President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. issued Administrative Order No. 36 establishing the Education and Workforce Development Group (EWDG) to address challenges confronting the Philippine education sector, including poor teacher support and inconsistent policies.

“It is necessary to establish an effective coordinating mechanism among agencies involved in education and workforce development to address long-standing concerns in the education sector, and foster a complete, adequate, and integrated education system in the country,” stated the President’s order.

The order cited the Second Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM II) report, which highlights problems such as the fragmented implementation of education programs, misaligned teacher development efforts, and inconsistent education plans and policies.

AO No. 36, which was issued on August 13, 2025, mandates that the EWDG be the primary coordinating body for all education and workforce development matters in the Philippines.

The EWDG is tasked with several responsibilities, including formulating a 10-year National Education and Workforce Development Plan (NEWDP), evaluating existing inter-agency bodies related to education and workforce development, and assessing the current legal and policy framework governing these areas.

The EWDG is required to submit monthly performance reports to the President and the Executive Secretary, and may create technical working groups to support its initiatives.

The group will be chaired by the President, with the Secretary of Education as co-chairperson, and the Secretary of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) as vice-chairperson.

Members of the EWDG include the Chairperson of the Commission on Higher Education (CHED), the Secretaries of the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) and Department of Economy, Planning, and Development (DEPDev), and the Director General of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA). | PND

Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) General Manager Melquiades Robles on Monday thanked President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. for leading the distribution of the Patient Transport Vehicles (PTVs) to local government units (LGUs) in Eastern Visayas.

In his remarks during the turnover ceremony held in Ormoc City, Leyte, Robles likened the PCSO donation of PTVs to winning the lottery, without even buying tickets.

“Noong minsan nagbiro ako, para manalo sa PCSO bibili po kayo ng ticket. Ito ho, hindi na kayo bibili ng ticket. Panalo na po kayo ngayon. Maraming salamat Mr. President,” Robles said.

President Marcos led the turnover of 124 PTVs from PCSO to LGUs in Eastern Visayas. Joining the President were Robles, Ormoc City Mayor Lucy Torres Gomez, Tacloban City Mayor Alfred Romualdez, and other government officials.

The PTVs were distributed under the PCSO Medical Transport Vehicle Donation Program (MTVDP), which targets full coverage for all 1,642 LGUs nationwide by the end of 2025.

Robles said President Marcos had ordered him to bring the government health services closer to the people.

“And what better way than bringing these patient transport vehicles or ambulances para po sa inyo. We are now hitting our 75 percent goal of cities and municipalities in just the middle of the term,” Robles said, adding that by the end of this year, 100 percent coverage is possible.

Robles said President Marcos had ordered that government services should not be politicized, and that all LGUs must be given an equal chance to avail of these services.

“Malinaw po sa amin ang utos ng Pangulo na huwag pong politikahin ang pagbigay ng health care. Dahil ang sakit po, lahat po ay dinadapuan niyan, kakampi ka man or kalaban, hindi po namimili ‘yan,” Robles said.

“They do not distinguish, and in like manner, the government… the administration under the Bagong Pilipinas, you don’t even have to come to us. Kami na po ang pumupunta sa inyo,” Robles said. | PND

Reaffirming his administration’s commitment to making healthcare more accessible, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. stressed that reforms must begin at the grassroots level to ensure that Filipinos do not have to suffer in silence or delay treatment due to cost and distance.

Speaking at the Ormoc City Plaza during the turnover of Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) patient transport vehicles for Eastern Visayas, President Marcos highlighted that every citizen deserves access to timely and affordable healthcare.

The President acknowledged the difficulties many Filipinos encounter in accessing health services.

“Kasi, takot pumunta dahil magbabayad ng gamot, walang pambayad ng gamot, very inconvenient na pumunta sa ospital. So, by the time they go to the hospital, kung minsan too late na,” President Marcos said.

President Marcos said that many health issues affecting Filipinos can be managed effectively at the local level if barangay facilities are fully equipped.

President Marcos highlighted a historic milestone under his administration, saying, “For the first time in the Philippines, every single municipality and every single city has a doctor now.”

The program, the President said, reflects the government’s determination to ensure that no locality is left without a frontline medical officer.

The President assured the public that the government will continue to expand grassroots health initiatives, which include enhancing barangay health facilities, establishing specialty centers in various regions, and maintaining the one-doctor-per-local government unit policy. | PND

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Monday led the turnover of 124 patient transport vehicles (PTVs) to local government units (LGUs) across Eastern Visayas, including LGUs that received such ambulances for the first time.

During the turnover ceremony held at the City Plaza in Ormoc City, President Marcos underscored his administration’s commitment to improving healthcare delivery and emergency response systems in the regions and bringing them back close to the grassroots level.

“We came here because this is part of the continuing strengthening of our healthcare system,” President Marcos said in his remarks.

“This is our continuing effort to strengthen our healthcare system and to bring healthcare… down to the smallest members of our society. Palapitin lang natin ang healthcare sa taong-bayan,” the President added.

President Marcos mentioned several LGUs that received an ambulance for the first time.

These are Abuyog, Jaro, Kananga, Matalom, and Santa Fe, all in Leyte province; Tagapul-an in Samar; General MacArthur, Salcedo, and San Policarpio in Eastern Samar; and Lapinig, San Vicente, and Silvino Lobos in Northern Samar.

“Nagulat ako, binigyan ako ng listahan na mayroon pa pala tayong mga first-timer dito na first time na magkaroon ng ambulansya sa bayan ninyo,” said the President.

The 124 PTV units were distributed under the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office’s (PCSO) Medical Transport Vehicle Donation Program (MTVDP), which President Marcos reaffirmed will cover all 1,642 LGUs nationwide by the end of 2025.

Since 2022, the program has turned over more than 1,200 ambulances nationwide.

Each ambulance vehicle has a stretcher, oxygen tank, blood pressure monitor, first aid kit, and other essential medical tools.

The President reaffirmed the government’s commitment to complete the program within the year, establishing a nationwide network of medical transport that supports both Universal Health Care and disaster response efforts.

The distribution ceremony in Ormoc City was also attended by PCSO General Manager Melquiades Robles, who joined the President in handing over the symbolic keys to provincial and municipal officials. | PND

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has ordered the reorganization of the Economy and Development Council (ED Council) and its committees to guarantee the effective implementation of the government’s socioeconomic policies and programs.

Under Administrative Order (AO) No. 37 signed on August 13, President Marcos appointed the Special Assistant to the President for Investment and Economic Affairs (SAPIEA) as a member of the ED Council.

The SAPIEA, who is currently Secretary Frederick D. Go, was also designated as chairperson of the Council’s Economic Development Committee (EDCom), with the Secretaries of the Department of Economy, Planning, and Development (DEPDev) and the Department of Finance (DOF) as vice chairpersons.

The SAPIEA will also sit and represent the Office of the President, including the Executive Secretary, in the ED Council’s Development Budget Coordination Committee (DBCC), Investment Coordination Committee (ICC), Infrastructure Committee (InfraCom), and Social Development Committee (SDC).

The Secretaries of the DOF and the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) were designated as co-chairpersons of the DBCC.

Meanwhile, the Secretary of the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR), the director-general of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), and the lead convenor of the National Anti-Poverty Commission were named as members of the SDC.

The Secretaries of DAR and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources were named as members of the ED Council’s Tariff and Related Matters Committee.

AO No. 37 said the DEPDev cited the “need to reorganize the composition of the ED Council and its Committees to ensure continuity in the integration, coordination, and implementation of various socioeconomic policies and programs of the government.”

The ED Council, formerly known as the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Board, was established upon the enactment of Republic Act No. 12145, also known as the Economy, Planning, and Development Act, last April.

The ED Council is headed by the President and serves as the executive collegial body responsible for directing and providing overall policy direction on economic matters to achieve inclusive and sustainable economic growth and development. | PND

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. inspected the PhP100 million R.M. Tan Solar Pump Irrigation Project (SPIP) in Barangay R.M. Tan, Ormoc City, on Monday, highlighting the government’s ongoing efforts to modernize agriculture and strengthen food security through renewable energy solutions.

The facility, the largest solar pump irrigation project of the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) in Region VIII (Eastern Visayas), is designed to irrigate 100 hectares of farmland for two cropping seasons each year, benefiting 92 farmers and their families.

Consisting of seven units of 10-horsepower capacity solar-powered pumps across two sites, the project is expected to increase harvests and improve the incomes of farming households in the area.

The completion of the R.M. Tan Solar Pump Irrigation Project (SPIP) will replace costly diesel pumps with solar-powered technology, providing farmers with a cheaper, cleaner, and more efficient source of irrigation.

The Ormoc SPIP is part of a nationwide initiative to build similar solar-powered irrigation systems. This effort aims to deliver long-term benefits to farmers and aligns with the country’s renewable energy and sustainable development goals.

Joining President Marcos were NIA Administrator Engr. Guillen, NIA Integrated Management Office for Biliran-Leyte del Norte-Leyte del Sur Manager Engr. Conrado M. Samson and personnel from the NIA Central Office and regional offices. Officers of the R.M. Tan Irrigators Association and farmer-beneficiaries also participated in the event. | PND

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. led the week of August 11 to 15, 2025 with decisive actions on flood control, police reform, food security, infrastructure, and foreign relations, underscoring his administration’s push for accountability, resilience, and global cooperation.

On August 11, President Marcos launched the Sumbong sa Pangulo website, sumbongsapangulo.ph, after ordering a nationwide audit of flood control projects. The President encouraged citizens to report anomalies after the initial review uncovered that PhP100 billion or 20 percent of the PhP545 billion worth of contracts in the past three years had been cornered by just 15 contractors.

That day, President Marcos inspected the Pasig-Marikina River Channel Improvement Project in Marikina City, aimed at addressing flooding problems in Metro Manila.

The following day, August 12, the Chief Executive addressed the 124th Police Service Anniversary, lauding the Philippine National Police’s improved five-minute response time and service reforms, while cautioning against abuses and corruption.

The President also formally received the proposed PhP6.793 trillion National Expenditure Program for 2026 and witnessed the ceremonial presentation of the Government Optimization Act, which institutionalizes more efficient and transparent resource use.

On August 13, President Marcos inaugurated the rehabilitated Philippine Fisheries Development Authority-Iloilo Fish Port Complex in Iloilo City, a world-class, disaster-resilient facility that local officials and workers said would secure livelihoods and boost fisheries trade.

The Chief Executive announced plans to build 10 new modern fish ports nationwide to increase fisherfolk incomes and reduce middleman costs.

While in Iloilo, the President inspected the unfinished Anganan Flyover in Pavia town and the ongoing Jaro Flood Control Project, flagging contractors for substandard works and emphasizing the importance of durable, well-supervised infrastructure.

Postponing BSKE polls

President Marcos signed into law Republic Act No. 12232 titled, “An Act Setting the Term of Office of Barangay Officials and Members of the Sangguniang Kabataan, and for Other Purposes.” The new law postponed the December 2025 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) and moved it to the first Monday of November 2026, and set the term of office of all elected barangay and SK officials to four years.

On August 14, President Marcos signed the Judiciary Fiscal Autonomy Act, strengthening the autonomy and authority of the Supreme Court for better efficiency in the administration of justice.

On the same day, President held his first phone call with South Korean President Lee Jae Myung, reaffirming the Philippine–Republic of Korea Strategic Partnership and highlighting deeper cooperation in trade, defense, and people-to-people ties, laying the groundwork for strengthened regional collaboration.

President Marcos also received the new United Nations Resident Coordinator in the Philippines, Arnaud Peral, in a courtesy call at Malacañan Palace, reaffirming the cooperation in attaining the country’s national development priorities.

On August 15, the Chief Executive addressed the graduating class of the Philippine Merchant Marine Academy in San Narciso, Zambales, urging the 252 cadets to serve with honor in the Navy, Coast Guard, and Merchant Marine service.

President Marcos commended the sacrifices of their parents, calling them true heroes for supporting the cadets’ journey.

Defective, unfinished dike

On August 15, President Marcos personally inspected the Calumpit River Protection Project and flood mitigation structure in Bulacan following residents’ reports of collapsed and missing sections.

The Chief Executive confirmed that portions of the dike had been left unfinished or constructed with substandard materials, resulting in safety hazards and waste of public funds.

President Marcos ordered a full probe into the defective rehabilitation works, called on citizens to keep reporting irregularities via sumbongsapangulo.ph, and vowed accountability for both contractors and government personnel who allowed the substandard structures to be certified as complete.

Through these efforts, President Marcos reinforced his administration’s commitment to transparency, resilience, and a people-centered approach to governance. | PND

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has committed to immediate corrective action on the flood control structures in Barangay Frances, Calumpit, Bulacan, assuring residents that their safety and welfare will remain a top priority.

The assurance followed the President’s on-site inspection of the area’s flood mitigation structure on Friday, where he found evidence of substandard materials and incomplete dredging works despite official reports claiming the project’s completion.

The President’s visit took on greater urgency as a resident personally handed a heartfelt letter to the Office of the President about the damaged dike behind his property.

In the letter, the resident described how the structure had been built with a weak cement mix—15 sacks of gravel, 15 sacks of sand, and only two sacks of cement—reinforced with thin steel bars that left it dangerously fragile.

Less than a year after its completion, deep cracks had already appeared, yet inspections yielded no repairs.

The resident also reported that some sections built by other contractors used just water hyacinth as fill, raising further doubts about durability.

The resident urged that the entire Barangay Frances floodgate be widened so that water in the rice fields could drain as quickly as the Bulacan and Pampanga Rivers during floods.

“Sana po ay mapaayos ang mga nasirang dike dito sa amin… Sana mabigyan ng pansin ang hiling ng Barangay Frances,” the resident appealed, noting that floods in the area can last from one to four months before subsiding.

President Marcos welcomed similar reports filed and detailed in sumbongsapangulo.ph, stressing that firsthand reports from the public are critical in identifying and correcting project flaws.

The President warned that both government officials and private contractors involved in such irregularities will be held accountable.

“Hahanapin natin kung sinong responsible dito sa gobyerno at sa private, at kailangan managot sila… Huwag silang managot sa akin, managot sila sa mga tao dito, President Marcos said, underscoring that the real victims of poor-quality projects are the communities left vulnerable to flooding. | PND

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. expressed strong disapproval on Friday over what he described as a clear misuse of public funds after personally inspecting flood control projects in Calumpit, Bulacan that were either substandard or never built despite being listed as completed.

While visiting Barangay Bulusan, Calumpit, the President vowed to hold both government and private individuals accountable for the unfinished and substandard flood control projects.

The Chief Executive encouraged residents to report any irregularities through sumbongsapangulo.ph, as well as to the provincial government and the media.

“Magreport kayo. Paulit-ulit n’yo i-report para alam naming lahat. Dahil hindi puwedeng ganito. Pambihira. This has been going on for years,” President Marcos said, questioning why a project supposedly finished in 2021 remained defective and incomplete.

In nearby Barangay Frances, also in Calumpit, President Marcos discovered flood protection structures that failed to meet specifications, including cement layers that were far thinner than the required eight inches.

“Hawakan mo ‘yung semento dito, kayang durugin, malabnaw ‘yung ginamit. Nagtipid sa semento,” the President said.

In July 2025, the town of Calumpit in Bulacan was placed under a state of calamity due to flooding caused by the southwest monsoon rains (habagat), overflow of Ipo Dam, and high tide.

The Chief Executive pointed out that the dredging work outlined in the contracts was not carried out, as the river is already obstructed by overgrown vegetation.

The President stressed that this type of negligence has a direct impact on communities, particularly those that are consistently at risk of flooding.

President Marcos stressed that these failures are not merely technical mistakes, but actions that endanger lives and livelihoods.

“Hahanapin natin kung sinong responsible dito sa gobyerno, sa private, at kailangan managot sila dito sa kanilang ginawa,” the President said.

“Managot sila. Huwag silang managot sa akin, managot sila dito sa mga tao dito. ‘Yung mga kahirapan na dinala nila sa mga buhay nila,” the President added.

President Marcos stressed that infrastructure reports need to reflect the reality on the ground. Under his administration, he warned that reported accomplishments that lack actual, functioning structures would not be tolerated.

“Sa report, completed lahat. Pero pagdating dito, wala. Hindi puwede ‘yan,” the President said.

The President’s visit signals a comprehensive review of other similar flood control and river protection projects in the country to ensure that funds allocated are appropriately utilized. | PND

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has ordered an investigation into the rehabilitation of the river protection structure in Barangay Bulusan, Calumpit, Bulacan, after uncovering glaring deficiencies despite official reports declaring the work completed.

During the inspection on Friday, President Marcos urged residents, local officials, and even the media to keep reporting irregularities in government projects so authorities can act promptly.

“O sige magreport kayo. Paulit-ulit ‘yung report niyo. Report n’yo sa akin, report n’yo kay Gov, report niyo kay Cong. Lahat ng reportan ninyo, para alam namin. Pati sa press report ninyo para alam namin lahat,” President Marcos said.

“Dahil hindi puwedeng ganito, pambihira. This has been going on for years,” the President added.

The President’s inspection revealed that portions of the dike were left unfinished, concrete works were substandard, and silt had already built up along the riverbanks, raising questions about the projmect’s quality and oversight.

President Marcos also said that the contractor, St. Timothy Construction, must explain why the structure failed to meet specifications and why parts of the project were seemingly abandoned.

President Marcos stressed that accountability will be demanded from the contractor and government officials who approved the project.

The Chief Executive also underscored that project defects waste public funds and endanger communities.

“Lahat ng kasama doon… itra-trace natin saan nanggaling itong mga programang ito, saan napunta ang pondo, bakit ganito ang nangyari at sino ang pumirma na sinabi okay lahat,” the President said. | PND