BBM hears you

President Marcos Jr. sat down last week for a 28-minute interview with broadcaster Anthony Taberna. His Alyansa captured only six of the 12 senatorial seats at stake, down from nine or 10 predicted by all pollsters, a sign of massive protest vote, especially from the young.

BBM’s coalition retained its supermajority in the House. He extends the hand of reconciliation to the Dutertes who don’t seem receptive.

BBM vows to deliver better services, especially on the small things that count – better treatment for Filipino travelers at airports, easier access for government benefits like health care, cheap and reliable public transportation. He will review the performance of his officials. Heads will likely roll, especially those of slowpokes and the corrupt.

Edited interview excerpts (in English):

Lessons from the May 12, 2025 election

Two conclusions. One, the Filipino is tired, really tired of politics. They are fed up with politics. “No more politics, attend to us,” that’s what people are telling us. We need to buckle down to work, do the work that is necessary.

Two, people are disappointed with government service. They don’t feel it. They don’t feel the benefits, the good from government projects which are moving ever so slowly. We need to change things. We need to focus on quick gestation small projects. Our priorities – tourism, health, transportation – are all large scale and take time to complete. Even if we are super efficient, even if there are no execution problems, these projects are taking too much time.

Why do we move so slowly in government? Why aren’t things being completed? Everyone is cautious, deliberate. Checks and balances are OK, but not to the extent of causing bureaucratic paralysis.

Aren’t you being too nice?

What do you want me to do? Be mean? I cannot change my personality. On second thought, maybe I should really be stern, so people will be more efficient.

I want to be respected. But maybe, feared is better.

On Sara Duterte’s trial before the Senate

Let the Senate decide on it. There is a process to be observed. In my case, after this election, my focus is to get back to work, guided by the lessons we learned from the election.

On public health, long lines in government hospitals

It’s a problem. 200 people lining up, waiting for up to two hours just to present their documents. The answer to that is digitalization. We increased the number of PhilHealth members entitled to health benefits. We expanded health benefits. Manual processing won’t do. You need to computerize.

People didn’t know what we are doing. All along, the expanded (health) program had been there and yet, people were not aware of it. Like dialysis. It’s free. For cancer patients, we give away millions worth of benefits. Pregnant women, they don’t need to be brought to the hospital. That is why we launching BUCAS Centers – Bagong Urgent Care (and) Ambulatory Services. 24/7, non-stop.

We are digitalizing other government services. We are expanding internet coverage, especially for those who live in islands so they don’t need to commute. They get home service.

On criminality, safety of people in the streets

I have ordered the DILG (Department of the Interior and Local Government) and the chief of the Philippine National Police to deploy police patrols. People need to see policemen on the street. And the police must be friendly to local folks so that when they see a policeman, they feel safe. If there is an incident, or a robbery, in five minutes, the police must be there. We will have “Cops on the Beat” who will do the rounds daily.

Also, we will have a single police emergency number, like 911. At present, you dial many numbers – 119, 911, 999. Let’s have only one emergency line.

On going to the grassroots

That is one lesson we learned from the election. We will focus on little things that mean much to the common people.

Fighting graft

In the past three years, whenever we received reports which are validated, people are fired. We have done many firings. We just don’t announce them because it can be messy. We are now conducting a performance review of officials. Why are targets not being met? Why is this procurement overpriced? Why is the service very slow? What can be done to speed things up?

If we find failure or corruption and if the evidence of guilt is strong, we will file cases. We will remove non-performers. I am telling my people, listen to the people, hear them. People need to feel the presence of government. That’s the lesson we learned from this election. Don’t explain it to us anymore. Just do it.

On better service to OFWs

Government service at the airport has improved. We have reduced security checks to reduce long queues. Why is it if the passenger is a foreigner processing is fast? No problem. If the passenger is an OFW, they (immigration and customs) ask a lot of questions – QR Code, ID, clearance, before they can leave the airport. There should be a blue lane (speed lane) for OFWs. We will have e-gates for them. These are small things that mean a lot to our people. They want it. So we will give it to them.

On reconciliation with the Dutertes

Ayaw ko ng gulo (I don’t want trouble or conflict). Gusto ko makasundo ang lahat ng tao (I want to get along with everybody). Mas maganda (It’s better). Marami na akong kaaway at hindi ko kailangan ng kaaway (I already have enough enemies and I don’t need more). Kailangan ko kaibigan (I need friends).

I am after stability. I am open to reconciliation. Come, let’s help each other. Even if we have policy differences, do your job, but please, no trouble. Do away with conflict.

Parting words

We will always listen to you (the people). To your grievances, to your problems. We will seek solutions for them. We will speed delivery of these solutions, asap. Expect that from us, from now on.

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