Commuters and office workers make their way through a business district in Manila on July 24, 2026, ahead of Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s State of the Nation Address (SONA), with the rising cost of living expected to dominate public attention. The annual address comes after inflation eased to 6.4% in June 2026, although it remained above the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas' target range of 2–4%, while the economy grew 2.8% in the first quarter. According to the Philippine Statistics Authority, the country recorded 48.89 million employed Filipinos, 2.41 million unemployed, and 7.41 million underemployed in April, as labor groups continue to press for higher wages despite the implementation of an ₱85 daily wage increase for Metro Manila…