President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Wednesday (March 25, 2026) announces that over 16,000 affected overseas Filipino workers are receiving assistance as government ramps up relief and repatriation efforts. Marcos spent a busy week spearheading a series of initiatives to safeguard energy security and maintain momentum on crucial development programs amid escalating tensions in the Middle East. (PNA photo by Ruth Abbey Gita-Carlos)
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. spent the past week steering the country through a delicate balancing act — confronting the immediate risks posed by escalating tensions in the Middle East while pressing ahead with major infrastructure, agriculture, and policy initiatives designed to keep the Philippines on its long-term growth path.
The President’s actions underscored a dual-track strategy: protect the country from the fallout of a possible global fuel shock, while ensuring that critical development programs do not lose momentum amid uncertainty.
At the center of the government’s response was the declaration of a state of national energy emergency through Executive Order No. 110, signed on March 24. The move came as geopolitical tensions threatened global oil supply and exposed the Philippines’ vulnerability as a fuel-importing nation.
Under the order, the government adopted the Unified Package for Livelihoods, Industry, Food and Transport, or UPLIFT, framework to secure domestic energy supply, keep essential services running, sustain economic activity, and shield vulnerable sectors from the impact of higher fuel costs.
Marcos stressed the need for swift and proactive measures as volatility in global oil prices continued to ripple through local markets. On the same day EO 110 was issued, he led the initial rollout of fuel subsidies for public utility vehicle drivers and operators at the Parañaque Integrated Terminal Exchange.
Backed by a P2.5-billion fund under the Department of Transportation’s Fuel Subsidy Project, the program aims to soften the blow of rising fuel prices on the transport sector. Bus operators are set to receive P10,000 each, while drivers will get P5,000 through checks, fuel cards, and other modes of distribution.
The following day, Marcos addressed the nation to explain the rationale behind the energy emergency declaration and outline the government’s broader efforts to manage the effects of the Middle East crisis. He called on Filipinos to remain united and vigilant, invoking the spirit of bayanihan in facing uncertainty. Days earlier, in a vlog uploaded on March 22, he also urged the public to be more discerning and responsible in sharing information, warning against the dangers of misinformation during times of crisis.
Beyond energy concerns, the administration also moved to protect overseas Filipino workers caught in the turbulence abroad. On March 23, Marcos welcomed a fresh batch of repatriated OFWs from the Middle East, assuring them that the government would continue to stand by them as they rebuild their lives back home.
A total of 343 repatriates — including 317 OFWs and 26 dependents from Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia — arrived at Villamor Air Base aboard a chartered Philippine Airlines flight. They were given financial aid, medical care, and psychosocial support as part of reintegration efforts.
Even with global risks looming, Marcos kept his foot on the accelerator when it came to infrastructure. Among the week’s notable milestones was the completion of the long-delayed Atlu Bola Bypass Road in Mabalacat, Pampanga, a project expected to ease traffic and improve mobility in Central Luzon. He also ordered the release of P145.56 billion for the Central Mindanao High Standard Highway Project, securing funding from 2026 to 2034 to strengthen regional connectivity and unlock economic opportunities in Mindanao.
On Friday, the President inaugurated the new westbound off-ramp of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Expressway along Andrews Avenue leading to Terminal 3 in Pasay City. The new access point is expected to cut travel time by 15 to 25 minutes for motorists coming from SLEX, Skyway Stage 3, and Lawton Avenue, particularly during peak hours — a practical but visible sign of the administration’s bid to ease congestion and improve daily mobility.
Agriculture and food security also remained high on the President’s agenda. On March 23, Marcos inspected solar-powered irrigation projects in Camarines Sur that are expected to benefit more than 1,800 farmers in the towns of Minalabac and Bula. Valued at P332 million, the projects are designed to reduce operational costs while boosting farm productivity and incomes.
He also visited the Bicol Mega Cold Storage and Vegetable and Fruit Processing Facility in Pili, Camarines Sur, which is expected to strengthen the agricultural value chain and help protect produce from post-harvest losses. The facility, equipped with refrigerated warehouse rooms, a blast freezer, and a solar power system, can store more than 200,000 tons annually and is expected to benefit over 200,000 farmers and cooperatives in Bicol, the Visayas, and Mindanao.
The push continued on March 26, when Marcos inspected a multi-purpose drying pavement and onion cold storage facility in Ramon, Isabela — another project aimed at improving post-harvest systems and enhancing the efficiency of the agriculture sector.
The week also saw movement on other major policy fronts. On March 22, Marcos approved reforms in the education sector, including a shift to a three-term academic calendar beginning in Academic Year 2026-2027, in a bid to reduce disruptions caused by natural hazards and other interruptions.
He likewise ordered a renewed push to fast-track the rehabilitation of Marawi City, emphasizing the urgent need to restore infrastructure, basic services, and livable communities under the government’s recovery program.
Taken together, the President’s actions over the week painted a picture of an administration trying to manage crisis without losing sight of long-term goals. With the Middle East situation threatening to strain fuel supply, livelihoods, and inflation, Marcos moved to reassure the public that the government is not only responding to immediate dangers, but also laying the groundwork for resilience, connectivity, and growth beyond the current crisis.
