President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. has retained his core economic advisers while replacing several agency heads as part of what Malacañang described as a “bold reset” following the administration’s underwhelming midterm election results.
In a press briefing on Friday, Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin confirmed that Marcos has chosen to keep five key officials in his economic team: Trade Secretary Maria Christina Roque, Finance Secretary Ralph Recto, Department of Economy, Planning, and Development Secretary Arsenio Balisacan, Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman, and Special Assistant to the President for Investment and Economic Affairs Frederick Go.
“These five will continue to serve the public with sincerity and dedication,” Bersamin said.
Bersamin himself will remain in his post, citing the President’s “full trust and confidence” in his leadership. “He communicated to me that I have his full backing for as long as I wish to work for him,” he added.
Meanwhile, Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo will take over as the Philippines’ Permanent Representative to the United Nations starting August 1, replacing Antonio Manuel Revilla Lagdameo, who is retiring. Ma. Theresa Lazaro, currently a DFA undersecretary, will step in as the new Foreign Affairs chief.
Environmental leadership is also undergoing change. Energy Secretary Raphael Lotilla is set to replace Environment Secretary Maria Antonia Yulo-Loyzaga. Bersamin clarified that while Loyzaga is stepping down, she may still be tapped for another Cabinet role in the future. He added that her exit was not linked to corruption, but suggested it stemmed from unmet expectations.
“Underperformance siguro ang tawag diyan, oo,” Bersamin remarked when asked why Loyzaga was not retained.
At the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD), Engineer Ramon Aliling will assume the role of secretary, succeeding Jerry Acuzar. Aliling, a former DHSUD undersecretary, previously led key projects like the Pambansang Pabahay Para sa Pilipino program and Pasig River revitalization efforts. Acuzar will now serve as Presidential Adviser for Pasig River Development.
Bersamin emphasized that Acuzar’s removal was not due to any wrongdoing. “Wala namang masamang tinapay yan si Sec. Acuzar,” he said, citing challenges beyond the government’s control as reasons behind the unmet housing targets.
DEPDev Secretary Arsenio Balisacan expressed gratitude for being retained in the President’s economic team. “I thank the President for his continued trust and confidence,” he said in a statement, reaffirming the department’s commitment to a “prosperous, inclusive, and resilient future.”
The Cabinet shakeup comes in the wake of last week’s midterm elections, where only six out of eleven Senate candidates endorsed by Marcos won seats. Marcos interpreted the results as a wake-up call.
“The people have spoken, and they expect results—not politics, not excuses. We hear them, and we will act,” he said, referring to the mass resignations as a necessary “reset.”
In a post-election podcast interview, the President acknowledged public frustration. “Ang mensahe sa aming lahat… ‘Tama na ang pamumulitika ninyo at kami naman ang asikasuhin ninyo,’” he said.
This is not the first time a Philippine president has asked for mass Cabinet resignations. In 2005, then-President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo did the same amid an election scandal. In 1987, President Corazon Aquino’s Cabinet resigned following a failed coup attempt.
Despite the transition, Malacañang assured the public that government services will remain uninterrupted and that meritocracy will guide the formation of the new executive lineup. More changes are expected in the coming days.
