President Marcos has vowed continued government action on hunger and health concerns raised by young Filipinos after his fifth State of the Nation Address (SONA), saying the administration would do what it could to address the problems brought to his attention.

In a post-SONA vlog, Marcos responded to letters from members of the Youth for Health Coalition, including one from a young Filipino whose father was undergoing dialysis and whose mother was the family's sole breadwinner.

The youth writer told the President that the family was struggling with hunger and asked how the country could prosper when Filipinos were sick or suffering from hunger, prompting the President to acknowledge the seriousness of the problem.

“Totoo ‘yan at hindi magiging maganda ang kalagayan ng ating bansa kung ang ating mga kababayan ay ginugutom (That is true, and the condition of our country will not be good if our countrymen are going hungry),” Marcos said in the video uploaded to his social media pages on Saturday, Aug. 8.

The President said the government was addressing food insecurity through the Walang Gutom Program, rice assistance for families in need, and feeding programs for schoolchildren.

He added that local governments had been provided funds to distribute 10-kilogram sacks of rice to families who could not reliably afford three meals a day.

“At ito'y ginagawa namin hindi minsanan kung hindi anim na beses sa bawat taon (And we are doing this not just once, but six times every year),” he said.

President Marcos likewise said school feeding programs cover kindergarten and Grade 1 pupils, while older students who need assistance are also included so that hunger would not interfere with their education.

“Hindi nila iniisip kung saan sila kakain kundi makapag-aral sila nang mabuti (They no longer have to worry about where their next meal will come from, so they can study well),” he said.

The Chief Executive also cited the government's Yakap program, saying it provides consultations and medicines not only to students but also to parents and teachers who need medical assistance.

In the case of the young Filipino's father undergoing dialysis, Marcos said the government had increased PhilHealth support for dialysis patients and expanded assistance for medicines, adding that support had also been increased for patients with cancer, HIV/AIDS, and mental health concerns.

“Kaya't halos libre na ang mga dialysis patient (That is why dialysis patients are now almost fully covered),” he said.

Responding to another letter urging the government to prioritize youth health issues linked to alcohol, secondhand smoke, and other harmful habits, Marcos pointed to broader healthcare measures, including zero-balance billing in Department of Health wards and the removal of value-added tax on medicines.

“Napaka-importante na maganda ang kalusugan ng ating mga kababayan (It is very important that our countrymen are in good health),” he said.

“Kaya't ‘yan ang aming inuuna. Kaya't napakataas na priority ang kalusugan ng ating kabataan, ang kalusugan ng ating mamamayan (That is why this is what we prioritize. The health of our youth and the health of our people are a very high priority),” he added.

Marcos said he would continue reading letters and messages from Filipinos and would consider what more the government could do to address their concerns.

“Titiyakin natin na kung meron pa tayong maaaring gawin upang matugunan ang mga inyong binabanggit na problema ay asahan ninyo na gagawin naman ng inyong pamahalaan ito (We will ensure that if there is still something we can do to address the problems you have raised, you can expect your government to do so),” he said.