Bicol Saro Party-list Rep. Terry Ridon says President Marcos must go all-out to make the country's cherish upper middle-income economy status trickle down to common Filipinos as a tangible relief or benefit.

Ridon posed this ahead of Marcos' fifth and penultimate State of the Nation Address (SONA) before a joint session of Congress on Monday, July 27.

"Now that the country has achieved upper middle income status, it is imperative for the President to translate this new economic status into programs that will benefit ordinary Filipino families, improve their lives and increase their incomes," said the solon, a member of the House Committee on Banks and Financial Intermediaries.

The Philippines under Marcos officially received its upper middle-income economy classification from the World Bank (WB) on July 1, 2026, after its gross national income (GNI) per capita reached 4,85O, surpassing the 4,636 threshold.

But for the common Filipino, such classification is meaningless if it doesn't result to more food on the table or a bigger take home pay.

That's why Ridon think it's the opportune time for Marcos to put the pedal to the metal as far as economic programs go.

But will the Chief Executive's final two years be enough to provide this much-needed relief to his countrymen? The minority congressman says yes.

"The President still has two full budget cycles to implement sweeping economic measures which can directly benefit marginalized and working families. This can be among his presidency’s legacy pillars," noted Ridon.

Incidentally, Congress' first task after the President delivers his or her annual speech is to peruse the National Expenditure Program (NEP) that Malacañang will submit. The annual NEP is the precursor to the General Appropriations Bill (GAB), or the proposed national budget.

The House Committee on Appropriations is expected to take up the NEP for the purpose of crafting the GAB in August.