Governance gets back on track after ‘distraction’

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s week blended investment diplomacy with domestic economic housekeeping.

He met Mitsubishi Corp. president Katsuya Nakanishi, courting Japanese investments to create jobs, accelerate mass transport, expand clean energy, and strengthen digital services.

Also, last week, the President ordered agencies to pay contractors who have fulfilled project obligations immediately. The directive aimed to spur economic activity, uphold accountability, and fast-track payment processes across government.

Preparations for the ASEAN Summit also took center stage as Marcos convened key Cabinet officials to ensure the country is “ASEAN-ready,” directing agencies to translate hosting duties into concrete economic gains for the Philippines and the region.

He also welcomed the House panel’s dismissal of impeachment complaints against him, saying due process prevailed and expressing confidence that the truth had come out.

2 February

Mitsubishi courted for investments

A meeting between the President and Mitsubishi Corp. president and chief executive officer (CEO), Katsuya Nakanishi, is expected to spur Japanese investments aimed at creating jobs, accelerating mass transport projects, expanding clean energy and strengthening digital services.

“I met with Katsuya Nakanishi, president and CEO of Mitsubishi Corporation, to advance investments that will create more jobs, help complete faster and more reliable subway and railway systems, and expand clean wind energy in the provinces,” Marcos said.

The President said the proposed investments are aligned with the administration’s push to modernize public transportation, particularly subway and railway systems, to ease daily commuting and improve mobility in urban and regional areas.

Performing contractors must be paid

President Marcos Jr. has ordered government agencies to settle obligations to contractors who have delivered on projects immediately.

The directive reflected the President’s push to stimulate economic activity while ensuring accountability in public spending.

The President wanted his order carried out “as soon as possible,” while seeking a faster payment process.

Gov’t preps for ASEAN Summit

Key agencies were convened to ensure the Philippines is fully prepared to host the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit this year.

The President met with Cabinet officials whose agencies play direct roles in ASEAN-related preparations, including Foreign Affairs Secretary Ma. Theresa Lazaro, Trade and Industry Secretary, Cristina Aldeguer-Roque, Information and Communications Technology Secretary, Henry Aguda, Social Welfare Secretary, Rex Gatchalian, and Science and Technology Secretary Renato Solidum, among others.

“The Philippines is now ASEAN-ready!” Castro said in a Palace press briefing.

During the meeting, Marcos directed agencies to pursue measures that would deliver concrete economic gains not only for the Philippines but also for the ASEAN region.

5-year registration okayed

The Chief Executive granted “initial approval” to a proposal extending the registration validity of brand-new vehicles from three years to five years, Malacañang said Tuesday, as part of efforts to ease the burden on motorists and streamline government transactions.

The proposal was presented by Department of Transportation (DoTr) Acting Secretary Giovanni Lopez during a meeting with the President in Malacañang.

The President initially approved it, and the DoTr will issue memoranda accordingly.

3 February

Executive overreach avoided over SALN

The President is avoiding “executive overreach” in releasing the Statements of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth (SALNs) of House lawmakers, particularly those under investigation for alleged links to flood control anomalies.

Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla disclosed on Monday that he is having difficulty securing the SALNs of lawmakers under investigation by the anti-graft body.

Remulla, a former congressman, said there is no rule requiring plenary approval for the release of SALNs.

He said he would raise the issue with Speaker Faustino Dy III, after the Office of the Secretary General, headed by Cheloy Garafil, informed the Office of the Ombudsman that plenary approval is required before copies of lawmakers’ SALNs can be released.

The report will decide ICI’s fate

The President will leave to the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) the decision on whether to continue its operations or conclude its mandate.

The President said he respects the ICI’s independence and will not interfere in its work, although assistance from the executive branch remains available if requested.

He said that the ICI is an independent body, an independent commission. Whatever decision the ICI makes will be the basis of the President’s response.

Dismissal of impeach raps welcomed

The President welcomed the dismissal of the impeachment complaints against him after the House Committee on Justice declared them insufficient in form and substance.

He said that due process was followed, which was what he wanted, as well as for the truth to come out.

4 February

Gov’t investing big in education

The government will invest heavily in education and skills development, leveraging technology to bring training and employment opportunities closer to Filipinos.

President Marcos led the launch of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) Skills Passport Mobile Application in San Juan City, calling the platform a key reform to modernize skills training and workforce development.

“This is the TESDA Skills Passport Mobile Application. It is a step by the government to bring skills and opportunities closer to every Filipino,” Marcos said.

The President underscored that technology has become inseparable from daily life, noting that learning, communication and work have largely shifted to digital platforms.

He said education and skills development remain the administration’s primary investments for long-term growth, revealing that more than PHP1 trillion has been allocated for education this year.

5 February

Faster, expanded connectivity

Mr. Marcos emphasized the importance of faster, expanded Internet connectivity as a key driver of national development, saying that digital access is now a necessity that empowers Filipinos to learn, work, and access essential services.

Speaking at the Philippine Telco Summit 2026 at the Newport Dome in Pasay City, Marcos reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to ensuring that every Filipino, especially those in remote and far-flung areas, has access to reliable and affordable Internet.

“Broadband and mobile Internet speeds have improved in recent years. These gains mean faster access to education, health services, government programs, and livelihoods,” Marcos said.

“After all, in today’s age, connectivity is a right, a necessity, and a lifeline. Still, challenges continue to remain.”

OES takes OSAPIEA functions

The Office of the Special Assistant to the President for Investment and Economic Affairs (OSAPIEA) transferred its functions to the Office of the Executive Secretary (OES).

The move aims to streamline Malacañang’s investment and economic initiatives, under Executive Order (EO) 108 signed by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., which was made public on Thursday.

“There is a need to further streamline the initiatives of the OP on investment and economic affairs to establish a robust monitoring system further and ensure a more holistic and cohesive approach to address the diverse economic challenges currently confronting the nation,” the EO read.

“The OSAPIEA is hereby abolished. The powers, duties, and functions of OSAPIEA, except those that are within the powers, duties, and functions of other concerned agencies in accordance with their respective mandates, shall now be integrated into the Office of the Executive Secretary,” it added.

6 February

‘Distractions, political move’ shunned

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Friday assessed that the impeachment complaints filed against him before the House of Representatives did not prosper for lack of basis.

Speaking to reporters in Malate, Marcos described the impeachment bid as mere “distractions” and a “political move.”

“These things are distractions from the things that we are doing,” Marcos said when asked to react to the House Committee on Justice’s decision to dismiss the two impeachment complaints against him for failure to meet the constitutional requirement of sufficiency in substance.

“Although I wasn’t very worried because I saw the impeachment complaint, and I knew that I would be all right in terms of the impeachment, because there was nothing; there were no real grounds for the impeachment. It was a political move, as usual,” he added.