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

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Monday said the government would provide electricity to at least one million more homes using solar power in the next three years.

“At sa pagtatapos ng 2028, dagdag na mahigit isang milyong kabahayan pa ang magkakaroon na rin ng kuryente, sa pamamagitan ng solar power home system,” President Marcos said in his fourth State of the Nation Address (SONA).

The President said in the next three years, his administration will construct 200 power plants capable of providing electricity to four million homes, more than 2,000 factories, and almost 7,000 commercial establishments.

“Hahabulin at tutuparin ng DOE (Department of Energy) at NEA (National Electrification Administration) ang nakatakdang dami ng mga kabahayang makakabitan ng kuryente ngayong taon hanggang 2028. Lalo na sa Quezon, Camarines Norte, Palawan, Masbate, Samar, Negros Occidental, at Zamboanga del Sur,” the President said.

President Marcos said that the country now has several power plants nationwide, utilizing new technology and clean energy, including solar power, windmills, and natural gas.

During the President’s first three years in office, the government was able to provide electricity to some 2.5 million homes out of the total 5 million homes that had no electricity at the start of the Marcos administration in 2022.

The Chief Executive said the Philippines is known internationally for putting value on renewable energy. | PND

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Monday vowed to use the full force of the law against those behind the abduction and alleged killing of dozens of cockfight enthusiasts or sabungeros.

Various government agencies have joined forces to solve the case, President Marcos said in his fourth State of the Nation Address (SONA).

“Nagtutulungan ang buong pamahalaan para lutasin ang mga kaso ng mga nawawala dahil sa walang pakundangang kagagawan ng mga sindikato sa likod ng madilim na mundo ng mga sabungan,” the President said.

It would not matter if civilians with big influence and former officials are behind the disappearances, President Marcos said.

“Hahabulin at pananagutin natin ang mga utak at mga sangkot, sibilyan man o opisyal. Kahit malakas, mabigat, o mayaman, hindi sila mangingibabaw sa batas,” the Chief Executive said.

“Ipararamdam natin sa mga salarin ang bigat ng parusa sa karumal-dumal na krimen na mga ito,” President Marcos stated.

Investigators are eyeing possible links of individuals allegedly behind the case of the missing “sabungeros” (cockfight aficionados) and extrajudicial killings (EJKs) during the past administration’s war on drugs. | PND