All-out boosting Filipinos’ welfare

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. traveled across the country last week to showcase his administration’s push for progress and unity through key initiatives aimed at improving the lives of Filipinos.

Despite the Presidential Communications Office’s recent decision — announced by Undersecretary Michael Ubac — to end its collaboration with the Bureau of Communications Services in chronicling the President’s weekly activities, DAILY TRIBUNE, in the interest of public service, has opted to continue providing a summary of the President’s key engagements.

7 July

Fiber backbone spreads wings

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. opened his itinerary last week in Palo, Leyte by leading the launch of the National Fiber Backbone (NFB) Project phases 2 and 3, part of government efforts to extend fast and reliable internet access across more regions, especially in remote and underserved communities.

The NFB will provide an additional 100 gigabits per second (Gbps) of bandwidth through 31 new nodes of the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines, benefiting at least 20 provinces, 1,000 government agencies, and an estimated 1.39 million users.

Retrofit San Juanico Bridge ASAP

The President reiterated his order to expedite the retrofitting of the San Juanico Bridge to increase its load capacity from the current three tons to 12 to 15 tons by December this year.

Marcos emphasized the importance of speeding up road strengthening works, citing the growing burden on residents, businesses, and travelers in the region.

Some P520 million has been allocated to restore the bridge’s load limit to 12 to 15 tons by December 2025, which is expected to alleviate the current traffic and logistical delays.

8 July

Getting down for detailed 4th SoNA

The Chief Executive is currently preparing for his fourth State of the Nation Address (SoNA), with a focus on presenting a clear and comprehensive report to the Filipino people, Malacañang said.

Marcos is scheduled to deliver his SoNA before a joint session of Congress on 28 July at the Batasang Pambansa, where he is expected to outline his administration’s progress midway through his term and reaffirm policy directions including for the economy, infrastructure, agriculture, digitalization and national security.

H1 drugs haul totals P30.29-B

The administration’s anti-drug campaign has so far netted P30.29 billion worth of narcotics in the first six months, the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) reported.

“We are talking about the first half. We were able to seize around P30.29 billion worth of illegal drugs, the value of the confiscated shabu, marijuana, cocaine, ecstasy,” PDEA spokesperson Joseph Frederick Calulut said.

9 July

387 medical vehicles turned over to Luzon LGUs

President Marcos led the ceremonial turnover of 387 patient transport vehicles (PTV) to local government units (LGU) across Luzon, marking the largest single-day distribution of ambulances by the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) to date.

Speaking at the Quirino Grandstand in Manila before local chief executives from Luzon, Marcos reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to universal healthcare by ensuring that every city and municipality receives at least one medical transport vehicle by the end of 2025.

“Our next step, since some towns and cities are larger than others, is to assess their specific needs,” Marcos said.

Free healthcare for all

The government is working towards the long-term goal of providing fully subsidized healthcare for all Filipinos, eliminating the need for patients to make out-of-pocket payments for hospital care.

President Marcos said the administration is focused not only on increasing emergency response equipment but also on strengthening and expanding access to the country’s healthcare system.

“We will continue to strengthen not just the number of transport vehicles, but the entire healthcare system,” Marcos said.

Gov’t acts on PrimeWater mess

President Marcos has approved the recommendation of the Local Water Utilities Administration (LWUA) in response to mounting complaints over water service interruptions involving the private water utility firm PrimeWater Infrastructure Corp.

“The President has reviewed the LWUA report himself and agreed with its recommendation,” Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said.

Work, not politics

The Chief Executive has directed the government to focus on work and avoid politicking.

Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said, “President Marcos Jr. knows his direction. He knows what work should be done, and that is his order to all public servants, especially those under the executive branch. Our marching orders is to work and avoid politicking.”

10 July

Marcos sympathizes with Texans

President Marcos expressed condolences and solidarity with the United States, particularly the people of Texas, in the wake of the catastrophic flooding that has claimed lives and displaced thousands.

“On behalf of the Filipino people, I extend our deepest sympathies to President Trump and the American people as they face the devastating floods in Texas,” Marcos said.

The President said in a statement that the Philippines, a country vulnerable to natural disasters due to its geographical location along the Pacific Ring of Fire and the Pacific Typhoon Belt, “knows the challenges of rebuilding after disaster and grieves with the families who have lost loved ones.”

Marcos vows full support for local execs

The President has reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to support local officials regardless of their political affiliation, saying the focus should be on action, not politics.

Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said Marcos met with select first-time local officials and reiterated his position that public service must be nonpartisan.

Newly elected local officials officially assumed office last week following the 12 May midterm elections.

Parada ng Kalayaan participants feted

Participants of the Parada ng Kalayaan 2025 were feted by the President, who said they made the celebration of the 127th Philippine Independence Day “most memorable.”

Marcos led the Parangal ng Kalayaan 2025 at the Kalayaan Hall of Malacañang in recognition of the winners and the competing teams in the parade held on 12 June.

The President, accompanied by First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, presented the trophies and prizes to the winning contingents in the float design and festival performance competitions.

U.S. visit set

President Marcos will visit the United States “in a few days,” US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said.

The top US diplomat made the announcement on the sidelines of the ASEAN Regional Forum Foreign Ministers Meeting and the trilateral US-Philippines-Japan foreign ministers meeting in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

“We have a great relationship with Japan and the Philippines, and work very closely with them on the economic corridor, on maritime security, and territorial integrity — and continue to build upon that partnership, and look forward to hosting the President of the Philippines in Washington in a few days,” Rubio said.

11 July

PUP charter amendments bill vetoed

A bill amending the Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP)charter to declare it the National Polytechnic University was vetoed by the President, Malacañang said on Friday.

“The President vetoed the bill in question,” said Palace Press Officer Castro said in a briefing when asked to confirm if the proposed measure had lapsed into law.

Castro said the bill was vetoed due to its non-compliance with PUP’s assessment of the value of the law to its status as a prime higher education institution of the state for mostly poor students.