SENATOR Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Monday told the people of Bacoor City in Cavite to choose a new set of national leaders next year who will tap local government units as partners in the delivery of basic services and in nation-building.
Marcos said many LGU officials are complaining that they are being given little or no role at all in the big-ticket projects of the national government that are being implemented in their areas of jurisdiction.
“In the past few years, many LGU officials have complained that the national government seems to take the attitude that it alone is capable of the task of delivering services to our citizens,” said Marcos, chairman of the Senate committee on local government and a three-term governor of Ilocos Norte.
He said such attitude is plainly wrong because local officials are the ones who know the needs of their locality and people.
He said many LGU officials are intelligent, hard-working and sincere in their desire to improve the lot of their constituents.
He cited Bacoor City which, he said, experienced rapid development under the leadership of Mayor Strike Revilla.
“The work of the LGUs is crucial to the growth of a vibrant economy for our towns and cities, the foundation of the economy of the entire country,” Marcos said.
“If you choose the right candidates, I believe that in the next Administration we will witness a significant shift in the national government’s attitude toward the LGUs, and we will see as well a marked improvement in the relationship between the local and national governments.
Before his speech, Marcos graced the flag-raising ceremony at city hall on the invitation of Mayor Revilla and Cavite Rep. Lani Mercado Revilla.
