Marcos sets first Cabinet meeting for new year

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has set the first Cabinet meeting for 2025 on 7 January. This was disclosed by Presidential Communications Office (PCO) acting Secretary Cesar Chavez.

A Cabinet meeting serves as an avenue for the Chief Executive to directly coordinate with government agencies on pressing issues that need to be addressed, as well as to discuss the unified approach of the administration.

On Thursday, Marcos met with Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin to prepare for the meeting on Tuesday.

Among the agenda items for the first 2025 Cabinet meeting are the legacy projects of the Marcos administration, big-ticket projects, and Official Development Assistance (ODA) projects.

The ODA is a loan or a grant administered to promote sustainable social and economic development and welfare in the Philippines. It is done with other countries with which the Philippines has diplomatic and trade relations or trade agreements.

In 2024, Marcos led four full Cabinet meetings, two special Cabinet meetings, and 49 sectoral Cabinet meetings.

The sectoral Cabinet meetings were conducted four times each month, according to the PCO. There are 31 Cabinet members in the current administration.