By Dean Aubrey Caratiquet
“Every project, every policy, every program, every peso must move the needle for Filipino families.”
Halfway through his term as the country’s top government official, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. revisited the various initiatives undertaken by the government under the Philippine Development Plan 2023-2028.
In his speech at the Philippine Development Forum 2025 held in Mandaluyong City on Monday, Marcos emphasized the importance of education in furthering the nation’s progress, which he cites as the key towards sustainable development.
The President declared, “True progress goes beyond numbers and charts. It must be a lived experience—felt by people through quality education, better healthcare, [and] sustainable livelihoods. To achieve this vision, we must place education at the very heart of our national development.”
He expounded further, “The goal is clear: a Philippines where every child, regardless of background or circumstance, has access to quality, future-proof education. And we are taking necessary steps to bring this vision to life.”
Educated citizenry, empowered nation
President Marcos meanwhile called on various government agencies to double down on improving the country’s education system, directing the Department of Economy, Planning, and Development (DEPDev), the Department of Budget and Management (DBM), and Department of Finance (DOF) to provide ample funding, and support for public-private partnership (PPP) proposals for school buildings.
He also ordered the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and the Department of Education (DepEd) to accelerate the planning and implementation process in the building and rehabilitation of thousands of classrooms in a bid to meet the expected target by 2028.
The President emphasized, “No child should be forced to learn in makeshift spaces, and no teacher should be burdened by a system that does not support them. Let us prioritize the delivery of the right kind of education.”
He added further, “An education that sharpens minds and builds character, so that our youth are equipped for the jobs of today, ready for the industries of tomorrow.”
The Chief Executive concluded his remarks by noting the strategic reallocation of the Official Development Assistance (ODA) towards vital sectors such as education, healthcare, infrastructure, social protection, agriculture, and disaster risk resilience, as well as the revision of the Investment Coordination Committee (ICC) guidelines, which he touts as the ‘first such update in over a decade’.
The forum, with the theme, ‘Bringing Together Progress for All: Services that Matter, Results that Last’, provides a platform for high-level engagements between the Philippine government and its development partners, paving the way for national growth and social progress.
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