President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. is keeping his top economic officials in place as part of a strategic recalibration of his Cabinet, even as a broader review of department heads continues following the order for courtesy resignations earlier this month.
Key figures such as Trade Secretary Alfredo Pascual, Finance Secretary Ralph Recto, Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman, Economic Planning Secretary Arsenio Balisacan, and Special Assistant to the President on Investment and Economic Affairs Frederick Go will remain in their posts. This move signals the administration’s intent to maintain stability in its economic direction despite political shifts following the midterm elections.
The Palace also confirmed a major change in the Department of Foreign Affairs. Secretary Enrique Manalo will be taking over as the country’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, replacing Antonio Manuel Lagdameo. Succeeding Manalo as DFA Secretary is career diplomat Tess Lazaro.
Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin, who submitted his own courtesy resignation, said that the President is still assessing the performances of many Cabinet members. “The review is still ongoing,” he noted, adding that decisions will be based on merit and alignment with the administration’s priorities.
This shake-up follows a call by Marcos for all Cabinet-level officials to tender their resignations—a move widely interpreted as an effort to reset and refocus the government after the administration’s mixed results in the recent polls.