Taxes, floods, nuclear power: Iloilo City execs react to SONA

By Rjay Zuriaga Castor

ILOILO CITY – Iloilo City’s top elected officials expressed support for key policy directions outlined by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. in his fifth State of the Nation Address (SONA), particularly his calls for greater accountability in flood control projects, tax relief for workers, energy reforms, and stronger collaboration with local government units.

Marcos delivered the address on Monday before a joint session of Congress at the Batasang Pambansa Complex in Quezon City.

Lone District Rep. Julienne Baronda said the address underscored that while the administration has achieved significant progress, more work remains to improve the lives of Filipinos.

Rep. Baronda said she would give Marcos a “passing grade,” noting that many of the country’s economic challenges stem from external factors, particularly geopolitical tensions that have driven up fuel prices.

“I am giving [Marcos] a passing grade because much of the economic stress we are faced with, such as the high cost of fuel […] from [the] geopolitical crisis. And there’s so much to be done,” the lawmaker said.

She also voiced support for the president’s directive to investigate alleged irregularities in flood control projects, saying those responsible should be held accountable.

“I agree that the flood control scandal must come to an end and all those responsible should be given their day in court and the people’s money be returned,” Rep. Baronda said.

Marcos said in his address that nearly PHP 25 billion in assets tied to the scandal has been recovered, frozen, or preserved, with more than PHP 800 million returned to the National Treasury.

Rep. Baronda, who also serves as deputy majority leader of the House of Representatives, backed Marcos’ proposal to grant income tax relief to workers earning PHP 350,000 or less annually.

She likewise supported his call to remove system loss charges from electricity bills.

The lawmaker also endorsed the administration’s plan to revisit nuclear energy, saying it could help address power supply concerns in the Visayas and strengthen the country’s long-term energy security.

Marcos asked Congress to raise the annual income tax exemption threshold from PHP 250,000 to PHP 350,000, a floor set under the 2018 tax reform law, as part of efforts to ease the financial burden on low- and middle-income earners.

He also sought an immediate amendment to the Electric Power Industry Reform Act to bar distribution utilities from passing system loss charges, and the value-added tax attached to them, on to consumers.

Mayor Raisa Treñas-Chu welcomed the president’s recognition of local government units, saying it reflects the national government’s trust in local governments as frontline partners in delivering public services and responding to crises.

She noted that Iloilo City has been selected to pilot several national government initiatives, including the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s ProtecTEEN program, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources’ Project TRANSFORM and its in-situ real-time water quality monitoring pilot, and the Department of Health’s digital health platform.

Treñas-Chu also lauded the administration’s Oplan Kontra Baha initiative, which provides temporary employment to local residents while helping mitigate flooding.

The program focuses on flood mitigation and waterway cleanup, with workers deployed to clear canals, creeks, and rivers in flood-prone barangays.

“This is important to us because flooding remains one of the main concerns faced by the city,” she said.

Vice Mayor Lady Julie Grace Baronda also welcomed the president’s emphasis on accountability and good governance, describing them as essential foundations of national development.

She stressed that public office is a public trust and said transparency and integrity should continue to guide local governance.

“I hold firm to the principle that public office is a public trust. Indeed, transparency and integrity go hand in hand in guiding our work for the Ilonggo people,” she said.

Vice Mayor Baronda said the Sangguniang Panlungsod has translated national priorities into local legislation through measures such as establishing local emergency hotlines for disaster response and institutionalizing incentives for students, among other ordinances aimed at improving governance, economic development, and public service delivery.

She added that closer collaboration between the national and local governments remains crucial to ensuring that development reaches communities and benefits residents across Iloilo City.

“Progress is a shared responsibility. Through accountability and unwavering service, we can build a more progressive Iloilo City,” she said.

Marcos’ fifth SONA covered governance, infrastructure, social services, and economic reforms, and emphasized closer coordination between the national government and local government units in delivering public programs.