Marcos pushes tax cuts, lower power bills as inflation strains economy

SONA. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. delivers his fifth State of the Nation Address at the House of Representatives on July 27, 2026.

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In his fifth SONA, the President seeks quick, consumer-facing wins by pushing to raise the annual personal income tax exemption threshold to cover more middle-income Filipinos and end system loss charges on electricity bills

MANILA, Philippines – With inflation still elevated and economic growth expected to slow sharply, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. used his fifth State of the Nation Address to push wider tax relief for workers and small businesses, and lower electricity bills for consumers.

He also sought an “immediate amendment” to the Electric Power Industry Reform Act (EPIRA) to prohibit power distributors such as Meralco from passing system loss charges and the corresponding value-added taxes (VAT) on to consumers.