President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Tuesday welcomed the World Bank Group’s Philippines Country Partnership Framework (CPF) for 2025-2031 for supporting the administration’s development agenda, particularly in healthcare, education, and job creation.

During the launch and turnover ceremony at Malacañang, President Marcos said the CPF outlines a clear and strategic path for the next six years that is aligned with the government’s priorities highlighted in his fourth State of the Nation Address (SONA).

“The Philippines has accomplished much over these past two decades … However, we are well cognizant of the fact that much more needs to be done to ensure that the progress is truly felt by every Filipino, wherever they may be,” President Marcos said on Tuesday.

“This is why we are looking forward to the launch of the World Bank Group’s Country Partnership Framework—or CPF—for the Philippines for 2025 to 2031,” the President added.

During his SONA delivered on Monday, the President pushed for better access to healthcare, more substantial support for students, more jobs and livelihood opportunities for all Filipinos, as well as better disaster preparedness.

In parallel, President Marcos pointed out, the CPF has three key outcome areas that support the Philippine Development Plan 2023-2028: education and health; private sector job generation; and climate change adaptation and mitigation.

For healthcare, the President said the government is improving the delivery of public health services, particularly in underserved areas, including the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).

The government is also promoting the more innovative use of quality health services while building the capacity to prevent and respond to health emergencies through Phase 1 of the “Philippines: Health System Resilience Project.”

To create more jobs, the President said the government continues to deepen its efforts to simplify business regulations, establish stronger infrastructure, and entice more investments.

Meanwhile, to strengthen climate change mitigation and adaptation, President Marcos said the government is modernizing its data systems, expanding social protection, and delivering faster and more effective responses in times of crisis.

The President thanked the World Bank Group for providing not only financial assistance but technical expertise, championing best practices and reigniting a “collaborative spirit that pushes us to deliver real, lasting impact for Filipinos.” | PND

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. said the government will go after water districts and their partner private companies responsible for the poor water delivery service to more than 6 million households nationwide.

During his fourth State of the Nation Address (SONA) on Monday, President Marcos expressed dismay at the extent of the water problem experienced by households outside Metro Manila, based on the report by the Local Water Utilities Administration (LWUA).

“Marami kaming natatanggap na reklamo na hindi man lang daw umaabot ang tubig sa kanilang mga gripo,” President Marcos said.

“Sa lawak ng reklamo, lampas anim na milyong konsyumer sa buong bansa ang kasalukuyang naapektuhan. Nakita ko na ang report,” the President added.

While the Marcos administration has embarked on major projects to ensure a clean water supply, including filtration systems for island residents, water supply remains a challenge for many.

“Kaya’t ginagawa ng LWUA ngayon ang mga mabisang hakbang laban sa palpak na serbisyo ng mga water districts at kanilang mga joint venture partners,” President Marcos said.

“Higit sa lahat, titiyakin nating mapapanagot ang mga nagpabaya at nagkulang sa mahalagang serbisyong-publiko na ito,” the President continued, drawing applause and cheers.

After discovering a lack of water supply in some schools during his school opening inspection on June 9, President Marcos ordered the LWUA to restore the water supply in affected schools immediately.

Upon the President’s orders, LWUA also instructed all the 532 water districts outside Metro Manila under its jurisdiction to report the status of water supply in their respective areas.

President Marcos said that the LWUA is currently undertaking efforts to improve the poor service of water districts and their joint venture partners from the private sector.

“Titiyakin ng LWUA na mailalagay na sa ayos ang serbisyo ng tubig ng milyon-milyon nating kababayan at gawing mas abot-kaya rin ang presyo,” said the President. | PND

Malacañang has issued proclamations declaring special non-working days in four municipalities and one city in Luzon and Visayas to allow residents to take part in their commemorative events.

Executive Secretary Lucas P. Bersamin signed all proclamations on July 18.

Under Proclamation No. 977, August 4 was declared a special non-working day in San Pascual, Batangas in celebration of the municipality’s founding anniversary.

Bayombong, Nueva Vizcaya will also observe a special non-working day on August 8 to celebrate the town’s fiesta, as stated in Proclamation No. 978.

Meanwhile, Proclamation No. 979 designated August 12 as a special non-working day in Candoni, Negros Occidental to mark the municipality’s 64th founding anniversary.

Tuguegarao City, Cagayan will also observe a special non-working day on August 15 to enable residents to participate in the Pavvulurun Afi Festival, as per Proclamation No. 980.

The festival honors the traditions of the Ibanag people, particularly their ancient practice of lighting fires which represents unity, purification, and the preservation of cultural identity.

Under Proclamation No. 981, the Palace also declared September 16 a special non-working day in Piddig, Ilocos Norte to give residents the opportunity to commemorate the historic Basi Revolt of 1807.

The Basi Revolt of 1807 was a protest against the Spanish colonial government’s monopoly on basi (sugarcane wine) production and trade. | PND

Public school teachers will start getting paid for teaching overload and overtime work from this school year, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. announced on Monday.

“At ngayong school year na ito, makakatanggap na kayo ng kabayaran para sa inyong teaching overload at para sa inyong overtime,” President Marcos said in his fourth State of the Nation Address (SONA).

The President emphasized that teachers are the most vital pillar of the education system, and assured them that their performance will not be measured solely by the number of students they pass, but by how well they nurture, guide, and inspire learners to aim higher in life.

“Asahan po ninyo na hindi gagawing sukatan ng galing o ng performance ninyo ang dami lamang ng estudyanteng inyong pinapasa. Kundi, ang dami ng mag-aaral na inyong pinapahusay at pinapataas ang ambisyon sa buhay,” President Marcos said.

“Hindi tayo tumitigil maghanap ng mga paraan upang pagaanin kahit paano ang inyong pasanin sa araw-araw,” the Chief Executive assured.

President Marcos highlighted his administration’s efforts to uplift the teaching profession, noting the creation of 60,000 additional teaching positions and the streamlining of administrative requirements to allow teachers to focus more on instruction.

The President said that nearly 100 non-teaching documents previously required of educators have been removed to ease their workload.

“Gagawin na din nating digital ang mga natitira pang papel na kailangan ninyong asikasuhin. Para puwede na ninyo itong gawin online-diretso na mula sa inyong mga bagong laptop!” the President said.

On the President’s orders, the Department of Education (DepEd) has moved to streamline school forms and reports, significantly easing the administrative burden on public school teachers to allow them to focus on improving student learning outcomes. | PND

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has directed the construction of additional dedicated evacuation centers and the enhanced use of technology to strengthen disaster preparedness.

“Kasama ng mga mahahalagang imprastraktura, dadagdagan pa natin ang mga makabagong evacuation centers na ating naipatayo na,” President Marcos said in his fourth State of the Nation Address (SONA) on Monday.

“Hindi na dapat pang gamitin bilang evacuation center ang ating mga paaralan,” the President ordered.

The Chief Executive also instructed government agencies to continue improving their disaster preparedness and response.

President Marcos said the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) and the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) have adopted new technologies for more timely and effective weather prediction.

Mobile command and control vehicles of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) have also been distributed to 11 local government units, initially, for more efficient rescue operations.

“Hindi tayo dapat tumigil sa ating mga ginagawang paghahanda dahil ang banta ay patuloy na naririyan. Dapat ay maging likas at automatic na ang mga wastong gawi sa tuwing may sakuna,” President Marcos said. | PND

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. reaffirmed his administration’s unwavering commitment to fighting poverty and hunger by creating jobs, supporting small businesses, and expanding strategic industries across the country.

“Maayos na hanapbuhay talaga ang mabisang pantiyak laban sa kahirapan at laban sa gutom,” President Marcos said in his fourth State of the Nation Address (SONA) on Monday.

With more jobs now being created, President Marcos tasked the Department of Labor (DOLE), Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), and Department of Tourism (DOT), to intensify efforts to generate opportunities for the four percent of the workforce who remain unemployed.

The Chief Executive emphasized the administration’s continued support for microenterprises, particularly with low-interest-bearing and non-collateralized capital.

“Ipagpapatuloy natin ang pagbibigay ng puhunan sa mas marami pang negosyante para makapagsimula ng maliit na negosyo o microenterprise, sa mababang interest at walang kolateral,” said President Marcos.

The President also emphasized government support for intellectual property and the creative industries.

In addition, the government is providing livelihood training and capital grants to marginalized families, with the goal of helping 2.5 million poor households establish their own small businesses.

President Marcos further committed to strengthening high-potential industries, including automotive, manufacturing, electronics, biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, critical minerals, local textiles, halal products, construction, and power generation, aiming for inclusive growth that reaches every Filipino. | PND

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has allocated PhP1 billion for the construction of over 300,000 Barangay Child Development Centers and Bulilit Centers nationwide to address the longstanding lack of daycare facilities.

In his fourth State of the Nation Address (SONA) delivered at the Batasang Pambansa on Monday, President Marcos underscored that education remains a top priority under his administration.

“Puspusan nating inaayos at pinapaganda ang ating sistema ng edukasyon. Sa lahat ng mga pinahahalagahan ng Administrasyon, ito pa rin ang nasa rurok,” President Marcos said.

“Naglaan tayo ng isang bilyon para makapagtayo ng mahigit tatlong daang Barangay Child Development Centers at Bulilit Centers sa buong bansa. At ang pinaka-priority ay ‘yung mga nangangailangan na pook na malalayo,” the President announced.

The Chief Executive also vowed to build 44,000 more classrooms before his term ends and called on Congress to support the endeavor for the sake of the students’ learning.

Nearly 22,000 new classrooms were opened in the last three years under the Marcos administration.

“Hindi na natin dapat nabibitin ang oras nila sa klase dahil sa kakulangan ng classroom. Katuwang ng pribadong sektor, sisikapin nating madagdagan pa ng apatnapung libong silid-aralan bago matapos itong Administrasyon,” the President said.

“Maglalaan tayo ng sapat na pondo para rito. Alang-alang sa ating mga mag-aaral, hihilingin ko ang buong suporta ng ating Kongreso,” President Marcos said.

The President also highlighted other initiatives in support of education, including the intensified implementation of the Early Childhood Care and Development program to ensure the holistic development of Filipino children.

The government also launched the Academic Recovery and Accessible Learning (ARAL) program this year aimed at ensuring that Kindergarten to Grade 10 learners have the necessary foundational skills to attain competencies appropriate to their grade level.

The Chief Executive also committed to deploy more school counselors to protect students’ mental health. | PND

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Monday directed law enforcement agencies to intensify operations against both big drug syndicates and small-time pushers while noting the administration’s successful anti-drug campaign.

In his fourth State of the Nation Address (SONA), President Marcos said he received information that drug pushers are becoming active again.

“Sa tatlong taon lamang, halos mapantayan na ang kabuuang huli noong nakaraang Administrasyon. Sa kabila ng mga ito, tila nagbabalikan daw ang mga pusher,” the President said.

“Kaya, patuloy ang ating mga operasyon laban sa mga drug dealer, sila man ay big-time o small-time,” President Marcos declared.

The Chief Executive gave the order while his administration accomplished some of the biggest drug seizures in the country’s history that resulted in the confiscation of more than PhP83 billion worth of narcotics in the past three years alone.

The amount of drugs seized just three years into the Marcos administration has nearly matched the total haul from the previous administration’s entire six-year term.

The President, however, lamented that among those arrested in the operations are 677 government employees, more than 100 elected officials, and more than 50 police personnel. | PND

With a strong commitment to good governance, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Monday vowed to restore public trust through tangible results, responsive leadership, and a government that serves with urgency and integrity.

In his fourth State of the Nation Address (SONA), President Marcos underscored the need to deliver better public service and governance in the wake of the May 2025 midterm election results.

“Ang leksyon sa atin ay simple lamang: kailangan pa natin mas lalong galingan. Kailangan pa natin mas lalong bilisan,” President Marcos said.

The President described the recent election results as a clear signal of public dissatisfaction with government performance, particularly in the delivery of basic services.

“Bigo at dismayado ang mga tao sa pamahalaan, lalo na sa mga pangunahing serbisyo,” the President said.

Calling on the nation’s public officials to act with greater urgency and competence, the President emphasized that Filipinos expect concrete results. | PND

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Monday vowed to complete most of the remaining major infrastructure and other big-ticket projects initiated by his administration.

“Asahan ninyo, magpapatuloy ang malawakang programang pang-imprastraktura ng administrasyon,” President Marcos said in his fourth State of the Nation Address (SONA). “Ilan dito, matatapos ngayong administrasyon. Ang iba naman, makukumpleto at mararamdaman ang dalang ginhawa pagkatapos na ng aking termino.”

“Ang mga naglalakihang proyekto ay nakalatag na sa buong kapuluan. Mga daan, tulay, tren, paliparan, pantalan, patubig, at murang pabahay,” the Chief Executive said.

These transformative projects span the entire archipelago and aim to improve connectivity, accessibility, and quality of life for Filipinos.

The President said that the government has invested significantly in the future. “We are not building only for today, but we are building also for tomorrow,” President Marcos said.

The President said that while the government continues to implement projects such as the North-South Commuter Railway, it is also providing better services and fare discounts for commuters on the Light Rail Transit (LRT) lines 1 and 2, as well as the Metro Rail Transit line 3 (MRT-3).

Among the discounts offered are 50 percent discounts for individuals with disabilities, senior citizens, and students, as well as the “1+3 Pamilya Pass” on Sundays.

President Marcos acknowledged the refurbishing of Dalian trains, which are now being used in the MRT-3 line. | PND