Just three days before the President’s State of the Nation Address (SONA), Senate Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano on Friday called for a “national agenda” that rises above partisan politics and addresses the issues Filipinos face every day.

In an online broadcast on July 24,2026, the minority leader said the country should focus on priorities that unite Filipinos instead of issues that deepen political divisions.

“I heard from some host of a news channel na ‘SONA vs Sana.’ What do you think SANA should mean? [For me, it’s] Stewarding A National Agenda. [It] means nag-a-agree tayo as a nation. Y’un ang agenda,” he said.

He was referring to a news program in which two hosts used “sana,” the Filipino word for hope, as a contrast to SONA — a play on words noting that while the President delivers his state of the nation, many Filipinos are left simply hoping for it to translate into real relief.

Cayetano said a national agenda should center on issues that affect all Filipinos regardless of political affiliation. Among these, he cited affordable electricity and a lower cost of living as priorities that deserve greater attention.

He also said the Senate Minority Bloc which he leads will present its response after the President’s SONA and invited the public to help identify the issues that should be included in the opposition’s Kontra-SONA.

“Trabaho ng minority leader sa Senado, o anyone sa opposition, ay magbigay ng ‘kontra-SONA,’” Cayetano said. “But I want to crowdsource it. Napakarami niyo na rin na bahagi ng aking Facebook page. Ano ang mga dapat nating pag-usapan sa ‘kontra-SONA?’”

He said pursuing a national agenda also requires government officials to uphold accountability and lead by example.

“Trabaho ko rin [is to] hold everyone, including myself and people close to me, accountable. And fight for a national agenda,” the senator said.

Cayetano also emphasized the importance of personal responsibility, saying lasting change begins when people choose to do what is right even without supervision.

“Ang nangyayari sa atin, ‘pag walang bantay, bahala na. Pero ‘pag may bantay, susunod tayo. Dapat kahit walang nakatingin, tama y’ung ating ginagawa,” he said.

He expressed hope that the country can achieve meaningful transformation by working toward shared goals and strengthening a culture of responsibility.

“We all pray for a nation that is transformed… napakaraming options na ating kailangan gawin at atupagin or bigyan ng pansin,” Cayetano said.