MANILA – President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. said his administration will continue to prioritize key social programs—covering healthcare, food, and shelter—alongside education for the remainder of his term.

In the latest BBM Podcast aired Tuesday, President Marcos outlined the government’s focus through 2028, stressing the importance of ensuring basic needs are met before advancing other initiatives.

“First of all, the social programs are important. People have to have a good healthcare system. People have to have food to eat. People have to have shelter as much as possible. People have to be able to survive. Ganoon na lang. Let’s just start there,” he said.

The President emphasized education as the next priority once basic needs are secured. “I’m putting a great deal of my attention and the government’s focus on education. That is the most important thing that you can do. You cannot have a successful society without a well-educated society,” he said.

President Marcos recalled the Philippines’ historical achievements, noting the country once had the highest literacy rate in Asia and Filipinos were among the best English speakers on the continent.

“Let’s get back there. We need to get back there,” he said, highlighting that many Filipinos have the potential to advance but lack the means, support, and funding to lift themselves from poverty.

He also stressed the need for training systems that would prepare Filipinos to compete both locally and internationally. “Kayang-kaya ng Pilipino ‘yan, but they have to be trained. There has to be a system that brings them up to the standards so they can be internationally competitive in whatever they do,” he said.

“If they enter a business or compete in the labor market, ‘yan ang gusto mong gawin? Halika, dito ka, tuturuan ka namin. That’s what we need to do. We have to have that system there,” President Marcos added.

The President reiterated that ensuring the welfare and education of future generations remains central to his administration’s vision for a “Bagong Pilipinas.” ǀ PND