PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. yesterday reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to pursue projects and programs that would provide the best and immediate benefit for the public whether it is to ensure affordable food, the public’s security and even safe travel.
“Hindi lang ito mga proyekto. Ito ang mga pagbabagong unti-unting nararamdaman ng bawat Pilipino. Mula kalsada hanggang palengke, iisa ang layunin: ang guminhawa ang buhay ng tao (These are not just projects. These are the changes that every Filipino is gradually feeling. From the streets to the markets, the goal is the same: to make people’s lives easier),” Marcos said in his 270th vlog titled “Pagbabago.”
Marcos reported that in the past weeks, he suspended the rehabilitation of the Epifanio Delos Santos Avenue (EDSA) until a solid rerouting plan is crafted to ease the impact of the expected traffic congestion on the public.
“Inanunsyo ko ang pansamantalang paghihinto muna ng EDSA rebuilding program. Ang sabi ko nga ay masyadong matagal naman ‘yung dalawang taon para maabala ang mga kababayan natin (I announced the temporary halting of the ng EDSA rebuilding program. I said two years is a long time to burden our countrymen),” he said.
“At hangga’t wala akong nakikitang solid na mga rerouting plans at ma-siguro na handang-handa na ang mga LGU (local government unit), huwag muna nating gawin. Ayusin muna natin ang plano (Until I see solid rerouting plans and we can ensure the readiness of the LGUs, let us not do it for now. Let us fix the plans first),” he said.
The P8.7-billion rehabilitation plan for the 23.8-kilometer EDSA was supposed to start on June 13, but the President last week ordered a one-month suspension of the implementation pending further review of the program, including finding new technologies that would hasten or shorten the rehabilitation period.
He gave the directive as he acknowledged concerns raised by different sectors, including motorists and commuters who would be affected by the two-year rehabilitation program.
In the same vlog, Marcos also highlighted the implementation of the “Pamilya Pass 1+3 Promo” for the Metro Rail Transit and Light Trail Transit (MRT/LRT) systems which offers free ride to up to three companions of one paying passenger every Sunday.
He also acknowledged the improvements in the MRT/LRT system, like shorter queue lines to make the travel experience of commuters more comfortable.
The President also discussed the rehabilitation of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) under a public-private partnership spearheaded by the New NAIA Infra Corp. (NNIC).
“Bilang gateway ng ating bansa, itong mga airport natin kumbaga ang first and last experience nila sa ating bansa, kaya’t hindi sapat na magaganda ang tourist spot natin. Kailangan ganon din kaganda ang mga airport natin. Hindi lamang ang Manila airport dinedevelop natin pati ang mga regional airport (As the gateway to the Philippines, our airports are the first and last experience in our country, so it is not enough that our tourist spots are beautiful. Our airports also need to be as beautiful. Not only the Manila airport, but we are also developing our regional airports),” Marcos said.
The NNIC, comprised of San Miguel Holdings Corp., RMM Asian Logistics Inc., RLW Aviation Development Inc., and Incheon International Airport Corp., signed the P170.6-billion concession agreement with the Department of Transportation (DOTr) and took over the operations of NAIA in 2024.
The President said the public has also felt the impact of improved police visibility in the streets under the “Cops of the Beat” project, which has contributed to lower crime rate.
Marcos expects further improvement in the crime index with the commitment of PNP chief Gen. Nicolas Torre III to implement a three-minute police response time and the expected launch of the Dial 911 hotline in July.
The Cops on the Beat program, launched last 30 May, aims to enhance police visibility by ensuring continuous police patrol in communities and their swift response to incidents.
Likewise, the President again reaffirmed his commitment to sustain and expand the P20 per kilo rice which has been rolled out in Kadiwa Centers and other public markets by the Department of Agriculture and the National Food Authority (NFA).
Marcos said he inspected last week an NFA warehouse to ensure that there is ample supply of rice to support the program.
He also talked about his government’s plans to adopt technologies to improve food and agricultural production, as well as the commitment to provide agricultural machinery and improve irrigation under the equipment re-fleeting program of the National Irrigation Administration.
He reiterated that the NIA would ensure that all major canals and irrigation infrastructure across the country are properly maintained to help farmers improve their harvest.
The President, shortly after the midterm elections, committed that his administration would focus on programs and projects that would address the everyday problems of the public and ensure that everything the government does is felt by the Filipinos.
Marcos had previously said that the results of the midterm elections showed that the Filipinos are disappointed with the services of the government and are already tired of politicking.
