(Manila, 6th) – Philippine President Marcos reiterated that his administration will ensure every cent of public funds truly benefits the nation, warning that waste, inefficiency, and corruption will never be tolerated in government spending.
Speaking yesterday at the “2025 Philippine Development Forum” in Mandaluyong City, Marcos pointed out that the national budget is not just an economic tool but also a “moral and economic compass” that must always be oriented toward improving people’s lives.
“Every project, every policy, every expenditure must make people's lives better. We will not tolerate pointless evaluations, nor will we tolerate waste of public resources,” he stressed, and reiterated in Filipino: “Not a single peso will be wasted, and no state funds will be misused.”
His remarks come as he continues to overhaul the public construction sector and crack down on corruption scandals involving flood control projects.
The president noted that education remains the government’s most important investment, with the Department of Education still receiving the highest allocation in the 2026 national budget. He emphasized that building classrooms, teacher training, and school meal programs are all “seeds of lasting progress.”
“Every classroom built, every teacher trained, every student supported forms the true foundation for the nation’s lasting development,” he said, urging relevant agencies to accelerate the construction and rehabilitation of thousands of classrooms.
Marcos also announced a series of reforms to simplify the procedures for using official development assistance, including revising guidelines for the Investment Coordination Committee and cutting bureaucratic delays.
“We understand that funding alone is not enough. Institutional bottlenecks have long hindered the optimal use of official development assistance. The government is now acting to simplify procedures, reduce delays, and accelerate public service.”
This development forum, themed “Moving Forward Together for Lasting, Inclusive Results,” brought together government officials and development partners to discuss the progress of the Philippine Development Plan 2023–2028 and strategies for the country to achieve upper-middle income status.
Marcos said that while the joint declaration of the forum is a conclusion, its real value lies in “bringing substantial change, concrete results, and sustainable progress.”
“The declaration itself will not deliver results; it only points us in the direction to move forward together. Let us join hands to build a strong, fair, and future-ready new Philippines.”
“Every project, every policy, every expenditure must make people's lives better. We will not tolerate pointless evaluations, nor will we tolerate waste of public resources,” he stressed, and reiterated in Filipino: “Not a single peso will be wasted, and no state funds will be misused.”
His remarks come as he continues to overhaul the public construction sector and crack down on corruption scandals involving flood control projects.
The president noted that education remains the government’s most important investment, with the Department of Education still receiving the highest allocation in the 2026 national budget. He emphasized that building classrooms, teacher training, and school meal programs are all “seeds of lasting progress.”
“Every classroom built, every teacher trained, every student supported forms the true foundation for the nation’s lasting development,” he said, urging relevant agencies to accelerate the construction and rehabilitation of thousands of classrooms.
Marcos also announced a series of reforms to simplify the procedures for using official development assistance, including revising guidelines for the Investment Coordination Committee and cutting bureaucratic delays.
“We understand that funding alone is not enough. Institutional bottlenecks have long hindered the optimal use of official development assistance. The government is now acting to simplify procedures, reduce delays, and accelerate public service.”
This development forum, themed “Moving Forward Together for Lasting, Inclusive Results,” brought together government officials and development partners to discuss the progress of the Philippine Development Plan 2023–2028 and strategies for the country to achieve upper-middle income status.
Marcos said that while the joint declaration of the forum is a conclusion, its real value lies in “bringing substantial change, concrete results, and sustainable progress.”
“The declaration itself will not deliver results; it only points us in the direction to move forward together. Let us join hands to build a strong, fair, and future-ready new Philippines.”