The Philippines is now in a "much stronger" position than it was two years ago, President Marcos said.

"Two years into office and I can proudly report to the Filipino people that our country is in a much stronger position than when we came to office," Marcos said in his State of the Nation Address (SONA) briefer released on Tuesday, July 23.

He cited that the country is now one of the best performing economies in Asia.

"The Philippines is back as one of the best performing economies in Asia in 2023. Now, we are steering the course to be the country with the best performing economy in Southeast Asia by 2028," Marcos said.

While the country is in a better position in terms of economy, the President recognized that high food and energy prices continue to burden Filipino families.

Marcos assured that his administration is "utilizing all policy tools at our disposal to keep prices within reach of consumers."

He said that the government has invested in the modernization of agriculture and pursued a "genuine agrarian reform program," adding that the government is also promoting greater investments in power generation, with greater emphasis on renewable energy sources.

The Chief Executive further said that the country in 2023 was able to attract over P1 trillion in investments which are expected to create over a hundred thousand jobs for Filipinos.

"To ensure that Filipinos would be able to take advantage of these job opportunities, we are working to increase their employability through upskilling and retooling initiatives," Marcos said.

"The more permanent solution to this is the improvement of our education system. Our children are being educated in a system that promotes creativity, curiosity, and critical thinking to excel in the 21st century," he added.

On the health sector, Marcos said the government is ensuring that health facilities and health services are accessible to all, especially the poor and disadvantaged.

He also pronounced that insurgency and internal conflicts will end during his presidency.

"Insurgency and internal conflicts are envisioned to end within my term. Alongside this, we are instituting reforms in our law enforcement and justice system to support peace and order and an environment conducive to business growth," he said.

He concluded his report by saying: "Each administration faced difficult challenges and identified different priorities, but we all believe in one thing—our nation’s success lies in the success of every Filipino. Our goal is more than making our people live a comfortable life, but a life worthy of dignity. This is not just a dream, but a promise that this administration will spare no effort to achieve."