President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. thanked the Asian Development Bank for pushing the economy’s impressive progress, as he reminded public officials about the proper use of the 2025 General Appropriations Act.

This collaboration between the Bureau of Communications Services of the Presidential Communications Office and the Daily Tribune lists the Chief Executive’s accomplishments the past week.

20 January

PBBM renews green transport vow

President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. restated his administration’s commitment to making local transportation more environment friendly with high-technology vehicles.

In a speech at the launch of the Tesla Center in the Philippines, Mr. Marcos underscored the importance of adopting policies and strategies to meet the government’s need for concrete actions to provide practical, inclusive and positive impacts to Filipinos.

The Chief Executive emphasized that the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion Act that removed the excise tax on battery electric vehicles and the Electric Vehicle Industry Development Act that offers duty-free importation for charging stations, lowers user fees for EV owners, and prioritizes registration and gives traffic privileges have created more competitive, traditional options.

EDSA rehab spurs traffic jitters

President Marcos expressed his support for the proposal of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) to adopt an earlier work schedule for government offices to ease traffic congestion ahead of the planned EDSA rehabilitation this year.

The MMDA is proposing a 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. schedule for government offices.

Sex ed bill bucked

On the sidelines of the Tesla Center launch in Taguig City, the Chief Executive strongly condemned the policies supporting the implementation of sex education among children.

President Marcos expressed his concerns about certain provisions in Senate Bill 1979 which, according to him, contains “woke” elements.

The President opposed some of the bill’s provisions including, he said, the one which states that every child has the right to try different sexualities.

PBBM refutes predecessor’s claim

The President disproved former president Rodrigo Duterte’s claim of missing amounts and other discrepancies in the newly approved P6.326-trillion national budget.

The former president and Davao City 3rd District Representative Isidro Ungab have raised alleged discrepancies in the Bicameral Conference Committee report on the recently approved 2025 national budget.

According to Ungab, there were missing budget amounts for items under the Department of Agriculture (DA) and unprogrammed appropriations. He said the House and the Senate ratified a defective Bicam report.

PNP chief’s term extension mulled

During the Tesla Center launch in Taguig on Monday, President Marcos said he was considering extending the term of Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief P/Gen. Rommel Francisco Marbil in the runup to the 2025 elections.

The President acknowledged the importance of leadership stability within the PNP during a critical election season.

Marbil assumed the PNP’s top post in April 2024 and is scheduled to retire on 7 February upon reaching the mandatory retirement age of 56.

21 January

Presidents’ call

Mr. Marcos congratulated US President Donald Trump and the American people for another peaceful transfer of power in their nation’s nearly 250-year history.

He also said he is looking forward to working closely with the Trump administration.

Moreover, he underscored the strong and lasting PH-US alliance as well as the shared vision of prosperity and security of both countries.

DBM must revert DILG budget

President Marcos met with Interior and Local Government Secretary Jonvic Remulla in Malacañang to discuss the result of the agency’s budget review under the 2025 General Appropriations Act (GAA) vis-à-vis the 2025 National Expenditure Program.

According to Remulla, the President wanted to revert the fund removed by the bicameral conference committee to finance the important programs of the Department of the Interior and Local Government.

The DILG’s budget, including that of its attached agencies, was increased by P643.59 million (0.2 percent) from the P279.46 billion in the 2025 NEP to P280.1 billion in the 2025 GAA.

Chips a priority

The government and other stakeholders were urged to prioritize the development of the semiconductor and electronics industry which was previously a rich source of export receipts.

This came after President Marcos met with the Private Sector Advisory Council-Education and Jobs Sector Group in Malacañang.

According to the President, one of the focuses should be on granting incentives to semiconductor locators, which is similar to what is being extended to other industries.

22 January

17 seafarers released

The President announced that the 17 Filipino seafarers held hostage by Houthi rebels in Yemen since 2023 had been released.

He thanked Sultan Haitham bin Tarik of Oman and his government for mediating with the rebel group.

The President also commended the Philippine agency officials and private entities who worked tirelessly with foreign governments for more than 429 days to gain the Filipinos’ release.

The Houthis hijacked the cargo vessel Galaxy Leader in the Red Sea in November 2023 while it was en route to India, taking hostage its 25 crewmembers, including 17 Filipinos.

ADB’s contributions hailed

The President acknowledged the significant contributions of the Asian Development Bank to the country’s progress.

During the farewell call of outgoing ADB president Masatsugu Asakawa, Mr. Marcos said the ADB has consistently been at the forefront of all foreign-assisted projects in the country.

He also expressed his intent to further strengthen the partnership.

23 January

Satisfactory economic feats

The President expressed satisfaction with the government’s economic achievements last year.

During the 24th NEDA board meeting in Malacañang that discussed the Philippine Development Report 2024, Mr. Marcos expressed his pride but said that the administration has to inform the people of its actions.

For example, while some projects have been completed, the government must explain why others are still ongoing and highlight their long-term benefits.

24 January

Ensure 2025 budget’s proper use

Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin said the President is earnest about ensuring the proper implementation of the 2025 national budget.

Following the DBM Budget Forum on Budget Execution for Fiscal Year 2025, Bersamin highlighted the need for the executive branch to discuss the requisites of the budget execution.

The government is working under the approved P6.326-trillion 2025 national budget after the President vetoed over P194 billion worth of projects inconsistent with the administration’s program priorities.

Palace had no hand in ‘blank pages’

Executive Secretary Bersamin said Malacañang had nothing to do with the supposed “blank pages” in the bicameral conference committee report on the 2025 national budget.

Former president Rodrigo Duterte earlier alleged that there were blank items without specified projects or funding in the GAA.

Bersamin categorically denied the claim, calling it “fake news” and accusing critics of trying to implicate the President in the filling in of supposed blank pages.