President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Monday urged key government agencies to intensify efforts to uplift the people’s economic condition, saying that their hard work would go to “waste” if it is not felt by ordinary Filipinos.

He made this remark in a message during the oath-taking ceremony of the officials of the National Amnesty Commission (NAM), National Anti-Poverty Commission (NAPC), Marawi Compensation Board (MCB), and the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity (OPAPRU) at Malacañan Palace.

In his speech, Marcos acknowledged that his administration had “many plans” meant to boost the economy’s growth.

He, however, said these gains from economic recovery would only matter if it trickles down to the people, especially the poor.

“…Sabihin na natin gumanda nang husto ang ekonomiya ng Pilipinas, hindi naman bumababa at hindi naman nararamdaman ng taong-bayan eh sayang lang ang ating naging trabaho. Iilan lang ang yumayaman (Let’s say that the Philippine economy has improved a lot, but if it’s not going down and felt by the people, then our work would just be a waste. Only a few get rich),” he said.

Aside from poverty-alleviation efforts, Marcos also directed the agencies to prioritize efforts to advance peace and strengthen national security.

He encouraged the newly sworn-in officials to thoroughly study their organizations and figure out what needed to be done so that the government could carry out interventions that would benefit the people.

Marcos told officials of the four agencies to “work together,” vowing to support the advocacies that each agency represented.

He also expressed confidence that they would give their utmost performances in their respective jobs.

“I look forward to hearing from you as you get to settle into your jobs,” he said.

In video footage released by state-run Radio Television Malacañang (RTVM), Marcos said that even if the four agencies were “not terribly well-known,” they were “extremely important” to the function of the government.

“We know that we have people in these very important agencies who[m] we can count on,” he said.

Meanwhile, Marcos recognized the need to hasten the process of rehabilitating Marawi City after it was ravaged by a five-month siege in 2017 when Islamic militants occupied the city.

“As we can all realize it is not a very quick process, hindi naman puwedeng imadali. Ngunit kailangan talaga nating simulan at maraming nag-aantay na hindi pa nakakauwi (it cannot be rushed. But we really need to start and there are many waiting who have yet to come home),” Marcos said.

He said the people of Marawi were relying on the government to restore Marawi back to its former glory.

“Panahon na siguro, na pagkakataon na gawin natin ang lahat may makita man lang na pagbabago, may progress, para naman ay may maaasahan ang mga residents ng Marawi (Maybe it’s time, an opportunity for us to do everything to at least they see change, progress, so that the residents of Marawi can count on something),” he added. (PNA)