Marcos delivers third SONA, addresses high inflation and rice tariffs

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. delivered his third State of the Nation Address (SONA) on Monday, July 22, focusing on steps taken to address high inflation and rice prices.

Marcos acknowledged that despite a record-high paddy rice harvest of 20 million metric tonnes last year, local production is insufficient to meet domestic needs, necessitating imports.

The president emphasized the reduction in tariff rates for imported rice from 35% to 15%, expected to lower prices by P6 to P7 per kilo, though he noted this was a temporary solution.

Marcos highlighted his administration's efforts to boost local farm production and hinted at extending the lower tariffs on rice until the end of the year.

Despite these measures, Pulse Asia surveys show that 76% of Filipinos disapprove of how the administration handled inflation, with only 4% believing the campaign promise of reducing rice prices to P20 per kilo was fulfilled.