President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. says he wants his administration to be remembered for bringing real improvements to the lives of Filipinos by the time he steps down in 2028.
In the latest episode of the BBM Podcast released Saturday, Marcos stressed the importance of making meaningful changes during his leadership. “We made a change for the better. That’s what I want to be remembered for,” he said.
With his fourth State of the Nation Address (SONA) scheduled for July 28—midway through his six-year term—Marcos will reflect on the government’s achievements and push for legislative priorities. The address follows the 2025 midterm elections, where the President voiced frustration over voter apathy, interpreting it as dissatisfaction with public service delivery.
In response, he ordered the courtesy resignation of Cabinet secretaries to better align the administration with public expectations. Several agency heads have since been replaced, with regular performance reviews now part of Malacañang’s governance strategy.
“The worst thing is to serve in office and leave with nothing changed,” Marcos said.
On foreign policy, particularly regarding the West Philippine Sea, Marcos reaffirmed a strong nationalist position. He emphasized that under his leadership, the Philippines continues to defend its sovereignty and maritime rights against China’s aggressive behavior.
“We’re not provoking a fight,” he said, “but don’t harass our fishermen or block us in our own waters. That’s something we will fight for.”
The President cautioned that even minor concessions could lead to larger losses: “Give them an inch, and they’ll take a mile. We won’t allow even that inch.”
Despite a 2016 international ruling dismissing Beijing’s sweeping maritime claims, China continues to assert control over vast areas in the South China Sea, including parts Manila designates as the West Philippine Sea.