President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has directed agencies to reassess long-standing government rules that no longer serve the public well, saying cumbersome procedures continue to burden ordinary transactions.
Speaking in his latest BBM Vlog released on his official Facebook page, the President said citizens expect simpler processes and faster systems rather than additional layers of difficulty when dealing with government offices.
“Here in our country, we have many policies that need to be changed and reviewed. We see it in the news and we hear our countrymen, their complaints,” he said in Filipino.
Marcos pointed to common requirements that, in his view, highlight inefficiencies, including the need to present one government-issued ID to secure another, which he described as “a reflection of an antiquated system.”
“We are so fond of filling out duplicates or triplicates. For lawyers, they ask for copies, dozens upon dozens, of the same old forms that require the same information. Physical appearance in transactions that can be digital. And there are many others that are just a nuisance,” Marcos said.
He added that long queues and early-morning lines at public offices should no longer be part of routine government transactions, linking this concern to the administration’s push for digital platforms.
“We should not be queuing up at dawn at the government office just to get a document. That is why one of our priorities is the eGov app and digitalization of the government system,” he said.
According to the President, policies only work when they are clearly defined, enforceable, and designed to ease daily life, whether in public discipline, health measures, service delivery, or business processes.
Drawing from international experience, Marcos cited countries such as Singapore, France, Spain, Belgium, and the United States, noting that rules centered on discipline contribute to orderly and responsible societies.
He also underscored that policy reforms require public participation, stressing that implementation depends not only on government but also on citizen cooperation.
“Policies are culture written as law. Let us know in the comment section if you have any policy suggestions that can help solve our many problems. We look forward to your suggestions,” he said.
