Ilonggos want lower prices, jobs, less corruption in SONA

By Rjay Zuriaga Castor and Francis Allan L. Angelo

Lower fuel prices, affordable food, stronger anti-corruption measures, and more livelihood opportunities are among the top expectations of Ilonggos as President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. prepares to deliver his fifth State of the Nation Address (SONA) on Monday, July 27.

Drivers, market vendors, workers, and student leaders in Iloilo City said they want the President to go beyond enumerating government accomplishments and instead present concrete solutions to the rising cost of living, corruption, and other issues affecting ordinary Filipinos.

Roy Cubos, a company driver, said he hopes Marcos will announce measures to lower fuel prices, noting that transport workers continue to struggle as rising operating costs reduce their daily earnings.

“Ang akon lang sa SONA ya is magpanubo siya sang gatong, amo lang na sa amon nga mga drayber. Kung layo ang imo dalaganon, pila lang nga litro imo magamit. Budlay man sa amon nga mga drayber,” he said.

Tricycle driver Royet echoed the same appeal, saying he also hopes for lower electricity rates and cheaper rice and other basic commodities to ease the burden on ordinary families.

Iloilo City Councilor Rex Marcus Sarabia said he expects the President to present a comprehensive plan to stabilize the country’s energy supply, arguing that energy security is directly linked to economic growth.

“We have record-high inflation; we are the earliest or the only country that declared an energy emergency […] We have not addressed the energy issue and the energy issue is tied principally to the economy,” he said.

“How could we expect a thriving economy if the energy issue is not addressed? There is war, then peace, and war again. We had all the opportunity to stabilize the fuel price. I am expecting an answer from the president,” Sarabia added.

He warned that prolonged inflation continues to erode the purchasing power of ordinary Filipinos and could delay the country’s economic progress if left unaddressed.

“I am expecting answers, and we need answers soon because if not, we will be wiped out, it will delay the progress of the country, and worse, if we cannot address it now, we will lock future generations into permanent poverty,” Sarabia said.

The Philippines experienced sharp increases in fuel prices during the first half of the year, largely driven by geopolitical tensions and armed conflicts in the Middle East that disrupted global oil markets.

Effective July 21, pump prices rose by PHP 10.68 per liter for diesel, PHP 3.65 per liter for gasoline, and PHP 11.77 per liter for kerosene.

As of July 14, year-to-date net increases reached PHP 46.27 per liter for gasoline, PHP 39.75 per liter for diesel, and PHP 36.62 per liter for kerosene.

Earlier in March, Marcos declared a state of national energy emergency to enable the government to take faster and more coordinated action to stabilize fuel supplies, prevent hoarding and profiteering, and protect critical sectors such as transportation, agriculture, food, and health care.

Meanwhile, Janet, a vendor at Jaro Public Market, urged the government to expand livelihood programs and provide capital assistance to small entrepreneurs.

She said many vendors operate with limited capital and need government support to sustain their businesses and improve their daily income.

“Bisan i-kapital lang parehas lang sa amon bi nga mga naga-negosyo, waay kami sang kapital nga dako. Gamay-gamay lang gid. Ti amu na ang [gina-agyan namon] adlaw-adlaw nga pangabuhi,” she said.

Phoebus Monsarae, a bolantero, also called for programs that would create jobs and livelihood opportunities within communities so residents would no longer have to leave their hometowns in search of work.

“Gaan niya ang mga tawo sang lugar para makabulig man siya. Kag ang pamuluyo hatagan niya sang lugar diri para indi na maghalin-halin,” she said.

In Iloilo City, bolanteros have struggled to earn a steady income because of stricter market enforcement, displacement from traditional selling areas, and a rotational “Market Day” system that limits where and when they can sell.

The city’s clearing operations pushed many ambulant vendors away from sidewalks and roadside selling areas, requiring them to follow designated and rotating market schedules instead of selling daily.

Bolanteros said the arrangement has reduced their income because they depend on day-to-day sales to support their families.

Rodney Roa, a mechanic, criticized what he described as the administration’s failure to deliver meaningful improvements for ordinary Filipinos, saying the remaining years of the President’s term should focus on solving pressing national problems instead of political distractions.

“Tama ka kulang subong sang iya nga performance, sa iya mga ginapang-hatag nga kamay-uhan sa aton nga pungsod. Daw mas gina-paboran ya pa ang iya nga kaugalingon, kontra sa pang-hatag nga kamay-uhan sa aton mga pumuluy-o sa Pilipinas,” he said.

Roa added that he wants Marcos to fulfill his campaign promises by intensifying the fight against corruption, particularly by investigating controversial flood control projects and ensuring public funds are properly spent.

Student leader Reaven Blaire Siasat called on Marcos to discuss the controversial Pax Silica project, arguing that it poses environmental risks and threatens the livelihoods of affected communities.

The Pax Silica initiative is a U.S.-led effort aimed at strengthening supply chains for semiconductors, artificial intelligence, rare earth minerals, and other critical technologies.

The Philippines joined the initiative, with plans announced for a 4,000-acre industrial hub in New Clark City, Tarlac, under the Luzon Economic Corridor.

The proposal has drawn criticism from various groups, which argue that it could expand U.S. influence, increase mining activities and land conversion, and tie the country more closely to military-linked manufacturing.

Environmental advocates have also raised concerns over increased water consumption, higher electricity demand, land conversion, and potential impacts on watersheds and surrounding communities.

Siasat also urged the President to address concerns over the education budget, allegations of corruption involving public officials, and the impact of rising oil prices on transport workers and consumers.

The student leader said he has low expectations for this year’s SONA, citing what he believes is a lack of significant accomplishments from the administration.

“I don’t expect anything, because from the past years I don’t see any accomplishments nor any progress that has happened in our country, most especially nga maka-apekto or makapa-bulig [on] people of the Philippines,” he said.

 

SURVEY

The sentiments in Iloilo City mirror a nationwide shift captured in two recent Pulse Asia surveys, which show Filipinos increasingly looking beyond prices toward jobs and cleaner governance ahead of the SONA.

The latest survey, commissioned by the Stratbase Group, found growing demand for employment opportunities and anti-corruption measures from the national government, reinforcing the themes that Filipinos also want the President to address in his SONA.

Conducted from June 28 to July 3 and 6, 2026 among 2,400 respondents, the survey found that three in 10 Filipinos identified making food more affordable, particularly staples such as rice, meat, and fish, as the national government’s top priority in addressing concerns in their local communities.

While food prices remained the leading concern, the figure marked an 11-percentage-point decline from 41 percent in a similar March 2026 survey.

The proportion of respondents who said the government should lessen or eliminate corruption to provide better services increased to 28 percent from 26 percent in March, while those who prioritized creating more jobs and livelihood opportunities rose to 28 percent from 24 percent.

The findings mirror a separate Pulse Asia survey released Friday, which found that Filipinos want the President to focus primarily on combating corruption, particularly by holding accountable those involved in the flood control projects controversy, followed closely by ensuring affordable basic goods.

Taken together, the two surveys suggest that while inflation concerns are beginning to ease, Filipinos are increasingly looking beyond prices and expecting stronger governance, accountability, and economic opportunities.

Stratbase Group President Victor Andres “Dindo” Manhit said the convergence of the two Pulse Asia surveys reflected an evolving set of public expectations as the administration entered its final two years in office.

“The message from Filipinos is remarkably consistent. They want government to sustain efforts to keep food affordable, but they are also demanding stronger action against corruption and more opportunities for decent jobs. These are no longer separate concerns but interconnected expectations of effective governance,” he said.

The Stratbase-commissioned survey also found that 14 percent of respondents identified improving access to education and healthcare services as the government’s primary responsibility, up from 10 percent in the previous survey.

The decline in concern over food prices was observed across most regions, particularly in Balance Luzon, where the figure fell from 46 percent in March to 30 percent in July, and in Mindanao, where it dropped from 46 percent to 26 percent.

Calls for more employment opportunities became more pronounced nationwide, with the sharpest increase in Balance Luzon, where support for prioritizing job creation climbed 16 percentage points to 30 percent.

Concern over corruption also registered gains, particularly in Mindanao, where the share of respondents citing it as the government’s top priority doubled from 16 percent in March to 32 percent in July.

Residents of the National Capital Region remained the most likely to prioritize affordable food prices, with 36 percent choosing it as the government’s foremost responsibility, followed by Balance Luzon at 30 percent, the Visayas at 28 percent, and Mindanao at 26 percent.

Mindanao respondents were the most likely to prioritize fighting corruption, with 32 percent selecting it as the government’s primary task.

The Visayas recorded the highest proportion of respondents who cited education and healthcare as their top concern, at 20 percent.

The survey also highlighted differences across socioeconomic classes.

Among Class E respondents, 44 percent identified affordable food prices as the government’s top priority, compared with 30 percent among Class D and 19 percent among Class ABC.

Higher-income respondents were more likely to prioritize governance issues, with around 34 percent of Class ABC respondents citing corruption as the government’s foremost responsibility, compared with 28 percent in Class D and 20 percent in Class E.

Job creation was identified as the top priority by 30 percent of Class ABC respondents, 27 percent of Class D, and 26 percent of Class E.

For Manhit, the numbers suggested that the next political test for the Marcos administration, now in its last two years, “will not simply be keeping inflation under control, but convincing Filipinos that it can translate economic stability into better jobs, cleaner governance, and more responsive public services.”

“They want an economy that creates opportunities and a government that is transparent, accountable, and capable of delivering results. Meeting these expectations will be critical in sustaining public trust,” he added.