PCCI, MAP want appropriate, merit-based talents as Marcos revamps Cabinet

The Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) and Management Association of the Philippines (MAP), two of the country’s most influential business organizations, are backing President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s move to revamp his Cabinet.

Marcos earlier announced his sweeping call for his Cabinet secretaries to submit their courtesy resignations after his pronouncement that the results of Eleksyon 2025 showed that the people are "tired of politics and they are disappointed with the government."

Notably, members of the President’s economic team — Finance Secretary Ralph Recto, Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman, Economic Planning and Development Secretary Arsenio Balisacan, Trade Secretary Cristina Roque, and Special Assistant to the President for Investment and Economic Affairs Frederick Go  — have complied with the call of the President.

“We want to continue fostering economic growth and investor confidence. And so we hope that the courtesy resignations will bring in accountable and merit-based appointments. That those who delivered and performed well will be retained. And that new and re-appointments be done the soonest possible time to avoid uncertainty and instability and so as not to derail economic continuity,” the PCCI said.

MAP, likewise, said, “We hope the President will find the appropriate talents for those he decides to replace —people who can effectively execute his government's plans.”

“We trust that capable, proactive, and committed individuals will be empowered and work together as a cohesive team to execute the nation’s plans to uplift the lives of all Filipinos and move us closer to the outcomes our people deserve,” MAP said.

The President, in giving his directive, said he wanted to have an elbow room “to evaluate the performance of each department and determine who will continue to serve in line with his administration’s recalibrated priorities.”

MAP said that Marcos’ initiative to reset key leadership roles in his administration underscores the value of principled leadership and accountability in driving progress and delivering meaningful results.

“We understand the President's actions and intentions as this happens in business and the private sector. A CEO needs to make difficult calls, such as replacing talents, with the primary objective of improving the performance of the organization. Difficult as it may be, the call of leadership is to make such hard decisions in the interest of establishing meritocracy and encouraging performance,” MAP said.

The PCCI, meanwhile, said the President’s call for the courtesy resignation of his Cabinet secretaries was “quite surprising given that the government has been performing relatively well in managing the economy.”

The business group said that it was unfortunate that economic growth has been "undermined by developments at the political front."

“We are trying to get more investments for the country especially with the passage of the CREATE MORE Act and the PPP Code,” it said. — RSJ, GMA Integrated News