Cheyenne Suarez

Makati Business Club wants most Cabinet secs to stay

Article (news)

Jekki Pascual

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:950px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/17479028786931747902876378.jpeg" style="width:950px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="People walk in the business district of Makati City. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News/file"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">People walk in the business district of Makati Ci<em>ty. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News/file </em></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA <strong>(UPDATED) </strong>— The Makati Business Club said it hopes President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. will retain many of his Cabinet officials after a call for their courtesy resignations for a performance review.</p><p>The group said the replacement of many top officials could be disruptive.</p><p>MBC Chairman Edgar Chua said the groups hopes the government&#x27;s economic team will be retained, saying it has generally been doing a good job. </p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/5/22/marcos-jr-eyes-cabinet-revamp-calls-for-courtesy-resignations-of-all-cabinet-secretaries-0815"><strong>Marcos calls for courtesy resignation of all Cabinet secretaries in &#x27;bold reset&#x27; </strong></a></div><div><strong>WHO ELSE MBC HOPES WILL BE RETAINED</strong></div><ol><li>Transportation Secretary Vince Dizon</li><li>Education Secretary Sonny Angara</li><li>Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel</li><li>Trade Secretary Cristina Roque</li><li>Technical Education and Skills Development Authority Director General Francisco Benitez</li><li>Special Assistant to the President for Investment and Economic Affairs Frederick Go</li></ol><p>“We like these guys. We think they are the best people for the job,” said Apa Ongpin, MBC executive director.</p><div><strong>NO MAJOR REVAMP SEEN</strong></div><p>MBC believes there won’t be a major change or reshuffle in the Cabinet, with just one or two Cabinet secretaries being let go.</p><p>But the group also urged the President to act on the resignation letters quickly to curb disruption or uncertainty.</p><p>&quot;If in the next few days he’s able to do that, then there would be minimal disruption,&quot; Chua said.</p><p>MBC, though generally happy with the Cabinet secretaries, added officials should do more to implement reforms and changes in the country. </p><p>Chua said: “Income distribution is very important because what good it will be if we are middle income but then only 5% are rich and we have 90% poor.” </p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/3/18/solgen-on-resignation-calls-after-stepping-aside-in-duterte-icc-case-i-leave-to-the-president-1318"><strong>SolGen on resignation calls after stepping aside in Duterte ICC petitions: ‘I leave it to the President’ </strong></a></div><p>MBC, which bills itself as being &quot;at the forefront of economic and social advocacy by the business sector&quot; said improvements are needed in infrastructure, education, ease of doing business, upskilling workers, reducing corruption, and lowering poverty.</p><div><strong>&#x27;DIFFICULT, BUT NECESSARY&#x27;</strong></div><p>In a separate statement, the Management Association of the Philippines said Marcos Jr.&#x27;s move highlights the &quot;value of principled leadership and accountability in driving progress and delivering meaningful results.&quot;</p><p>It said difficult decisions like staff changes are needed &quot;in the interest of establishing meritocracy and encouraging performance.&quot; </p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/2025/5/22/palace-work-will-continue-during-cabinet-review-1444">Palace: Work will continue during Cabinet review<br/></a></div><p>It added: &quot;We hope the President will find the appropriate talents for those he decides to replace  — people who can effectively execute his government&#x27;s plans.&quot;</p><p>In its own statement, the Federation of Filipino-Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry, Inc. said it supports the President’s move.</p><p>“Our people deserve better, and the President is correct in taking the opportunity to reevaluate and measure the performance and effectivity of the performance of his Cabinet,“ it said.</p><p>The performance review was prompted by the administration&#x27;s disappointment at the midterm polls, which are generally seen as a referendum on the sitting president.</p><div><br/></div><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/D9FH4Lo0Y7s?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div>

<p>The Makati Business Club is hoping that most of the cabinet secretaries of the Marcos administration will be retained after the President called for their courtesy resignations.</p>

The Makati Business Club is hoping that most of the cabinet secretaries of the Marcos administration will be retained after the President called for their courtesy resignations.