Beneficiaries of the Walang Gutom Kitchen (WGK) of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) in Pasay City expressed their gratitude to President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. for his attention and care for the vulnerable sector.

President Marcos on Thursday made an unprecedented visit to the first branch of the WGK, where he personally served meals to the beneficiaries who are from low-income families and are mostly homeless.

Among the beneficiaries were Michelle Bocaling, 41, her husband Mark Enrique, and their four children. They all live at the DSWD shelter in Pasay City.

“Maraming salamat po sa tulong ninyo Presidente Marcos, sa Walang Gutom Kitchen at (DSWD) Pag-Abot Program, sa pagkupkop po sa aming pamilya. Maraming salamat din po sa mga taga-DSWD,” said Bocaling.

Another beneficiary was Ricardo Pimanya, 48, single, who also lives at the DSWD shelter in Pasay City.

“Nagpapasalamat po ako. Masarap ang pagkain,” Pimanya said.

Teresita Juaner, 53, married, with one daughter, who lives on the streets in Pasay City, was also thankful to the President and DSWD for the food they provide every day.

“Maraming salamat BBM sa mga binigay mong pagkain sa amin dito sa DSWD Walang Gutom Kitchen sa Pasay,” said Juaner.

The President was accompanied by DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian, DSWD Undersecretary for Innovations Edu Punay, and Pasay City Mayor Emi Calixto-Rubiano during the visit.

The President led the distribution of meals that included rice, meat, noodles, soup, vegetables, and fruits to the DSWD beneficiaries. ǀ PND

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Thursday personally served meals to beneficiaries of the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s (DSWD) Walang Gutom Kitchen (WGK) in Pasay City, marking his first visit to the site.

During his visit to the WGK facility in the Nasdake Building on Williams Street, Pasay City, President Marcos interacted with the beneficiaries who live on the streets and experience involuntary hunger.

The WGK in Pasay City is the first site opened by the DSWD after their feeding program was launched in December last year.

The President was accompanied by DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian, DSWD Undersecretary for Innovations Edu Punay, and Pasay City Mayor Emi Calixto-Rubiano.

Upon his arrival just after 11 a.m., President Marcos went directly to the kitchen counter. The President took the lead in distributing meals that included rice, meat, noodles, soup, vegetables, and fruits to the DSWD beneficiaries.

The President, who wore the red cap and red apron worn by WGK volunteers, also toured the area, inspecting the process by which beneficiaries would access the kitchen’s benefits.

President Marcos afterwards sat down with the beneficiaries, who sang him “Happy birthday.”

The DSWD gave the President a blue birthday cake with the logo of the Walang Gutom Program, SWS Hunger Tracker. “Happy Birthday, Mr. President, from the DSWD Family” was written on the cake.

The President then sliced the cake and served it to the beneficiaries, and handed out cupcakes and other food as well.

The Pasay City WGK serves breakfast and lunch daily, from Monday to Sunday, to around 600 people, according to the DSWD. It is open from 6 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The WGK aims to provide nutritious meals to target beneficiaries and walk-in clients, promote the significance of nutrition to overall development, facilitate case management of individuals and families in street situations, and promote community development in line with Republic Act No. 9803 or the Food Donation Act of 2009.

The target beneficiaries of the WGK are children, individuals, and families in street situations, as well as Filipinos experiencing involuntary hunger.

On December 16, 2024, the DSWD launched the Walang Gutom Kitchen in Pasay, with First Lady Louise Araneta-Marcos leading the volunteers in distributing hot meals to the kitchen’s beneficiaries. ǀ PND

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has signed laws establishing two government hospitals in the provinces of Zamboanga del Sur and Zamboanga del Norte, showcasing the government’s commitment to delivering universal healthcare for all Filipinos.

President Marcos signed on September 5 Republic Act No. 12260, which established the Zamboanga del Sur Second District Hospital in the municipality of San Miguel in Zamboanga del Sur province.

The Zamboanga del Sur Second District Hospital will be under the direct control and supervision of the provincial government of Zamboanga del Sur.

The Zamboanga del Sur provincial government shall manage the said district hospital and prepare, in consultation with the Department of Health (DOH), a hospital development plan that is aligned with the Philippine Health Facility Development Plan.

Any future increase in bed capacity, healthcare facilities, service capability, and human resource complement shall be based on the hospital development plan.

The provincial government of Zamboanga del Sur shall provide the necessary funds for the establishment, maintenance, and other operating expenses of the said district hospital.

The DOH Secretary shall include support for the capital outlay requirements of the hospital in the Department’s subsidy program.

President Marcos also signed on September 5 Republic Act No. 12261, establishing the Liloy General Hospital in the municipality of Liloy in Zamboanga del Norte province.

A Level II general hospital, the Liloy General Hospital shall have a bed capacity of 100 beds and shall be under the direct control and supervision of the DOH.

The Secretary of Health shall immediately include in the DOH’s program the implementation of this Act, and the funding shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act.

Both laws shall take effect 15 days after publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation. ǀ PND

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has signed a new law that allows the government to declare a “State of Imminent Disaster” before a calamity strikes so that preparations and emergency actions can be carried out in advance to protect communities.

Under Republic Act No. 12287, the government will establish a mechanism for declaring a State of Imminent Disaster and providing the criteria for its declaration and lifting, as well as necessary appropriations.

R.A. No. 12287, or the Declaration of State of Imminent Disaster Act signed by President Marcos on September 12, authorizes the Chief Executive to declare a State of Imminent Disaster over a cluster of barangays, municipalities, cities, provinces, and regions upon the recommendation of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC).

Local chief executives, upon the recommendation of the Regional Disaster Risk Reduction Management (DRRM) Councils, may declare a State of Imminent Disaster through an executive order in their respective jurisdictions that are forecasted to be affected by an imminent disaster.

The NDRRMC or the Regional DRRM Councils shall conduct a pre-disaster risk assessment in anticipation of a highly probable disaster with projected catastrophic impacts, which will be the basis for the declaration.

The classification of a forecasted hazard’s impacts as severe or its equivalent, with adverse effects on the population, and an allowable or sufficient three-day lead time for the national or local government to implement anticipatory action interventions must be present in the pre-disaster risk assessment. The allowable lead time may be extended to five days.

The Declaration of a State of Imminent Disaster shall allow the National, Regional, and Local DRRM Councils the use of national and local resources and mechanisms to implement anticipatory actions within identified or allowable lead time.

These include disseminating public information advisories on recommended actions to relevant sectors; mobilizing and prepositioning inter-agency response teams; initiating pre-emptive or forced evacuation; mobilizing duly accredited and trained volunteers; and procuring, mobilizing, prepositioning, and distributing food and non-food items to forecasted affected population.

Other measures include implementing a social amelioration program for the indigent and most vulnerable population; carrying out contingency plans to mitigate damage to agricultural products and food supply; and providing technical and advisory assistance to ensure public health and safety.

With regard to the declaration’s duration and lifting, R.A. 12287 stated that if the latest pre-disaster risk assessment finds that the projected impacts are not met, the National or Regional DRRM Councils shall recommend its immediate lifting by the President or by the local chief executive.

As to the funding, the LGUs shall include anticipatory action measures in their regular programs, plans, and activities lodged under their respective local DRRM funds, as reflected in their local DRRM plans, the law stated.

The law also mandates the NDRRMC, through its chairperson, upon consultation with relevant stakeholders, to issue the necessary rules and regulations, including operational guidelines and procedures for its effective implementation within 60 days after its approval. | PND

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has signed into law four measures that expand access to quality education by establishing new national high schools and converting existing elementary schools into integrated schools in the provinces of Leyte, Rizal, and Sorsogon.

President Marcos issued Republic Act (RA) 12256 establishing the Doos del Norte National High School in Hindang, Leyte, and RA 12258 creating the Tanay National Science High School in Rizal.

The Chief Executive also signed RA 12257, which converted the Alegria Elementary School in Barcelona, Sorsogon, into the Alegria Integrated School, and Republic Act No. 12259, which transformed the Patag Elementary School in Irosin, Sorsogon, into the Patag Integrated School.

Under the laws, all personnel, assets, liabilities, and records of the converted schools will be transferred to and absorbed by the integrated schools.

The President mandated the Department of Education (DepEd) to operationalize both the newly established and upgraded schools, with funding support to be sourced from the annual General Appropriations Act.

The DepEd is further tasked with formulating and implementing rules and regulations within 90 days.

The measures were signed into law on September 5, 2025, and will take effect 15 days after publication in the Official Gazette or a newspaper of general circulation. | PND

In recognition of the valuable contribution of educators in the country, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has signed Republic Act No. 12288, institutionalizing the Career Progression System for Public School Teachers and School Leaders, aimed at ensuring their professional development and career growth.

RA No. 12288 introduced a competency-based promotion system, allowing public school teachers in the elementary and secondary levels to advance based on merit and qualifications.

Under the Act, the positions from Teacher I to Master Teacher I shall form the basis of the expanded career progression system. Promotions within these positions are non-hierarchical and will be based on a teacher’s fitness and competence in adherence to professional standards.

Recognizing prior learning and teaching experience, the Act also allows qualified educators to enter any position within the base of the expanded career progression system, provided they meet the qualification standards set by the Civil Service Commission (CSC) and achieve the indicators of the career stages of the professional standards as affirmed by the Teacher Education Council (TEC).

For this purpose, the CSC and the Department of Education (DepEd), including the TEC, and the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) were tasked to harmonize the qualification standards for teaching positions in all levels of the public school system, taking into consideration the Standards-Based Assessment as mandated by the Act.

The new law also mandated the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) to create new teaching position titles of Teacher IV, Teacher V, Teacher VI, Teacher VII, Master Teacher V, Master Teacher VI, and School Principal V to expand opportunities available for promotion. These positions must be added to the official Index of Occupational Services, Groups, Classes, and Salary Grades.

In evaluating teachers and school leaders seeking promotion, the DepEd was directed to formulate guidelines to assessing them. The evaluation will include a publicly available assessment process, criteria, point system, and standards-based assessment to guarantee fairness, transparency, and accountability.

To ensure the continuous improvement of the career progression system, the TEC was ordered to review, align, and continuously observe the roles of the National Educators Academy of the Philippines (NEAP) and the Bureau of Human Resource and Organizational Development (BHROD) of the DepEd.

Within 90 days of the law’s effectivity, the DepEd, CSC, PRC, and DBM in consultation with the TEC and other education stakeholders, shall jointly issue rules and regulations for the Act’s effective implementation.

These guidelines will take effect 30 days after their publication in a newspaper of general circulation. | PND

Malacañang on Wednesday said it looks forward to working with newly elected Speaker Faustino Dy III, who takes the helm of the House of Representatives as the public calls for visible results to address the people’s concerns.

In a statement issued by the Presidential Communications Office (PCO), the Palace expressed gratitude to former Speaker Martin Romualdez for his contributions in advancing the Bagong Pilipinas legislative agenda of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.

“The President recognizes the vital role of the House of Representatives, especially at a time when the public demands visible results and Congress is called upon to take active steps that address people’s concerns and deliver real improvements in daily life,” Malacañang said in a statement.

Malacañang said it respected the independence of the House of Representatives, as it reiterated its commitment to engage all lawmakers in “constructive collaboration” for the benefit of Filipino families and the nation.

“We respect the independence of the chamber and acknowledge the contributions of former Speaker Martin Romualdez. We now look forward to working with Speaker Faustino Dy III to advance measures that strengthen the economy, ensure basic services, and protect our democracy,” the Palace statement said.

“The Administration remains committed to constructive collaboration with all lawmakers to keep the focus on the needs of Filipino families and move the nation forward,” the statement also said. | PND

Malacañang on Wednesday said President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s move to expose anomalous flood control projects was not meant to build a political legacy but to fulfill his duty to the Filipino people.

In a Palace briefing, Presidential Communications Office Undersecretary and Press Officer Claire Castro stressed that the President’s actions are focused on accountability, safeguarding public funds, and uncovering irregularities that undermine good governance.

“Ang pagtatrabaho ng Pangulo para maipakita’t ma-expose kung anumang mga maanomalyang flood control projects na ito at nagiging sanhi ng korapsiyon, hindi ito ginagawa ng Pangulo para magkaroon lamang ng legacy,” Castro said in response to a media question.

“Ginagawa niya ito dahil ito ang kinakailangan, ginagawa niya ito para sa taumbayan,” Castro emphasized.

Castro added that the government’s anti-corruption campaign extends beyond the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), with investigations set to cover other agencies should credible reports of irregularities surface.

“Ang pag-iimbestiga naman patungkol sa korapsiyon ay hindi lamang para sa DPWH. Kung mayroon pong makikita’t maibibigay na anumang mga reports tungkol sa anumang korapsiyon, iyan naman ay talagang paiimbestigahan,” Castro said.

President Marcos ordered the investigation into questionable flood control projects and received reports from the public submitted through the sumbongsapangulo.ph website, a direct channel for raising complaints about corruption and inefficiency in infrastructure projects.

With 16,275 reports submitted so far a month since the launch of the website, President Marcos established the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) on September 11 through Executive Order No. 94 to pursue the investigation and ensure accountability in public works funding.

The Palace reaffirmed that President Marcos is committed to holding accountable those involved in corruption and ensuring that government resources are used exclusively for programs and projects that improve the lives of Filipinos. | PND

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. ordered an expansion of the country’s primary healthcare coverage for workers, as government agencies launched the Yaman ng Kalusugan Program (YAKAP) in Laguna and Ilocos.

“Primary healthcare at gamot, abot-kamay ng mga manggagawang Pilipino. Ito ang direktiba ng Pangulo,” Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Undersecretary and Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said during a press briefing in Malacañang on Wednesday.

Castro said the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) and the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) launched YAKAP at the Yazaki-Torres Manufacturing, Inc. in Calamba City, Laguna, on Tuesday, September 16.

Castro said under PhilHealth’s YAKAP, members will receive free essential medicines and primary healthcare, including medical check-ups, cancer screenings, and laboratory tests.

The program aims to promote prevention and early detection of diseases, thus helping to alleviate financial burdens for members, according to PhilHealth.

“Hindi na hadlang ang busy schedule sa pag-aalaga ng kalusugan. Inilapit na ng PhilHealth sa mga opisina, eskuwela at komunidad ang health services para sa mga mamamayan,” Castro said.

“Walang maiiwan, lahat maaalagaan, lahat ng Pilipino ay puwedeng maging miyembro ng YAKAP.”

Castro urged the public to register for free with PhilHealth’s YAKAP using the eGov app, PhilHealth member portal, or by visiting the local offices of PhilHealth and YAKAP clinics.

Meanwhile, DOLE said it partnered with PhilHealth for a regional launch of YAKAP in the Ilocos region on September 16 to ensure that workers are properly enrolled and can access medical benefits.

A total of 1,300 workers in the region were able to register with YAKAP and received check-ups.

By working hand in hand, DOLE and PhilHealth strengthened the social safety net for Filipino workers, reaffirming the commitment of President Marcos to inclusive and responsive government service under the Bagong Pilipinas vision. | PND

Malacañang on Wednesday said the bank accounts of those linked to anomalous flood control projects in Bulacan have been frozen, following President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s directive to immediately hold the culprits accountable and recover taxpayers’ money.

In a Palace press briefing on Wednesday, Presidential Communications Office Undersecretary and Palace Press Officer Claire Castro cited a report from the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) that the Court of Appeals has issued a freeze order on bank assets linked to the controversy.

“Dahil sa nais ni Pangulong Marcos Jr. na agarang mapanagot ang mga sangkot at habulin ang pera na dapat taumbayan ang nakikinabang, naipa-freeze na ang mga bank account ng mga nakitang sangkot sa maanomalyang flood control projects sa lalawigan ng Bulacan,” Castro said.

“Ayon kay AMLC Executive Director Atty. Matthew M. David, nakapag-issue na ang Court of Appeals ng freeze order sa 135 bank accounts at 27 na insurance policies sa ilang mga personalidad na may kaugnayan sa flood control mess,” Castro added.

The Palace Press Officer underscored that these actions form part of President Marcos’ continuing campaign to ensure clean governance, safeguard public funds, and channel resources to programs that uplift the lives of Filipinos.

The Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) created by President Marcos to investigate anomalous flood control and related projects of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) held its first meeting at the DPWH main office on Tuesday, September 16. | PND