TOP industry leaders from the International Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines (ICC) and the Federation of Philippine Industries (FPI) expressed strong support for President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s 2025 State of the Nation Address (SONA), praising his message as forward-looking, people-centered, and grounded in inclusive reforms.
ICC chairman Francis Chua said it was one of the very best SONA speeches he has heard in a long time, adding that the President’s sincerity and determination to uplift the poor and fight corruption were unmistakable.
“Don’t doubt the President,” Chua said. “He promised to help the poor and was very tough on corruption. I believe he can deliver all of his promises within his term.”
Chua welcomed the administration’s push for better education, health care, and transportation, saying the focus on making essential services free for all Filipinos sets a strong tone of compassion and capability.
“I have a lot of expectations, and I’m being sincere. I’m with the President,” he added.
Dispelling comparisons to past regimes, Chua said, “the previous Marcos was a dictator, but the son is not. He will be a very popular president.”
Meanwhile, Federation of Philippine Industries (FPI) chair Elizabeth “Beth” Lee welcomed the President’s emphasis on inclusive growth, rural development, and industrial revitalization, particularly measures that directly benefit local producers and manufacturers.
FPI lauded the support extended to 2.5 million families starting micro-businesses, calling for their deeper integration into domestic manufacturing and supply chains.
“We applaud initiatives such as the expansion of Kadiwa markets and the firm stance against economic sabotage by profiteers and smugglers,” Lee said.
The group also backed major agro-industrial programs, including the planting of 15 million coconut trees and the rollout of the Coconut Farmers and Industry Trust Fund Act.
FPI praised the administration’s commitment to address energy constraints through the planned construction of 200 new power plants for 2,000 factories and the expansion of the Net Metering Program for sustainable energy access.
In water service, FPI echoed the President’s call to hold underperforming providers accountable.
FPI further welcomed the upgrade of PhilHealth benefits, zero-balance billing in government hospitals, and expanded support for seniors and PWDs, including fare discounts and the rollout of the Love Bus initiative.
Education and infrastructure were also key areas of endorsement, as FPI praised the plan to build 40,000 new classrooms with private sector participation and the push for every family to have at least one tech-voc or college graduate.
“We fully support infrastructure that is well-designed, built to last, and properly maintained with full transparency and accountability,” Lee said, noting the audit of flood control projects and the exposure of erring contractors as essential for long-term credibility.
FPI also expressed strong support for the President’s stand on fiscal discipline, particularly his resolve to veto any budget item not aligned with national priorities.
“FPI remains a committed partner in building a stronger, more competitive industrial economy anchored on innovation, accountability, and inclusive progress,” Lee said.
On the President’s plan to finish around 200 power plants in the next three years that will provide electricity to around 4 million households, National Electrification Administrator
Antonioni Almeda said that the NEA remains committed, and is ready for the challenge to deliver the wishes and directive of the President.
The NEA Chief also echoed the President’s orders that the Agency, in coordination with the DOE, is continuing its work to stabilize energy supply in the Province of Siquijor and to implement permanent solutions to avoid similar problems in the future.
For her part, Tetchi Capellan, founder and chair of the Philippine Solar and Storage Energy Alliance said “focusing on small islands electrification will improve the economy of the towns and communities (boost their tourism and improve agriculture potential) as well uplift the living conditions of the Filipinos.”
She said batteries with digital solutions offer efficient, clean and reliable technologies that provide a way forward to small island electrification.
