PRESIDENT Marcos Jr. told local government officials, especially those running for public office in the May elections, that public service and the welfare of the Filipinos should always be the priority.
Marcos said the campaign for local positions is usually more intense as mudslinging and exchanges are “more heated” among local candidates than among national candidates as they sometimes involve families and relatives.
The campaign for local candidates will start on March 28 while that for senators and party-list seats began last Tuesday.
“In the heat of the campaign, in the heat of the election, let’s not forget that we are here, we entered the public service to help the people,” Marcos said in Filipino at the End-Term General Assembly of the League of Municipalities of the Philippines (LMP) at the Manila Hotel in Manila.
The LMP has about 1,400 municipal mayors as members and was established to address municipal government administration issues and develop solutions through legal means.
The President on Tuesday kicked off the campaign of administration’s Alyansa Para sa Bagong Pilipinas senatorial slate, during which indirectly took a jab at other candidates without naming them. Marcos said none of the administration’s candidates are facing controversies and allegations such as involvement in human rights violations and the bloody drug war, corruption during the pandemic, and child and sexual abuse, as well as in allowing the country to become a foreign gambling site or applauding China’s harassments and attempts to take over parts of the Philippines.
The President said after the campaign and election period, all parties should end their conflict and participate in nation-building.
Marcos said it would be difficult, but it is needed.
The President also urged the local chief executives to maintain a positive impact on their constituents even beyond their terms by adopting programs that would have long-term benefits.
“I encourage you to reflect on the work that you have done. And whatever path you choose after this, whether you seek another mandate or move on to a new chapter in your lives, I trust that you will embrace the same grit, passion, and commitment to service,” Marcos said.
“Even beyond your tenure, I hope that you will adopt and sustain the reforms that we have introduced in national and in local government,” he added.
The President urged the local chief executives to maximize the use of new technology in governance to make public service more efficient and effective, and
pursue long-term reform programs that would continue to benefit the people and the country even after their terms.
He said the country should adopt technological advancements, considering that the countries that use advanced technologies are now successful.
“This is very, very important because without doing this, as you can see, we have seen the differences not only within our own political system but also with the different countries around the world. What faces us today is a highly technical world, a highly technical system for our different economies, for the global economy. And they are rapidly accelerating development in all kinds of research and technology,” he added.
The President reiterated his administration is pursuing efforts to streamline and digitalize the bureaucracy to improve government services.
He also acknowledged the contributions of local government units (LGUs) to developing and promoting key legislation, such as the Real Property Valuation and Assessment Reform Act and the Automatic Income Classification of Local Government Units Act, which he said promote better standards for managing real properties and create a fairer system for financing local governments.
The President said the LGUs should also be ready with the evolving nature of governance amid the current challenges. He said drivers of economic progress have shifted from traditional industries to innovation-based services, as technology has advanced significantly and climate change has disrupted lives.
He said the people expect their leaders to be efficient and responsive.
