Marcos ‘proud’ of economic feats, calls for clearer comms on projects
MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is “quite satisfied” and “proud” with the country’s economic achievements in 2024, according to the Presidential Communications Office (PCO).
Marcos made this statement during the 24th National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Board Meeting in Malacañang, where they discussed the Philippine Development Report 2024.
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“I’m quite satisfied. I’m even proud. I would go as far as saying I’m proud of the things that we have achieved,” the president said, as quoted in a press release.
“But we have to make it known to people that this is what we are doing. So, it has to be in a language that is easily digestible and in a language that makes sense to Juan dela Cruz. We’re falling behind in making the connection between what we are doing to the lives of ordinary Filipinos,” he added.
Marcos also acknowledged that the government is implementing major structural reforms and projects that need time, emphasizing that it must be explained to the public that some projects require a long time to finish.
Article continues after this advertisementFor instance, Marcos highlighted the importance of opening the Bataan-Cavite Bridge, which, according to him, would ease traffic congestion in Metro Manila and open up all other places in Central Luzon and Calabarzon.
Article continues after this advertisementThe President also called for a thorough and consolidated report on the government’s efforts to ensure food security.
Furthermore, in a video presentation during the meeting, Neda Secretary Arsenio Balisacan said that the government must avoid complacency.
For this year, the government aims to sustain a higher growth trajectory—a gross domestic product growth target of 6.0-8.0 percent compared to last year’s 6.0-6.5 percent target; headline inflation rate within 2.0-4.0 percent; and poverty incidence below 13.2 percent this year and 9.0 percent in 2028.
