Ilonggos rally across Panay for alternative People’s SONA

By Juliane Judilla

ILOILO CITY — Hundrey, July 27, as alternative “People’s SONA” activities were held across Panay during President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s fifth State of the Nation Address.

Marcos’ address before a joint session of Congress was his fifth since taking office in 2022 and came after he completed four years of his six-year term. ive and cause-oriented organizations under the Panay People’s SONA Committee led the activities, which began with a forum at the University of the Philippines Visayas Little Theater in Iloilo City.

The forum examined conditions facing farmers, fisherfolk, workers, young people, and church groups.

Speakers said rising prices, low wages, and inadequate government support continued to strain their sectors under the Marcos administration.

Mario Andon of the United Labor Alliance Panay discussed workers’ efforts to recover lost purchasing power amid rising prices and a weakening economy.

“Given the current situation of workers here in Western Visayas, the PHP 550 minimum wage they receive is far too low and is no longer enough to cover their daily needs,” Andon said.

The official daily minimum wage in Western Visayas ranges from PHP 520 for agricultural workers to PHP 550 for employees of nonagricultural establishments with more than 10 workers under a wage order that took effect Nov. 19, 2025. l Baga-ut of Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas-Panay criticized the administration’s response to problems in the agriculture sector.

“At present, the agriculture sector has greatly declined under this administration. Our farmers and fisherfolk continue to suffer from inadequate and insufficient production support, which has had a major impact on their livelihoods,” Baga-ut said.

Drivers and transport workers also discussed their continuing difficulties despite the administration’s promise to improve the country’s public transportation system.

JR Flores of the No to PUV Phaseout Coalition and No to OPH Coalition criticized the implementation of the Public Utility Vehicle Modernization Program.

“Our situation as drivers and small transport operators has become even more difficult under President Bongbong Marcos. Because of the PUV Modernization Program implemented by the administration, more than 12,000 people in Iloilo City alone stand to lose their livelihoods, leaving many families unable to send their children to school. This has been made worse by rising fuel prices brought about by arrangements between the government and fuel cartels. Our livelihood, which provides transportation services to students and workers, is being destroyed,” Flores said.

Following the forum, participants marched to the Iloilo Provincial Capitol, where organizers held another program.

The day’s activities concluded with a live viewing of Marcos’ SONA.

Representatives from different sectors then gave their reactions to the address.

Matt Gonzaga of the National Union of Students of the Philippines-Panay said the president failed to revisit or provide updates on his previous promise to build more classrooms in public schools.

The Department of Education said in March that the Philippines faced a shortage of about 165,000 classrooms. also criticized the administration’s promotion of longer on-the-job training hours, saying the policy further exploited young people through unpaid labor while youth unemployment remained inadequately addressed.

The Philippine Statistics Authority reported that the employment rate among Filipinos ages 15–24 was 87.6% in May, down from 91.5% in May 2025. inosa of the Confederation for Unity, Recognition, and Advancement of Government Employees-Panay pointed to the continued lack of permanent employment and security of tenure in the government workforce.

“Many workers still do not have permanent positions or security of tenure. Some have already served for as long as 15 years but have yet to be regularized,” Espinosa said.

Protests across Panay

In Capiz, sectoral groups and civil society organizations led by Bagong Alyansang Makabayan-Capiz staged a protest at the Plaza Bandstand in Roxas City.

The groups called for stronger anti-corruption measures, higher wages, the impeachment of Vice President Sara Duterte, and an investigation into the demolition of fishing structures in several Roxas City barangays.

They alleged that the demolitions were carried out without public consultation.

Progressive groups in Aklan also staged a protest along Osmeña Avenue in Kalibo.

BAYAN-Aklan said poverty had worsened, corruption persisted, and the prices of basic goods and utility services had increased as Marcos began his fifth year in office.

The group also alleged that human rights violations and red-tagging continued under the administration.

It said the government had failed to provide concrete solutions to problems facing farmers, fisherfolk, and workers.

BAYAN-Aklan also criticized what it described as the administration’s continued subservience to the United States.

Participating groups said the conditions confronting ordinary Filipinos differed sharply from the administration’s narrative.

Workers, transport operators, farmers, fisherfolk, government employees, and students said the alternative People’s SONA provided a platform to raise issues they believed remained unaddressed.

The groups renewed their calls for higher wages, secure livelihoods, genuine agrarian reform, quality public services, and greater government accountability.