FROM CRITIC TO ADMIRER?: Marcos observes decorum in presidency — Treñas

By Rjay Zuriaga Castor

Iloilo City Mayor Jerry Treñas believed President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. brought decency and formality in running the country nearly two years into his administration.

With almost two years in his administration, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has brought decency and formality in running the government, according to Iloilo City Mayor Jerry Treñas.

Treñas noted that unlike during former President Rodrigo Duterte’s term, Marcos displays urgency and punctuality at scheduled events.

“For me, after the previous administrations, it seems like things have normalized. When I was in Congress, we would be invited to events and asked to arrive as early as 5 pm, but the president would arrive at 11 pm,” he explained.

He also pointed out that Marcos is addressing the public with dignity, which brought a normality from the tough-talking Duterte.

Treñas emphasized that when talking to Marcos, the approach is “business as usual.”

“If you talk with Marcos, he really acts like he is the president. There are people who really appear presidential and he is one of them,” he said.

The city mayor also commended the president for setting aside politics in his administration.

“One thing I noticed about Marcos is that he is not like others who, after the election, if you’re from the opposing side, they will just forget you — just like during Duterte’s time,” he said.

Treñas mentioned Marcos’ commitment to infrastructure projects in Western Visayas such as the approval of the P8.48 billion loan for the completion of the Jalaur River Multipurpose Project Stage II in Calinog, Iloilo province and the Panay-Guimaras-Negros Island Bridges.

“We did not support Marcos, but he continues to support our major projects, and the election is over,” he added.

It can be noted that Treñas publicly endorsed Marcos’ rival, former vice president Leni Robredo, during the 2022 presidential elections.

Treñas believes that the president is “doing well and he is trying to do his best” in addressing the problems of the country.

“From what I am seeing, he is trying his best to deliver. There were so many problems after the pandemic,” he said.