President Marcos has vowed to hold accountable all individuals responsible for the anomalous implementation of government infrastructure projects, stressing that the government must ensure these projects deliver the protection and services Filipinos need.

Speaking at the Foreign Correspondents Association of the Philippines (FOCAP) Presidential Luncheon in Manila on Friday, Aug. 14, Marcos said the commitment he made during his State of the Nation Address (SONA) last month remains a priority as the country faces heightened risks from flooding during the rainy season.

“We will hold accountable all individuals responsible for the anomalous implementation of government infrastructure projects,” he said.

The President said the accountability drive must go hand in hand with ensuring that infrastructure projects actually deliver the services required by communities.

President Marcos said the need to strengthen flood mitigation and disaster preparedness has become more urgent as communities across the country face increased risks from flooding and other hazards associated with the rainy season.

“We are strengthening flood mitigation and disaster preparedness, and accelerating the implementation of critical interventions,” he said.

Marcos stressed that public funds used for infrastructure projects must result in tangible protection for communities.

“Every peso invested in these projects must translate into real protection for our people and our communities,” he said.

Meanwhile, Marcos said effective governance should not be measured only by the projects the government builds, but also by the trust it earns from the public.

He said credibility is a shared responsibility between government and the media, particularly as false, fabricated, AI-generated, and deliberately manipulated information can spread rapidly across digital platforms.

“In that regard, you, in your role as journalists, and I, as a public servant, have something important in common: our credibility,” Marcos said, adding that credibility is the foundation of their work and the bedrock of public trust.

Marcos said a responsible and independent media remains essential in informing the public, scrutinizing those in power, and helping ensure that facts prevail over speculation and fake news.