Metrics and the SONA

Engr. Elaine Macatangay Morales, MPA  |  30 July 2025

If we manage what we measure, what happens when we stop measuring, or fail to show it altogether? 

That question came to mind as I listened to the latest State of the Nation Address (SONA) of the PH President. In a speech filled with claims of economic growth, agricultural productivity, and technological advances, one thing was consistently missing: the numbers to  help us believe them.

“Kung datos lang ang pag-uusapan, maganda ang ating ekonomiya, tumaas ang kumpiyansa ng mga negosyante. Bumaba ang inflation, dumami ang trabaho.”

And yet, no actual data followed. No references to which confidence indicators improved. No timelines to show inflation trends. No numbers to back employment growth. Just sweeping conclusions left ungrounded.

When Numbers Are Promised, But Not Given

Across the 2025 SONA, numerous pronouncements claimed progress:

“Pinataas natin ang produksyon ng palay, mais, pinya, saging…” “Mahigit walo at kalahating milyong magsasaka at mangingisda ang nakatanggap ng tulong.” “Libo-libong kilometro ng farm-to-market road… libo-libong ektarya ng lupa… libo libong makinarya.”

The repetition of “libo-libo” made for emphatic delivery, but not for a meaningful report. What were the starting points? How were these “libo-libo” distributed by region, and to what effect? Did farm productivity improve? Did income levels rise? We can’t know because none of that was presented.

There were also grand goals:

“Mula ngayong taon, hindi bababa sa labing-limang milyong hybrid at mataas na klaseng mga binhi ng niyog ang ating itatanim… hanggang isandaang milyong puno.”

But again, no mention of baseline coconut tree population, current productivity, or targets by year. How do we understand what this ambitious number really means? This matters because data should not just make a speech sound grand, it should make progress visible. The SONA, after all, is a national performance report, not a marketing reel.

What Good Metrics Look Like

Metrics aren’t just numbers. When used well, they clarify direction, performance, and challenges. They serve as mirrors to governance inviting scrutiny, learning, and change. A quality metric tells us something that matters: how far we’ve come, how far we have to go, and whether we’re going in the right direction. It requires a baseline, a method for measurement, and an interpretation that leads to action.

If we claim an improvement in inflation, let’s see the 3-year trend. If job creation is accelerating, how many were created this year versus the last? What sectors are thriving? What regions are left behind? And if interventions are ongoing, say thousands of new roads or seedlings, help us understand what baseline they improve upon, and how success will be measured a year or two from now. What are the gaps? How do we know we’re closing them?

In short, metrics should be evidence-based. When we ground our declarations on solid, verifiable data, we enable informed decision-making by government leaders, partner agencies, even the general public. Evidence invites analysis. It enables consistent measurement. And it supports continual improvement—a basic principle not only of good governance but of systems that learn.

A Glimpse of What Could Be

We’ve seen this done before. In past SONAs, especially under President Benigno Aquino III, figures were routinely presented as part of the national report card. Unemployment and poverty incidence were cited with year-on-year comparisons. The number of beneficiaries under the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) was tracked and linked to outcomes like school attendance and health visits. These numbers allowed citizens to assess, critique, or support government claims using data, not just delivery.

Such examples show that presenting metrics isn't about perfection. It's about transparency. It’s about offering the public the chance to understand and engage based on facts.

What Happens When We Don’t Measure Well

It’s tempting to avoid specifics, especially when numbers may not reflect well. But avoiding measurement doesn’t remove the need, it removes the trust.

Metrics are not always kind. They tell us when targets are missed, when efforts fall short, when gaps persist. But they also tell us where we’re improving, what’s working, and who is being served. Without them, we lose the evidence and with it, the ability to correct.

As we discussed in the previous article When Metrics Mislead, the wrong metrics can send organizations chasing the wrong goals. But little or no metrics at all? That’s worse. That’s when systems begin to act blindly—unguided by evidence, detached from reality, and vulnerable to making the same mistakes.

What’s at Stake

The SONA is a powerful tradition. It is a chance to tell the nation not just what the government is doing, but how the country is faring. But when evidence is light and claims are vague, citizens are left wondering: are we really better off, or are we just hearing better lines?

Words can inspire. But numbers can inform, challenge, and guide. So perhaps the question is no longer just: What did the President say? But also: What didn’t he show?

Because in a state of the nation address, the state must be more than just stated. It must be measured, and grounded in evidence.