MANY will have their eyes and ears turned to Malacañang by the Pasig River on Tuesday when President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. will have his first full Cabinet meeting for 2025, keeping a keen sense on how the administration delivers on its promises and navigates challenges in achieving its legacy goals.
Officials have said the agenda will include legacy projects, like big-ticket programs and Official Development Assistance-funded projects, four days before the twice-a-year Vin D’ Honneur in Malacañang – to celebrate the start of a new year and to mark Philippine Independence on June 12.
The meeting, preceded five days earlier by an exchange of notes with Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin, is seen as marking the start of a crucial year for the Marcos administration as it approaches its halfway mark..
The administration, which geared up its six-year governance on June 30, 2022, seeks to consolidate its long-term impact through infrastructure and economic reforms.
Presidential Communications Secretary Cesar Chavez confirmed the agenda, saying discussions would center on high-priority programs that aim to boost economic growth and address current challenges.
Observers have noted the 67-year-old President Marcos has frequently underlined the importance of collaboration with both public and private sectors.
In addition to weekly Cabinet meetings – there are 31 members of the President’s Cabinet – focusing on specific clusters, the President frequently consults the Private Sector Advisory Council to incorporate industry insights into economic policy-making – seen as decisive in formulating strategies to combat inflation and improve infrastructure.
In 2024, the President supervised two full Cabinet meetings, two special gatherings, and 49 sectoral discussions, highlighting the administration’s hands-on approach to governance.
The President used the occasion to spotlight economic achievements and reinforce the Philippines’ commitment to international law and cooperation.
The Marcos administration approved 194 infrastructure projects, ranging from public transport, power, health, information technology, water resources, and agriculture. 77 of those projects were carried from past administrations while 123 are “new and initiated” by the present administration.
In science and technology, the Marcos administration assisted 107 institutions in undertaking nuclear energy work by sending scientists to study nuclear science and technology abroad, and providing basic training to 482 scientists, doctors, engineers, and technicians.
He has emphasized continuity and progress since taking office in 2022, and is expected to outline major priorities for his administration in the Tuesday Cabinet meeting.
