President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s recent State of the Nation Address (SONA) struck a chord that resonates with both hope and skepticism. His admission of corruption in the government’s flood control projects—a flagship initiative touted in last year’s SONA as a triumph with 5,500 completed projects—marks a sharp pivot. Yet, it also raises a piercing question: Why only now? After years of systemic graft, with floodwaters rising to rooftops in Metro Manila and across Luzon, the President’s sudden resolve to “expose” those involved feels like a belated reckoning. The tone of his speech attempts to flip the narrative—from a leader presiding over unchecked corruption to one championing accountability. But for Filipinos drowning in the consequences of mismanagement, this shift rings hollow without action.

Last year, Marcos boasted of the flood control projects as a cornerstone of his administration’s progress. Yet, within a week, Metro Manila and Luzon’s provinces were submerged, exposing the hollowness of those claims. Billions of pesos, funneled into these projects, seemingly vanished into the pockets of political allies, leaving communities vulnerable to nature’s wrath. The President’s inner circle, long entrenched in power, has been implicated in this rot for years. If corruption is now to be exposed, why has it taken this long to acknowledge what the public has known for decades? These are not faceless bureaucrats but allies—politicians whose influence has thrived under Marcos’ watch.

The promise of investigations sounds promising, but history breeds cynicism. Time and again, probes into government corruption fizzle out, buried under bureaucratic inertia or political convenience. The Filipino people deserve more than theatrics; they deserve results. Poverty remains a festering wound, with millions struggling while those in power grow wealthier. The Marcos administration, like its predecessors, was elected to serve, not to siphon the nation’s wealth. The billions allocated for flood control should have built resilient infrastructure, not lined the pockets of the elite.

Mr. President, your words in this year’s SONA signal a desire to confront corruption, but words alone cannot stem the tide. The Filipino people are weary of promises. They demand transparency, accountability, and tangible progress. Fix the government. Redirect the people’s money to where it belongs—education, healthcare, infrastructure, and poverty alleviation. You and your allies have held power for decades, yet the question lingers: What have you done to lift the nation from its struggles? The next generation’s prosperity hangs in the balance. Be the servant leader you were elected to be. Stop the corruption. Serve the Filipinos.
Be worthy of their trust.

(TAMBULI NG BAYAN- Ronnie Estrada) #foryouシ #BagongPilipinas #Kongreso #SenadoNgPH #BongbongMarcos #MartinRomualdez #PCO #ClaireCastro