President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Thursday asked for support from local legislators for the passage of his administration’s legislative priorities, especially measures aimed at empowering local government units.
Speaking before the Philippine Councilors League (PCL) National Convention 2023 at the World Trade Center in Pasay City last night, President Marcos told the councilors they have “an obligation to give life, meaning and substance to the constitutional mandate of local autonomy and decentralization of powers.”
Councilors are also endowed to engage in meaningful discussions on matters involving local legislative concerns, Mr. Marcos added.
“With this, I am hopeful that you will support the passage of the Administration’s legislative priorities, particularly measures that aim to capacitate local government units,” the President told the convention attendees.
Among these legislations are the e-Governance Act, which will institutionalize digitalization in the bureaucracy and ensure faster government transaction and the amendment to the Build-Operate-Transfer(BOT) Law to address ambiguities, bottlenecks, and other challenges in implementing the existing law.
The President also said that amending the BOT Law will empower LGUs to participate in more projects as the proposed revisions streamline the guidelines and eliminate uncertainties that limit their participation in public-private partnerships (PPPs).
Mr. Marcos also called on the councilors to help him lobby for the passage of the National Land Use Act to effectively manage the country’s land and water resources as well as the Tax Package 3, or the Valuation Reform Bill, to ensure the development of a just, equitable, and efficient real property valuation system.
Through the land use legislation, LGUs could efficiently, equitably, and sustainably allocate land resources to achieve food security, determine hazardous areas, delineate protected areas, and identify areas for settlement, commercial, industrial, and infrastructural uses, the President pointed out.
“So let us also work together for the passage of the Waste Treatment Technology Act, which will pave the way for modern options in solving the persistent garbage problem of the country,” Mr. Marcos said.
“This will mandate LGUs to promote, encourage, and implement a comprehensive solid waste management program that includes reduction, segregation, recycling, and recovery,” he added.
Recognizing the role of the LGUs in addressing urgent concerns such as inflation, the President called on local legislators to ensure that local ordinances and measures enable the free and unhampered flow of goods within their localities.
President Marcos also urged the LGU officials to continue bringing the government closer to the people by formulating programs and projects that nurture the well-being of their constituents.
The PCL must also help bring government services to far-flung areas to make governance more accessible and convenient for everyone, the President said, as he assured the league that his administration will provide assistance in formulating, implementing, and coordinating programs and projects for the benefit of the PCL and the Filipino people.
The President also appealed to PCL members to shun corruption, noting that as public servants, they must uphold transparency and accountability in their work.
“Apart from inhibiting yourselves from corrupt practices, I also urge you to avoid unjust and dangerous acts that put the bureaucracy in a state of decay,” the President said.