Malacañang said President Marcos carefully studied the administration's proposed tax reform package and amendments to the Electric Power Industry Reform Act (EPIRA) before announcing them in his fifth State of the Nation Address (SONA), while signaling that the measures could be certified as urgent once they reach his desk.

Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Undersecretary Claire Castro said the President does not make major policy announcements without sufficient basis, particularly during the SONA, where he outlines the administration's legislative agenda.

"Hindi po magsasalita ang Pangulo kung wala siyang basehan (The President will not speak without basis),” she said in a press briefing on Wednesday, July 29.

“Inaaral po ng Pangulo ang bawat sinasabi niya (He studies everything that he says),” she added.

Castro said the specifics of the proposed tax measures would be discussed by the administration's economic managers during a separate briefing following the Palace press conference.

Asked whether the President would certify the proposed measures as urgent, Castro said the bills would first have to be reviewed by the Chief Executive but expressed confidence they would eventually receive urgent certification.

"Ang kailangan lang po kasing makita iyong mga bill. At kapag nakita po ng Pangulo ay definitely iyan po ay ise-certify as urgent (The President only needs to see the bills. Once he has reviewed them, they will definitely be certified as urgent),” she said.

Under the Constitution, a measure certified as urgent by the President allows Congress to dispense with the constitutional requirement that bills pass on separate days, enabling lawmakers to expedite legislative action.

In his fifth SONA on Monday, July 27, President Marcos asked Congress to pass a tax reform package aimed at making the country's revenue system simpler, fairer, and more responsive to changing economic conditions while ensuring the government has sufficient resources to fund priority programs.

The President also sought amendments to the more than two-decade-old EPIRA, saying the law must be updated to lower electricity costs by removing the systems loss charges, strengthen energy security, encourage greater investment in the power sector, and better protect consumers as electricity demand continues to grow.

Marcos said the proposed reforms form part of the administration's broader economic agenda to sustain growth, create more jobs and improve the delivery of public services without imposing unnecessary burdens on ordinary Filipinos.