Put politics aside, focus on nation-building – Marcos

Following the proclamation of the 12 new senators, President Marcos said it was time to move past the midterm elections and shift efforts toward promoting his administration's development agenda.

- ARGYLL CYRUS GEDUCOS and RAYMUND ANTONIO

In a speech delivered during the Alyansa Para sa Bagong Pilipinas thanksgiving event for the media at the coalition's headquarters in Mandaluyong City, the President said the campaign season is over and the focus must now return to addressing the country's pressing concerns.

"We all wish we had better results, but we live to fight another day. Now it's time, I think, to put all the politics aside," he said.

"It's time to put all of the issues that were raised during the election, and only talk about non-political issues, but developmental issues—healthcare issues, education issues, agricultural issues, food supply issues, all of these things," he added.

Marcos said the real work begins after the polls, and sustained communication with the public on the administration's programs remains essential.

"Let's let people know that we're going to continue to work hard now and put the, as I said, politics aside," he said.

"We consider it a distraction for now. Put the politics aside and get on with the work of nation-building," he added.

The President also reminded that time is running out to complete the reforms he promised at the start of his term.

"Lagi kong binibilang ang araw na natitira sa term ko at kailangan matapos natin yung mga nasimulan natin (I always count the days left in my term, and we must finish what we've started)," he said.

Marcos asked for the continued support of the media to help communicate the administration's efforts to the Filipino public.

"I know that, once again, as we did before, you'll do a very, very good job and make a success of whatever it is that we are trying to do," he said.