(Photo courtesy: PCO)

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Sunday roused hundreds of thousands at the "Bagong Pilipinas" kick-off rally in Manila, urging Filipinos to help him build a reformed Philippines.

In an impassioned speech, Marcos said Bagong Pilipinas is his vision to unite and transform the Philippines and  restore the Filipino people’s faith in themselves and rebuild trust in government institutions.

"It is a call for transformation. The transformation of our idea of being a Filipino, and the transformation of our economy, of governance, of society," he said.

"Bagong Pilipinas transcends this administration," he added.

At its core, the President said Bagong Pilipinas is anchored on the Philippine Development Plan, a master plan that outlines key sectors, policies and infrastructure projects to achieve inclusive growth and genuine development that will benefit all Filipinos.

He said it is driven by ideals that Filipinos can come together regardless of political affiliation, religion or socioeconomic status. 

Bagong Pilipinas also demands bold, innovative thinking and strong execution from all government agencies. The goal is to surge forward and make real progress rather than petty politics, he said.

The President also said that Bagong Pilipinas is not a political ploy or partisan coalition. It does not serve narrow interests but the Filipino people. The plan incorporates inputs from the public and requires their participation. The government must lead by example with integrity, efficiency and compassionate service.

Finally, the President  said Bagong Pilipinas prioritizes the youth, education, agriculture, disaster resilience, infrastructure, and upholding law and order. 

It values feedback and aims to consult and empower citizens. The transformation starts from within the government and ripples outward, he further said. (PIA-NCR)