Two years after he was elected on the platform of unity, President Marcos on Wednesday, May 8, once more asked his allies to work together and improve policies and governance.
President Ferdinand 'Bongbong' Marcos Jr.'s Partido Federal ng Pilipinas (PFP) and House Speaker Martin Romualdez's Lakas-CMD sign an alliance on Wednesday, May 8, 2024 at the Manila Polo Club in Makati City. (Photo from the Presidential Communications Office)
Speaking during the alliance signing between his own Partido Federal ng Pilipinas (PFP) and the ruling Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats (Lakas-CMD) party, the Chief Executive stressed the need for fundamental structural and policy changes to steer the country to progress.
“Kailangan palitan natin talaga ang patakbo ng pamahalaan. Kailangan natin palitan at pag-isipan, ang ating patakbo ng [pamahalaan], kung saan tayo tutungo (We need to change the way we govern. We need to change the thinking, how we govern). And we have to position the Philippines in a way that will take full advantage of the new economy,” he said.
“And to do that, we have to make some very fundamental structural and policy changes. We cannot do those policy changes without the support of the legislature. Legislative support for any policy is absolutely necessary,” he pointed out.
He added that an all-of-government approach is only possible if the executive and legislative work together.
The executive branch should not be alone in implementing programs or being part of the country’s economic progress and development, the President said, because congressional participation will allow the administration to execute current policy changes.
Stressing the need for unity to best serve the people, the Chief Executive cited the gains his administration achieved because of unified efforts.
“Sa nakaraang dalawang taon ay nakita natin na ‘yung pagkakaisa na binuo natin bago pa noong kampanya hanggang sa eleksyon, at noong tayo ay umupo na at nagkakaisa pa rin tayo ay marami tayong nagagawa (In the past two years, we’ve seen the unity that we built even before the campaign until the election, and when we were elected and we are still united, we can do more),” he said.
“Marami tayong maipakita na pagbabago, marami tayong natutulungan na mga Pilipino, at papunta na nga tayo sa tinatawag nating Bagong Pilipinas (We can show a lot of changes, we have helped a lot of Filipinos, and we are on our way to what we call the New Philippines),” he added.
The PFP, a national political party chaired by the President, was formed in 2018.
In the lead-up to the 2022 presidential elections, the UniTeam Alliance brought together the PFP, Lakas-CMD, Hugpong ng Pagbabago (HNP), Partido ng Masang Pilipino (PMP), and guest candidates from other parties.
Marcos and running mate Vice President Sara Duterte won by a landslide.