MANILA, Philippines – President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Monday vowed stricter measures to prevent the misuse of public funds, stressing that Official Development Assistance (ODA) will be channeled into sectors that directly uplift the lives of Filipino families.
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| Photo courtesy: Presidential Communications Office (PCO) |
Speaking at the Philippine Development Forum (PDF) 2025 held at the EDSA Shangri-La in Mandaluyong City, the President underscored the importance of accountability and efficiency in managing both the national budget and external aid.
“We will not tolerate measurement without action, nor will we tolerate the wastage of public funds. Walang perang sasayangin. Hindi tayo papayag na lustayin ang kaban ng bayan,” Marcos said.
He described the national budget as the country’s “moral and economic compass,” noting that every peso must be used to make life better for Filipinos.
“Our budget must always point toward improving the lives of our people. Every project, every policy, every program, every peso must move the needle for Filipino families,” he added.
Focus on Key Sectors
Marcos emphasized that ODA will be strategically directed to education, healthcare, infrastructure, social protection, agriculture, and disaster risk resilience — key sectors he called “critical to the well-being of ordinary Filipinos.”
While acknowledging ODA’s long-standing role in national development, the President pointed out that systemic bottlenecks and inefficiencies have limited its full impact.
Reforms to Speed Up Projects
To address this, Marcos announced reforms, including the revision of the Investment Coordination Committee (ICC) guidelines — the first comprehensive update in a decade — to speed up project implementation.
He also revealed new measures to simplify the issuance of Special Authority, allowing faster mobilization of external assistance in line with national priorities.
“Be assured that we continue to listen to the concerns and recommendations of our development partners. We are determined to go further,” he said.
The PDF 2025 serves as a high-level platform for dialogue between the government and development partners, ensuring that policy and financing priorities remain aligned with the results of the 2025 policy reviews. It also aims to keep government and partner initiatives harmonized and responsive across all sectors.
— The Summit Express