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GMA Network
21-06-2025
- Politics
- GMA Network
Marcos wants Filipinos to remember 'change for better' under his term
When his term of office finally comes to a close, President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. wants his administration to be remembered as one that had an impact in improving the lives of Filipinos. In an interview on the BBM Podcast released Saturday, Marcos spoke about the need to make "tangible changes" for his countrymen under his watch. Asked about how he wants to be remembered, Marcos said: "We made a change for the better. This has been my guide in all the positions I've taken." "So, I absolutely insist that in 2028, when I leave this office, there are significant and tangible changes for the better in the life of each Filipino," Marcos said. Marcos is set to deliver his fourth State of the Nation Address (SONA) before Congress on July 28 at the halfway point of his six-year term. The SONA has been a platform for presidents to highlight past accomplishments, and to rally support from Congress to pass priority pieces of legislation. Marcos' fourth SONA will be held just two months after the 2025 midterm national and local elections. The President has expressed dismay with the poll results, saying these showed that Filipinos have grown tired of politics and that they do not feel government services. Promptly after making the pronouncement, Marcos ordered the courtesy resignation of Cabinet secretaries to "realign" his administration "with people's expectations." This led changes at the helm of multiple government agencies, with Malacañang saying officials under the Marcos administration will undergo periodic reviews. "The worst thing that can happen is umupo ka doon sa posisyon mo, na nagsilbi ka, umalis ka, walang pinagbago," Marcos said. (The worst thing that can happen is you took on your post, you served, you left, and nothing changed.) West PH Sea Marcos was also asked how he would like to be remembered with regard to the territorial dispute with China over the West Philippine Sea. He said, "We did not yield. We continue to protect the sovereignty of the Republic. We continue to defend the territory of the Republic. And we continue to protect and defend the people of the Republic." Retired Supreme Court senior associate justice Antonio Carpio, a vocal advocate of the Philippines' sovereignty, has described the issue as an "intergenerational struggle for Filipinos." Marcos has taken a stronger stance against China compared to his predecessor, former President Rodrigo Duterte. His administration has sought to forge stronger military alliances with key allies, but this has not deterred China from taking aggressive actions against Philippine vessels in the contested waters. "Hindi naman tayo nakikipag-away. Pero huwag niyong binabangga 'yung mga mangingisda, hindi ba? Huwag niyo kaming hinaharang doon sa teritoryo namin. Iyon ipaglalaban talaga namin 'yan," Marcos said. (We are not picking a fight, but don't ram the boats of our fishermen. Don't block us in our territory. We will really assert our rights with these things.) "Because kung ibigay mo 'yan, bibigay mo ng– (Because of you give that,) like they say: You give them an inch, they will take a mile. So, you cannot allow it even the one inch," the President said. Beijing claims almost the entire South China Sea, a conduit for more than $3 trillion in annual ship commerce. Its territorial claims overlap with those of the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, and Brunei. Manila refers parts of the waters within its exclusive economic zone as the West Philippine Sea. In 2016, an international arbitration tribunal in the Hague ruled that China's claims over the South China Sea had no legal basis, a decision Beijing does not recognize. — VDV, GMA Integrated News
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GMA Network
21-06-2025
- Politics
- GMA Network
Marcos on influencing Sara Duterte impeachment: I choose not to
President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. has said it is his decision not to influence the impeachment proceedings against Vice President Sara Duterte, insisting that the matter is in the hands of the Senate and the House of Representatives. Marcos made the remark in an episode of the BBM Podcast on Saturday, when he was asked about views that the President has a say in the decision of the impeachment court even with separation of powers between branches of government. "If a president chooses to do that, I choose not to," Marcos said. Duterte has brushed off Marcos' pronouncements that he was not in favor of her impeachment, as their feud continued to simmer with lawmakers pressing forward with House investigations and endorsing the impeachment complaint to the Senate. Advocacy groups, meanwhile, have called out Marcos for conveying a supposed lack of urgency to make Duterte accountable. Marcos has said the impeachment will take Congress' attention away from passing important pieces of legislation. Speaking on the podcast, Marcos reiterated that he has been preoccupied with lowering retail prices of rice and improving public transportation, among other initiatives of his administration. The Chief Executive stood pat that the impeachment process lies with the legislative branch. "That's not my, I'm busy with the transport, with the rice, all of the different things that we are doing, that, that nauubos ang oras ko doon. Put it bluntly. Wala naman akong papel doon sa impeachment eh," the President said. (That's not my, I'm busy with the transport, with the rice, all of the different things that we are doing. My time is devoted to these things. I have no role in the impeachment.) Senate President Francis "Chiz" Escudero has denied that Marcos was behind the delay in the presentation of the Articles of Impeachment to the Senate. Relations between Marcos and Duterte, running mates in Eleksyon 2022, have turned frosty following House probes into the drug war under the administration of her father, former President Rodrigo Duterte, as well as the handling of confidential funds by offices under her leadership. Last Thursday, House Secretary General Reginald Velasco said the Vice President will not be attending Marcos' fourth State of the Nation Address (SONA) on July 28. Malacañang has said it is her choice if she prefers not to attend the event. — VDV, GMA Integrated News
The Star
20-06-2025
- Politics
- The Star
Public transportation will be better by the end of 2025, says Marcos
This file photo taken on October 2022 shows long lines of commuters forming at the Ortigas Station of MRT 3 while the signaling system glitch was being fixed. - Courtesy of Cha Padilla via PDI/ANN MANILA: President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. told Filipino commuters that they can expect improved public transportation in late 2025. He said this is due to the scheduled completion of some phases of the government's big-ticket infrastructure projects in the transportation sector. In Part 3 of the BBM Podcast: Episode 2, uploaded on his social media accounts on Friday (June 20), Marcos was asked when commuters can expect relief from the daily ordeal of public commuting. He responded by expressing sympathy for their struggles, saying that he, along with his friends and family, had also experienced firsthand the inconvenience of the country's public transport system. 'I've felt that. One time, we rode the MRT, and once you get inside, if your hand ends up here, you won't be able to move it anymore,' he recalled, gesturing how cramped it is inside the trains. 'I was talking with the passengers. One of them said, 'Sir, it's really like this every day.' I know—it's extremely hot and very crowded,' he said. The Marcos administration is implementing some measures meant to benefit commuters. These projects include the '1 plus 3 promo' in the Metro Rail Transit Line 3 and Light Rail Transit Lines 1 and 2 every Sunday, as well as a 50 per cent fare discount for students. Marcos emphasised that the government is also focused on long-term solutions through major infrastructure projects, including the Metro Manila Subway and MRT-7. 'We will start to see the completion of some of the phases by late this year, next year,' Marcos said. The MRT Line 7 is expected to begin trial runs by the end of the year, according to its operator, San Miguel Corporation. Meanwhile, Transportation Secretary Vince Dizon said last Tuesday that they are making progress in securing the right-of-way to be able to push through with the construction of the Metro Manila Subway Project. He had also revealed plans to build another station of the LRT 1 in Bacoor to cater to more passengers as the government seeks to extend the railway to Cavite by 2030. - Philippine Daily Inquirer/ANN
GMA Network
20-06-2025
- Politics
- GMA Network
Marcos on solving problems: Fix it, not the blame
''Fix the problem, not the blame.'' This was President Ferdinand ''Bongbong'' Marcos Jr.'s guiding principle when solving the country's problems. Marcos stressed that immediate action should always take precedence over finger-pointing in solving problems. The President was talking about the power crisis in Siquijor province, wherein residents endured prolonged blackouts 'I've always approached 'yung mga problemang ganito, mayroon lang ako laging in my head na sinasabi, ang una mong reaksyon: Fix the problem, not the blame,' Marcos said at the BBM Podcast released on Friday. (I've always approached this kind of problem with this: Fix the problem, not the blame.) 'Kasi nga sabi, 'sinong dapat mananagot diyan? sinong ganyan?' O sige, that will – pero ayusin muna natin 'yung problema,' he added. (Who should be held accountable? Let's fix the problem first.) On June 14, the National Electrification Administration (NEA) restored stable electricity in Siquijor, ending several days of rotating brownouts that affected thousands of families, businesses, and schools. Marcos also gave authorities six months to permanently resolve the power supply issue, which included a review of the operations of the Siquijor Island Power Corporation (SIPCOR). —VAL, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
20-06-2025
- Politics
- GMA Network
'Not the first time': Marcos says he and his family often use MRT-3
President Ferdinand ''Bongbong'' Marcos Jr. on Friday said that he and his family often ride the MRT-3 together and that his ride last June 1 was "not the first time." ''First of all, hindi 'to first time na sumakay ako ng MRT, madalas namin gamitin 'yung MRT dahil sa traffic. Mas mabilis eh. Kami... pamilya ko, mga kaibigan ko. Hindi practical matraffic, magdadalawang oras ka hanggang Cubao,'' Marcos said in the BBM Podcast. (First of all, it was not my first time to ride the MRT. We often use the MRT because of the traffic. It's faster. I, my family, and my friends ride the MRT. The traffic is not practical, it's often two hours to get to Cubao.) He also shared that he often talks to commuters, and they told him about the usual crowded situation inside the train, adding that he personally experienced the challenge of commuting using the MRT-3. ''Naramdaman ko 'yan, minsan sumakay kami ng MRT, talagang pag nakapasok ka na, basta't 'yung kamay mo nandito, hindi mo na magagalaw 'yun. Nakadikit ka na dito. Kinakausap ko mga pasahero, 'Sir, ganyan talaga 'yan araw-araw,''' the President added. (I experienced that, one time we used the MRT and once you enter and place your hands here, you can no longer move. I often talk to passengers, and they tell me the situation is like that every day.) Marcos earlier announced the Family/Pamilya Pass 1+3 program, which was made in honor of Family Day and to celebrate Filipino families. In this program, families or barkadas of four members only need to pay for one passenger to ride the MRT-3, LRT-2 and LRT-1 every Sunday starting on June 1, 2025. Meanwhile, the Department of Transportation has announced the increased discount for all students from 20% to 50% for LRT-1, LRT-2, and MRT-3 starting Friday. —VAL, GMA Integrated News
