better future?” Villanueva said.
Akbayan Rep. Chel Diokno echoed Villanueva’s call, saying the president must go beyond “promises and empty rhetoric.” In a statement issued Sunday, Diokno said real commitment to fighting corruption must be shown by ensuring that all those responsible for the misuse of public funds are held accountable “whether they are allies or not.” Marcos first took a swipe at those allegedly involved in the corruption-tainted flood control projects.
“If the president is indeed serious about eradicating corruption and strengthening accountability, he must ensure that all those responsible for the abuse of public funds are held accountable and put behind bars, whether they are allies or not,” Diokno said.
“He should also push for the passage of meaningful reforms, including measures to strengthen the party-list system so that it truly represents marginalized and underrepresented sectors,” he said.
On the economy, Diokno said Marcos should outline concrete and actionable measures to address the soaring cost of living, persistent inflation, increasing fuel and electricity prices, and the continuing lack of quality jobs, stressing that Filipinos need meaningful and lasting relief from these economic pressures.
The president must also put more focus on the education sector.
“He should present clear and comprehensive initiatives to improve learning outcomes, address the classroom shortage, and ensure that schools are safe and conducive to learning for both students and teachers,” Diokno said.
Senior Deputy Majority Leader JV Ejercito, meanwhile, urged the president to use his fifth SONA to announce reforms that directly address the country’s most pressing problems.
“There’s no more time for beating around the bush. In the final two years of his administration, hopefully his SONA will be more than just promises. The people are tired of promises that all too often go unfulfilled,” Ejercito said in a statement Sunday.
At the top of Ejercito’s wishlist is a decisive crackdown on corruption in flood control projects.
He said the controversy has eroded public trust in government infrastructure spending.
“The public has developed trust issues with infrastructure projects that were supposed to drive our country’s economic growth. What are we still waiting for? For the people to bring the floodwaters from their communities all the way to Malacañang?” Ejercito said.
He also renewed his call for the passage of Senate Bill 2, or the Masterplan for Infrastructure and National Development Bill.
The measure seeks to institutionalize a long-term national infrastructure framework that will guide the planning and implementation of major projects, particularly flood control and transportation.
Ejercito said corruption should not derail the country’s infrastructure agenda, especially as the country continues to lag behind its Southeast Asian neighbors because of poor infrastructure.
“What is needed is strong political will and a long-term approach to addressing the problem — not piecemeal engineering solutions that change with every new administration,” he said.
Ejercito said he also hopes Marcos will announce more PhilHealth benefits that will allow the state insurer to shoulder 60 to 70 percent of hospital bills.
More police personnel Police Regional Office-Central Luzon will send 1,500 police personnel to Metro Manila to augment security operations today.
Police reinforcements from the Regional Mobile Force Battalion-3, and units from Bulacan, Pampanga, Nueva Ecija and Tarlac will be deployed.