President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. concluded his official visit to Washington, D.C. with over USD21 billion in investment pledges from major American companies—one of the largest economic gains from a single foreign mission by a Philippine president.

In his arrival statement, President Marcos said the commitments were made during a series of high-level engagements and business meetings with global executives representing sectors such as infrastructure, healthcare, semiconductors, renewable energy, and digital technology.

The President emphasized that the pledges are expected to create thousands of jobs for Filipinos and significantly enhance the country’s industrial capacity, innovation ecosystem, and clean energy objectives.

“We return to the Philippines with over USD21 billion in investment pledges that have the potential to create thousands of direct and indirect jobs for Filipinos within our country,” the President said.

The Chief Executive said that U.S. firms have expressed strong interest in expanding their operations in the Philippines, particularly in areas such as infrastructure, logistics, clean energy, and advanced manufacturing. Several companies are also exploring partnerships in healthcare, digital transformation, and workforce development.

President Marcos also welcomed new investments in semiconductor and electronics manufacturing, saying these would enhance the Philippines’ position in global value chains.

Alongside private sector pledges, President Marcos announced that the U.S. government has committed USD15 million to support private sector growth under the Luzon Economic Corridor Initiative, as well as USD48 million in foreign-assisted programs for development projects.

“We welcome the U.S. government’s pledge of an additional $15 million for private sector development under the Luzon economic corridor initiative and an additional $48 million in foreign-assisted projects,” President Marcos said.

President Marcos reaffirmed the Philippine government’s commitment to maintaining a stable, transparent, and rules-based business environment.

The President assured investors of continued reforms aimed at streamlining processes and improving the ease of doing business. | PND

Malacañang has ordered the suspension of classes in Metro Manila and 35 provinces for Thursday (July 24) amid continuing heavy rains as tropical storms “Emong” and “Dante” *continue* to enhance the southwest monsoon.

Signed by Executive Secretary Lucas P. Bersamin, Memorandum Circular 91 provided that non-vital government employees are not required to physically report to work, but heads of agencies may decide to utilize their services under alternative work arrangements.

*Bersamin said the prolonged* class suspensions were based on recommendations of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC).

Aside from the National Capital Region, class suspension and alternate work arrangements will be observed in the six provinces of the Cordillera Administrative Region, including Abra, Apayao, Benguet, Ifugao, Kalinga, and Mountain Province.

The MC 91 also covers four provinces in the Ilocos Region, namely Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, La Union, and Pangasinan—as well as two provinces in the Cagayan Valley Region: Cagayan and Nueva Vizcaya.

Also included in the directive are the Central Luzon provinces, including Bataan, Bulacan, Pampanga, Tarlac, and Zambales, as well as the provinces of Batangas, Cavite, Laguna, Quezon, and Rizal.

In MIMAROPA region, the provinces of Marinduque, Occidental Mindoro, Oriental Mindoro, Palawan, and Romblon are listed, along with Albay, Camarines Sur, Catanduanes, Masbate, and Sorsogon in the Bicol Region, and Antique and Iloilo in Western Visayas.

“Agencies in the aforementioned areas which are responsible for basic, vital, and health services, preparedness and response duties must continue to remain operational to ensure continuity of essential government functions,” Bersamin said.

Local chief executives in other areas or regions were given discretion to cancel or suspend work or classes if needed.

Earlier, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said “Emong,” which is hovering near Ilocos region, and Tropical Storm “Dante,” further away to the northeast, are enhancing the southwest monsoon.

The two storms are bringing more rains over most of Luzon and parts of the Visayas.

Inclement weather prompted the suspension of government work and classes from Monday afternoon until Wednesday. | PND

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. said on Tuesday that his fourth State of the Nation Address (SONA) is about 80 percent complete, with only minor “fine-tuning” needed.

While his schedule was momentarily interrupted by his three-day official visit to the United States to meet with President Donald Trump, President Marcos said that the main body of the speech had already been written.

“We’ve been working hard on it. As soon as I get back, we’ll be working on it again,” the President told reporters at Blair House, the U.S. President’s Guest House in Washington D.C.

President Marcos expressed confidence that the speech will be ready in time for delivery before Congress on Monday, July 28.

“So mahahabol namin ‘yun. I think we’ll be all right. Because what we have already written is substantial in terms of- the SONA is about 80 percent written. So, kaunti na lang ‘yung fine-tuning,” the President said.

The SONA, mandated by Article VII, Section 23 of the 1987 Constitution, serves as the President’s annual report to Congress on the country’s current state and the administration’s achievements and priorities. It is delivered every fourth Monday of July.

Meanwhile, President Marcos described as “highly inappropriate” putting up SONA tarpaulins while Metro Manila was experiencing heavy rains brought about by Severe Tropical Storm Crising.

The Chief Executive called the act an “unfortunate misjudgment,” adding that he was not aware of it.

“That is an unfortunate misjudgment on their part. But we’ve corrected it, and I trust it will not happen anymore,” the President said.

President Marcos left Washington D.C. on Tuesday following his bilateral meeting with President Trump, which focused on key trade and security issues. | PND

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has directed the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to prioritize addressing flooding in vulnerable areas while implementing measures to ease the impact of recurring floods across the nation.

“Asahan po ninyo na sa instruction po ng ating Presidente, kailangan pong pagtuunan ng pansin ng DPWH, lalung-lalo na po iyong vulnerable areas sa lahat ng dako ng Pilipinas,” DPWH Secretary Manuel Bonoan said on Wednesday.

Bonoan said the government is working to find long-term solutions to the recurring floods.

“Ito po iyong mga priorities that the President wants to pagtutuunan ng pansin ng DPWH,” Bonoan said in a virtual press briefing facilitated by PCO Undersecretary and Palace Press Officer Claire Castro.

In Metro Manila, Bonoan said the DPWH is collaborating with the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) to repair and upgrade approximately 32 aging pumping stations to enhance their water discharge capacity.

Bonoan said the rehabilitation and upgrade of 32 primary pumping stations are expected to be completed by next year, which will be crucial in easing floodwater drainage in many areas in the National Capital Region.

Bonoan, however, said the agencies must also focus on addressing the causes of flooding in Metro Manila, such as improper waste disposal and informal settlers residing near creeks and riverbanks.

“Kailangan po natin siguro pagtuunan pansin po iyong mga ibang rason kung bakit nagkakabaha pa rin lalung-lalo na iyong waste management at saka iyong mga kababayan natin na andoon sa may mga gilid-gilid na mga esteros,” Bonoan said.

The MMDA urged the public to practice discipline in waste disposal, emphasizing that preventing floods is not the sole responsibility of the government, but a communal duty of all Filipinos. | PND

The Marcos administration has requested assistance from the United States Indo-Pacific Command (USINDOPACOM) to support ongoing relief operations in areas devastated by Severe Tropical Storm Crising.

In a press briefing following his meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump at the White House on Tuesday, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. said the relief coordination is being carried out through the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) sites, enabling swift deployment of aid to flood- and landslide-affected communities.

“As a matter of fact, Admiral (Samuel) Paparo, the commander of the Indo-Pacific Command of the United States, left early upon our suggestion na makabalik na siya para maumpisahan na ang pagdala ng tulong para sa ating mga naging biktima dito sa Crising,” President Marcos told reporters.

Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr., who joined the President during the press conference, said the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and USINDOPACOM are working closely to deploy critical capabilities to the hardest-hit areas.

Teodoro added that relief goods have already been prepositioned in EDCA sites, including in Fort Magsaysay in Nueva Ecija, as more weather disturbances threaten to worsen the situation in the already affected regions.

“What we need as of this time, not yet, but we foresee because of the merging of the two tropical depressions and the incoming monsoons, that we will need their assistance in terms of airlift and other capabilities,” he said.

Citing high cost of deployment, Teodoro underscored the importance of streamlined coordination to prevent inefficiencies such as underutilized cargo space, excessive flight hours, and unproductive ship movements.

While on official visit in Washington, President Marcos continued to oversee the government’s disaster response and monitor situation reports.

The President and his official delegation departed Washington, D.C., on July 22 at 4:42 p.m. local time, en route to the Philippines. | PND

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., even while he was on official trip to the United States to meet with U.S. President Donald Trump, closely monitored the government ‘s sustained relief, rescue, and rehabilitation efforts to mitigate the impact of severe tropical storm “Crising” and the southwest monsoon.

Presidential Communications Office Undersecretary and Palace Press Officer Claire Castro reiterated that President Marcos had issued direct instructions to concerned Cabinet members and agencies prior to his departure for the United States.

In a press briefing, Castro said that on July 22, immediately after the forecast of heavy rains was announced, President Marcos ordered concerned agencies to implement planned measures to assist families and communities expected to be affected.

In response to questions about Vice President Sara Duterte’s criticism of the government’s response, Castro said the Vice President may not have been fully informed about the administration’s preparations for “Crising,” as she was out of the country.

“Unang-una po hindi naman talaga malalaman marahil ni bise presidente kung ano po ang pag-pre-prepare ng administrasyon patungkol dito sa bagyong Crising dahil wala siya sa bansa at nagbabakasyon siya sa The Hague,” Castro said.

“Dahil ang mga pagpupulong na ito na kasama po bago po umalis ang Pangulong Marcos papuntang U.S., hindi po rin niya ito malamang nakita at nabalitaan. Muli, wala ang kanyang presensya sa Pilipinas para husgahan kung ano man ang naging trabaho ng Pangulo, administrasyon at mga concerned agencies patungkol po dito sa bagyong Crising,” Castro said.

Castro said the government has provided free rides, distributed food packs, carried out rehabilitation efforts, and conducted search and rescue operations.

“Naiulat na po natin kahapon ang nagawa at accomplishments ng mga ahensya katulad po ng DSWD, DOTr, pati po Philippine Coast Guard ay nagbigay na po ng libreng sakay. Katulad po ng DOTr na nagbigay ng libre sakay sa MRT at LRT.Yan po ay base sa direktiba ng Pangulong Marcos Jr.,” Castro said. | PND

The government has completed about 10,000 flood control projects nationwide, which helped mitigate flooding brought about by tropical storm “Crising” and the enhanced southwest monsoon, Public Works and Highways Secretary Manuel Bonoan said on Wednesday.

In addition to engineering solutions which provided immediate relief to flood-prone areas, Bonoan said President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has directed the implementation of additional flood-control measures together with other government agencies.

Bonoan said that the Marcos administration began constructing flood-control projects nationwide in mid-July 2022 and that by May 2025, 9,856 flood control projects had been completed.

“I think (these) flood control projects … have given immediate relief, especially in low-lying areas all over the country,” Bonoan said.

Bonoan said there are ongoing 5,700 flood control projects, noting that there will be more in the pipeline next year, which will include minor flood control projects and major projects in 18 major river basins across the country. “Sabi nga ng ating Pangulo, hindi lang po naman iyong engineering solution ang dapat nating tingnan. It has to be done cohesively at collaboratively with the other agencies kasi may mga environmental issues,” Bonoan said.

“Napapansin po namin lalong-lalo na iyong mga tertiary rivers natin ay silted na silted na po. Mababa na po iyong riverbed natin kaya halos during summer season natatapakan muna po iyong riverbed natin,” Bonoan said.

The DPWH is focusing on desilting major rivers to improve their water carrying capacity, he said.

Bonoan said the impounding of flood waters as directed by the President is also a part of the flood control measures.

“Ito iyong kabilin-bilinan ng ating Pangulo na kahit pati doon sa mga flood control project integrate po namin ngayon, iyong pag-ipon ng tubig-baha,” Bonoan said.

“Gumagawa po kami ng returning basin wherever it is technically feasible para iyong maipon natin iyong mga tubig na puwedeng gamitin sa irigasyon, sa water supply at saka kung anuman kasya sa dumadaloy lang iyong tubig-baha papunta sa dagat.” | PND

Over 20,000 commuters in Cebu can now enjoy free daily rides on modern jeepneys as government agencies officially launched the maiden Libreng Sakay program in the Visayas, the Palace Press Officer said on Wednesday.

The first Libreng Sakay program was implemented at the directive of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. to reduce transportation expenses and provide a steady income for drivers and operators.

On July 24, a similar Libreng Sakay program for public utility buses will be launched in Davao City—marking the first implementation in Mindanao.

Passengers along the Urgello–Park Mall route in Cebu City will benefit from the program, which runs every weekday from 6:00 to 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. until 2028. Libreng Sakay is under the Department of Transportation (DOTr) and the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB).

“Ang ‘Libreng Sakay’ ay umaarangkada na sa Cebu. 20,000 na pasahero ang makikinabang kada araw,” Presidential Communications Office Undersecretary Claire Castro said in a press briefing on Wednesday.

Castro said that commuters may save up to PhP200 weekly as a direct benefit from the program.

DOTr Secretary Vince Dizon also emphasized that the initiative aligns with the President’s directive to ease the financial burden on Filipino families.

“Kabilin-bilinan ng Pangulong Marcos Jr. na dapat paginhawahin natin ang buhay ng mga kababayan natin. Ang Libreng Sakay program dito sa Cebu ay isang paraan ng pamahalaan na makatipid sa kanilang araw-araw na gastusin at magamit ang matitipid sa ibang bagay gaya ng pagkain o gamot,” Dizon said.

The program ensures financial stability for over 400 drivers and operators under the service contracting scheme, which guarantees fixed earnings and removes the pressure of meeting daily boundary quotas.

A total of PhP125 million has been allocated to sustain the Libreng Sakay program in Cebu for one year, underscoring the government’s commitment to accessible transportation and social support.

DOTr is currently evaluating additional routes, including the Talisay–IT Park corridor, which services a large number of BPO employees. | PND

Malacañang on Wednesday urged the public to remain vigilant as tropical storm “Dante” and tropical Depression “Emong” continue to enhance the southwest monsoon, causing heavy rainfall, floods, and landslides across parts of Luzon and Visayas.

In a press briefing, Presidential Communications Office Undersecretary and Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said government agencies are actively responding to the impact of recent and ongoing weather disturbances.

Upon the directive of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., relief and rescue operations have been mobilized through the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Department of Transportation (DOTr), and the Philippine Coast Guard, with transport assistance and food packs deployed to affected communities and areas.

Castro said coordination with local governments and continuous public advisories remain top priorities of the Marcos administration, while authorities are monitoring the changing weather situation.

“Naiulat na po natin kahapon ang mga ginawa at naging accomplishments po ng ibang mga concerned agencies katulad po ng DSWD, DOTr; pati po iyong Philippine Coast Guard ay nagbigay na rin po ng libreng sakay … iyon po ay direktiba ng Pangulong Marcos Jr.,” Castro said.

The call for vigilance and assurance of ongoing relief measures came after Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) Weather Specialist Engr. Christopher Perez reported that tropical storm “Dante,” located 880 kilometers east of extreme Northern Luzon, is not expected to make landfall, but instead will continue to intensify monsoon rains.

Meanwhile, tropical depression “Emong,” situated 115 kilometers west of Northern Luzon, has prompted the hoisting of tropical depression Wind Signal No. 1 over Ilocos Norte, parts of Ilocos Sur, La Union, and Pangasinan. Emong’s slow movement may prolong rainfall and increase the risk of flooding.

“Pinapayuhan ho namin ang mga residente dito, patuloy na mag-monitor sa kanilang kapaligiran, patuloy na makipag-ugnayan sa kanilang local government officials at local disaster risk reduction managing officers para sa patuloy na gawaing-pangkaligtasan at disaster preparedness and mitigation measures,” Perez said.

Perez said continuous rainfall in recent days has saturated the ground in many parts of Northern Luzon. He warned that “Emong” may further worsen the situation, increasing the risk of flooding in low-lying areas and triggering landslides in vulnerable communities.

“Dahil alam naman po natin na ilang araw na ring nag-uulan sa ilang bahagi nga ng Northern Luzon area … posibleng may mga katamtamang ulan na dadalhin po ng Bagyong si Emong ay magdulot pa rin ng mga pagbaha sa low-lying areas … at puwedeng maging sanhi ng mga pagguho ng lupa,” Perez said.

Perez advised fisherfolk in affected coastal regions to remain ashore. | PND