THE year 2025 marked a series of decisive actions by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., Malacañang said Wednesday. The Presidential Communications Office (PCO) said Marcos was the first president to expose and pursue actions against corruption, as good governance and accountability became defining pillars of his administration. The president also moved to deepen international partnerships, advance inclusive social reforms, strengthen food security, and improve public services. During his fourth State of the Nation Address (SONA) in July, the president condemned anomalous flood control projects, delivering the unforgettable line, “Mahiya naman kayo! (You ought to be ashamed of yourselves!).” Personally inspecting flood control projects, Marcos stepped the administration’s crackdown on corruption, ordered the recovery of public funds, and encouraged public participation through the launch of the “Sumbong sa Pangulo” website and the Department of Public Works and Highways Transparency Portal. On Sept. 11, Marcos signed Executive Order 94, which created the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) to investigate alleged irregularities in flood control and related projects. The president also voiced support for peaceful anti-corruption protests, emphasizing that public office was a public trust and that no individual involved in irregularities would be spared. He ordered the realignment of the flood control budget for next year to priority programs. As the Office of the Ombudsman has begun filing charges and arrest warrants have been issued, Marcos asserted that the government would continue to pursue filing criminal cases against all those involved in flood control irregularities. Marcos was also hands-on in leading disaster response and resilience, which emerged as key priorities in 2025, following the impact of Super Typhoon Nando and Typhoon Opong in September, a 6.9 magnitude earthquake in Cebu the same month, the double 7.4 and 6.8 magnitude earthquake in Davao Oriental in October, and Typhoon Tino and Super Typhoon Uwan in November. On Nov. 6, the president declared a one-year state of national calamity to bolster disaster recovery and enhance future resilience. Under Marcos, the government also implemented the zero balance billing policy, ensuring that patients admitted to basic or ward accommodations in Department of Health-listed hospitals had their medical expenses fully covered. Complementing these measures, the nationwide rollout of Yaman ng Kalusugan health caravans provided accessible medical services to communities, while the establishment of Bagong Urgent Care and Ambulatory Service centers provided free outpatient care. In education, the Marcos administration advanced comprehensive reforms aimed at enhancing learning opportunities and outcomes. The signing of the Expanded Tertiary Education Equivalency and Accreditation Program Act enabled working professionals to earn college degrees through the recognition of prior learning and work experience. Education reforms were prioritized through the fine-tuning of the K–12 curriculum, the signing of the Early Childhood Care and Development System Act, the addition of thousands of new teaching posts, and support for teachers’ welfare and professional growth. Marcos ordered the strengthening and expansion of the Unified Student Financial Assistance System for Tertiary Education to provide financial support to more deserving college students. Marcos spearheaded job fairs and improved transportation systems and commuter experience through fare discounts for students, senior citizens, and families and provision of e-shuttle services for persons with disabilities. He addressed community concerns such as the Siquijor power shortage, Bulacan schools’ water supply, and the San Juanico Bridge rehabilitation. He also intensified efforts to promote inclusive economic growth by implementing programs that directly benefit workers, farmers, and small businesses. The initiatives included the historic Social Security System pension reforms, which provided retirees with increased and timely benefits, alongside executive orders that strengthened workers’ rights and ensured their freedom of association. The president also expanded the 4Ps conditional cash transfer program to reach more vulnerable families and scaled up the Aksyon Fund to provide critical support for overseas Filipino workers (OFWs). To address food security, the government distributed fertilizer and farm machinery, established fair floor prices for palay, adjusted rice import policies to stabilize supply and prices, and invested in agri-processing and fish ports infrastructure to modernize farming and increase farmer incomes. The government accelerated the country’s digital transformation, expanding the eGovPH Super App to provide more accessible government services. Marcos launched the eGovPH Serbisyo Hub in San Juan City to allow easier access and faster services from government agencies gathered under one center. On the president’s guidance, efforts were made to improve digital connectivity including faster SIM card distribution and the rollout of the Free Wi-Fi for All program. Cybersecurity measures were strengthened to protect citizens’ data and maintain trust in digital government platforms. On the instructions of Marcos, the Department of Transportation deployed Dalian trains, which had been idle for nearly 10 years, to augment MRT-3 operations, significantly improving mass transit efficiency in Metro Manila. Airport upgrades at key tourism gateways enhanced both domestic and international travel, stimulating tourism and supporting local economic growth. The president’s order for the 100-percent electrification of households brought more communities into the national grid. The president and first lady Liza Araneta-Marcos also brought government services directly to OFWs through the OFW Serbisyo Caravan conducted in 11 key cities for migrant Filipinos. The Serbisyo Caravan provided OFWs convenient access to multiple government services, such as welfare and legal aid, documentation, social security and national ID enrollment. The president also maintained full support for the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), pushing forward modernization efforts and internal and external security measures. In fighting crime, the president ordered heightened police patrols, faster response time for emergencies through the new Unified 911 System, and intensified operations against drug syndicates. Just three years into Marcos’ term, the amount of illegal drugs confiscated has nearly matched the total haul seized over the entire six-year term of the previous administration. At the same time, the number of fatalities under Marcos’ administration remained a very small fraction of those recorded during the previous administration, highlighting a shift toward a more humane and reform-focused strategy. For the welfare of military and uniformed personnel, the president approved an adjustment in base pay to be implemented in three tranches beginning on Jan. 1, 2026, and raised the daily subsistence allowance to P350. The PCO said that leadership changes and key appointments ensured continuity and stability in governance. Marcos asked all Cabinet-level officials to submit courtesy resignations, in what Malacañang described as a “bold reset” of his administration following the administration coalition’s weak performance in the May 12 elections. The move led to the exit of Environment Secretary Ma. Antonia Yulo-Loyzaga and the reassignment of others, including Raphael Lotilla, who shifted from the energy portfolio to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources. Marcos also accepted the resignations of a few officials as part of this reset, including former Solicitor general Menardo Guevarra, former Commission on Higher Education chairman J. Prospero de Vera III, former Presidential Commission on the Urban Poor chairman and chief executive officer Meynardo Sabili, former Presidential adviser for Special Concerns Menandro Espineli, and former Trade secretary Alfredo Pascual, who stepped down to return to the private sector. Those retained include then-executive secretary Lucas Bersamin, Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr., then-Finance secretary Ralph Recto, Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Arsenio Balisacan, then-Budget secretary Amenah Pangandaman, Transportation Secretary Vince Dizon, Education Secretary Sonny Angara, Social Welfare Secretary Rex Gatchalian, Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac, Science and Technology Secretary Renato Solidum Jr., Tourism Secretary Christina Frasco, Information and Technology Secretary Henry Aguda, Public Works Secretary Manuel Bonoan, and Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation, and Unity Charlie Galvez Jr. The president’s remarks in his fourth SONA also set off more departures. Public Works Secretary Manuel Bonoan resigned soon after, while Bersamin and Pangandaman stepped down “out of delicadeza” after accusations raised by resigned lawmakers. Marcos tapped Recto as executive secretary and appointed Frederick Go to lead the Finance department. Pangandaman was replaced by Budget Undersecretary Rolando Toledo as acting Budget secretary while deliberations on the 2026 spending plan proceed. Marcos also pursued an active foreign policy throughout 2025, strengthening alliances and expanding regional and global partnerships. State visits to Cambodia and India, participation in Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) engagements, and high-level meetings during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Summit further underscored the Philippines’ commitment to multilateralism, regional stability, and international trade and security partnerships. In November, Marcos launched the Philippines’ chairmanship of the Asean for 2026.