President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. welcomed the historic election of Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa as president of the ongoing 78th World Health Assembly (WHA) in Geneva, Switzerland, an opportunity to show the world the Philippines’ commitment to health.”

Presidential Communications Undersecretary and Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said on Thursday that President Marcos saw Herbosa’s election to preside over the world health body as recognition of the Philippines’ advocacy in global health issues.

The President also regarded the election of the Philippine health chief as a recognition of the heroic contribution of Filipino healthcare workers worldwide to ending the COVID-19 pandemic.

President Marcos said the WHA presidency presented an opportunity for the Philippines to show its commitment to quality healthcare.

“Dagdag ng Pangulo, pagkakataon din ang WHA presidency para maipakita sa mundo ang pagbibigay-halaga ng Pilipinas sa kalusugan. Tumutugma rin aniya ang mga polisiya ng bansa sa mga minumungkahing solusyon sa paglutas ng health issues ng mundo,” Castro said.

Herbosa is the first Philippine health official to be elected to the WHA, the decision-making body of the World Health Organization (WHO).

Herbosa is presiding over the 78th WHA session from May 19 to 27, during which delegates from the 194 member-states of the WHO adopted the landmark Pandemic Agreement after three years of negotiations. | PND

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. is expected to urge fellow leaders of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to expedite discussions and work toward the early adoption of the Code of Conduct (COC) in the South China Sea as a constructive step toward easing regional tensions and promoting stability.

President Marcos will be in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, from May 26 to 27, 2025, to attend the 46th ASEAN Summit and related meetings.

In a press briefing at Malacañang on Thursday, Foreign Affairs Deputy Assistant Secretary Dominic Xavier Imperial recalled that during the 2023 ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, the ministers agreed to accelerate discussions on the Code of Conduct (COC).

“This is what we are banking on during the summits. The President certainly will push for it. He will raise this with the leaders of the ASEAN,” Imperial said when asked about the COC issue.

President Marcos had previously said he would urge his fellow Southeast Asian leaders to find a way to push for the finalization of the South China Sea COC to reduce regional tension.

The President has emphasized that adopting a binding COC would help clarify key issues and reduce the risk of regional misunderstandings or miscalculations. | PND

The Philippines supports Timor-Leste’s bid to become a member of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, an expansion of the ASEAN membership true to this year’s summit theme of “Inclusivity and Sustainability,” a foreign affairs official said on Thursday.

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. will attend the ASEAN Summit 2025, which Malaysia will host on May 26-27.

Malaysian Prime Minister Dato’ Seri Anwar Ibrahim will host and chair this year’s summit, which will be themed “Inclusivity and Sustainability.”

“We are supportive of Timor-Leste joining the ASEAN,” Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Deputy Assistant Secretary Dominic Xavier Imperial said in a Malacañang press briefing on Thursday.

Imperial said ASEAN members are following a “roadmap” for Timor-Leste’s accession to the regional bloc, which signals the group’s continued commitment to expanding the ASEAN membership.

“The Timor-Leste accession to the ASEAN is certainly on the agenda. So, kasama po siya (accession) sa magiging discussion ng leaders natin. And we are following, actually, a roadmap,” Imperial said.

At the same time, the DFA official responded to inquiries regarding the past controversy involving former Representative Arnie Teves and its connection to Timor-Leste, stating that the matter remains under the jurisdiction of the Department of Justice (DOJ) and falls outside the scope of ASEAN discussions.” | PND

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. is set to reaffirm the Philippines’ position on its sovereignty and sovereign rights over the West Philippine Sea and its steadfast commitment to a rules-based international order during the 2025 Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

In his meetings with ASEAN counterparts and dialogue partners, President Marcos is expected to underscore the significance of the Philippines’ 2016 arbitral victory under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), which affirmed the country’s maritime entitlements and invalidated excessive claims in the West Philippine Sea.

In a Malacañang briefing on Thursday, Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Deputy Assistant Secretary Dominic Xavier Imperial said a total of 22 documents are expected to be issued during the 46th ASEAN summit.

These include the Kuala Lumpur Declaration on ASEAN Vision 2045, the joint statement of the 2nd ASEAN-Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) summit, and the ASEAN-GCC-China summit.

The President may also hold several bilateral meetings on the summit’s sidelines.

President Marcos will join other ASEAN leaders and dialogue partners in regional discussions, addressing key issues affecting Southeast Asia and the broader international community.

The President is set to participate in nine leaders’ engagements, six of them on May 26, including the plenary session and retreat session of the 46th ASEAN summit.

The President will also participate in three vital meetings with the ASEAN Business Advisory Council, ASEAN youth representatives, and ASEAN parliamentarians.

Imperial said the day will conclude with the signing of the Kuala Lumpur Declaration on ASEAN 2045.

On May 27, President Marcos will participate in three more pivotal summits: the 16th Brunei, Darussalam-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines East ASEAN Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA) summit, which the President will chair; the 2nd ASEAN-GCC Summit; and the ASEAN-GCC-China Summit.

President Marcos will continue to champion the Philippines’ national interests at these meetings, focusing on regional security, economic collaboration, and strengthening engagements with dialogue partners. | PND

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. is expected to express support for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations’ (ASEAN) non-confrontational approach to engaging the United States regarding its unilateral import tariffs during the upcoming summit in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Malaysia will host the May 26- 27, 2025 ASEAN summit and related meetings.

Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Deputy Assistant Secretary Dominic Xavier Imperial said in a press briefing in Malacañang on Thursday that the regional bloc’s response to the unilateral U.S. tariffs will be on the agenda during the leaders’ summit from May 26 to 27.

The ASEAN leaders’ discussion follows the joint statement of ASEAN economic ministers on April 10, in which they committed not to impose retaliatory measures in response to the US tariffs while calling for “frank and constructive dialogue” with the U.S. to address trade-related concerns.

“Under the ASEAN framework, (there are) discussions on that, the details of which are still being discussed and negotiated, and hopefully, we’ll be able to come up with something in more detail after the summit,” Imperial said during the briefing.

“But definitely, (it is included in the) agenda (of) ASEAN, and the President is also looking very much into it,” he added.

Along with multilateral engagements, the Philippines is intensifying bilateral discussions with the US to address the tariff issue.

On May 2, Special Assistant to the President for Investment and Economic Affairs Frederick Go and Trade Secretary Cristina Aldeguer-Roque led talks with US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer in Washington, D.C.

The United States unilaterally imposed import tariffs ranging from 10% to 49% on several ASEAN countries.

The Philippines is facing a 17 percent tariff on its exports to the US, the second lowest tariff in Southeast Asia. | PND

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. issued Proclamation No. 911 declaring Friday, June 6, 2025, a regular holiday throughout the country, in observance of Eid’l Adha, or Feast of Sacrifice.

President Marcos signed the Proclamation on May 21.

The Commission on Muslim Filipinos has recommended that Eid’l Adha be observed on June 6 in accordance with the 1446 Hijrah Islamic Lunar Calendar.

Eid’l Adha is the second-most important event in the Islamic calendar. Muslim families gather to honor Prophet Ibrahim’s (Alayhis Salam) devotion to Allah with gifts and feasting.

The Eid’l Adha occasion also marks the end of the Hajj pilgrimage to Makkah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, one of the five pillars of Islam.

Republic Act No. 9849 declared the 10th day of Zhul Hijja, the 12th month of the Islamic Calendar, a national holiday for the observance of Eid’l Adha, with a movable date. | PND

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. urged government workers on Thursday to uphold high-quality service, professionalism, and patriotism, emphasizing that no amount of funding matters without heart in public service.

President Marcos made the call as he presented the newly signed Republic Act No. 12180, which modernizes the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) and establishes a Modernization Fund.

The new law allocates PhP1.25 billion annually for the first four years and PhP2 billion in the fifth year.

“Gaano man kalaki ang pondo ay mawawalan ng saysay kung walang puso at paglilingkod,” President Marcos said during the presentation of two newly enacted laws to stakeholders at the Malacañan Palace.

“Patuloy po ang pagbibigay ng suporta ng pamahalaan upang mas mapalalim ang inyong kaalaman,” the President said in his speech.

President Marcos said the modernization of PHIVOLCS, an attached agency of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), intends to capacitate government personnel to respond to the needs of Filipinos during calamities like earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, and tsunamis, ensuring a better quality of life for them.

The law requires the PHIVOLCS to develop and implement a modernization program aligned with policy goals.

At the same time, President Marcos recognized the scientists, experts, and field personnel of PHIVOLCS who work around the clock to monitor disasters and calamities.

“Hindi po mapapantayan ang mga sakripisyong inialay ninyo upang matiyak ang kaligtasan ng sambayanan,” President Marcos said.

“Bagama’t araw-araw ninyong hinaharap ang panganib na kaakibat ng inyong trabaho, hindi kayo nag-aatubiling pumunta sa inyong field site—umaga man o gabi,” he added.

The Chief Executive also encouraged young Filipinos to cultivate their interest in science to become future volcanologists, scientists, and experts at the DOST or PHIVOLCS.

The new law allows PHIVOLCS to widen its monitoring networks and intensify its observation of active volcanoes.

The new law also empowers PHIVOLCS to use machine learning to speed up monitoring and reporting to the public of warnings during emergencies. |PND

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Thursday said the newly established Department of Economy, Planning, and Development (DEPDev) will not only formulate plans but also ensure the completion of key infrastructure projects such as roads, bridges, school buildings, and health centers.

President Marcos said DEPDev will make sure the proper implementation of significant long-term infrastructure projects and programs for national development and public benefit, thus ensuring the judicious use of public funds.

“Hindi lang po puro plano, dapat nakikita at nasusubaybayan natin ang progreso ng ating mga proyekto,” the President said as he presented the newly signed Republic Act 12145 or the Economy, Planning and Development Act in Malacañang.

“Titiyakin natin na ang DEPDev na pagka may ipinangakong tulay, paaralan, health center, mga kalsada ay matatapos sa tinakdang panahon at magagamit ng sambayanan,” President Marcos told stakeholders.

The President said that through DEPDev, the government can better identify national priority projects that need to be expanded, adjusted, or stopped for the public good.

“Kaya naman, maiiwasan na natin ang nasasayang na pondo, panahon, at pagkakataon sa paglilingkod,” President Marcos said.

Signed by the President last April 10, RA 12145 reorganized the National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) into the full-fledged Department of Economic Planning and Development (DEPDev).

As the government’s primary economic and planning agency, DEPDev is mandated to formulate the country’s 25-year long-term development framework and strategy to guide sustainable growth and development.

The Economy, Planning and Development Act takes effect 15 days after its publication in the Official Gazette or a newspaper of general circulation. | PND

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Thursday ordered Cabinet members and agency heads to complete government projects on time and within budget, as a way to address public frustration over delays in meeting immediate, day-to-day needs.

Reiterating his commitment to safeguarding public funds against misuse, President Marcos pressed government officials to deliver vital projects and programs on schedule without overspending.

“Hamon ko sa Gabinete at mga pinuno ng ahensya, siguruhing matatapos ang mga proyekto nang ayon sa schedule at sa budget,” the President said during the ceremonial signing of Republic Act (RA) 12145 and RA 12180 in Malacañang.

“Kasabay nito, nangangako tayo na magiging mas mahusay at tapat ang pamahalaan sa paggugol ng pondo ng bayan. Sa ganitong paraan, mas tataas ang kalidad ng ating buhay,” the President stressed.

During the same ceremony, President Marcos told officials in the executive branch to stop allowing project costs to exceed the planned budget and extend completion deadlines without a justified reason.

The President also told Cabinet officials and agency heads to discontinue projects that do not benefit the public and merely waste public funds.

“Hindi na tayo papayag na may masyadong cost-overrun, mayroong mga time extensions kung wala namang makatwirang dahilan. And no to non-performing projects,” the President stressed.

President Marcos also said his administration will be stricter in approving new official development assistance (ODA) loans, given the delayed implementation of some ODA-financed projects.

ODA loans are provided by one government to a developing country at low interest, long-term, and concessional terms to support development projects and programs.

“Nasabi ko na rin noon na dapat lahat ng ODA loan, lalo na ang mga lubos na na-delay ay masusing pinag-aaralan. Mas magiging strikto na rin ang approval ng ODA loan simula na ngayon,” the President said. | PND

In line with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s directive to enhance commutes for millions of hardworking Filipinos, all EDSA Busway stations will soon be equipped with wheelchair lifts to serve better passengers with disabilities, senior citizens, and pregnant women.

In a press briefing on Thursday, Presidential Communications Undersecretary and Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said President Marcos tasked the Department of Transportation (DOTr) with installing wheelchair lifts in all stations of the EDSA Busway or EDSA Carousel bus rapid transit system.

“Lalagyan na ng wheelchair lift ang lahat ng EDSA Busway stations para makatulong po ito sa mga pasahero na may kapansanan o PWDs,” Castro said.

The President’s directive to install wheelchair lifts follows another recent development: all 18 elevators located in six EDSA Busway stations became fully operational.

The Palace Press Officer said one of the President’s priorities is to ensure accessibility and convenience in public transportation, especially for vulnerable sectors such as persons with disabilities (PWDs), senior citizens, and pregnant women.

“Ito ay inanunsyo ng DOTr ayon na rin sa utos ni Pangulong Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. na pagbutihin ang commuting experience ng publiko,” Castro added.

The Malacanang spokesperson said the government will not incur any expenses for the installation as the project contractor will fund it following negotiations conducted through Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Chairman Romando Artes.

During the briefing, a video showing DOTr Secretary Vince Dizon and Artes inspecting the installation of a wheelchair lift at PhilAm Station in Quezon City was presented.

“Gumagana, maayos, simple, madaling gamitin, i-install natin ito sa lahat ng busway carousel station,” Dizon said in the video.

The EDSA Busway system includes 23 stations—19 of which are median stops in the middle of the road, and four are curbside stops accessible via the sidewalk or pedestrian crossings. | PND