President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to effective and accountable governance, announcing that a comprehensive performance review of government officials is underway, not just at the Cabinet level, but across all ranks of public service.
Speaking to members of the media on the sidelines of the 46th ASEAN Summit in Kuala Lumpur, President Marcos emphasized that recent Cabinet changes are part of a sincere effort to recalibrate the government to better address the pressing and everyday needs of the Filipino people.
“We are looking at the problem deeply,” the President stated. “I don’t do things pang optics (for show or appearance). If there is a problem, I like to fix it. So that’s what we are doing.”
The President’s remarks came in the wake of his directive last week asking all Cabinet officials to tender courtesy resignations, a move he clarified was designed to strengthen, not destabilize, his administration’s ability to deliver responsive and effective public service. Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin confirmed that while the President has retained his economic team, he has accepted two courtesy resignations to allow the officials a reprieve.
Addressing questions about his leadership and speculation surrounding potential shifts in government, President Marcos strongly rejected any suggestion that he might step down.
“I will resign? Ba’t ko gagawin ’yun?” the President said. “At wala sa ugali ko ang tinatakbuhan ang problema. What good will that do?”
Underscoring his solution-oriented leadership style, President Marcos reiterated his commitment to confronting challenges head-on. He assured the public that the ongoing government revamp is focused squarely on improving performance and ensuring that public officials meet the evolving demands of the nation.
“The Filipino people deserve a government that is not only capable, but accountable,” President Marcos said. “We will continue to make the necessary changes to achieve that.”
