By Probe

A year has passed since Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s appointment as the President of the Philippines, having garnered the support of over 31 million Filipino voters. With the return of another Marcos to power, people are left with nothing but resolute hope and soaring aspirations for the transformative path that lies ahead. 

In a recent Youtube vlog, the President emphasized his dedication to focusing on the present tasks for the country, prioritizing them over fixating on what he wishes his legacy to be. However, in the same vlog, he also expressed his desire to be remembered as a leader who made a significant positive impact on the lives of ordinary Filipino citizens. In light of these statements, we are prompted to contemplate: “What does the future hold for the Filipino people, and to what extent has President Marcos’ first year in office shed light on this mystery?”

What Was Said

As he took the oath of office at the National Museum Complex in Manila, he emphasized his preparedness for the task ahead, declaring, “We do not look back, but ahead. Up the road that we must take to a place better than the one we lost in the pandemic.” Subsequently, in his first State of the Nation Address (SONA) held last July 25, 2022, he vowed to introduce and execute a range of transformative initiatives catering to various sectors of the community. During his SONA, he expressed his foremost commitment to conclude his six-year presidency with a significantly improved Philippines, setting a goal of reducing the poverty rate to a mere 9 percent by the year 2028. 

With this, he outlined his agenda, placing utmost priority on key areas such as the economic recovery program, the government’s response to the pandemic, the resumption of in-person schooling, and addressing the pressing issue of food security. 

Addressing the urgent needs of the agricultural sector, he highlighted, “The role of agriculture cries for urgent attention that its neglect and misdirection now demands.” With a strong commitment to revitalizing the said sector, he proclaimed that farmers and fisherfolk would be the primary focus of his administration. He outlined measures to enhance their productivity during planting seasons by offering financial and technical assistance, particularly through subsidies for farmers. These initiatives not only aimed to address the country’s food crisis, but also uplift and support farmers, among other objectives.

Regarding the education sector, President Marcos centered his plans on reevaluating the utilization of English as the medium of instruction in schools and elevating students’ achievements in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM). He emphasized the need for the country to enhance its international rankings in STEM subjects while addressing the issue of subpar educational materials. The President underscored the necessity of putting an end to the prevalence of low-quality educational resources. As for the resumption of face-to-face classes, he urged the public to avail themselves of booster shots to fortify their immunity against COVID-19 as he envisioned a complete return to in-person classes.

Within the health sector, the President firmly expressed that the nation cannot endure another lockdown, assuring the public that such measures would not be implemented during his administration. Furthermore, Marcos unveiled his plans to establish healthcare institutions, acknowledging the pivotal role hospitals played during the peak of the pandemic. Emphasizing the significance of a robust healthcare system, he also highlighted the requirement for skilled and effective medical professionals, pledging to exert every effort to enhance the well-being of doctors, nurses, and other frontline healthcare workers. Lastly, he vowed to ensure a consistent and affordable supply of medicine in the country by lowering medication prices for the welfare and advantage of the general public.

Beyond these key priorities, he placed significant emphasis on a range of other important areas such as infrastructure development, energy supply, digitalization efforts, the enhancement of the rail transport system, combating violence against women and children, the welfare of Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs), bolstering the tourism sector, legislative reforms, and improving calamity response mechanisms. Additionally, during his speech on April 30, 2023, coinciding with the commemoration of Labor Day, he emphasized the paramount importance of safeguarding the well-being of laborers and ensuring their welfare. 

What was Done?

The day following Marcos’ delivery of his SONA, his economic team revealed the administration’s comprehensive eight-point agenda, aimed at effectively tackling both short-term and medium-term obstacles in achieving economic transformation. This agenda encompasses a range of crucial goals, such as protecting the purchasing power of Filipino families and mitigating the socioeconomic repercussions of the COVID-19 pandemic. It also focuses on maintaining strong macroeconomic fundamentals; creating more job opportunities; promoting green jobs, upholding public order, safety, and peace; and establishing a level playing field.

Latest data from surveys conducted by Social Weather Stations (SWS) and statistics released by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) also point to signs of slight progress in the country during Marcos’ first year of administration. For one, findings from an SWS survey reveal that 9.8% of Filipino families experienced involuntary hunger in March 2023, marking the lowest rate since the onset of the pandemic in the country. Similarly, in the same period, 1.2% of families continued to grapple with severe hunger, although this percentage had decreased from 2.3%. 

Furthermore, the unemployment rate experienced a significant drop from 5.2% to 4.5% in April 2023, adding hope and optimism to the overall outlook of the country’s progress under Marcos’ leadership. However, it is crucial to emphasize that although this data indicates a promising direction of progress, it does not necessarily imply that everyone is reaping the benefits of these developments.

Despite some progress, significant and concerning lapses persist under his first year of administration, casting doubt on the sincerity of his so-called branding for unity. Another SWS survey reveals a slight rise in Filipino families considering themselves poor, increasing from 48% in June 2022 to 51% in March 2023. The inflation rate under the Marcos administration has played a contributing role in this, reaching 8.7% in January 2023, the highest rate since November 2008. 

Notably, the agricultural sector has finally seen a budget increase after enduring years of being underfunded and underdeveloped. With this much-needed funding, the implementation of programs and strategies had begun, supported in part by contributions from other countries, particularly China. However, despite these positive strides, the sector has also faced several hurdles, particularly concerning the high costs of onions and sugar. Prices skyrocketed, with onions reaching as high as Php 800 per kilogram in December 2022 and sugar hitting Php 100 per kilogram in September 2022.

These results not only underscore the challenges faced by the country despite supposed progress, but also expose the reality that this progress favors a select few rather than benefiting everyone as it ideally should. This raises doubts about the President’s genuine commitment to improving the lives of ordinary Filipinos, as the country continues to grapple with numerous societal challenges a year under the Marcos administration. Although there may be significant successes and positive advancements in certain sectors of the community, there are undeniable shortcomings and areas where progress has fallen short.

As such, the existence of both hits and misses underscores the urgency for comprehensive efforts to address the country’s challenges. Waiting for another 5 years to realize the full potential of Marcos’ term is unnecessary; instead, immediate and proactive measures are needed to ensure that progress is inclusive and impactful for all. The aspiration to leave a lasting legacy of positive change in the lives of ordinary Filipino citizens must be accompanied by nothing short of a highly competent and effective administration.