Marcos cites functional govt as key accomplishment in first 100 days

Experts say Philippine leader must do more to fight inflation, slump

- Mara Cepeda

MANILA – Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr has cited forming a “functional” government focused on economic recovery as a key accomplishment so far, but analysts say he needs to produce concrete solutions to tackle the country’s soaring inflation and post-pandemic recovery.

Friday marked the 100th day in office for Mr Marcos, the first Filipino president to win by a majority vote – immediate past president Rodrigo Duterte took 39 per cent of the votes in 2016 – since the bloodless revolution in 1986 that ousted his dictator father, after whom he was named.

Asked at a public forum on Wednesday to cite his accomplishments so far, Mr Marcos lauded the “best and the brightest” people he appointed in his Cabinet for doing what they can to extinguish problems thrown their way.

“I think what we have managed to do in the first 100 days is put together a government which is functional, and which has a very, very good idea of what we are targeting in terms of strict economic targets,” Mr Marcos said.

“We were putting out fires. We were just trying to make things work,” he added, referring to shortages and price hikes over products such as sugar and fertiliser.

Breaking with tradition, Mr Marcos did not release a detailed “First 100 Days” report.