PRESIDENT Marcos Jr. yesterday officially launched his administration’s advocacy for a “Bagong Pilipinas” which he said involves genuine programs for development that benefit and the people and provides them better service, and brings progress to the country.
Some 400,000 individuals attended event at the Quirino Grandstand in Manila, the National Capital Region Police Office quoting crowd estimates as of 7 p.m. Sunday
The President, at the Bagong Pilipinas rally held at the Quirino Grandstand, said it is not a political game plan that caters to a privileged few and serves political interests.
“Bagong Pilipinas is not a new partisan coalition in disguise. It is a set of ideals that all us Filipinos, regardless of political creed or religion or wealth, can coalesce around … It is a call for transformation, the transformation of our idea of being a Filipino, and the transformation of our economy, of governance, of society,” Marcos said.
Reports have said the rally will be used to promote moves to amend the 1987 Constitution, which the Presidential Communications Office denied.
“This is not a plan drafted in isolation by those who govern. It is a plan drawn from the inputs of the sovereign. As such, it can only succeed with the people’s participation.
It can only succeed if a government will demonstrate the fortitude to do the hard work,” the President said.
Marcos also said that the Bagong Pilipinas is not just a slogan, or a sticker or a logo that everyone will see in the streets, but the brand of governance of the administration.
“It is the time for bold thinking, accompanied by the strong will to execute it. As I have said many times, the mandate of the people should be devoted to achieving the grand, not wasted on the petty,” he said.
CHANGES
Among other officials who attended the event were former President and now Rep. Gloria Arroyo, First Lady Louse “Liza” Araneta-Marcos, Ilocos Norte Rep. and presidential son Sandro Marcos, Cabinet men, several senators, and local government officials.
Marcos said Bagong Pilipinas will start with changes in the government and its people.
These changes include barring the lazy and slow workers in government, banning thievery and squandering, banning oppression, punishing the bad and promoting the good.
The President said under Bagong Pilipinas, services in government will be fast, projects will be completed on time, deadlines will be met, and distress calls and criminality will be responded to without delay.
Marcos said red tape in government will be replaced with a red carpet for the people, and the budget will be spent wisely to benefit the people, not pocketed to benefit a few.
He said also under Bagong Pilipinas, the interest and welfare of the public will be addressed and prioritized.
The President directed those in government including his Cabinet secretaries to lead town hall meetings in the regions to spread the Bagong Pilipinas programs and ensure that the people truly feel and benefit from them.
Speaker Martin Romualdez, who was government officials who attended the event, encouraged the public to support the campaign, saying it “marks the beginning of a transformative journey toward a better Philippines, not just for us but, more importantly, for our children.”
“Unity has always been the bedrock of any successful endeavor, and in the pursuit of a better future for our country, it becomes even more crucial. The Bagong Pilipinas campaign is a call for unity, a rallying cry for every Filipino to come together, transcending differences and working hand in hand for a brighter and more prosperous tomorrow,” he said.
Vice President Sara Duterte arrived at the venue shortly before 4 p.m. and had to leave the event to fly to Davao City to attend an ani-Charter change prayer rally where her father, former president Rodrigo Duterte, was also expected to attend.
She attended the kick-off rally along with the contingent of the Department of Education which she heads as concurrent Education secretary.
In a statement, she said, “Kaisa ang buong Department of Education sa pagsusulong ng eight-point socio-economic agenda ng Marcos administration para sa pagbabago ng buhay ng mga Pilipino (The Department of Education joins the push for the eight-point socio-economic agenda of the Marcos administration in uplifting the lives of Filipinos),” she said in a statement.
WHAT FOR?
Presidential sister Sen. Imee Marcos said she does not know the purpose of the rally, noting the idea of a “Bagong Pilipinas” had been launched just a month after her younger brother was elected President in 2022.
Senator Marcos said she received a memo requesting her office to produce “warm bodies” for the Bagong Pilipinas rally.
“Babayaran daw kung anong gastusin, may overtime, may whole day pay, may pagkain, may shuttle at asahan daw kung ano pang gagastusin ay ire-reimburse (All of the expenses will be paid — overtime pay, whole day pay, there will be food, shuttle services will be provided and other incidental expenses will be reimbursed),” she said, but did not disclose where the memo came from.
She said this “show of force” somewhat creates confusion.
“Nagtataka ako bakit ginagawa ito eh Linggo pa naman at ano ba ang purpose kasi alam ko nailunsad ng yung Bagong Pilipinas. Tapos na iyon eh bakit ilulunsad muli? Nalilito ako, parang nakaka praning yata, nenerbyusin ka kapag nagsho-show of force
(I am wondering why they are doing this even though it is a Sunday, What is the purpose because I know that the Bagong Pilipinas was already launched, that was done and yet they will launch it again? This is confusing, creates paranoia, it makes me feel nervous when there is a show of force),” she added.
The Bagong Pilipinas rally in Manila coincided with a rally led by the Dutertes in Davao City.
Marcos said as far as she knows, the prayer rally in Davao has long been planned to pray for the problems besetting the Duterte family, including the ICC investigation of the former president, Rodrigo Duterte, and alleged impeachment plan for the vice president, among others.
“Yung mga taga Davao eh matagal na nilang tinakda itong mga araw na ito para magtipon-tipon at magdasal (The people of Davao has long planned for this gathering so they can pray as one),” Marcos said.
SERVICES
The event opened with the delivery of government services which included payouts for pre-identified beneficiaries of the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS) of the Department of Social Welfare and Development, and Government Service Insurance System eCard enrollment and verification of records, loan application and housing programs.
The Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) provided registration and enrollment services and information on benefits. The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) provided civil registration services in the Philippine Identification System Registration and released ePhilD.
The National Bureau of Investigation issued clearances to first-time job seekers while the Pag-Ibig Fund provided membership registration services, multi-purpose loan applications, claims application, housing loan program, modified Pag-Ibig 2 (MP2) special savings program, HEAL Program, and inquiries on other benefits and programs.
The Social Security System assisted the public in claims inquiry, claims, and record verification while the PNP provided services such as issuance of the License to Own and Possess Firearm and police clearance, drug and neuropsychiatric tests, notary and gun safety seminar.
The Professional Regulatory Commission (PRC) assisted walk-in clients in their exam applications, petition for change of status/correction, Continuing Professional Development and Continuing Professional Development Accreditation System, and setting up of appointments for PRC ID renewal, and applications for PRC ID and Board of Certificate, Passing and Board Rating Authenticity, and Certificate of Good Standing and Board Rating Issuance.
PNP spokeswoman Col. Jean Fajardo said the event was “generally peaceful” as of press time although some of the attendees were given medical attention due to illness.
Fajardo also said some 3,500 policemen were deployed by the PNP to secure the event. — With Wendell Vigilia, Raymond Africa and Victor Reyes
