‘NO BIG CHANGES’: Ilonggos say real change lacking as Pres. Marcos hits midpoint

By Rjay Zuriaga Castor and Joseph Bernard A. Marzan

President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. has reached the midpoint of his six-year term, and while some progress has been made, many Ilonggos say they have yet to feel the impact of his key promises—particularly on rice prices, poverty, and basic services.

As Marcos prepares to deliver his third State of the Nation Address (SONA) on Monday, July 28, Daily Guardian spoke to workers, activists, and students on their concerns and expectations at this critical juncture of his presidency.

Elnor Bebit, a traffic enforcer in Iloilo City, said there has been no significant improvement in the lives of ordinary Filipinos under the Marcos administration.

“I haven’t felt any improvement. Since he assumed office, almost everything has become more expensive—from onions to garlic,” Bebit said.

He said he hoped that a Marcos presidency would lower prices and raise wages but has seen neither.

Bebit urged the national government to regularize traffic enforcers to address contractualization and provide essentials like coats and boots to those on the frontlines of peace and order.

He also cited the importance of timely salary payments to prevent financial hardship and avoid reliance on loans just to make ends meet.

Bebit still clings to one of Marcos’ most notable campaign promises—bringing rice prices down to PHP 20 per kilo.

“I hope he fulfills that so the public isn’t left hanging. I hope it’s not just an empty promise,” he said.

Earlier this year, Marcos launched the “Benteng Bigas Meron Na!” program, offering subsidized rice at PHP 20 per kilo for vulnerable groups such as seniors, solo parents, persons with disabilities, indigent families, and minimum wage earners.

The program is currently being piloted in the Visayas region. In Western Visayas, only Guimaras has implemented the PHP 20 per kilo rice so far.

The initiative is a partnership between national and local agencies, subsidizing rice from local farmers to reduce prices while protecting producers.

Rex Simpas, a 42-year-old watch vendor in Iloilo City, welcomed the initial rollout but questioned its long-term viability.

“I hope the program continues. I worry it might just be temporary,” he said.

Simpas added that he has yet to see any real changes under the current administration.

“It feels like nothing has changed. Things have even gotten worse, actually,” he said.

Wages and rising prices

Inday, a 59-year-old street vendor from Arevalo district, called on the president to provide designated vending areas to protect their livelihoods.

“I hope there’s a place for us so we don’t lose our source of income,” she said.

She also expressed concern over the rising cost of goods, which is affecting how she sustains her family and her small business.

Elmer Forro, secretary general of Bagong Alyansang Makabayan Panay, said the administration has failed to address the ongoing economic crisis and rising cost of living.

“We want the economic crisis faced by Filipinos to be addressed,” he said.

Forro called for wage increases in both public and private sectors, citing inflation and regional disparities in income.

As of 2025, minimum daily wages in Western Visayas range from PHP 435 to PHP 550—well below Metro Manila’s PHP 695 daily minimum.

Proposed legislation and labor campaigns are pushing for a nationwide wage hike of PHP 150 to PHP 200 per day, but the bills have yet to pass into law.

Forro also urged the president to protect the 15-kilometer municipal waters from large commercial vessels.

In 2024, a Supreme Court ruling declared key provisions of the Fisheries Code unconstitutional, effectively allowing commercial fishing in municipal waters once reserved for small-scale fishers.

Budget cuts and employment

College student Matt Gonzaga said the education sector is suffering from budget cuts, resulting in a lack of classrooms and resources across state colleges and public schools.

“Some schools are turning to blended or online learning just to accommodate the student population,” he said.

Gonzaga also noted that tuition and miscellaneous fees are rising at private institutions.

For the upcoming school year, 18 to 21 private colleges and universities across Iloilo, Capiz, Aklan, and Antique have reported tuition increases.

He urged the president to increase the education budget, impose a tuition moratorium, and regulate fee hikes.

Rudy Cang, 73, expressed concern over the lack of local employment opportunities, which continues to push Filipinos to seek jobs abroad.

“I hope there will be additional programs to create good jobs for the unemployed,” he said.

While acknowledging the administration’s financial constraints, he believes the Marcos presidency has been moderately successful so far.

“The Marcos administration has been a success. So far, the country is in a relatively okay state,” he said.

When Marcos took office in 2022, the national debt stood at PHP 12.79 trillion, largely driven by pandemic-related spending under the previous administration.

As of April 2025, the debt has risen to PHP 16.75 trillion.

For many Ilonggos, the message is clear: from rice and wages to education and jobs, real change must be felt on the ground.

At this halfway point, the challenge for Marcos is no longer just to lead—but to deliver.

BHWs’ plea

In Quezon City, over 250,000 barangay health workers (BHWs) are calling on the president to prioritize the long-delayed Magna Carta for BHWs in his fourth SONA.

The National Federation of Barangay Health Workers (NFBHW) and UNI Global Union–Philippine Liaison Council (UNI-PLC) issued a joint statement on July 24 urging Marcos to fulfill his promise to prioritize the measure in the 20th Congress.

“We hope that in the Bagong Pilipinas, we would not be left behind,” said NFBHW president Khonan Dark Cerial.

Myrna Gaite, president of the BHW Federation in the National Capital Region, called the four-decade wait an injustice.

“If you truly love barangay health workers, don’t let the broken promises of past administrations be repeated. The time is now,” she said.

UNI-PLC president Roland De La Cruz said the passage of the Magna Carta should be central to the president’s healthcare agenda.

“If we are serious about universal healthcare, we must stop abandoning the very people who make it possible,” he said.

The bill seeks to institutionalize fair compensation, job security, legal protection, training opportunities, and representation for BHWs at local and national levels.

Both houses of the 19th Congress passed their respective versions of the bill earlier this year.

However, the House of Representatives rescinded its earlier adoption of the Senate version in June, just before adjournment.

Under Republic Act No. 7883, BHWs currently receive hazard pay and subsistence allowance, but not the full benefits and protections envisioned in the proposed Magna Carta. (With reports from Daily Guardian interns Reamae Velasco, Frances Salcedo, and JP Jaen)