President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. led the mid-year command conference of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) on Thursday to review the progress of the military’s operations and programs.

During the command conference held at Camp Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo in Quezon City, the Commander-in-Chief was briefed by AFP officials on the efforts to address internal and external security challenges.

President Marcos also praised the AFP for its role in the orderly conduct of the May 12, 2025 midterm elections.

The AFP presented the song “Kanluran” to the President as a heartfelt anthem of Filipino patriotism.

The AFP said it plans to play the song in cinemas, schools, seminars, and other social gatherings.

The command conference was attended by AFP Chief of Staff General Romeo Brawner Jr. and top military officials and commanders.

Also present were Executive Secretary Lucas P. Bersamin, Department of National Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro, Special Assistant to the President Antonio Lagdameo Jr., Senior Undersecretary Isidro Purisima of the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity (OPAPRU), and NTF-ELCAC Executive Director and Undersecretary Ernesto Torres Jr. | PND

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. will support another attempt to push the Blue Economy Act, designed to help protect the country’s coastal and marine ecosystems and resources.

“Sa lahat po ng ikagaganda ng ating environment, sa ating ikaaangat po ng taumbayan, mga mangingisda po, hindi po ito tututulan ng Pangulo,” Presidential Communications Office Undersecretary and Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said in a press briefing on Thursday.

Senators Loren Legarda and Risa Hontiveros refiled the proposal to pass into law the Blue Economy Act, which seeks to promote stewardship and sustainable development of coastal and marine ecosystems and resources.

“This bill will use our rich marine resources to drive inclusive economic growth, but it does so while protecting the environment and strengthening our coastal communities’ resilience,” said Legarda, who was the principal author of the measure in the Senate.

Legarda emphasized the urgency of climate action in the country, as climate change could cost the Philippines significant losses in life and in the economy.

Hontiveros, for her part, said the Blue Economy Bill is not just about the West Philippine Sea. “It’s also about the rights and welfare of our fisherfolk and the health of our marine ecosystems. So yes, hopefully, that’s one of the many important things the President will mention in his Sona (State of the Nation Address),” she said.

In August 2024, the Senate approved on third and final reading Senate Bill No. 2450 or “An Act establishing a framework for Blue Economy. The bill was approved by the House of Representatives on its third and final reading during the 19th Congress, but both houses of Congress failed to ratify a reconciled version of the measure.

The senators tagged the Blue Economy bill as a landmark legislation that commits the Philippines to harnessing its vast ocean resources for jobs, growth, and long-term marine protection. It aligns the country with global efforts to safeguard and sustainably use the seas.

The measure adopts a blue economy framework, making marine wealth a pillar of the national economy and patrimony, and affirms Philippine maritime rights under international law, among others.

The proposal also mandates a whole-of-nation, integrated approach that links government, academia, civil society, indigenous peoples, local communities, and the private sector in governing and conserving the country’s ocean domain. | PND

To ensure that every Filipino child grows healthy as envisioned in a Bagong Pilipinas, various government agencies have joined forces to strengthen healthcare programs focused on prenatal care and malnutrition prevention, especially during a child’s first two to three years of life.

In a Palace briefing on Thursday, Presidential Communications Undersecretary and Palace Press Officer Claire Castro announced that the Department of Health (DOH) has launched a Nutrition Leadership and Governance Program to strengthen the capacity of local officials to provide quality and accessible health services to mothers, pregnant women, and babies in their community.

“Nagsanib pwersa ang DOH, DSWD (Department of Social Welfare and Development), DILG (Department of Interior and Local Government), at 235 LGUs upang paigtingin ang mga programang pangkalusugan para sa mga batang Pilipino lalo na sa kanilang first 1,000 days,” Castro said on Thursday.

“Ayon ito sa nais ni Pangulong Marcos Jr. na gawing mas malusog ang bawat batang Pilipino. Lahat dapat kumpleto ang nutrisyon mula pagsilang hanggang paglaki,” Castro said.

Under the program, Castro said pregnant women and mothers with their babies will receive support in prenatal care and maternal nutrition, proper breastfeeding and complementary feeding, clean facilities, and affordable health services in every local government unit (LGU) across the country.

Castro said the government is working to address the causes of malnutrition among children to have healthier and stronger Filipinos.

“Dahil sa Bagong Pilipinas, walang batang maiiwan sa laban para sa kalusugan,” Castro said. | PND

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has signed into law three legislations that declared parcels of land in Guimaras, Quezon and Albay provinces as natural parks and protected landscapes to ensure the conservation, protection, management and rehabilitation of the rich biological resources in the areas.

On July 9, President Marcos signed Republic Act No. 12225 declaring a parcel of land in Nueva Valencia, Guimaras as the Taklong and Tandog Group of Islands Natural Park.

President Marcos also signed on the same day Republic Act No. 12226 declaring the Alibijaban Protected Landscape and Seascape in San Andres, Quezon.

The President also signed on July 9 Republic Act No. 12227 declaring a protected area in Polangui and Oas municipalities, as well as Ligao and Tabaco cities all in Albay province to be referred to as the Mt. Masaraga Protected Landscape.

Under the law, protected area management boards will be established to oversee and manage those areas.

The boards will be composed of officials from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), legislators, government agencies, local government units (LGUs), indigenous people’s groups, and non-government organizations (NGOs).

Trust funds will be put up for project financing to sustain operations.

A natural park is a large area not materially altered by human activity where extractive resource uses are not allowed. It is maintained to protect outstanding natural and scenic areas of national or international significance for various uses.

A protected area, on the other hand, is an identified portion of land and water set aside by reason of its unique physical and biological significance. | PND

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. ordered government agencies to ensure the timely completion of the Metro Manila Subway Project, the country’s first-ever underground railway system.

In a Palace briefing on Thursday, Presidential Communications Undersecretary and Palace Press Officer Claire Castro emphasized the administration’s commitment to improve public transport, citing the President’s recent inspection of the said project’s construction site at the Camp Aguinaldo Station.

“Batid ng administrasyon ang urgent need sa mas epektibo na maaasahang mass public transit sa bansa kaya’t kasama ang DOTr ay nag-inspeksiyon ang Pangulo sa construction site para alamin ang status ng proyekto at tiyaking umuusad ito,” Castro said.

Castro said the President directed the Department of Transportation (DOTr) to maintain orderly construction sites to minimize public inconvenience. Meanwhile, the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) was instructed to ensure the timely release of funds necessary to meet the project’s timeline.

“Nagbigay naman ng direktiba si Pangulong Marcos Jr. sa DOTr at DBM – siguraduhing matatapos ang proyekto ayon sa target date, tiyaking maayos ang construction sites para hindi makadagdag sa abala ng commuters at siguraduhin din ang tamang pag-release ng pondo para on-time ang tapos ng proyekto,” Castro said.

The 33-kilometer Manila Subway Project is expected to reduce travel time from Valenzuela to Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) in Pasay City from the current 2 hours and 30 minutes to just 41 minutes.

The subway project will also be interconnected with MRT 3, MRT 7, and the North-South Commuter Railway, providing a more seamless commute for passengers to and from different destinations. The project will significantly benefit students and employees.

“Layunin ng subway project na gawing mas mabilis ang at convenient ang pagbiyahe ng mga commuter mapa-estudyante o empleyado man. Hindi na kailangang gumising nang sobrang aga para lang makaiwas sa traffic,” Castro said. | PND

In a renewed push for President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s mass housing program, around 5,000 residents from low-income communities are set to own land through 34 revived on-site housing projects across key areas in Luzon and Visayas.

Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) Secretary Jose Ramon Aliling approved a proposal on Wednesday to initially revive 34 on-site Community Mortgage Program (CMP) projects in various parts of the country.

“Alinsunod po ito sa utos ng Pangulong Marcos Jr. sa pagsusulong ng mga pro-poor at people-centered housing programs,” Aliling said in a statement.

“We need to prioritize high-impact and implementable CMP projects and assist our beneficiaries to transform their communities,” he added.

Social Housing Finance Corporation (SHFC) President Federico Laxa had proposed reviving the 34 on-site CMP projects.

The initial 34 on-site CMP projects will benefit about 5,000 member-beneficiaries. Some of the priority sites are located in the cities of Pasig and Valenzuela in Metro Manila; Tanay, Rizal; City of San Fernando, Pampanga; in the provinces of Ilocos Sur and Ilocos Norte; Roxas City and Iloilo City.

Laxa said the priority CMP projects are being prepared for the awarding of lots and may undergo further development in the future, noting that these projects have been in the pipeline for several years.

The plan could be extended to include incremental housing, allowing member-beneficiaries to afford housing improvements with the assistance of the government.

“We will be more transformative with our CMP projects now, with consideration to incorporating development in our sites,” Laxa said.

The DHSUD and SHFC are targeting the start of awarding the CMP sites to member-beneficiaries in October, according to the agencies.

Aliling said the revival of the CMP projects will boost the implementation of President Marcos’ Expanded Pambansang Pabahay para sa Pilipino (4PH) Program.

During the 4PH’s initial implementation, all CMP projects were placed on hold as the program was focused on vertical housing.

The CMP is a people-led housing finance and community development program implemented by the SHFC, which helps legally organized associations of low-income groups acquire and develop a tract of land under the concept of community ownership.

Its primary objective is to assist residents of depressed areas in owning the lots they occupy, or where they choose to relocate to, and eventually create sustainable and resilient communities. | PND

Malacañang on Thursday formally announced the appointment of Atty. Francis Saturnino C. Juan as the new chairperson of the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC), effective August 8.

A seasoned energy expert, Juan previously served as executive director and general counsel of the ERC. He currently heads the Independent Electricity Market Operator of the Philippines (IEMOP).

In a Palace press briefing, Presidential Communications Undersecretary and Palace Press Officer Claire Castro credited Juan for playing a key role in operationalizing the Wholesale Electricity Spot Market, advocating for consumer protection, and promoting renewable energy development through strategic tariff reforms.

Joining him in the commission are newly appointed ERC Commissioners Atty. Amante A. Liberato and Atty. Paris G. Real, whose appointments will take effect upon assumption of office.

Liberato currently serves as Deputy Executive Secretary for Finance and Administration at the Office of the President. A lawyer and certified public accountant, he has held key positions at the Commission on Audit and has served in various advisory roles across the executive and legislative branches.

His extensive background in fiscal management, legal reform, and governance is expected to make a significant contribution to ERC’s institutional strengthening.

Real brings to the Commission more than two decades of legal practice, including over 10 years of active participation in high-impact regulatory proceedings before the ERC. He is recognized for his commitment to legal integrity and consumer advocacy—qualities that reinforce the commission’s quasi-judicial mandate.

“These appointments reflect President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s commitment to revitalizing the ERC with leaders who embody transparency, integrity, and dedicated public service,” Castro said.

The announcements came after the resignation of ERC Chairperson Monalisa Dimalanta, also effective August 8, 2025.

Malacañang expressed gratitude for her dedicated service to the Commission and the Filipino people.

“We extend our deepest gratitude to Chairperson Dimalanta for her service and wish her continued success as she returns to private practice,” Castro said. | PND

Demonstrating the administration’s firm resolve to protect Filipino lives abroad, eight seafarers who were rescued from a deadly Houthi rebel attack in the Red Sea safely returned to the Philippines on July 16, following urgent directives from President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.

In a Palace press briefing on Thursday, Presidential Communications Office Undersecretary and Palace Press Officer Claire Castro announced that the Filipino crew members of the M/V Eternity C., who were under assault by Houthi forces on July 7 and 8, had arrived home after receiving immediate humanitarian aid in Jizan Port, Saudi Arabia.

The repatriation was made possible through swift coordination among the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW), the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), and the Philippine Consulate General in Jeddah.

“Alinsunod sa direktiba ni Pangulong Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. na siguraduhin ang kaligtasan ng ating mga kababayang nasagip mula sa mga Houthi rebels sa Red Sea, nakauwi na sa bansa kagabi, July 16, ang walong seafarers na nasagip mula sa M/V Eternity C,” Castro said.

Castro added that the rescued seafarers will receive additional support from the government, including financial assistance, medical care, and reintegration services.

Reaffirming the government’s continued efforts to protect its citizens overseas, the administration is reaching out to the families of the 13 other Filipino crew members who remain unaccounted for.

Castro emphasized that these actions reflect the President’s commitment to placing the welfare and well-being of the Filipino people at the forefront of his administration’s priorities.

“Ang lahat ng hakbang na ito ay ayon sa nais ni Pangulong Marcos Jr. na tiyakin ang kaligtasan at kapakanan ng mga seafarers, isang patunay na sa Bagong Pilipinas, walang maiiwang Pilipino saan mang panig ng mundo.” I PND

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has ordered the Department of Transportation to expedite the inspection and necessary adjustments of the remaining unused trains from China, allowing their immediate deployment to benefit the Filipino commuting public.

President Marcos also directed the DOTr to conduct regular maintenance work on LRT-1, LRT-2, and MRT-3 to prevent disruptions and ensure the safety of passengers.

“Inatasan naman ng Pangulo ang DOTr na pabilisin pa ang inspeksyon sa mga natitirang Dalian trains para magamit na ito sa lalong madaling panahon,” Presidential Communications Office Undersecretary and Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said in a press briefing at Malacañang on Thursday.

After more than a decade in storage, the Dalian trains purchased from China in 2014 have finally entered service, President Marcos announced on July 16.

“2014 pa nabili ng gobyerno ang mga tren pero hindi pa rin ito napakinabangan ng taumbayan kaya’t ginawan ng paraan ng mga eksperto para maging operational at magamit ang mga ito,” Castro said.

“Nasayang ang potential ng Dalian trains noong mga nakaraang administrasyon kaya’t minabuti ng Pangulo na ipaayos ang mga bagon para sa ating mga kababayan,” Castro added.

The Chief Executive ordered continued improvements in train stations, including ensuring that all escalators and elevators are in good working condition to avoid public inconvenience.

The Dalian trains, named after the city in China where they were manufactured, were initially left unused due to technical compatibility issues with local rail systems.

On July 16, President Marcos led the first batch of passengers on the inaugural trip of the Dalian train at the Santolan–Anapolis MRT station, expressing satisfaction over the long-overdue progress. ǀ PND

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has ordered all concerned government agencies to implement proactive measures and ensure complete readiness as Tropical Depression Crising continues to intensify and threatens parts of Luzon and other regions.

In a press briefing on Thursday, Presidential Communications Undersecretary and Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said concerned government agencies are on heightened alert and are actively conducting pre-disaster risk assessments in line with the President’s directive.

“Mayroon pong mga direktiba ang ating Pangulo sa mga concerned agencies,” Castro said.

Castro said the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) has activated its blue alert status on July 16 to facilitate heightened monitoring, faster coordination, and preemptive response. The agency also mobilized the Virtual Emergency Operations Center to ensure smooth coordination of emergency responses.

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) continuously issues weather advisories and bulletins to ensure public awareness regarding tropical cyclones.

The Palace official added that the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) and the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) are on standby and prepared to respond to any emergency.

“Patuloy pa rin po ang pagmo-monitor at pagbibigay ng mga advisories sa mga stakeholders at sa ating mga kababayan,” Castro said.

Castro urged the public to remain vigilant, monitor weather advisories, and cooperate with local authorities to ensure safety and minimize potential impacts.

As of 10:00 a.m. on Thursday, Tropical Depression Crising was located 470 kilometers east-northeast of Virac, Catanduanes, with maximum sustained winds of 55 kph and gusts of up to 70 kph.

Fourteen provinces are under signal no. 1, including Northeastern Catanduanes, Northern Aurora, Northeastern Nueva Vizcaya, Quirino, Isabela, Cagayan, including Babuyan Islands, Southern Batanes, Ifugao, Mountain Province, Kalinga, Apayao, Abra, Ilocos Norte, and Northern Ilocos Sur.

PAGASA warned the public of possible widespread flooding and landslides in case of prolonged and heavy rains.

Crising is expected to reach severe tropical storm level before making landfall over Cagayan late Friday or early Saturday.

It is projected to exit the Philippine area of responsibility late Saturday or early Sunday. | PND