19/07/2025
Hereโs a critical fact-check and debunking of the โTop 20 Major Achievements of PBBMโ, using verified and recent reports from mainstream media. Several of these โachievementsโ are exaggerated, misleading, incomplete, or outright false:
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1. โฑ20/kilo NFA Rice Nationwide
โ Misleading Claim
There is no nationwide rollout of โฑ20 rice. This remains a pilot program (e.g. in Taguig) subsidized by local governmentโnot a nationwide implementation. Even NFA admitted it cannot sustain โฑ20/kilo rice due to cost constraints and budget limitations.
Sources:
โข Rappler: Rice at โฑ20/kg not sustainable โ NFA
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2. Land Title Distribution & โฑ57B Debt Forgiveness
โ
Partially True but Political Rebranding
Marcos signed the New Agrarian Emancipation Act cancelling debts worth โฑ57B. However, this was initiated during Duterteโs term, and distribution of land titles is part of ongoing DAR work, not a Marcos-specific innovation.
Source:
โข CNN PH: Marcos signs law condoning farmer debt
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3. Mary Jane Velosoโs Release & OFW Programs
โ
Correct
Last December 2024, she was transferred back to the Philippines after a practical agreement signed between the Indonesian and the Philippine governments for a transfer of prisoners based on diplomacy, international cooperation and legal sovereignty.Apr 29, 2025
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4. Build Better More Infrastructure
โ Misleading / Project Continuation
Many listed projects (MRT-7, Subway, expressways) began during Duterte or Aquino administration. Marcos simply continued them. โBuild Better Moreโ is mostly a rebranding.
Source:
โข Inquirer: BBM infra plan a continuation
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5. Bloodless Drug War & Crime Rate Drop
โ Highly Misleading
Marcos claims a bloodless campaign, yet killings in drug operations continue. Crime stats showing a โ62% dropโ lack independent verification. CHR and human rights groups report ongoing violence.
Source:
โข Inquirer: Drug war still deadly
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6. Food Security via Modernization
โ Exaggerated
Food inflation remains high, and rice imports continue. Programs like mobile soil labs exist but have limited reach. Philippines is still not food secure.
Source:
โข BusinessWorld: PH faces long road to food security
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7. Inflation at 2.9%
โ False
Inflation hit as high as 8.7% in 2023 and only cooled down to ~3.7% in mid-2024. The 2.9% figure is cherry-picked, not sustained.
Source:
โข Philstar: Inflation averages 6% in 2023
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8. eGovPH App Success
โ Poor Performance
The eGov app is buggy, has limited services, and excludes critical agencies like BIR and DFA. Reviews show poor adoption and failed integration.
Source:
โข Rappler: eGovPH app riddled with issues
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9. Maritime Defense in West PH Sea
โ
Partial Effort, But Weak Results
Though laws were passed and diplomatic protests filed, Chinese aggression has escalated. Scarborough and Ayungin incidents show no real deterrent effect.
Source:
โข Reuters: China blocks PH ships despite protests
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10. SIM Card Registration & Anti-Scam Laws
โ Failed Implementation
Despite registration, scams increased. Syndicates use fake or cloned IDs to register SIMs. Law is widely criticized as ineffective.
Source:
โข CNN PH: Text scams persist despite SIM registration
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11. Pambansang Pabahay Nationwide
โ Delayed, Mostly Groundbreaking Ceremonies
Many housing sites are still empty lots or undergoing early construction. Occupancy is low; funding and planning are poor.
Source:
โข Philstar: Pambansang Pabahay rollout faces hurdles
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12. Educational Reform
โ
Partial, but Insufficient
While bonuses increased slightly and facilities improved, learning poverty and dropout rates remain high. No overhaul of K-12 has been finalized.
Source:
โข Rappler: PH education system still broken
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13. Foreign Investment from Tesla, etc.
โ False
No official investment from Tesla has been confirmed. Most of the companies mentioned have not built facilities in PHโonly exploratory talks.
Source:
โข Rappler: No Tesla factory or direct investment yet
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14. 98% Job Placement Rate
โ Cherry-Picked Data
No national agency reports a 98% job placement rate. Unemployment still high in rural areas and among youth, and underemployment is rising.
Source:
โข Inquirer: Underemployment hits 12.4%
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15. Disaster Response During Typhoons
โ
Mixed
Response times improved in some areas, but many LGUs still lack disaster resilience. Climate spending remains low.
Source:
โข Rappler: Climate disaster gaps remain
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16. Anti-Agri Economic Sabotage Act
โ
Enacted
Yes, the law was passed. But as of 2024, no major agri-hoarder has been convicted. Enforcement remains weak.
Source:
โข GMA: Law signed, enforcement pending
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17. E-Visa System
โ
True
E-Visa system has improved tourism entry for some countries.
Source:
โข CNN PH: E-Visa rollout benefits tourists
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18. โฑ2.8T Tax Collection & GOCC Dividends
โ
Partially True
BIR collected a record amount, but much of it was due to tax policy from previous administrations and inflation. GOCC remittances improved but not drastically.
Source:
โข BusinessWorld: BIR hits target due to digital push, inflation
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19. EO No. 35: Pasig River Urban Dev.
โ Mostly on Paper
Executive Order signed, but no actual large-scale Pasig River revitalization has begun.
Source:
โข Rappler: EO 35 signed, no funds yet
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20. No Journalist Killed in 2024
โ
Possibly True (So Far)
No confirmed journalist killings in 2024 as of mid-year. But harassment and red-tagging of journalists persist.
Source:
โข CPJ: PH still a dangerous place for journalists
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Conclusion:
While a few claims hold partial truth, most of this list is political spin, exaggerated, rebranded, or unverified. It paints a false image of progress while critical issues persist in food security, justice, infrastructure, and digital governance.
