Overview
- President Marcos pledged to expand social programs including cheap rice distribution, scholarships and disaster relief in response to voter frustration and recent storms.
- He outlined eight trillion peso flagship infrastructure projects aimed at sustaining growth and attracting investment in the last three years of his term.
- Marcos secured a marginal US tariff reduction to 19 percent with the aim of negotiating further cuts ahead of the August 1 deadline.
- He faces a narrowing legislative window as senators aligned with Vice President Sara Duterte prepare to oppose new tax and fiscal measures.
- The administration will shift its military focus toward external defense in the South China Sea through deeper ties with the United States and other Western partners.