Marcos sees spike in agri smuggling as national security threat
Tiu Laurel said Marcos already directed law enforcement and intelligence agencies to assist the Department of Agriculture (DA) in addressing the illicit trade, which affects the country's food security.
'The President has directed the DA to throw the book at the consignees and all those involved in smuggling these agricultural products. By the end of the year, we hope to see many of those responsible handcuffed, facing charges,' Tiu Laurel said in a press release.
He said Marcos is concerned about the damage these market-disruptive practices cause to local farmers, fisherfolk, and legitimate businesses.
'This not only harms the economy but fosters corruption at multiple levels,' the DA chief said.
Tiu Laurel said he already met with newly appointed Bureau of Customs Commissioner Ariel Nepomuceno, National Security Adviser Secretary Eduardo Año, Philippine National Police Chief Gen. Nicolas Torre, and representatives from the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) ''to devise strategies for targeting smuggling syndicates.''
He added that customs brokers would also face legal consequences as part of efforts to enforce the Anti-Agricultural Economic Sabotage Law, the Food Safety Act, and the Customs Code.
Imported goods, primarily from the Port of Xiamen, are under heightened scrutiny as most of the smuggled goods are shipped out of the Chinese port, according to Tiu Laurel. —LDF, GMA Integrated News
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No mention of online gambling in SONA 2025 a ‘missed opportunity', says senators
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SONA 2025: Infrastructure projects to continue, vows Marcos
President Ferdinand 'Bongbong' Marcos Jr. during his State of the Nation Address on Monday said the completion of the government's big-ticket infrastructure projects will continue even beyond his term. 'Asahan ninyo, magpapatuloy ang malawakang programang pang-imprastraktura ng Administrasyon,' Marcos said in his fourth SONA at the Batasang Pambansa. (You should expect that the administration's extensive infrastructure initiative will continue.) 'Ang mga naglalakihang proyekto ay nakalatag na sa buong kapuluan. Mga daan, tulay, tren, paliparan, pantalan, patubig, at murang pabahay. Ilan dito, matatapos ngayong administrasyon. Ang iba naman, makukumpleto at mararamdaman ang dalang ginhawa pagkatapos na ng aking termino,' the President said. (Big-ticket projects are already in place in the entire archipelago. These are roads, bridges, trains, airports, seaports, waterworks, and affordable housing. Some of these will be completed before the end of my administration while some will be finished and its benefits will be felt by the end of my term.) Marcos assured the government is investing for the county's future. 'We are not building only for today, but we are building for tomorrow,' he said. The President cited the ongoing North-South Commuter Railway and the Metro Manila Subway projects. 'Patuloy din ang pagpapaganda natin sa serbisyo ng MRT at LRT (Service improvements at the MRT and LRT are ongoing as well),' he said. The country's chief touted the increased fare discounts for students, seniors, and PWDs to 50% as well as the 1+3 'Pamilya Pass' every Sunday at the LRT and MRT systems. Marcos added the administration is working on operationalizing the idle Dalian trains for MRT-3, which were purchased in 2014. 'Halos singkwentang dagdag na karwahe ang natengga nang sampung taon. Sayang ang pera. Sayang ang isang dekada. Pero ngayon, naayos na natin. Ang tatlong bagon ay nagagamit na ngayon. Asahan ninyo, ang ilan sa apatnapu't lima ay magagamit na rin natin bago matapos ang taong ito; at ang iba ay sa susunod na taon naman,' Marcos said. (Almost 50 additional carriages lay idle for 10 years. That was money and a decade wasted. But now we were able to fix them. Three trains are now operational. You can expect some of the remaining 45 carriages will be added before the year ends; and the rest will be running in 2026.) Bataan-Cavite bridge Marcos said the multi-billion dollar Bataan-Cavite Interlink Bridge will begin construction before the year ends. 'Kung ang biyahe ngayon mula Mariveles hanggang Naic ay umaabot nang limang oras, balang araw ito ay magiging apatnapu't limang minuto na lamang,' he said. (If the current travel time from Mariveles, Bataan to Naic, Cavite is five hours long, it will be shortened to just 45 minutes.) Spanning a distance of 32.15 kilometers, the project is poised to provide a strategic convergence between Regions III and IV-A, fostering greater economic growth and improved tourism. 'Ang mga riles ng PNR Bicol Line na sinira ng bagyong Kristine ay unti-unting pinatibay at naa-ayos na, kasama na ang Binahan Bridge. Hindi magtatagal, madadagdagan pa ang haba ng linya nito, at aabot na sa Ragay, Camarines Sur hanggang Tagkawayan, Quezon,' Marcos said. (The rails of PNR Bicol Line that were damaged by Typhoon Kristine are being reinforced and repaired. It won't take long until its line will be extended further reaching Ragay, Camarines Sur up to Tagkawayan, Quezon.) The President said the project will ease traffic congestion for motorists going between Quezon province and the Bicol Region. SLEX extension Marcos added that the extension of the South Luzon Expressway (SLEX) from Sto. Tomas, Batangas to Tiaong, Quezon will be completed by 2026. 'Kapag natapos ang buong proyekto, ang dating apat na oras na biyahe, magiging isang oras na lamang,' he said. 'Kaya ina-atasan ko ang DOTr at DPWH na bantayang mabuti ang mga proyekto sa kahabaan ng Quezon patulak ng Bicol, at tiyaking tama ang kalidad, matibay, at nasa takdang oras ng pagtatapos,' he added. (When the project is finished, what used to be a four-hour trip will just be an hour. That's why I directed the DOTr and DPWH to closely supervise these projects from Quezon to Bicol in order to ensure quality, durability and on time completion.) Mindanao projects In his SONA, the country's chief executive also mentioned the infrastructure projects in Mindanao. 'Ang Nalil-Sikkiat Bridge, na una sa tatlong mahahalagang tulay na ginagawa ngayon sa Tawi-Tawi, ay nabuksan na,' Marcos said. 'Sa susunod na taon, ang tulay sa Malassa-Lupa Pula naman ang matatapos,' he added. (The Nalil-Sikkiat Bridge, the first of three important bridges being constructed in Tawi-Tawi, has been opened. Next year, the Malassa-Lupa Pula Bridge will be completed.) The President said the government is also working on the Mindanao Transport Connectivity Improvement Project. 'Sa proyektong ito, aayusin natin ang mga pangunahing daan na nag-uugnay sa Cagayan de Oro, Davao, at General Santos, na may haba na apat na raan at dalawampu't walong kilometro,' Marcos said. (This project will address the primary road linking Cagayan de Oro, Davao and General Santos City that has a length of 428 kilometers.) Guadalupe Bridge rehab The President said he will not allow the rehabilitation of the Guadalupe Bridge to be stalled further to the next administration. 'Nasa Senado pa lamang ako, pinag-uusapan na ito. Hindi ko na papayagang tumawid pa ito ng isa pang administrasyon. Kaligtasan na ng publiko ang nakataya,' Marcos said. 'Hindi po isasara ang Guadalupe Bridge. Gagawa muna tayo ng detour bridge sa magkabilang gilid bilang pansamantalang daanan. Kapag nagawa na at binuksan na ang detour bridge, doon pa lamang sisimulan ang trabaho sa main bridge,' he said. (This was already being planned since I was in the Senate. I will not allow this issue to reach yet another administration. Public safety is at stake here. Guadalupe Bridge will not be closed. A detour bridge will be constructed on opposite ends as a temporary measure. Once the detour bridge is finished, we will start work on the main bridge.) Hanging bridges 'At sa kabila ng mga higanteng tulay na ito, huwag nating kaliligtaan ang mga hanging bridge sa iba't ibang lugar sa ating bansa,' Marcos said. 'Mahalaga ang mga ito sa pang-araw-araw na buhay ng publiko, lalo na sa mga guro at estudyante. Ilan ang nabalitaan kong insidente ng pagbagsak ng mga tulay na ganito. Halimbawa, iyong nangyari sa Midsalip, Zamboanga del Sur, at sa iba pang mga lugar, Kawawa naman ang mga kababayan nating walang kamalay-malay na nabiktima at nasaktan, na pawang mga batang mag-aaral at kanilang mga guro,' the President said. (Aside from these giant bridges, we have not forgotten the hanging bridges in several parts of the country. These serve the daily lives of the public, especially teachers and students. I have received reports of these bridges of this type falling. An example is that of Midsalip, Zamboanga del Sur and other places. What happened to our countrymen such as teachers and students, is saddening.) The President said he has tasked the Department of the Interior and Local Government, Department of Public Works and Highways, and Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation, and Unity to look into the condition of these hanging bridges. 'Sa tulong ng PAMANA (PAyapa at MAsaganang PamayaNAn) at iba pang mga programa, ayusin at kumpunihin natin agad,' Marcos said. (With the help of PAMANA, and other programs, we will fix and inspect these immediately.) Cabagan-Sta. Maria Bridge Marcos said corruption in administering government projects will not be overlooked, citing the collapsed Cabaga-Sta. Maria Bridge in Isabela. 'Ang kapalpakan sa pagdisenyo at sa pagkakagawa; Ang mababang kalidad at marupok na mga materyales; Ang pagka-antala ng proyekto; at ang kapabayaan sa tamang pagmentina at pagkumpuni,' he said. 'Halimbawa, ang Cabagan-Sta. Maria bridge sa Isabela na sinimulan noong 2014. Ginastusan ng taumbayan ng isang bilyon. Sampung taong buksan, ilang araw pa lang, giba na agad. Ang mahal. Ang tagal ginawa. Ang bilis nasira,' he added. (The sloppy design and construction; the low quality and poor quality of materials; the delays in the project; and the careless maintenance and repair. For example, the Cabagan-Sta. Maria Bridge in Isabela that began in 2014. Taxpayers paid P1 billion. It took 10 years to finish. After it opened, in just a few days, it collapsed. It was expensive and took a long time to build. It quickly fell down.) Marcos, meanwhile, cited the San Juanico Bridge —a legacy project of his father and namesake— built about 50 years ago. 'Ang San Juanico Bridge naman: limampung taon na, nakatayo pa rin hanggang ngayon. Ganoon siya katibay. Ngunit nakaligtaan naman ang wastong pagmentina at pagkumpuni sa pagdaan ng mga dekada. Nalagay pa tuloy sa panganib ang publiko. Hindi dapat ganito,' he said. (The San Juanico Bridge: After 50 years, it still stands. It's a tough bridge. But through the decades its maintenance and repair have been neglected. This has placed the public at risk. It should not be like this.) 'Sa Build Better More, higit ang kapakanan at kaligtasan ng mamamayan. Ang mga proyekto, tama dapat ang disenyo. Mataas dapat ang kalidad. Natatapos dapat sa takdang oras. At naaalagaan at namementinang mabuti,' he added. (Under Build Better More, the welfare and safety of the people are the priority. The projects should be properly designed. Their quality should be high. They should be finished within the allotted time. And undergo proper care and maintenance.) — RF, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
40 minutes ago
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SONA 2025: Highlights from President Marcos' speech
President Marcos said in his fourth SONA that social services must be delivered quickly to the people. In his fourth State of the Nation Address (SONA), President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. provided an overview of the administration's accomplishments and outlined an ambitious roadmap for the remainder of his term, anchored on poverty alleviation, economic resilience, energy access, agricultural support, and education reform. Marcos said the government should act quickly and efficiently in delivering results. Below are the key takeaways from Marcos' speech: P20-per-kilo rice nationwide Marcos announced the nationwide rollout of ?20 rice per kilo through hundreds of KADIWA centers, after successful pilots across Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao. "Sa mga nagtatanong kung nasaan na ang beinte pesos na bigas? Ito ang aking tugon (To those who are asking, where is the P20 rice? Here is my answer)." "Napatunayan natin na kaya na natin ang beinte pesos sa bawat kilo ng bigas, nang hindi malulugi ang mga magsasaka (We have proven that we can bring down rice prices to P20 per kilo without incurring losses for farmers)," the President said. Marcos also called on Congress to amend the Coconut Farmers and Industry Trust Fund Act to make it more responsive to the needs of farmers and boost exports of the commodity. To strengthen the coconut farming sector, the administration targets the planting of up to 100 million coconut trees nationwide. Energy access for all Marcos on Monday voiced the expansion of lifeline rates for more small income families. ''Habang inaayos natin ang kumplikado nating sistema ng enerhiya sa bansa upang mapababa ang presyo, pinapalawig pa natin ang Lifeline Rate,'' Marcos said during his fourth State of the Nation Address. ''Bukod sa mga miyembro ng 4Ps, kasama na rin ngayon ang mga pamilyang nasa listahanan na maliit lamang ang kinikita at ang konsumo naman ay hindi lumalagpas sa 'lifeline rate,''' he added. He also promoted the Department of Energy's Net Metering Program, which allows households and small businesses to install renewable energy systems—such as solar panels—to generate electricity for personal use. The Lifeline Rate is a subsidized rate granted to qualified low-income customers who struggle to pay their electricity bills in full. Expanded health coverage Patients will no longer have to settle their balance when seeking treatment at Department of Health (DOH) hospitals, as Marcos announced that the government will cover all expenses incurred by Filipinos in these hospitals. 'Itinuloy na po natin ang zero-balance billing. Libre po. Ibig sabihin, ang serbisyo sa basic accommodation sa ating mga DOH hospital, wala nang babayaran ang pasyente dahil bayad na ang bill ninyo,' he said. Education reform and teacher support With over 22,000 classrooms built and 40,000 more underway, Marcos promised more teaching positions, laptops for all public school teachers, and reduced workload. He acknowledged the daily burdens faced by teachers, pledging stronger institutional support to ensure their well-being and effectiveness in the classroom. 'At ngayong school year na ito, makakatanggap na kayo ng kabayaran para sa inyong teaching overload at para sa inyong overtime,' he said. (This school year, you will start receiving compensation for your teaching overload and overtime.) Apart from this, he directed the hiring of more school counselors in public schools, citing rising cases of bullying and mental health challenges among learners. Free college and tech-voc Two million students now benefit from free tertiary education, with scholarship expansion focused on Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) and Listahanan families, according to Marcos. 'Sa mga kasama naman sa Listahanan at 4Ps: itong susunod na tatlong taon, bibigyan natin ng mataas na prayoridad ang mga anak ninyong tutungtong sa kolehiyo,' he said. (For families under the Listahanan and 4Ps: over the next three years, your children entering college will be given top priority.) He also lauded the increasing global recognition of local universities and colleges. From just 22 in 2022, 114 Philippine higher education institutions are now recognized internationally, with 68 of them being public schools. Water security Amid growing demand, Marcos ordered a national push for more water impounding systems, catchment facilities, and infrastructure upgrades in Metro Manila and beyond. He said that water service providers and their joint venture partners liable for the water service interruptions in several parts of the country will be held accountable, as he lamented that more than six million consumers are currently affected by the water service interruptions. 'Ginagawa na ng LWUA (Local Water Utilities Administration) ngayon ang mga mabisang hakbang laban sa palpak na serbisyo ng mga water districts at kanilang mga joint venture partners. Titiyakin ng LWUA na mailalagay na sa ayos ang serbisyo ng tubig ng milyon-milyon nating mga kababayan at gawing mas abot-kaya naman ang presyo,' the President said. (The LWUA is taking effective measures against the bad service of water districts and their joint venture partners. LWUA will ensure that the water service for millions of Filipinos will be fixed and the price will also be made more affordable.) 'Higit sa lahat, titiyakin nating mapapanagot ang mga nagpabaya at nagkulang sa mahalagang serbisyong-publiko na ito,' he said. Transport and infrastructure expansion The President listed key projects under 'Build Better More,' including the Bataan-Cavite Interlink Bridge, PNR Bicol, North-South Commuter Railway, SLEX extension, and road networks in Mindanao. He also announced the revival of the iconic 'Love Bus,' now free for commuters in Metro Manila and major cities. ''Ngayon, hindi lang natin ibabalik ang Love Bus, ito ay gagawin pa nating libre. Pauna pa lamang, pilot testing pa lamang 'yung sa Davao at sa Cebu. Susundan pa ito sa iba pang lugar sa Visayas at Mindanao,'' he added. Internet for all public schools By end-2025, all public schools will have internet connectivity as part of his administration's aggressive push to modernize education and bridge the country's digital divide. He reported that the first three phases of the National Fiber Backbone project have been completed, significantly enhancing the country's internet infrastructure. At the same time, the number of Free Wi-Fi sites nationwide has jumped from just 4,000 in June 2022 to nearly 19,000 this year. Additionally, over a million SIM cards loaded with free data have been distributed to schools, particularly in far-flung areas, to support distance learning and digital access for students and teachers. Crackdown on corruption and substandard projects Citing collapsed bridges and poorly executed public works, Marcos promised stricter inspections and contractor accountability. "Kamakailan lang, nag-inspeksyon ako sa naging epekto ng Habagat at bagyong Crising, Dante at Emong. Kitang-kita ko, maraming proyekto sa flood control mga palpak at 'yung iba, guni-guni lang," Marcos said during his fourth State of the Nation Address. He served notice to government personnel who steal public funds, such as those for flood control projects, that they will be dealt with under the law. 'Sa mga nakikipagsabwatan upang kunin ang pondo ng bayan at nakawin ang kinabukasan ng ating mga mamamayan, mahiya naman kayo sa inyong kapwa Pilipino. Mahiya naman kayo sa mga kabahayan nating naanod o nalubog sa pagbaha. Mahiya naman kayo lalo na sa mga anak natin na magmamana ng utang nung ibinulsa niyo ang pera,'' Marcos added. He then tasked the Department of Public Works and Highways to submit a list of flood control projects in the last three years. The President said there will be a regional monitoring committee that will examine the projects to see their progress and if they exist. Peace and security gains Marcos said no major insurgent group now remains in the country. He emphasized reintegration of former rebels, especially in BARMM, and stronger crackdowns on syndicates, trafficking rings, and abusive online platforms. 'Sa wakas, wala na ring nalalabing grupong gerilya sa bansa, at titiyakin ng pamahalaan na wala nang mabubuo muli,' the President said. (Finally, there are no guerrilla groups left in the country, and the government will ensure that none will be formed again.) Marcos said that the government is helping thousands of former rebels and their families to start a new life. Their communities are also being developed, and they are being provided with livelihood through the help of the private sector, he added. Aside from employment programs, the President said that over 13 million Filipinos saved from armed conflict are also currently benefiting from the health stations, classrooms, water systems, and streetlights built by the government. Sports and fitness for the nation The President committed to revitalizing grassroots sports, expanding free track access, and supporting local leagues like Batang Pinoy and Palarong Pambansa. "Magbubuhos tayo ng todo-suporta sa mga palaro at mga atleta sa buong bansa. Halimbawa, ang Palarong Pambansa, at ang Batang Pinoy Games na gaganapin sa General Santos City ngayong Oktubre," he said. (We will give our full support to sports and athletes across the country. For example, the Palarong Pambansa and the Batang Pinoy Games, which will be held in General Santos City this October.) Moreover, he also expressed concern over the growing number of overweight Filipino adults, calling for a nationwide shift to healthier, more active lifestyles through accessible community-based fitness initiatives. He then encouraged local government units (LGUs) to organize sports activities such as local leagues, fun runs, and group fitness events like Zumba and aerobics. He also urged cities and municipalities to open public parks and plazas, and make them inviting spaces for physical activity. Marcos also promoted the expansion of "Car-Free Sundays" across the country, citing its current implementation in cities such as Metro Manila, Baguio, Cebu, Iloilo, and Davao. The vision for these weekly initiatives converts major roads into walkable, bike-friendly spaces, encouraging outdoor movement and reducing pollution. —LDF, GMA Integrated News
