Marcos Reveals Nation’s Fury as Philippine Floods Dominate State of the Nation Speech
President Marcos’ third State of the Nation address: Domestic focus amid climate‑change crisis
During a 70‑minute address to a joint session of Congress on Monday, Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos emphasized domestic concerns while addressing the nation’s vulnerability to a climate‑driven “new normal.”
Key points of the speech
- Flood‑control projects canceled – Marcos warned that publicly funded projects had failed, citing houses that were “swept away” by the floods and accusing the projects of breeding corruption.
- Public accountability sought – He pledged to demand a full list of failed projects and make the list public, stating that “someone has to pay for the grave damage and corruption.”
- Domestic agenda highlighted – The speech leaned heavily into bread‑and‑butter issues, referencing the disappointment from mid‑term election results in May and noting that the people feel “a sense of defeat and dismay.”
- Future promises unveiled – Marcos outlined plans for the second half of his six‑year term, including 40,000 new classrooms, new power plants, and free dialysis treatments, though he offered little detail.
- Foreign‑policy context omitted – No explicit mention of rising tensions with China over disputed South China Sea areas, an issue that dominated last year’s address. He only noted that the country faced “new threats” to sovereignty and that there are “more allies who can help us in our time of need.”
Political context surrounding the address
- Marcos–Duterte feud – The speech came after a months‑long feud with Vice President Sara Duterte, culminating in the scrapped impeachment trial of the Vice President’s ally and the arrest of ex‑President Rodrigo Duterte for charges at the International Criminal Court.
- Polling dip linked to feud – Marcos had publicly stated he was against the impeachment, yet was unable to intervene. The feud coincided with a sharp dip in President Marcos’s polling numbers.
- High‑profile absences – Several high‑profile allies of Vice President Duterte, including Imee Marcos, did not attend the address.
Climate‑change acknowledgment
Last week, for the first time, President Marcos attributed the recent storms to climate change, noting that “Filipinos will need to learn how to adapt.” He urged long‑term planning to address natural disasters, stressing that the situation is “the way it’s going to be as far as we know for many decades to come.”
Expert commentary
Senior research fellow Michael Henry Yusingco of Ateneo de Manila University praised Marcos’s pledge to tackle corruption around flood‑control projects. He warned that the president will need to place “people in charge who will not be afraid to go after these politicians” for a significant effect on his legacy.
