MANILA – President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. admitted that his administration’s drive to cleanse the government of corruption “will be hard and sometimes painful,” as Malacañang intensifies investigations into alleged irregularities in flood control and other public works projects.
“We are fighting for a country that our children will inherit – a nation they can be proud of,” Marcos said during the awarding ceremony for the 2025 Metrobank Foundation Outstanding Filipinos at Malacañang Palace. “It will be hard and sometimes, it will be painful, but it will be worth it.”
The President’s remarks came as the government probes reports of “ghost projects,” overpricing, and misuse of funds in local flood mitigation programs. To strengthen oversight, he recently created the Independent Commission for Infrastructure, which will review public works projects implemented over the past decade.
Marcos said the fight against graft must be sustained across all government levels, calling on public officials to earn the people’s trust through integrity and competence.
“Patuloy tayo sa paglilinis ng hanay ng pamahalaan upang matiyak na ang bawat opisyal ay karapat-dapat sa tiwalang ibinibigay ng taumbayan,” he said.
He praised the awardees — teachers, soldiers, and police officers — for embodying honesty and dedication amid public skepticism toward government service.
“Bawat tapat na guro, sundalo, at pulis ay isang tagumpay laban sa katiwalian,” Marcos said, underscoring that every act of integrity is a victory against corruption.
The Palace has yet to announce the initial findings of the ongoing probe into questionable infrastructure projects, but Marcos hinted that accountability measures will soon follow as part of his promise to deliver “clean, competent, and compassionate” governance./PN
