President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. has expressed a burning desire to be more open and communicative in 2025, a year that Filipinos from all walks of life ushered in with revelries across the nation last night.
In a pre-New Year’s Eve gathering with Palace journalists, Mr. Marcos admitted that his government, in the year which just ended, often brushed off criticism, social media bashing, and fake news without making any response.
The President hinted that a more feisty version of himself may be seen by both the public and the media, although he still sounded a bit cryptic.
“Now, there are a lot of things that we have to do. Although I think we can do better. Sometimes there is a tendency — and I will admit to this — there is a tendency for us to try and structure the releases and the news and the opinions or the responses very, very closely,” Marcos said.
He explained that his administration had committed to this “structured” process, not wanting their responses to be misunderstood by the public. The President then asked journalists to focus on the meatier aspects of his future pronouncements.
“I think there’s still a space for us to be a little bit less structured. I leave it to your better judgment, I leave it to your experience to try and determine what is important and what is not. And what are the things that have been said that really matter,” he added.
As issues arise, he said he would make himself more accessible to the media after shying away from inquisitive reporters in the past, not wanting to blow issues out of proportion.
This renewed openness comes on the heels of significant challenges faced by the Marcos administration in 2024.
In 2024, the country grappled with China’s encroachment in the West Philippine Sea, which escalated tensions and raised questions about the Philippines’ maritime security and sovereignty.
Pivot back to U.S.
The President’s pivot back to the United States for strategic alliances was met with mixed reactions from both allies and critics, further complicating foreign policy dynamics.
Economically, the Philippines faced rising inflation, a depreciating peso, and challenges in attracting foreign investments due to global uncertainties and domestic inefficiencies. These economic difficulties highlighted the need for stronger governance and a clear, unified strategy to bolster economic resilience.
On the political front, Marcos also had to contend with a growing feud with Vice President Sara Duterte. The tension came to a head in a dramatic episode where Duterte, in a fiery early morning rant, threatened to have Marcos, his wife Liza Araneta-Marcos, and Speaker Martin Romualdez killed if she herself was assassinated.
Marcos maintained his silence for a couple of days after the threat issued by Duterte. The political discord not only underscored the fragile alliances within the administration but also raised concerns about governance stability.
For this year, Marcos assured members of the media that he will share more with the public about the activities of the Executive Branch.
In the last quarter of the year, DAILY TRIBUNE has come out with a weekly calendar of events participated in by the President precisely to fill the gaps in presidential reporting.
Likewise, the First Lady’s Corner, which has occupied the top rightmost spot on Page 1 of this paper, has been giving the public a regular glimpse of governance with a woman’s touch, as well as the First Family’s socio-cultural initiatives.
“I think that also brings greater confidence in the government. Because it’s not a black box where [press releases] just come out and you can see the process. And that gives people confidence that, ‘Okay, the government is working. [We] don’t necessarily agree with everything they’re doing, but they’re trying very hard to fix the problem and this is how they’re going about it,’” Marcos said.
Feedback mechanism
Mr. Marcos is also looking into tapping social media as a feedback tool. He shared that he watches the news, reads newspapers, listens to the radio, and visits social media to get an ear on the ground.
“There’s social media. So, I think we should take advantage of it. Let’s also improve; things have changed, there is tri-media now,” he said.
Marcos assured that the government will continue to work with the media in disseminating information that the public needs.
“I think [this] is the best approach that we can do. So, let’s do that. Let’s evolve. We can’t stand by and let all these bad actors take over the discussion, take over the narrative. We will be part of that narrative, a very strong voice in that narrative,” he said.
“Let us be the credible ones. Let us be the ones that tell the truth. Let us be the ones that tell people what’s happening,” he added.