President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Sunday said Filipinos in the Middle East have been moved to safe locations, with many taking shelter in designated bomb shelters, as the Philippine government continues to receive and monitor situation reports from the region.

The President said no Filipinos were reported hurt or killed following the exchange of attacks involving Israel, the United States, and Iran, based on reports from Philippine embassies in the region.

“Sa palagay ko po ay nabalitaan niyo na po na binomba ng Israel at saka ng Amerika ang Iran. At ang Iran naman ay sumagot at nagbomba naman ng mga American base sa United Arab Emirates, sa Bahrain, sa Oman at siyempre sa Israel. Alam naman natin na napakarami ang mga Pilipino diyan sa bandang Middle East. I’m sure nag-aalala kayo sa inyong mga kilala, mga kaibigan at mga kaanak na nandoon,” President Marcos said in a video message.

The President emphasized that the government has been closely monitoring the situation in the Middle East since the conflict began, with Philippine embassies and labor attachés placed on heightened alert starting late Saturday afternoon to ensure the safety and welfare of Filipinos in the region.

“Nais kong i-report sa ating mga kababayan na sa ngayon, as of 9 o’clock Sunday, wala po tayong natatanggap na report na may casualty na Pilipino. Wala pong Pilipino ang namatay. Walang Pilipino ang nasaktan,” President Marcos noted.

President Marcos said government agencies remain on heightened alert as the situation in the Middle East continues to evolve, stressing the importance of sustained monitoring to ensure the safety and well-being of Filipinos in the region.

“At sa ngayon ay patuloy ang aming pagmomonitor para tiyakin na nasa magandang kalagayan ang ating mga kababayan sa Middle East. Ang ating tuloy-tuloy na binabantayan dahil ito’y kailangan nating tuloy-tuloy na bantayan at hindi ito tapos pa,” the President noted.

“Sa aming latest report ay ang ating mga kababayan ay nasa safe na lugar. At sila ay nakapunta sa mga bomb shelter kung saan sila. At lumalayo sila doon sa mga base ng Amerikano upang hindi naman sila mapalapit sa alanganin. Patuloy po ang pagre-report natin habang dumadating po ang report sa akin,” President Marcos added -PND

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. expressed optimism that the Philippines will further strengthen cooperation with the Slovak Republic, Papua New Guinea, and the Lao People’s Democratic Republic as he welcomed on Friday the newly appointed ambassadors from these countries.

President Marcos welcomed Ambassador Stephen Pokanis of Papua New Guinea, Miloš Koterec of the Slovak Republic, and Thiphasone Sengsourinha of the Lao DPR as they presented their credentials during a simple ceremony at the Palace.

The President described as a great honor for him to welcome Ambassador Koterec as Slovakia’s first resident ambassador to the Philippines, stressing there is much for the two nations to do and develop.

President Marcos noted the strong potential for expanded cooperation, citing a wide range of activities and areas for the Philippines and the Slovak Republic to explore and discuss during the envoy’s tenure in the country.

As to Papua New Guinea, President Marcos expressed hope that “the relationship will continue to grow and deepen in the future, through economic and people-to-people ties .”

With the Lao PDR, the President said the two nations have established a good relationship not only bilaterally but also through domestic contacts and ASEAN partnership.

President Marcos expressed hope that “there’s still much that we can do to promote that relationship,” underscoring his anticipation of significant progress in strengthening ties between the Philippines and the Lao People’s Democratic Republic during the envoy’s tenure.

For his part, Ambassador Koterec said he is fully committed to advancing tangible bilateral cooperation, including economic cooperation, investments, and business partnerships.

The President also acknowledged the potential to strengthen people-to-people relations, particularly noting the key contributions of the 1,500 Filipinos in different sectors in the Slovak Republic. The President also welcomed the intent of the Slovak Republic to accede to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia.

Ambassador Koterec noted Slovakia also sees considerable potential in the exchange of knowledge and experience in nuclear technology, education cooperation, academic partnership, and mutual mobility of people.

Papua New Guinea Ambassador Pokanis, on the other hand, acknowledged the strong government-to-government and people-to-people relationships and highlighted Papua New Guinea’s support for the Philippines in promoting regional peace and stability.

The ambassador also highlighted robust cooperation in trade and food investments, education and health services, and the movement of people between Papua New Guinea and the Philippines, noting these as key achievements in the bilateral relationship over the past 50 years.

In handing over his credentials to the President, the Lao PDR envoy pledged his full commitment “to further advancing the good bilateral relations and cooperation between the Lao PDR and the Philippines in the coming years.” PND

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. will review a budgeting code being drafted by the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) that intends to institutionalize key fiscal reforms and enforce fiscal discipline on the use of unprogrammed appropriations, a Palace official said on Thursday.

In a Palace press briefing, Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Undersecretary and Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said that the DBM budgeting code will also provide clearer parameters governing the level, scope, and conditions for the release of the unprogrammed appropriations.

“A central policy intention under the proposed reform is to ensure that unprogrammed appropriations are confined to a limited and clearly defined purpose, thereby preventing their use as a broad or discretionary funding mechanism and enforcing fiscal discipline,” Castro said, quoting a statement from DBM.

“The draft measure will be submitted for review by the economic team, the executive secretary, and ultimately, the President; as such, the matter remains under policy development and interagency consultation.”

As a matter of fiscal policy, the Palace official said the DBM’s position is to adopt a more prudent and disciplined approach by setting the level of unprogrammed appropriations below 5 percent of the total national budget, based on historical data and fiscal trends.

The precise threshold, however, will remain subject to further deliberation and the President’s approval in the context of the proposed budgeting code.

Asked by reporters whether the President supports a rate below 5 percent of the national budget, Castro responded affirmatively.

The DBM is fast-tracking the drafting of the code for review by the economic team and the President, she added.

President Marcos vetoed in January several items under Unprogrammed Appropriations (UAs) totaling nearly PhP92.5 billion in the 2026 national budget approved by Congress.

The President said his veto is intended to ensure that public funds are expended in clear service of national interests, emphasizing that the UAs must be used only under clearly defined conditions, with sufficient safeguards to prevent misuse. | PND

Faster aid for communities in need.

That is what President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. emphasized on Thursday as he visited the newly upgraded Visayas Disaster Resource Center in Mandaue City, Cebu, emphasizing that the facility enables the national government to directly provide food packs and other aid, strengthening disaster response and preparedness across the Visayas and Mindanao.

The PhP117-million upgrade of VDRC’s Mechanized Production System (MPS) can now produce up to 30,000 family food packs (FFPs) per eight-hour shift, tripling its previous capacity.

“Ito ang unang panahon na ang national government ay nagbibigay nitong klaseng food pack. Noong nakaraan, eh kung saan-saan na lang kumukuha ‘yung mga biktima. Pero ngayon, nakakapag-provide na ang national government. Kaya maganda itong naging facility natin,” President Marcos said following his inspection of the state-of-the-art facility.

The President said the new five Mechanized Production System lines were designed and built specifically for the Philippines.

The new system not only accelerates production but also uses machine-operated vacuum sealing to prolong the shelf life of food packs, making them infestation-free and ready for long-term storage and prepositioning in disaster-prone regions.

The President said VDRC currently has 4 million food packs in storage, ready for distribution, but will continue producing until the facility reaches over 5 million FFPs. Should there be unused FFPs, President Marcos assured that food packs nearing expiration are being distributed for free to those in need as part of the government’s aid system.

President Marcos said the facility is serving several fire emergencies and other ongoing disaster response efforts, including areas affected by volcanic activity.

The upgrade of VDRC is in line with President Marcos’s directive to the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) to ensure the immediate and adequate delivery of assistance to families affected by calamities.

By ramping up production, the government can respond more quickly and effectively to major disasters, reaching even remote and vulnerable communities.

The Visayas hub complements services provided by the Luzon Disaster Resource Center in Pasay City. While a temporary hub operates in Mindanao, President Marcos announced plans to construct a permanent Mindanao Disaster Resource Center in Butuan City.

Across the country, the government has 17 mobile kitchens providing hot meals in evacuation centers and 16 mobile command centers to improve coordination during disasters.

VDRC also supports programs such as Emergency Cash Transfer and Cash-for-Work, providing assistance to individuals earning below the minimum wage.

Funded through the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Fund, the upgraded MPS was completed in July 2025.

During the inspection, President Marcos toured the raw material storage, family food pack storage, and both manual and mechanized production facilities. He also witnessed the loading of food packs onto trucks bound for prepositioning at DSWD field offices in Iloilo City and Butuan City. | PND

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Thursday led the launch of the Pag-Abot Processing Center in Cebu, reaffirming the government’s commitment to assist people living on the streets by providing health services, livelihood assistance, psychosocial support, food, clothing, temporary housing, and other interventions to improve their lives.

In Cebu, more than 600 homeless individuals have been recorded by the Department of Social Welfare and Development, which is implementing the Pag-Abot Program to help families and individuals in street situations.

The program provides health services, food, clothing, psychosocial and livelihood support, temporary housing, and family reintegration to help beneficiaries move toward stable and dignified lives.

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), in coordination with the Department of the Interior and Local Government and local government units, is reaching out to families in street situations to ensure their inclusion in the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program and other social protection initiatives, under the Pag-Abot Program launched in 2023 and later institutionalized in 2024.

Among the guests during President Marcos’ visit were DSWD Secretary Rex T. Gatchalian; Tourism Secretary Christina Frasco, Rep. Vincent Franco Frasco, 5th District, Cebu; Liloan Mayor Aljew Fernando Frasco, and Liloan Vice Mayor Margarita Frasco.

While being briefed by DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian, President Marcos toured the Pag-Abot Processing Center, visiting the clinic, processing area for beneficiary assessment, profiling, biometrics, and clothing distribution, storage, and laundry area, kitchen and dining hall, administrative office, senior citizens’ room, isolation room, and prayer and activity areas.

The President also inspected the second-floor facilities, including the child-minding and multi-purpose areas, the lactation room, the house parents’ room, the male, female, and family sleeping quarters, and the communal bathrooms. | PND

The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) on Wednesday highlighted the reactivation and reformatting of its Metrobase (02) 136 Hotline, aimed at responding to road emergencies within five minutes to prevent traffic congestion.

“Gusto naming i-highlight ang reactivation at reformatting ng ating MMDA Metrobase 136 kung kailangan ninyo po ng responde sa kalsada, sa mga major roads na covered ng MMDA, ang number po na tatawagan ay Metrobase 136,” MMDA General Manager Nicolas Torre III said in a Palace press briefing.

“Ang aming garantiya diyan ay limang minuto makakarating ang aming mga constable or mga traffic enforcers kung saanman kayo nangangailangan ng tulong.”

Torre said the public could ask for assistance for minor glitches such as crashes and collisions, noting that while enforcers are on the way, CCTV operators at MMDA Metrobase review the incident video to determine liability later.

The CCTV footage will be provided to the parties concerned via social media messaging, he said, noting the goal is to clear the road of obstructions within 10 minutes.

“Gusto natin clear na kaagad ang kalsada at kung anuman ang usapin ninyo sa banggaan na iyan – kung sino ang magbabayad ng insurance, kung sino ang mananagot sa mga gastusin,” said Torre.

“Pag-uusapan na ng mga parties concerned sa tabi gamit iyong ipapadala naming CCTV footage na na-extract na galing doon sa mga CCTV cameras ng ating MMDA.”

As to the effectivity of the hotline, Torre said MMDA’s (02) 136 Hotline has been in operation for quite some time, and the agency is reactivating it to raise public awareness on the government facility that benefits the people.

Torre also assured the public that the agency has sufficient manpower to operate the hotline. | PND

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. honored former Senator Manny Pacquiao as a boxing legend and a true champion of the Filipino spirit during the handover ceremony of his memorabilia held at the National Sports Museum in Pasig City on Tuesday.

In his remarks, President Marcos highlighted Pacquiao’s illustrious boxing career and his role in bringing pride and unity among Filipinos both at home and abroad.

“Hindi lang siya champion sa boxing. He is a champion of humanity. He is a champion as a Filipino. He is a champion as a man. And he is a champion in all our hearts and he will always be our champion,” President Marcos said.

President Marcos recalled how Pacquiao’s victories brought the nation together and earned admiration worldwide, making Filipinos proud wherever they were.

“And we can say that sa buong kasaysayan ng Pilipinas, there was never a time when we were more proud to be Filipino than when Manny was winning all those fights… But hindi lang kasi napakagaling niya, never niya kinalimutan ang pagka-Pinoy niya,” the President added.

President Marcos also recounted how communities would pause to watch Pacquiao’s fights and how his victories became shared moments of national pride.

“Saan ka naman nakakita ng atletang Pilipino na pagka may laban, ‘yung putukan sa Mindanao nagsi-ceasefire muna para manood sila kay Manny Pacquiao? Where did you ever hear of such a thing?,” the President said.

Aside from his athletic achievements, President Marcos also praised Pacquiao for his humility, compassion, and faith.

“You cannot find a more humble, a more devoted, and God-fearing person than Manny Pacquiao,” the President said.

The President also highlighted Pacquiao’s generosity in helping fellow boxers facing health and financial difficulties.

“But there is a side also to Manny that maybe most people do not know about. I remember when we went for dinner during the award sa Elorde at pinuntahan namin at lumabas lahat ng mga boksingero na wala na silang hanap-buhay at ‘yung iba, tinamaan na, nagkasakit, nagkaramdaman. Lahat ‘yun tinulungan ni Manny,” the President said.

“Hindi niya sinasabi kahit na kanino. Kung hindi nila in-announce doon sa programa na ‘yun, nobody would know about it. Ganyan ang ugali, ganyan ang pagkatao ng ating Manny Pacquiao.”

Recognized globally as the only eight-division world champion in boxing history, Pacquiao captured world titles across multiple weight classes, redefining the boundaries of the sport while elevating Philippine pride on the international stage.

Among the items formally entrusted to the Museum are Representative Fight Trunk (Miguel Cotto Bout, 2009); Representative Fight Trunk (Antonio Margarito Bout, 2010); and World Boxing Council (WBC) Championship Belt.

Pacquiao has two upcoming bouts this year, including a September rematch with Floyd Mayweather Jr. at the Sphere in Las Vegas. | PND 

The government is expanding contract farming under a consolidated farming system to raise farmers’ incomes and improve their livelihoods, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. said on Tuesday, citing positive results from earlier implementations.

“Ngayon ang ginawa natin ay contract farming. Pararamihin natin ‘yung contract farming dahil mas maayos ang buhay ng ating mga magsasaka,” President Marcos said during an open forum following the 2026 National Irrigation Administration-National Confederation of Irrigators Association (NIA-NCIA) General Assembly in Quezon City.

“Kaya, pararamihin natin ‘yung contract farming dahil sa aming naging karanasan ay napakaganda ang naging resulta.”

The scheme will be implemented within a consolidated agricultural system designed to achieve economies of scale, in which farmers are organized into cooperatives and individual land parcels are combined into large, contiguous farmlands, reducing production costs and enabling greater mechanization.

Through a more organized production system, farmers will not worry about where to bring their produce, the President said, noting that they will handle drying, milling, sacking, and delivery of their products.

And because middlemen will not be part of the system, farmers will see higher profit margins, the President said.

According to NIA Administrator Eduardo Guillen, the agency has so far organized more than 400 farmer cooperatives that have received around 150 rice processing systems from the government.

NIA will organize more cooperatives this year, Guillen added. | PND

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Tuesday underscored the need to restore the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to its position as a global economic driver, as the Philippines chairs the regional bloc this year.

Speaking at the ASEAN Editors and Economic Opinion Leaders Forum at Fairmont Hotel in Makati City, President Marcos said ASEAN centrality must remain at the core of the regional bloc’s strategy for economic resurgence in line with the Philippines’ Chairship theme, “Navigating Our Future, Together.”

“I think we share the aspiration, all member states share the aspiration that ASEAN should return to its old role of being an economic, a global economic driver. That happened in 2019, that’s where we were and we need to return to that,” the President said during the Special Session Fireside Chat titled “Tapping the Philippines’ Dynamic Growth Story.”

The President said “together” in practical economic terms means recognition, understanding, and a firm commitment among all eleven member states to work as one cohesive region while respecting national differences.

President Marcos explained that unity does not require uniformity noting that ASEAN countries differ in their economies, population size, and levels of development.

Despite differences, the President said, the shared aspiration to reassert ASEAN’s leadership in the global economy binds the region together.

“That joint and shared aspiration of returning to that role in the global community is something that we hold in our hearts together,” the President said.

“Even achieving that will be done in many different ways depending on which country you are talking about. But we have to do it in consonance with one another so that we achieve our own national goals and at the same time achieve the goals that we have for ASEAN.”

Asked on concrete policy reforms that the Philippines would push during its Chairship, the President stressed the need to reinforce supply chains within ASEAN.

“Very soon after COVID, the discussion around ASEAN was that we have to learn from the lessons of COVID. One of the great lessons that we had to do was to make more robust our supply chains,” the President said.

“And so there has been a joint understanding between member states, let’s do it ourselves first. And so, the supply chains within ASEAN should be strengthened.”

The President noted that intra-ASEAN trade currently accounts for only around 23 percent of the region’s total trade, with the remaining 77 percent conducted outside the bloc.

Expanding intra-regional commerce, President Marcos said, would significantly enhance ASEAN’s resilience and competitiveness, positioning the region to reclaim its standing as a major force in the global economy.

The President cited ongoing efforts to advance initiatives such as a common ASEAN grid and greater coordination among regulatory agencies to standardize importation procedures and improve cross-border business processes.

“We understand how – what the laws are, and we understand what part each country will play was we try to achieve what we try to aspire for, which is to return as a global force in the global economy,” the President said.

The ASEAN Editors and Economic Opinion Leaders Forum is the first high level business and investment promotion event of the Philippines ASEAN 2026 Chairship.

It convenes senior policymakers, business leaders, economists, researchers, ASEAN officials, representatives of member states’ economic ministries, and media partners to discuss priority sectors, inclusive business, and the media’s role in explaining ASEAN and its future to the public. | PND

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Tuesday said that the government has allocated nearly PhP300 billion this year to support the entire agriculture sector, including over PhP63 billion specifically earmarked for irrigation projects.

“Upang ipagpatuloy ang mga magagandang nasimulan at maisakatuparan ang mga nakalatag na plano, naglalaan tayo ng higit animnapu’t tatlong bilyong piso para sa mga programang pang-irigasyon,” President Marcos said during his attendance at the 2026 NIA-NCIA General Assembly and Inspection of the NIA Command Center in Quezon City.

“Inaasahan natin na ang pondong ito ay makakatulong sa rehabilitasyon ng mga lumang pasilidad, pagsasaayos ng mga sirang kanal at irrigation system, at ang pagpapalawak ng mga lugar na maaaring mabigyan ng serbisyo ng irigasyon,” the President also said.

President Marcos said that the PhP300 billion agriculture funding would be used to buy seeds, build farm-to-market roads, construct post-harvest facilities, purchase cold-storage facilities and fertilizers, and support other programs for the benefit of farmers.

The Chief Executive said that the agriculture sector is facing many challenges, including climate change, rising production costs, and problems caused by calamities.

The Chief Executive acknowledged that the agriculture sector continues to face numerous challenges, including climate change, rising production costs, and the recurring impacts of typhoons and droughts experienced by the country each year.

Against this backdrop, President Marcos explained that whenever water supply is insufficient, or irrigation systems are damaged, planting is delayed, resulting in lower yields and reduced profits for farmers, adding that around 30 percent of the country’s irrigable land has yet to be provided with irrigation.

“Kaya’t nananatiling malinaw ang prayoridad ng itong – nitong Administrasyon: Patatagin ang produksyon ng pagkain, itaguyod ang kapakanan ng bawat magsasaka, at palawakin ang irigasyon sa buong bansa,” the President said.

President Marcos cited the Talavera River Super Diversion Canal Siphon in Nueva Ecija, where the government temporarily halted irrigation delivery in December 2025 to undertake rehabilitation works initially scheduled for completion on March 1 this year; however, the project was finished ahead of schedule on February 1, nearly a month earlier than planned.

The President emphasized that when needed, the government does not delay the delivery of its services, adding that among the improvements being pursued is the development of biofertilizers through the collaborative work of the University of the Philippines and Agrispecialist, Inc.

President Marcos said this would help a lot in increasing the yields in farming. | PND