House of Representatives members past and present have their own ideas on what President Marcos' fourth State of the Nation Address (SONA) should be about.

For Bagong Henerasyon (BH) Party-list Rep. Robert Nazal, President Marcos should use his address on Monday, July 28 to outline clear policy directions that address key economic and social concerns, including the protection of savings, regulation of water services, and support for small businesses.

Nazal, a neophyte in the 20th Congress, said the party-list is particularly eager to hear the President’s stance on the recently enacted law imposing a 20 percent tax on time deposits, a move many believe will discourage savings and hurt middle-income Filipinos.

“Taxing savings punishes ordinary Filipinos who are trying to build a future. We hope the President will lay out a plan that strengthens, rather than weakens, our culture of saving,” he said in a statement Saturday, July 26.

His predecessor, former BH Party-list Rep. Bernadette Herrera, said she hopes the SONA will include concrete plans to establish a Department of Water, which would ensure better coordination in water resource management.

“With the lack of a central body to regulate water providers, there is a need for a department that can set standards, enforce rules, and build infrastructure like catch basins to secure our water supply during crises,” Herrera said.

Herrera also urged the President to support stronger mechanisms for microfinancing and investments in micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), especially to help free vulnerable families from predatory “5-6” lending schemes.

Bicol Saro Party-list Rep. Terry Ridon underscored that the 20th Congress covers the final three years of the Marcos administration. As such, he says he wants the President to focus on food security, employment, and infrastructure development in his speech.

"As we enter the second half of the Marcos administration, the President should focus on continuing to reduce food and basic commodity prices, generate jobs and implement infrastructure projects which palpably contributes to economic growth and poverty alleviation," he said in a separate statement.

Ridon also pitched measures that would benefit the region he represents.

"For Bicol, the President should support moves of several Bicol lawmakers pushing for high-speed rail connecting the region to Southern Tagalog and Metro Manila. The right-of-way for the rail already exists, and no less than the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) has expressed interest in undertaking feasibility studies for it," he said.

"A Bicol high-speed rail will most certainly contribute to the region's economic growth, as travel times between Bicol and Metro Manila may be reduced to four hours. It will also reduce the region's poverty incidence as Bicolanos will be able to travel more efficiently between economic hubs within and beyond the region," he further said.