President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has given agencies working on the rehabilitation of San Juanico Bridge to reopen the bridge by December to heavy vehicles weighing up to 12 tons.

“Ang schedule namin dapat by December, before the end of the year, ang puwede nang gamitin ng sasakyan hanggang 12 tons,” the President said in his latest podcast interview aired on Friday.

“That’s a test. Sabi ko ‘pag hindi niyo natapos ‘yan, tatanggapin ko ‘yung resignation niyo,” added the President.

Since May, San Juanico Bridge was closed to all vehicles exceeding 3 tons while the rehabilitation is ongoing.

President Marcos acknowledged the hardships caused on residents and businesses by decades of neglect and lack of proper maintenance of the vital bridge linking Leyte and Samar.

“Nagulat ang aming mga engineers. Sabi nila, ‘malala na pala ito.’ Dahil ‘yung maintenance sa nakaraang ilang dekada hindi naman ginawa. Sabi ko, bakit? Wala bang record ‘yan? May record naman. Lahat nung job order completed. Pero tingnan mo, puro kalawang. Hindi nila ginawa,” said the President.

The residents themselves confirmed that the bridge did not undergo maintenance work.

President Marcos himself talked to affected residents, truck drivers and suppliers during his visit to Samar port on June 11. As an emergency measure, the President ordered a roll-on, roll-off (RORO) cargo ferry system to reroute heavy vehicles, giving priority to trucks transporting perishable goods.

“Sorry na nangyari ito at alam ko ang nararanasan ninyo, nararanasan ng mga transport operators, ang nararanasan ng ating mga negosyante. Kaya’t aasahan ninyo talagang minamadali namin na maayos kaagad ito. And we’ll make sure that you will be safe. We will bring the services of San Juanico back to normal,” said the President. | PND

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. said that rather than assigning blame, his guiding principle is to focus on solving the problem first, stressing that immediate action should always take precedence over finger-pointing.

President Marcos’ decisive approach was evident in his response to the power crisis in Siquijor, where residents endured prolonged blackouts before swift government intervention was initiated under his leadership.

“I’ve always approached ‘yung mga problemang ganito, mayroon lang ako laging in my head na sinasabi, ang una mong reaksyon: Fix the problem, not the blame,” President Marcos said in the third part of the BBM Podcast Episode 2 aired on Friday.

“Kasi nga sabi, ‘sinong dapat mananagot diyan? sinong ganyan?’ O sige, that will – pero ayusin muna natin ‘yung problema,” the President noted.

President Marcos visited Siquijor Island province on June 11 to personally oversee measures aimed at addressing the power blackouts and achieving concrete results.

A day after the visit, two generator sets arrived from the Palawan Electric Cooperative (PALECO) to augment the power supply.

In compliance with the directive of President Marcos, by June 14, the National Electrification Administration (NEA) successfully restored stable electricity in Siquijor, ending several days of rotating brownouts that affected thousands of families, businesses, and schools.

The President also gave authorities six months to permanently resolve the power supply issue, which included a review of the contract with the private power generation company, Siquijor Island Power Corporation (SIPCOR).

“The way we fixed the problem, we brought two generators from Palawan. They are now in Siquijor. They’re already functioning, maayos na. We even have to provide the fuel. In-advance pa ng gobyerno ‘yung fuel dahil hindi naman kami dapat ang gagastos niyan eh,” President Marcos said.

“Ang mahalaga rito, hindi mo pinaparusahan ‘yung tao. So kahit na kung sino ang nagkamali, hindi ‘yan ang priority natin. Ang priority natin eh makapag-deliver ng kuryente sa bawat bahay. And that’s what we did,” the President stressed.

The President said the review of SIPCOR’s compliance with the terms of the contract is underway.

“Nire-review na namin. Alam mo like any contract, kung non-compliant ka, that breaks the contract,” said President Marcos. | PND

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s laser focus on cutting poverty incidence to a single digit of 9 percent before the end of his term is bearing fruit.

Two surveys have shown that the number of Filipinos rating themselves as “hindi mahirap” has increased since President Marcos assumed office on June 30, 2022.

President Marcos has emphasized the improvement of food availability and affordability, education, and social welfare while addressing bottleneck issues including those that affect small-scale businesses, public utilities, transportation services, and safety in the streets.

Data from the Philippine Statistics Authority’s (PSA) Family Income and Expenditure Survey showed that in 2006, one in every five families or 21 percent had incomes below the poverty line. In 2015, 18.9 percent of families earned below the poverty level.

Family incomes improved under the Marcos administration as the PSA reported that in 2023, only one in every 10 Filipino families or 10.9 percent reported incomes below the poverty level.

Likewise, data from the independent firm Social Weather Stations (SWS) through its Self-Rated Poverty survey in April this year showed that the number of respondents who felt poor decreased, from 57 percent in 2024 to 50 percent this year.

While the 2025 figure may be higher than those recorded during the 2016-2023 period, SWS chairman emeritus Dr. Mahar Mangahas pointed out that respondents who identified themselves as “hindi mahirap” are at a new high of 42 percent.

In his June 14, 2025 column in the Philippine Daily Inquirer, Mangahas called it “the most remarkable new development” in the survey.

He also underscored the significant decline in the number of respondents who identified themselves as borderline poor – from 39 percent recorded in 2021 the record-low 8 percent this year.

Meanwhile, data from the PSA showed a steady unemployment rate of 4 percent since 2023. The unemployment figure is lower than when President Marcos took office in June 2022. | PND

While no case has been reported in the country, the Department of Health (DOH) is closely monitoring the emergence of a new COVID-19 variant known as Nimbus or NB.1.8.1, which has reportedly been spreading in several parts of the world, including Asia.

In a press briefing at Malacañang on Thursday, Health Secretary Teodoro J. Herbosa confirmed that there are no reported cases of the variant in the country so far.

However, Teodoro said the DOH remains vigilant especially with the onset of the flu season.

“Wala naman tayong increase pa rin dito. We are monitoring our COVID cases kasi nga season natin ng influenza-like illnesses, and COVID is one of those influenza-like illnesses. Mino-monitor po ng ating Epidemiology Bureau itong cases na ito,” Herbosa said.

The Nimbus variant, identified as an Omicron sub-lineage, was first detected in Asia in January and has been associated with recent case surges in some Southeast Asian countries.

Despite its emergence, Herbosa assured the public that existing COVID-19 vaccines continue to offer protection against the new variant.

“It seems ‘yung vaccines na ibinigay before are still effective on them. So if you were vaccinated during the previous COVID pandemic, you are still protected,” Teodoro said.

When asked about reports of a distinct symptom described as a “razor blade throat” linked to the Nimbus variant, Herbosa stressed the importance of global cooperation in tracking and reporting new symptoms and developments about the new COVID variant.

“We will be monitoring that now that it’s reported. Iyan ‘yung importance na nagre-report ‘yung ibang countries what their variant is,” Teodoro said.

“So that means magsu-surveillance kami, we will select samples, at pagagawa namin sa RITM (Research Institute for Tropical Medicine) ‘yung genome sequencing para malaman namin kung ‘yung variant na ‘yan ay lumalabas na dito,” Teodor added.

The DOH continues to encourage the public to stay informed about health advisories and to practice standard health precautions at all times to prevent diseases. | PND

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. departed for Osaka, Japan on Thursday to attend the World Expo 2025 where he is expected to promote the country’s rich cultural heritage by visiting the Philippine Pavilion.

The Philippine Pavilion is the country’s exhibit at the expo, which proudly showcases the nation’s vibrant culture, diverse traditions, and stunning natural landscapes. It is said to be one of the crowd favorites at the World Expo, which draws millions of international visitors and potential investors.

Also known as the 2025 Osaka-Kansai Expo, the World Expo 2025 is located at Yumeshima, a man-made island in Osaka Bay. Organizers describe the expo as “a space where eight billion people from around the world will not only view exhibits but will co-create future society.”

Osaka had hosted the World Expo in 1970 and 1990.

“Ang pagpunta po ng Pangulo doon ay para po pasinayaan, puntahan, at ipagmalaki ang Pavillion ng Pilipinas sa nasabing World Expo sa Osaka 2025,” Presidential Communications Undersecretary and Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said during a Palace press briefing on Thursday.

“Nagtatampok po ito ng mga mayayaman nating kultura at ang magaganda nating landscapes,” Castro said.

The Pavilion is also designed to attract global interest in Philippine tourism, Castro added.

During the official visit of Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba to the country last April, he invited President Marcos to visit the World Expo, which will run from April to October.

Aside from participating in the World Expo, Castro said the President’s itinerary will also include several business meetings.

In addition, President Marcos is scheduled to meet with members of the Filipino community while in Japan.

While the President is abroad, Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin, Agrarian Reform Secretary Conrado Estrella III, and Education Secretary Sonny Angara will serve as caretakers and oversee executive operations in his stead.

A lean official delegation accompanies the President during his trip, Castro said. | PND

Christian Karl Jarse, 30, of Batasan, Quezon City, felt relieved after learning that PhilHealth, following President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s directive, is now offering new benefits for post-kidney transplant care.

PhilHealth now provides care for adult and child kidney transplant patients, including immunosuppressive medications, drug prophylaxis, drug level monitoring, laboratory tests, diagnostic tests, and living donor monitoring.

Jarse, who will undergo kidney transplant on July 10, said he cried after being told by a parent of a pediatric transplantation patient that the post-operation medication will be lifelong.

He has been undergoing dialysis for four years, and doctors have recommended his kidney replacement. He was grateful to have a very close friend willing to donate the organ.

Jarse said he was so happy to learn about PhilHealth’s new benefit package for post-kidney transplant care since this would be of great help to patients like him who need medication for life.

“Sobrang nakakagaan po ng loob. Malaking tulong po talaga sa amin ‘yun (benefit package),” Jarse said.

He relayed the difficulties of suffering from renal disorder, especially the very costly medical care that is not within reach of ordinary people.

To support his medical needs, he and his family have to endure long queues at the offices of lawmakers and government agencies for assistance.

“Sobrang nagpapasalamat po talaga ako kay President Marcos dahil ‘yun nga po sa pangalawang buhay ko mas gagaan na dahil nga po sa mga gamutan ko, libre na dahil sa project niya,” Jarse said. “Nakakagaan ng loob dahil nalaman ko po na libre na po at ito ‘yung project niya po para sa amin.”

President Marcos assured his continued support for renal disease patients as he led the launching of PhilHealth’s new benefits at the National Kidney and Transplant Institute in Quezon City.

PhilHealth developed a comprehensive benefits package for post-kidney transplantation for both adult and pediatric patients with stage 5 chronic kidney disease.

With the additional benefits, PhilHealth aims to alleviate the financial burden on patients and their families, enhance long-term health outcomes, and promote equitable access to quality healthcare, aligning with the goals of Universal Health Care. | PND

For nine-year-old renal patient Kehn Zachary Aquino, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s directive to assist him and other people with medical problems is more than just a glimmer of hope—it’s a lifeline to a brighter future.

A resident of Orani, Bataan, Aquino successfully underwent a kidney transplant last February 12. But behind his recovery is the quiet struggle of his parents who worked tirelessly and sacrificed deeply to cover the cost of his life-saving operation.

“Maraming salamat po sa inyo mahal na Pangulo sa libreng gamot at laboratory (tests), dahil po dito, mas makaka-focus po ang aking mga magulang sa ibang pangangailangan, lalo na ang edukasyon,” Aquino said in a handwritten letter addressed to the President.

“Maganda po ang aking mga laboratory results at umaasang lalaki na po akong malakas at malusog. Pangako ko pong maging isang chef sa hinaharap,” he added.

The burden didn’t end with the surgery. Ongoing expenses for postoperative medication and laboratory tests threatened to shatter Aquino’s dream of becoming a chef.

“Hindi po naging madali ang paghanap namin ng pera at donor pero sa awa ng Diyos ako po ay isa nang kidney transplant recipient,” Aquino wrote.

Just when hope seemed out of reach for Aquino and his family, fate intervened.

President Marcos launched free post-transplant services through the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth), a lifeline that came just in time for the young boy.

Overwhelmed with gratitude, Aquino wrote a heartfelt letter to the President, thanking him for the support that gave him a renewed chance at life—and at chasing his dream.

The nine-year old kidney transplant patient personally handed his letter to President Marcos at the National Kidney and Transplant Institute (NKTI) on Thursday during the President’s visit. I PND

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Thursday said his administration is working to ensure all schools in the country are connected to the internet by the end of the year.

From the Flora A. Ylagan High School in Quezon City, President Marcos presided over a teleconference with officials and teachers based in at least 10 schools located in far-flung areas.

“We’re working towards 100 percent connectivity by the end of the year,” said the President, who was with Department of Information and Communication Technology (DICT) Secretary Henry Aguda in Quezon City.

For the teleconference, Department of Education (DepEd) Secretary Sonny Angara was at a school in Agusan del Norte, accompanied by National Electrification Administration (NEA) Administrator Antonio Mariano Almeda.

Since the schools were located in hinterland villages, coastal barangays, and small islands, the officials and teachers participated in the teleconference via satellite-powered internet connection.

Angara said the Department of Energy and NEA were able to energize the school in the hinterlands of Agusan del Norte, paving the way for its internet connection.

That school serves primarily the indigenous peoples of the Higaonon tribe. It is about two hours away from Butuan City and can be reached by crossing two rivers, Angara said.

Almeda said that 295 “Last Mile Schools” will be energized within the year.

The “Last Mile Schools” refer to schools in geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas where students often face extreme challenges due to a lack of electricity, water, internet access, and safe learning environments.

Meanwhile, an official from a school in the hinterlands of Makilala, North Cotabato, said they used to climb a mountain to get a data signal. Another official from an island in Dapa, Surigao del Norte, said they had to go to the coastline to connect to the internet.

The school official from Makilala said other residents drop by their school to use the internet connection.

“Natutuwa ako na hindi lang ‘yung estudyante natin ang naseserbisyuhan, nagagamit din yung wifi natin sa ibang mga bagay,” President Marcos said.

“Salamat. Sige ipagpapatuloy natin ang ating programa, malaki ang maitutulong sa inyo ng internet connection,” added the President. | PND

Assuring kidney disease patients of continued government support, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Tuesday led the launch of the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth)’s new benefit package for post-kidney transplantation services.

PhilHealth has offered a new support package for adult and pediatric post-kidney transplant patients in response to President Marcos’ directive to prioritize healthcare.

During his visit to the National Kidney and Transplant Institute (NKTI) in Quezon City for the launch, President Marcos stated that Filipinos need to improve their lifestyle and diet to reduce cases of chronic kidney disease.

“Until we improve the situation of our children’s diet… we recognize the needs of our sick kababayan para naman lahat ng kanilang pangangailangan ay matutugunan ng ating PhilHealth at saka ng ating mga facilities kagaya nitong NKTI,” President Marcos said in his remarks after visiting some wards.

The President greeted patients at the Hemodialysis Center and the Hemodialysis Center Extension, and met with post-kidney transplant patients.

PhilHealth developed a comprehensive benefits package for post-kidney transplantation covering both adult and pediatric patients with stage 5 chronic kidney disease (CKD).

The initiative aims to alleviate the financial burden on patients and their families, enhance long-term health outcomes, and promote equitable access to quality healthcare, aligning with the objectives of the Universal Health Care law.

The new benefits package for adult and child post-kidney transplant patients covers immunosuppressive medications, drug prophylaxis, drug level monitoring, laboratory tests, diagnostic tests, renal graft biopsy, and living donor monitoring.

For pediatric patients, PhilHealth will cover immunosuppressive medications worth PhP73,065 per month for the first year, and worth PhP41,150 per month for the succeeding years; drug prophylaxis or antibiotic to prevent infections worth PhP45,570 per month; and laboratory services worth PhP37,585 for every three months for the first year and worth PhP14,078 for every three months for the succeeding years.

Meanwhile, adult patients 19 years old and above are entitled to PhP40,725 per month for immunosuppressive medications; PhP18,932 for 6 months of treatment; and PhP11,242 for every 3 months of laboratory services for the first year and PhP8,125 for every three months for the succeeding years.

Living kidney donors are also entitled to PhP1,900 worth of laboratory and monitoring services every six months.

At the start of the year, Philhealth enhanced the benefits for members with chronic kidney disease (CKD) stage 5. These improvements include expanding hemodialysis sessions from 90 to 156 annually, increasing coverage for the Z Benefit Package for peritoneal dialysis up to PhP1.2 million, and raising the Z Benefit coverage for kidney transplantation from PhP600,000 to PhP2 million.

Chronic kidney disease is a pressing global health issue. The NKTI said one Filipino develops chronic kidney failure every hour, equating to around 120 new cases per million population annually. | PND

Concerned about rising cases of chronic kidney diseases, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Thursday appealed to parents and teachers to train children in proper diet at an early age to avoid serious illnesses later in life.

President Marcos also urged those in the food industry to prepare healthy meals, particularly with reduced sugar content.

“Kailangan natin ng tulong ng magulang, ng mga teacher, maging na ang mga nasa industriya na ‘yung mga naghahanda ng fast food eh bawasan naman nila ‘yung paglagay ng asukal para naman ay ‘yung kabataan natin ay hindi mapunta sa ganitong kondisyon,” President Marcos said in his remarks during a visit to the National Kidney and Transplant Institute (NKTI) in Diliman, Quezon City.

The President emphasized the importance of introducing Filipinos to nutritious eating habits at a young age as a long-term solution to reducing the incidence of lifestyle diseases.

President Marcos was in the NKTI to launch the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth)’s new benefit package for post-kidney transplantation services.

The President visited patients at the NKTI Hemodialysis Center and the Hemodialysis Center Extension. He also met post-kidney transplant patients.

On President Marcos’ directive, PhilHealth has improved benefits for members diagnosed with the most severe stage of chronic kidney disease. ǀ PND