Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. was sworn in as the Philippines’ new President on Thursday. Speaking at his inauguration ceremony, Marcos Jr. assured to rebuild the Philippines economy, which has been battered by the COVID-19 pandemic.
To this end, Marcos announced that his government is in the process of “drawing up a comprehensive all-inclusive plan for economic transformation” and warned that “the immediate months will be rough.” “The pandemic ravaged bigger economies than ours. The virus is not the only thing to blame. What had been well-built was torn down. We will build it back better,” the new leader said. “There were shortcomings in the COVID response. We will fix them. Out in the open, no more secrets in public health. We won’t be caught unprepared, underequipped, and understaffed to fight the next pandemic,” he asserted.
Survivors of the brutal martial law regime from '72-'81 are set to take an oath to "guard against tyranny, falsehoods, and the trampling of people's rights and livelihood" just as the son of the dictator that persecuted them, Marcos Jr., is set to take his own oath as president. pic.twitter.com/ssDQHoitSj
— Krixia Subingsubing (@krixiasINQ) June 30, 2022
Bongbong also stressed the urgency of tackling food insecurity, especially against the backdrop of global supply chains breaking down during the Ukraine war. “The role of agriculture cries for urgent attention that its neglect and misdirection now demands,” he said.
Pointing out that “There were inherent defects in the old ways and in recent ways” of tackling food security, the leader said that the Ukraine war has made it clear that “the most vulnerable when it comes to food are the countries farthest away from the conflict… Those bearing no blame for provoking. Yet they face the biggest risk of starvation.” “An agriculture damage diminished by unfair competition will have a harder time or will have no prospects at all of recovering. Food sufficiency must get the preferential treatment. I am giving that policy the most serious thought,” he assured.
It's inauguration day, yet Marcos Jr still hasn't laid down any concrete and comprehensive plan to address the myriad challenges facing the PH economy (fast rising inflation, fast weakening peso, rising debt, education crisis, potential food crisis, impending energy crisis, etc).
— JC Punongbayan (@jcpunongbayan) June 30, 2022
Marcos Jr. also promised that his government “will be presenting the public with a comprehensive infrastructure plan.” “No part of our country will be neglected. Progress will be made wherever there are Filipinos so, no investment is wasted,” he said.
Notably, the incoming President made no mention of his foreign policy, especially with respect to how he will deal with China or the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) with the United States (US). However, in May, the leader had said that he was considering “extending” and “redefining” the VFA due to the “changing environment” in the region. At the same time, he has also hinted that he will take a strong approach against Beijing by upholding the 2016 international ruling against its claims in the disputed South China Sea (SCS).
Outgoing President Duterte fully restored the VFA last July after threatening to repeal it several times. He also admitted over the course of his leadership that he could not afford to engage in a military confrontation with China over its maritime claims in the SCS, and therefore had no option but to address the longstanding issue through diplomatic means.
A career politician, the 64-year-old Marcos Jr. has served as a governor, congressman, and senator. His six-year presidency is expected to be somewhat of an extension of the presidency of outgoing leader Rodrigo Duterte, whose hardline approach helped him gain popularity and helped him consolidate power rapidly.
Marcos Jr.s’ win marks the family’s return to power, 36 years after it was forced to retreat into exile during a “people power” uprising in 1986. Despite its disgraceful fall from power, the powerful family returned from exile in the 1990s and has remained an influential force in the country’s politics by retaining its relevance with vast wealth and connections.
Filipinos in New York & New Jersey protesting the inauguration of Marcos Jr and Duterte.#RejectMarcosDuterte #tuloyanglaban pic.twitter.com/BwDTl4NQgq
— yves yves (@yvesyves) June 30, 2022
Marcos Jr., who is the son and namesake of a dictator whose leadership oversaw grave human rights violations, hailed the leadership of his father in his speech by saying, “I once knew a man who saw what little had been achieved since independence in a land filled with people with the greatest potential for achievement, and yet they were poor. But he got it done. Sometimes, with the needed support. Sometimes, without. So, will it be with his son. You will get no excuses from me.”
Meanwhile, outgoing president Rodrigo Duterte Duterte leaves behind a legacy of taking a strongman approach to combatting drugs and crime in the country. According to the Chief Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court, Duterte’s vigilantes allegedly killed three times as many people as during Ferdinand Marcos’s era of martial law during the 1970s and 80s in the first six months of his rule alone. Duterte, who is constitutionally barred from running for re-election, has announced his retirement from politics.