Marcos' Year 3 Report Card

THE CORNER ORACLE

- ANDREW J. MASIGAN

In 30 days, PBBM will mark his third year in office. This is how I assess his performance. Backtrack to 2022 and critics accused Marcos Junior of being a weak leader. He was said to be too laid-back, with no real reform agenda except to preserve the family's wealth. His performance in Congress and the Senate seemed to correspond to the allegation. When he ascended to the presidency, I purposely gave him the benefit of the doubt. We are Team Philippines, after all, and we should all support each other. That's exactly what I did.

The first few months were promising. He appointed a Cabinet composed of professionals, not cronies. He re-calibrated our foreign policy to lean towards like-minded countries who stand for the rules-based order. He took a strong stance against China's territorial grab. He went on a world tour to promote investments. His initial performance inspired confidence.

But it stopped there. In the last two years, Marcos appeared to have coasted along, remiss in addressing the important issues that threaten our future.

The biggest threat to the nation is corruption. It is a malignant cancer and the root of the country's economic underachievement and social problems. Members of Congress and the Senate have become increasingly brazen in their plunderous schemes. Almost every congressman is a contractor, shaving off 30 percent to 80 percent of the cost of infrastructure and social development projects. Many are smugglers. Even more use their position to extract rent-seeking contracts. The same for many local government officials.