PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. rejected suggestions that his administration’s recent rollout of pro-people programs is politically motivated, saying the initiatives are part of efforts to ease the everyday struggles of ordinary Filipinos, and not meant to boost survey numbers.
President Marcos stated on his BBM Podcast that his active involvement in launching government projects is not for popularity, despite public approval re-flected in rising trust and approval ratings.
“We don’t work according to surveys, not really,” President Marcos said.
“If we hear complaints, for example, that lines at PhilHealth are too long, then we ask: what can we do to make it easier?” he added.
He said the government’s approach is centered on providing practical and immediate solutions to issues that directly affect dai-ly life.
Examples include fare discounts for seniors and students, digitalization of public health claims, and the expansion of social as-sistance programs.
“These are not big-ticket projects, but they save time, make things cheaper, more convenient. They have value for all of us,” he added.
President Marcos also emphasized the importance of raising awareness about available services, explaining why he has been physically present at program launches.
“When the President goes, it highlights the program,” he said. “People read it in the news or see it on TV; that way they know these services exist and how to access them.”
He cited the launch of the Bayanihan Estero Program, a community-based waterway cleanup effort, as an example, saying his presence helped draw pub-lic attention and encourage community involvement.
When asked to respond to critics who view these efforts as short-term or superficial, Marcos pointed to individual beneficiaries.
“Ask the student who now pays 50 percent less for his fare. Ask the kidney patient who can now afford medicine because it’s free,” he said. “Those are real problems, and we are slowly solving them.”
The Marcos administration continues to pursue long-term infrastructure and development goals, the President added, but stressed that short-term relief remains a priority to immediately uplift the lives of Filipinos.
