President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. urged Malacañang employees to continue doing their jobs right as he joined the flag ceremony at the Palace's Kalayaan Grounds for the first time since becoming the country's leader.
In his message on Monday morning, July 4, Marcos said he made sure to attend the flag ceremony to "start out on the right foot" with the other Palace workers whom he called "partners."
"I know how hard that you work at ginagawa ninyo bilang serbisyo at hindi kayo namimili, kung hindi kayo ay sumusunod kung sinuman ang naipili ng ating mga mamamayan na umupo dito sa Palasyong ito (and you do your job without choosing but you just follow whoever the people elect to occupy this Palace)," he said.
"Kaya’t sana naman ay ito ay simula ng isang napakagandang working relationship sa atin (That's why I hope this is the start of a very good working relationship between us)," he added.
President Marcos said that despite changes, he assured the Palace workers that they would not be neglected.
"Hindi naman siguro kayo magtataka maraming — may mga bago. Alam niyo naman kani-kanilang style ‘yan. So may magbabago pero huwag ninyong aalalahanin (I know you're not wondering about the many changes here. You know that we have different ways of doing things. There will be changes but don't worry). We are always — we consider you," he said.
"Hindi ko — hindi kayo ang empleyado namin. You are our partners. Hindi namin magagawa iyong gagawin namin kung hindi sa inyo (You are not our workers. You are our partners. We cannot do our plans if not for you)," he added.
The President reminded the Palace employees to continue doing their job right.
"I'm very happy to see you all. Mukhang (It seems you're) ready to go, very enthusiastic for this next administration. We need that," Marcos said.
"Keep it going. Keep up the good work that you have been doing for the years previous," he added.
"Gawin lang natin ang ating mga trabaho. And siguro one or two steps beyond kung ano lang ‘yung trabaho natin dahil ‘yan ang inaasahan sa atin ng ating mga kababayan (Let's just do our jobs and perhaps one or two steps beyond that because that is what the public expects from us)," he continued.
According to Marcos, the jobs of every employee in Malacañang are essential as they affect the Filipino people.
"When you sit at your desk, and you do something, and you make a decision, or you push something, or you expedite something that affects not only you, not only me, that affects millions of people," he said.
On July 1, Executive Secretary Victor Rodriguez signed Memorandum Circular No. 1, which declared the following positions in the Executive Department vacant:
- All Presidential appointees who are coterminous
- All Presidential appointees occupying positions created over the authorized staffing pattern
- All non-Career Executive Service Officials (CESO) occupying Career Executive Service (CES) positions
- Contractual and casual employees
However, some may continue until July 31, or until a replacement is appointed or designated, or unless they are terminated or renewed by the heads of the agencies.