Cheyenne Suarez

Marcos Jr. vows continued 'honest public service' amid challenges

Article (news)

Harlene Delgado

ABS-CBN News

MANILA — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Friday underscored that his administration remains true to its mandate of delivering honest service amid challenges that the country is facing.The President, who made the remarks at an aid distribution activity in Pampanga, did not mention specific issues, but alluded to &quot;fixing&quot; government processes.“Mga kababayan, sa kabila ng mga hamon na kinakaharap ng bansa, nananatiling nakatuon ang pamahalaan sa aming mandato at tungkulin na maglingkod nang tapat,” he said.(Despite the challenges the country is facing, the government is focused on its mandate and duty to provide honest service)“Makakaasa kayo na inaayos natin at itinutuwid ang mga prosesong nagpapabagal at nakakaabala sa ating pag-unlad,” the chief executive also said.(You can rest assured we are fixing processes that slow down and impede our progress)Government has been rocked in recent weeks by allegations of corruption in flood control projects, with both chambers of Congress and the executive branches launching probes and promising accountability.<div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/business/2025/9/17/independent-infra-body-not-good-enough-says-economist-1625">Independent infra body &#x27;not good enough&#x27;, says economist </a></div><div> </div><div>LAND TITLES, PATENTS DISTRIBUTED</div>Marcos Jr, made the comments during the distribution of financial assistance to farm laborers and distribution of land titles and patents to select beneficiaries in San Fernando.He said the land titles would ensure that the 20 beneficiaries at the ceremonial distribution as well as their descendants would have their own land.The event is part of the “Handog Titulo Program” of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources where land patents are awarded to qualified beneficiaries in observance of the “Handog Titulo” Month every September.Under the program, 520 land patents and titles were awarded to beneficiaries by the agency’s regional offices in the Ilocos, Cagayan Valley and Central Luzon regions, Calabarzon, National Capital Region and the Cordillera Administrative Region. The Land Management Bureau also distributes titles as part of the program.“The activity aims to promote tenure security by granting land ownership rights to qualified beneficiaries in residential and agricultural areas,” DENR said..The DENR issues Agricultural Free Patents, Residential Free Patents and Special Patents to “formalize ownership over public lands, depending on the purpose of the land and the legal basis”.An Agricultural Free patent is issued to natural-born Filipino citizens who have been continuously occupying agricultural public lands for the period required by law, and have been paying the realty taxes due.Residential Free Patents are issued to Filipino citizens who are actually residing on lands zoned as residential for a period of ten years. A Special Patent, meanwhile, is granted to government agencies, state universities and colleges (SUCs), or other public institutions for public use or purpose.The Department of Social Welfare and Development also distributed financial aid of P10,000 each to 2,970 individuals referred by the Pampanga provincial government.  Marcos Jr. added that the DENR will distribute seedlings while the local government of Pampanga will distribute family food packs to beneficiaries.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Friday underscored that his administration remains true to its mandate of delivering honest service amid challenges that the country is facing.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Friday underscored that his administration remains true to its mandate of delivering honest service amid challenges that the country is facing.