A day after the midterm elections, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. yesterday called on all newly elected officials to unite and “move forward together” for the common good of the Filipinos and the country.
The President, in a statement, also thanked all Filipinos who voted last Monday, adding that their participation has renewed and strengthened the country’s democracy.
“It (elections) is both a celebration of continuity and a call to act on the real challenges our people face. Filipinos elected leaders who will listen and act — on inflation, on jobs, on corruption and on the everyday burdens they carry. These are issues we must face head-on,” the President said.
Marcos also said that governance is a shared responsibility and a mission that requires unity and sharing of burdens for the common good.
“To the newly elected, regardless of party or coalition, I extend my hand. Let us move forward together, with open minds and a common purpose. For an honest government, everyone is included,” he added.
The President, in thanking those who supported and trusted the candidates under the administration’s Alyansa sa Bagong Pilipinas, said while the election period is over, their common “mission” is not yet over.
Marcos said the country needs the support and cooperation of everyone for nation-building and the country’s future.
“We may not have won every seat, but our work and mission continue. To those who did not make it, your courage to stand for public service is deeply respected. Public service goes beyond elections. The work of nation-building needs all who are ready to serve,” he said.
“As my father (the late president Ferdinand E. Marcos) once said: ‘If we are to prevail, we must prevail as Filipinos, for it is the only way to endure. If we are to attain our goals, we must march forward, not to the past but to the future. And we must do this as one family, a nation that is united,’” he added.
The Commission on Elections (Comelec) expected around 68 million voters to participate in the midterm polls, where 18,320 positions were contested from senators at the national level to councilors at the local level.
