Here's everything you need to know about President Rodrigo Duterte's last State of the Nation Address or SONA as it happens live on July 26, 2021:
- The President is expected to define his legacy as he considers a possible run for the vice presidency in next year's elections. Here's our explainer.
- Past Presidents have used their last SONA as both a thank you and valedictory address. Here's another explainer.
- Ahead of the SONA, the Senate and the House of Representatives resumed sessions, with Senate President Tito Sotto unfazed about rumors of a plot to oust him.
- Outside the Batasang Pambansa where Duterte will deliver his last SONA, the annual rallies have a physical guest from cyberspace: the Tumindig icon and its many iterations.
- The President arrives at the Batasang Pambansa before 4 p.m.
- Trending on Twitter before the actual speech: #IbalikAngABSCBN as netizens remember the ABS-CBN shutdown that happened during the pandemic.
- Duterte entrs the main plenary hall at around 4:08 p.m.
- State broadcaster PTV says the speech will run for 59 minutes, excluding possible adlibs.
- Morrissette Amon sings the National Anthem, accompanied by the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra.
- Duterte acknowledges partner Honeylet Avancena in the audience.
- Duterte recounts deciding to run for president in 2016. He said he thought of "doable" changes including free education and universal health care
- President cites free irrigation and inroads in fights against corruption and illegal drugs.
- "Today as I approach the end of my term, I have less visions but more remembrances. But mine is not to rue or second-guess what might have been, but to bear and respond with the urgency for unforseen events as they unfold."
- Duterte says he "shook and tangled with men of influence" for which he said he was "pilloried". Duterte said his purpose was "pure and unpolluted".
- Duterte says corruption is simply stealing people's money.
- Duterte says economy was poised to leapfrog until the pandemic happened and "stole everything".
- Duterte again thanks COVID-19 frontliners.
- Duterte thanks private sector for helping government fight the pandemic, says he will restore economic "vibrance".
- "What is exactly is the state of the nation today" given the pandemic? President asks, adding "Where do we go from here?"
- Duterte says fighting crime involves boosting the morale of those in the uniformed services. He asks Congress to fast-track unified pension for troops, to apply to new entrants. He says its "high time" for free legal assistance for troops.
- Duterte touts Navy's two new missile-capable warships.
- "I am proud of the accomplishment of troops in securing our nation against all threats to democratic institution."
- Duterte said gov't made "great strides" in anti-insurgency campaign with NTF-ELCAC.
- Duterte jokes the "operator of this thing here" must be drowsy, facing the teleprompter. He says he's been adlibbing.
- Duterte says communist rebels earn millions from "taxes".
- Duterte cites telepromoter operators. "I will embrace them for their punctuality." He said they were women.
- Former President Joseph Estrada is shown in the live broadcast watching the SONA.
- Duterte on drug war, he says when it started, he thought it was like what it was in Davao when he was mayor.
- Vice President Leni Robredo is also shown on screen watching the SONA from her office.
- "I do not want my country in disarray because of drugs."
- "Those who destroy my country I will kill you."
- "Those who destroy the young people of this country, I will kill you."
- Duterte cites improvements in the MRT, the construction of new roads including the Porro Point Freeport Zone Road in La Union. he also cites the nearly complete coastal roads in Sorosogon and Davao City.
- Duterte mentions 10-year validty of passports and the rollout of the PhilSys or National ID.
- Duterte says his foreign policy is independent, seeking "partnerships that work." He says the "majesty of the law must prevail".
- "Make no mistake, gone are the days when the Philippines acts in the shadow of greater powers."
- Duterte says he sends back container vans of garbage "becasue our country is not a dumpsite." He cited the case of trash from Canada.
- He cites the recovery of the Balangiga church bells from the U.S.
- "What's your problem on the arbitral ruling?", the President says. China can't be bound by the ruling, he said.
- On West Philippine Sea, Duterte says arbitral ruling that favored Philippines is "beyond compromise".
- He says diplomacy is how disputes are settled, never by force.
- "Do you want war against China? It will be a massacre if I go to war right now. We are not a competent and able enemy to the other side."
- Duterte says Kafala system for OFWs in the Middle East is like slavery.
- Duterte says "rice tarrification", or taxes on imports in place of quotas, helped tame inflation and bring down the price of the staple grain.
- Duterte says he didn't want to appear vindictive towards ABS-CBN. He accused the network of tax fraud, something BIR officials cleared the network of.
- Duterte jokes about catching COVID. He says he can't pronounce the words. "I hope this is not symptomatic."
- He says treatment and quarantine capacities have been improved.
- Duterte urges Filipinos to get vaccinated, get two doses for full immunization. He appeals for patience from those still in queue.
- Duterte says his last SONA should not be seen as a swan song, as he will still urge Congress to pass laws for pandemic recovery.
- COVID "can never take away our resilience," Duterte says.
- SONA has run for 2.5 hours
- He mentions Manila Bay dolomite beach. "Ginawa natin yan at nilagay natin yung puting... which is scattered into small pieces, nawawala minsan yan because of the waves. Every now and then we have to replenish because we can't change the nature of our shores."
- Duterte seeks the establishment of a virology and vaccine center for the Philippines.
- Duterte seeks the creation of a Department of Disaster Resilience.
- The lights go out for this administration 11 months from now. The work we started and expected to finish has been told.... A peaceful and propserous Philippines is not a distant dream but one that's within our grasp.
- Duterte says parents no longer fear the streets for their children. Salesladies going home are less likely to get mugged, he said.
- "I will not be forever President... Ang kulang sa Pilipino assertiveness. Ang payo ko sa yo, murahin mo. You are following up on papers and you are sitting your ass on it." He appeared to be talking about red tape.