Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has called on all cabinet members to submit courtesy resignations in what is being described as a bold effort to reset his administration amid a sharp decline in public support and mounting dissatisfaction with government performance.
The move follows a disappointing showing by Marcos’ allies in the May 12 midterm elections, where they failed to secure a majority of contested Senate seats. This electoral setback, combined with a dramatic drop in his approval rating — from 42 percent in February to just 25 percent in March according to Pulse Asia — has raised serious questions about the strength of his mandate heading into the final three years of his term.
“It’s time to realign government with the people’s expectations,” Marcos said in a statement Thursday, adding, “This is not business as usual. The people have spoken, and they expect results — not politics, not excuses.”
The president’s office framed the resignations as part of a “bold reset” and a shift toward a “more focused and performance-driven approach.” At least 21 cabinet secretaries have already either stepped down or signaled their willingness to do so.
Political observers view the decision as a strategy to salvage what remains of Marcos’ political capital and counter growing perceptions of weak leadership. Froilan Calilung, a political science professor at the University of Santo Tomas, said the move may be an attempt to shake off the image of being indecisive and reassert control over the government’s direction.
Public disapproval of the Marcos administration has been especially strong on key issues such as inflation and corruption, with 79 percent and 53 percent of respondents, respectively, expressing dissatisfaction in recent surveys.
Calilung added that while the first three years of Marcos’ presidency have been widely seen as lacking in clear policy direction, there is still time for recovery — provided the president can deliver tangible reforms addressing inflation, job security, food supply, and agrarian stability.
“The president must now focus on crafting meaningful legislation and policies that directly respond to the country’s most pressing problems,” he said. “If he can do that, there’s still hope for a turnaround.”
