Marcos Jr. on project inspections: I need to see for myself

MANILA, Philippines — Admitting that there were times when officials’ reports did not reflect reality, President Marcos promised to be more conscientious in meeting the administration’s goals and to personally verify the achievements touted by agencies.

In the second episode of his podcast uploaded on his social media accounts, Marcos was asked about his recent inspections of public facilities, including trains and hospitals, and whether it is part of his governance.

The President said it is important for him to see for himself whether the reports submitted to him by agencies are truthful.

“At any level of government, it’s very different to receive a report claiming that the project is finished, that the picture is good. But if you go there, it’s different,” he said in the video released yesterday.

“The report is true. You know that the person is not lying to you. The other side is binola ako ng mga lokong ito (I was fooled by these crooks). You know that they are not reliable, then we find someone else (to do the job). So it’s still important to go and see things for yourself.”

When asked if there had been instances when the reports sent to him did depict the actual situation on the ground, Marcos replied: “Marami na (A lot of times).”

“You have to go there if you are not sure. For example, there is a report claiming everything is good. But you have a friend there who tells you, ‘Boss, that’s not true. They did not finish it.’ ‘Really?’ ‘Yes.’ ‘Let’s go there.’ You will ask that person to explain. Of course, they will provide various explanations. If you cannot do it, I’d replace you. I will look for someone better,” he added.

Speaking about his ongoing review of officials’ performance, Marcos reiterated that it is no longer “business as usual” for the administration, saying such an attitude has been in place for decades and has caused problems.

“We will be very, very conscientious of hitting our targets on time and that’s the important thing. That applies not only to the very big legacy projects – the huge transportation project, agricultural projects. Not just the huge ones, but also small matters,” he said.

“If you see an area without a garbage container, there should be a garbage container. If the stairs are not in good condition, people might get hurt. Why is the escalator not working?”

The President said he would be “very, very strict” in evaluating officials’ performance, saying the performance review is not about friendships, but about public service.