Senator Pia Cayetano delivers her privilege speech, dubbed the “Kontra SONA,” during the plenary session at the Senate Session Hall in Pasay City on Tuesday, July 28, 2026. —Inquirer photo/Niño Jesus Orbeta
MANILA, Philippines — Sen. Pia Cayetano said Tuesday that the Philippines’ upper-middle-income status is difficult to celebrate when most Filipinos do not feel an improvement in their lives, as she questioned whether the country’s progress mentioned in President Marcos’ fifth State of the Nation Address (Sona) on Monday was translating into better lives for Filipino families.
“It is very difficult to take pride in and explain that we are an upper-middle-income country when most Filipinos do not actually feel its benefits,” Cayetano said in a privilege speech a day after Marcos delivered his Sona.
READ: PH attains ‘upper middle income’ rank – World Bank
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