Following Donald Trump’s return to the White House as President of the United States after the recent election, Senator Imee Marcos urged the country to brace for substantial shifts in U.S. policies.
The senator noted various aspects of the U.S.-Philippine relationship that may be affected by the new presidency, including immigration, defense, and geopolitical interests.
“Let’s not wait for the hammer to fall—prepare now,” Marcos stated, emphasizing the importance of taking early steps to protect the welfare of Filipinos and ensure the country’s stability.
Senator Marcos highlighted that there are currently 200,000 undocumented Filipinos at risk of mass deportation and stressed the urgency of preparing expanded reintegration programs, which would include skills training, livelihood support, and direct assistance for deportees from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), and Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA).
According to the senator, based on the 2025 National Expenditure Program, the DSWD has sufficient funding for only 4,152 distressed and undocumented overseas Filipinos next year.
In contrast, last year, the DFA was able to assist only 72,206 overseas Filipinos using the Assistance to Nationals Fund and the Legal Assistance Fund.
“What will happen if the number of distressed overseas Filipinos suddenly triples? Are government agencies prepared to rapidly and adequately respond to their needs?” Sen. Marcos asked.
She also called for steps to fast-track the Self-Reliant Defense Posture (SRDP) initiative, a program aimed at manufacturing defense equipment locally and reducing dependence on foreign suppliers.
“In the end, no matter how many and how strong our allies are, we can only depend on ourselves—the Filipinos—to defend the Philippines,” Marcos stated.
Senator Marcos emphasized the need for the Philippines to take a leadership role in ASEAN and foster strengthened partnerships within the region to manage potential shifts in U.S. foreign policy.
“The Philippines must act now to secure our people, strengthen our defenses, and ensure we’re prepared for any shifts in global dynamics,” Sen. Marcos asserted.
“The world is changing fast, and we can’t afford to be caught unprepared,” she added.
