President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. gave a strong warning to lazy and underperforming government officials, saying they should either do their jobs properly or leave their posts.
“We have to be strict. Even if you’re my friend or I care about you, if you’re not doing your job, then that’s a problem. This isn’t about friendship or love—it’s about serving the people,” the President said.
In the second part of his podcast, Marcos stressed that officials should now be more responsible, careful, and hardworking. This applies not only to big projects but also to the small tasks in government.
He said he’s tired of the usual “business as usual” attitude, which he believes has caused problems for many years. According to him, many officials submit reports that say everything is fine, but in reality, projects are poorly done.
“I don’t like the ‘business as usual’ mindset. We have many problems because we’ve been like this for decades. And what has happened to us because of that?” he said.
“At any level of government, it’s different when you receive a report saying a project is finished, with details and nice photos. But when you visit the site, it’s not the same. You’ll realize the report looked good, but the truth on the ground is different,” he added.
The President also shared a story: “Sometimes, a report says everything is great. But then a friend from that area tells you, ‘Sir, that’s not true, the project isn’t done.’ So I go check it myself. Then the person who made the report will try to explain, but the truth comes out.”
Marcos said he wants to meet targets on time—not just for major legacy projects, but also for big transport and agriculture programs, and even small things like trash bins, broken stairs, slippery floors, and escalators that don’t work.
He mentioned the San Juanico Bridge as an example, where travelers reportedly spend three days crossing—a problem that should be addressed immediately, not ignored.
“If this is the kind of work an official does, it’s better for them to step aside and let someone else do the job properly,” the President concluded.
