On 2 September, he spent a full day touring flood-battered Central Luzon — Tarlac, Zambales, and Pampanga — and inspecting the collapsed Aquino and Agana bridges in Tarlac City.
There, he made the politically loaded claim that a decades-old flood control master plan was, for the first time, actually being executed under his watch.
That revelation quickly drew pushback. By Thursday, Malacañang was fielding questions about why an Aquino-era master plan, reportedly shelved and never formally handed off, was only now being revisited by the DPWH.
Woven between those flashpoints were the routine trappings of the presidency: launching National Peace Consciousness Month in Pasig, signing the 2026 holiday proclamation, conferring diplomatic honors, and ordering aid for the families of Filipino seafarers killed in an attack on an oil tanker in the Hormuz Strait.
31 August
Heroes do not wear capes
The President’s week began with his honoring a new breed of heroes, particularly those unnamed individuals whose sacrifices helped build the nation, while calling on Filipinos to embody the spirit of heroism by serving the country and protecting its sovereignty.
In his National Heroes Day speech at the Libingan ng mga Bayani in Fort Bonifacio, Marcos said the occasion was an opportunity not only to remember the historical figures who fought for the country but also to recognize ordinary Filipinos who continue to make sacrifices for their families and communities.
The Chief Executive cited the overseas Filipino workers, soldiers, police officers, firefighters, emergency responders, teachers, healthcare workers, parents, and other Filipinos as modern-day heroes who perform their duties despite the difficulties.
1 September
Uphold flag, PCG officers told
The President urged the 21 newly promoted Philippine Coast Guard flag officers to lead with courage and integrity as they take on greater responsibilities in protecting the country and its waters, at their oath-taking in Malacañang.
In congratulating the officers, he stressed that their new ranks carried responsibilities that directly affected Filipinos, particularly those whose lives and livelihoods depend on the sea.
“PCG personnel demonstrate courage in their daily work, including conducting hundreds of search-and-rescue operations and responding to distress calls,” he said.
New Nigerian envoy
Later, the President welcomed Nigeria’s new envoy to the Philippines, Ambassador Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas, who presented his Letter of Credence in a ceremony at Malacañang.
The President noted that “the Philippines and Nigeria have significant potential to expand their cooperation, especially in energy security, trade and investment, and pursue initiatives that would mutually benefit our peoples and our countries.”
Nurture peace gains
The President opened 2026 National Peace Consciousness Month in Malacañang in commemoration of the 30th anniversary of the Government of the Philippines--Moro National Liberation Front 1996 Final Peace Agreement and the 40th Anniversary of the GPH-Cordillera Bodong Administration--Cordillera People’s Liberation Army 1986 Mount Data Peace Accord “SIPAT.”
He urged Filipinos to protect and strengthen the country’s peace gains, emphasizing that sustained peace is essential to achieving lasting national development.
2 September
Weather scourge worsens
The President inspected the damaged Aquino and Agana bridges in Barangay San Isidro, Tarlac City, where he announced the release of P300 million to fund repairs to the two bridges destroyed by recent typhoons and floods.
Marcos ordered the DPWH in the meantime to install a Bailey bridge, a portable, pre-fabricated truss bridge designed for fast assembly without heavy machinery.
The President said the two damaged bridges would hopefully be passable to vehicles within two weeks.
Marcos flies over floods
The President conducted an aerial survey of flood-hit areas in Tarlac. From the air, he assessed the extent of the flooding which showed several homes and communities still submerged.
He ordered the speeding up of government assistance to the affected communities and residents. Marcos was accompanied by Public Works and Highways Secretary Vince Dizon.
Zambales gets presidential love
The President then visited remote Barangay Santa Fe in San Marcelino, Zambales, bringing government relief and cash assistance to the residents who were affected by the severe monsoon rains.
