The National Council of Churches in the Philippines (NCCP) criticized the government’s allocation of P20 million (US$342,000) for the annual State of the Nation Address (SONA), calling it extravagant amid widespread poverty and social injustice.
The Council said the “scandalous budget” for a one-day event is “particularly disgraceful in light of the widespread hunger and poverty that our people face daily.”
“The promises of ‘Bagong Pilipinas’ (New Philippines) are starkly contrasted by the harsh realities on the ground, including the failure to stop incessant price increases of basic goods,” NCCP added.
The NCCP’s critique comes as poverty levels escalate, with an additional 3.5 million Filipinos falling below the poverty line since President Marcos Jr. took office, totaling 16 million.
The Council noted the plight of workers in the National Capital Region, where a daily wage of P645.00 is insufficient.
The Council also referenced nearly 700 fatalities under the administration’s anti-drug campaign, citing data from the Third UP World Studies Center’s Dahas Project. NCCP criticized the lack of significant policy reform or harm reduction initiatives.
The ongoing conflict with the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) also remains unresolved, with continued human rights violations by state security forces, according to NCCP.
The Council condemned the government’s refusal to disband the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC).
NCCP also expressed concern over the administration’s alignment with the United States’ Indo-Pacific Strategy, which they said compromises Philippine sovereignty and exacerbates geopolitical tensions.
The council called for a shift in governance, urging the President and other leaders to genuinely address these issues.
It also appealed to its member churches to stay vigilant and proactive in defending human rights and fostering peace, guided by faith and a commitment to society’s vulnerable sectors.
“Our dire situation calls for us to speak truth to power, to seek peace, and uphold God’s gift of human dignity, human rights, and the sovereignty of our people. We thus call on our leaders, especially the President, to truly address the true state of the nation,” said NCCP.
