Marcos sparks unity, gov’t efficiency drive
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President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. tackled domestic issues after the midterm elections. He raised poll workers’ honoraria by P1,000 and allocated P4.19 billion for 16,000 new teaching posts to reduce the 56,000-teacher shortage and improve classroom ratios.
He also announced a two-year rehabilitation of the San Juanico Bridge at a cost of P900 million, and urged the public to be patient with any travel disruptions.
In a podcast, he announced a Cabinet performance review to remove inefficient or corrupt officials and stressed digitalizing government services, citing the slow PhilHealth processes.
He pushed for stronger anti-drug efforts without killings and more police patrols for faster crime response.
At the Philippine Navy’s 127th anniversary in Zambales, the President praised their election security role and vowed to protect Philippine maritime zones.
Mr. Marcos boosted regional development and healthcare. He supported Pangasinan tourism, increasing visitors to 500,000 yearly, and launched a 24/7 BUCAS center in Dagupan for constant medical care.
On 23 May, he urged better access to the P150,000 Cancer Assistance Fund and distributed P83.4 million in farm aid to 7,645 Pangasinan farmers to enhance agriculture.
His week centered on education, infrastructure, health, and governance reforms to rebuild public trust.
His activities, as compiled through a collaboration between Daily Tribune and the Bureau of Communications Services of the Presidential Communications Office, reflected his aim to improve the situation of marginalized Filipinos through efficient government services.
19 May
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. directed the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) to increase the election honoraria of teachers and other poll workers.
Teachers and other poll workers who rendered service during the 2025 midterm elections will receive an additional P1,000 as election honoraria. The P1,000 is in addition to the earlier P2,000 across-the-board increase in election allowances ordered by the President.
As a result, the new honoraria rates for members of the Electoral Board are P13,000 for the chairperson, P12,000 each for the poll clerk and third member, and P9,000 each for the support staff.
The President addressed the teacher shortage and improved education of students for which P4.19 billion had been allocated in the 2025 General Appropriations Act (GAA).
The initiative supports the Department of Education’s (DepEd) efforts to address the 56,000-teacher shortage in 2024 and move toward a more effective teacher-student ratio.
The new teaching positions aim to reduce overcrowding in classrooms, particularly in schools with sufficient infrastructure but which struggle with high student-to-teacher ratios.
The national classroom-to-student ratio is 1:40, over DepEd’s ideal of 1:30. Many primary schools also exceed the 1:35 target. Smaller classes allow teachers to give more focused attention and improve learning outcomes.
The Palace appealed for public understanding regarding the rehabilitation of the iconic San Juanico Bridge.
President Marcos views the rehabilitation of the 52-year-old San Juanico Bridge as a proactive step to safeguard the public, although it may cause temporary inconvenience.
The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) said the 2.16-kilometer bridge’s two-year rehabilitation will cost around P900 million following recent structural vulnerability findings.
Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said the government agencies involved in the project have been instructed to coordinate closely with local government units and other stakeholders to minimize disruptions.
In a Palace press briefing, Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. assured the public of a sufficient supply of poultry products despite the impending temporary import ban on Brazilian poultry following reports of a bird flu outbreak there.
Laurel said the Department of Agriculture will impose a countrywide poultry ban on Brazil, the country’s top meat supplier.
He said Brazil is not the Philippines’ sole supplier of poultry, noting the poultry import ban will result in a market diversion. The advantage of Brazil was its lower prices compared to other suppliers, he said.
In the first episode of the “BBM Podcast,” President Marcos said that underperforming and corrupt officials may either face removal or charges, as the administration conducts a thorough performance review of Cabinet members and government agencies to address inefficiencies and improve public service delivery.
He emphasized that the review aims to assess whether government targets are being met and identify issues hindering public service delivery.
The President said the review seeks to answer key questions: “Why is the delivery of services slow? What are the other issues? What are we going to do to make it faster? That’s what’s important.”
In the same podcast, President Marcos said the government is pursuing both primary and small-scale drug dealers while strictly upholding due process and carrying out the anti-drug campaign without resorting to killings.
He assured the public of the government’s renewed focus on addressing the country’s illegal drug problem.
The renewed anti-narcotics efforts are part of the campaign, in which policemen will conduct daily street patrols.
The President said his “dream” is to fully digitalize all government services — especially in the health sector — to ensure faster and more efficient delivery.
He particularly cited the case of state insurer PhilHealth, where he saw around 200 patients lined up to have the agency’s documents processed in a hospital, which took around two hours to finish.
The Chief Executive said he was saddened by a survey result about PhilHealth, which showed that the respondents hoped the government would prioritize addressing the country’s top 10 diseases.
The recent midterm election results showed that Filipinos were “tired of politics” and want more action from their leaders, according to President Marcos, who acknowledged the public’s disappointment over the slow government response in addressing their immediate, day-to-day needs.
Mr. Marcos shared his reflections on the recent election results, underscoring the need to shift away from politics and focus on governance that directly benefits the public.
He reiterated his resolve to break free of the “business as usual” mentality from the moment he took office.
During the maiden episode of the BBM Podcast on Monday, President Marcos called for increased police visibility to deter crime and implement a unified emergency hotline for faster crisis response.
The Department of the Interior and Local Government and the Philippine National Police were tasked to ensure that the police are closer to the people.
The President said he wanted the police to respond more quickly, noting the police officers must be at the scene in less than five minutes.
20 May
President Marcos commended members of the Philippine Marine Corps for saving the life of a 10-year-old child who drowned in the Madlum River in Bulacan last March, calling their act a true display of heroism, duty and compassion.
Corporal Jestoni Dalman and Private First Class Jaypee Navales, both Scout Sniper Candidates, were on their way to a site survey for a training activity.
In a Facebook post, the Marine Corps said the two personnel saw a crowd and found the child unresponsive after being pulled from the river by a bystander. Navales, trained in Basic Life Support, performed CPR until medical help arrived.
The Philippine Navy’s dedication, courage, resilience, and contribution to the generally orderly and peaceful conduct of the 12 May elections was recognized.
In a speech during the 127th Philippine Navy anniversary at the Naval Operating Base in Subic, Zambales, President Marcos cited 1,856 Navy personnel for their assistance in ensuring that the May 2025 polls were orderly and peaceful.
The President said, “They played a key role in ensuring the safe and orderly conduct, particularly in vulnerable areas of the country.”
In addition to securing the democratic process, the President also cited the Navy’s readiness to respond to every crisis, natural or man-made.
21 May
In the face of the regional tension, President Marcos reiterated on Tuesday his administration remains steadfast in protecting the country’s territory and maritime zones, notably the West Philippine Sea.
The Commander-in-Chief issued a strong message against foreign encroachment and emphasized that the country will continue to uphold its maritime entitlements following international law.
The commitment is reflected in the proactive and sustained engagement in international defense and security efforts, the President said, citing the Armed Forces of the Philippines’ participation in various exercises such as the Balikatan, Sama Sama, Rim of the Pacific and Multilateral Naval Exercise Kakadu.
Mr. Marcos has retained key members of his economic team, citing the need to sustain financial stability, but accepted the resignation of two out of 52 Cabinet members who submitted courtesy resignations.
In a press briefing, Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin said the President declined his courtesy resignation.
Bersamin said the President accepted the resignations of Ambassador Antonio Lagdameo, Permanent Representative to the United Nations, and Environment Secretary Maria Antonia Yulo-Loyzaga.
22 May
From just 150,000 tourists annually, Alaminos City is now welcoming around 500,000 local and foreign visitors and residents of Pangasinan, thanks to President Marcos.
In his speech, Pangasinan 1st District Rep. Arthur F. Celeste thanked the President for his invaluable support in advancing tourism development projects in the province.
Celeste said the local economy and tourist arrivals benefited from the President’s support through national government-backed tourism initiatives.
President Marcos wants the Bagong Urgent Care and Ambulatory Service (BUCAS) centers to be open daily and round-the-clock to provide immediate medical and health care services.
The President emphasized that illness does not choose a specific time. There are three BUCAS centers in the Ilocos region, with one operating in Dagupan City.
23 May
Executive Secretary Bersamin said Friday that all remaining Cabinet secretaries are undergoing a thorough performance evaluation to determine who will be retained and continue to help President Marcos in serving the Filipino people.
Bersamin announced the initial changes in the Cabinet, including the retention of five key members of the economic team and the replacement of two officials as part of the ongoing revamp in the executive branch.
Bersamin, who was retained by the President, refused to give a timetable for the evaluation but emphasized it will be done in an “immediate” and “careful” manner.
President Marcos urged the Department of Health to make the government’s cancer assistance fund more accessible to patients, emphasizing the need to ensure that those battling the disease receive timely and adequate support.
The DoH was directed to launch an intensified information campaign on the government’s Cancer Assistance Fund (CAF) to ensure more cancer patients are aware of and are able to access the program which provides up to P150,000 in assistance for treatment and diagnostic tests.
The Chief Executive praised the country’s hardworking agricultural workers as he led the distribution of P83.4 million worth of farm equipment and supplies to beneficiaries in Pangasinan.
President Marcos recognized their vital role in ensuring that every Filipino family has food on the table and encouraged them to continue contributing to the country’s agricultural growth and food security.
During the groundbreaking for the Lower Agno River Irrigation System project in Sta. Maria, Pangasinan, Mr. Marcos oversaw assistance distribution to 7,645 agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs) and 292 ARB organizations (ARBOs) in Pangasinan to boost agricultural production.
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