Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Juanito Victor ‘Jonvic’ Remulla urged newly-elected officials to rise above politics and personal interest, echoing President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s call for a stronger collaboration between national and local governments.
Speaking at an event led by the DILG Local Government Academy at the Heritage Hotel in Pasay City on Wednesday, Remulla advised all public officials who received fresh terms to focus on improving the lives of their constituents.
“We are entrusted by the people and it is a mandate. And the mandate carries not only the capacity to rule, but also the trust, hope, and confidence that you’ll make their lives better,” said Remulla during the kick-off ceremony for DILG’s new program for newly-elected officials.
Addressing provincial governors and city mayors from the National Capital Region, Remulla challenged the country’s new local leaders to cut through the noise of online discourse and set an example of hope and good governance on the ground.
“The enemy of cynicism is nothing else but hope. Hope when they see that you build new schools and provide better education. Hope when you give scholarships. Hope when you give free medical services. Hope when they see that there is a direction that the province is leading,” he said.
“Ang Bagong Pilipinas (New Philippines)means a path forward. It means on to the new. I hope that the Local Government Academy does that—teach you to look for the path forward. Because in this world of great cynicism, HOPE MUST WIN,” Remulla emphasized.
The DILG secretary called for unity of purpose and leadership that transcends partisanship. “Let’s all be one. One for your province. One for your region. One for our country. One for our President.” he said.
