Executive Secretary Ralph Recto has warned about the risks brought about by governance and institutional problems, including corruption and lack of transparency, amid concerns over the prudent spending of public infrastructure funds.
In a statement on Saturday, Recto said these issues pose serious risks to national security, citing the misuse of public funds as a key weakness in governance and institutional systems.
“This is why we are pushing for good governance reforms—finally pursuing an anti-political dynasty bill, reforming the party-list system, and giving public access to government expenditures,” Recto said in a speech delivered Friday at the National Security Summit 2025 in Taguig City.
“For building stronger and more transparent institutions is the nation’s sturdiest security defense,” he added.
Malacañang also stressed that the welfare of Filipinos must remain central to the country’s national security framework, noting that food security, health care, and employment are as vital as traditional security concerns.
Speaking at the summit held in Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City, Recto said real security means ensuring Filipino families live with dignity and hope.
“It is food that is affordable. Power that stays on. A job that pays enough. Truth in our newsfeeds. Trust in our institutions,” he said. “Because security is more than the absence of a shooting war. It means the presence of opportunity.”
Recto reiterated that weak governance, corruption, misuse of public funds, and lack of transparency threaten national security, and reaffirmed the Marcos administration’s commitment to fiscal discipline so the national budget funds programs that genuinely benefit Filipinos.
He cited priorities such as strengthening food security, expanding universal health care, and investing in education and workforce development, alongside reforms to the party-list system, the anti-political dynasty bill, and public access to government spending.
Recto also underscored the need for coordinated action across sectors, including the uniformed services, policymakers, academics, civil society, industry, and local communities.
He said true national security requires “a government that moves as one, an economy that is strong and felt by every household, and a future defended by all.”
Recto urged stakeholders to treat the summit as a renewed commitment not only to protect the State but also to safeguard the hopes and aspirations of every Filipino family.
He also commended the National Security Council for aligning the National Security Strategy 2024 with the Philippine Development Plan, addressing concerns across society—from farmers facing climate risks to soldiers guarding borders and teachers countering disinformation.
