MANILA — President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. has ordered a sweeping crackdown on fund misuse and inefficiency in government, warning that every peso in the national budget must produce tangible benefits for Filipinos — not disappear into red tape or corruption.
Speaking at the 2025 Philippine Development Forum in Mandaluyong City, Marcos stressed that accountability will be strictly enforced as he vowed “zero tolerance” for wastage and abuse of public funds.
“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,” the President declared.
Marcos described the national budget as both a “moral and economic compass” that must always guide programs toward improving the lives of ordinary citizens, particularly farmers and families in the countryside.
“It must always point toward making life better for our people. Every project, every policy, every program, every peso, must move the needle for Filipino farm families,” he said.
The President revealed that education remains the top priority in the proposed 2026 national budget, with significant allocations for classroom construction, teacher training, and feeding programs.
“Every classroom built, every teacher trained, every child supported, is a seed towards real, lasting progress,” he added.
Marcos also announced a set of reforms to streamline the government’s use of Official Development Assistance (ODA) by introducing new guidelines for the Investment Coordination Committee and cutting bureaucratic bottlenecks that delay project implementation.
“We know that funding alone is not enough. Critical bottlenecks and systemic challenges have long hindered us from optimally utilizing the ODA,” he said. “We are taking action to streamline the process, cut bureaucratic delays, accelerate public service.”
The President’s directive comes amid renewed scrutiny of public spending and unutilized foreign aid, as the government pushes for faster, corruption-free delivery of development projects nationwide./PN
