President Aquino Seeks Support of Municipal Officials in Continuing his Reforms

(PNA) — President Benigno S. Aquino III has called on municipal leaders to ensure the continuity of his reform programs.

Speaking before hundreds of members of the League of Municipalities of the Philippines (LMP) at the Manila Hotel on Wednesday, the President said an administration’s success or failure depends on the support of local government units for the national government.

“Batid ko po, malaking papel ang ginagampanan ng ating local government units. Kung ang pagpapalakad ng buong bansa ay tungkulin ng pambansang pamahalaan, kayo naman sa LGU ang direktang nakakasalamuha ng ating mga mamamayan,” the President said during the opening of the three-day LMP General Assembly, which carried the theme, “Empowerment of LGUs Towards All-Inclusive Growth.”

“Sa pamamagitan ninyo, nararamdaman ng ating mamamayan kung tumototoo ang gobyerno sa panata nitong maglingkod sa bayan. Kaya nga ang tagumpay o pagkabigo ng isang administrasyon ay nakasalalay sa pakikipagtulungan ng local government units sa pambansang pamahalaan.”

Highlighting the government’s social welfare programs and infrastructure projects, the President attributed the country’s ongoing transformation to good governance.

“Di po ba dati, ang laging bukambibig ng gobyerno, walang pera sa kaban ng bayan? Ngayon, napapatunayan natin na kung hindi nanakawin ang pondo, hindi ito magkukulang,” he said.

President Aquino thus called on the LGUs to continue the reform programs that his administration has begun.

“Kung magtutuloy-tuloy tayo sa tuwid na daan, lalo pang gaganda ang ating patutunguhan. Ang hamon sa atin ay siguruhin na magiging permanente ang bunga ng ating pagsisikap,” he continued.

The 1,490-strong LMP is lobbying for the approval this year of the “Bigger Pie, Bigger Slice” bill authored by Senator Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel.

The bill seeks to increase from 40 percent to 50 percent the LGUs’ share in the government’s tax revenues.

President Aquino said the national government acknowledges the funding problems faced by LGUs.

“Gusto ko man hong sabihing ‘Oo,’ sige, lakihan natin nang lakihan ang slice ng pie. Siguro kaya ko hong i-commit sa inyo, sa mga nagpapakitang-gilas nga ho, hindi mahirap dagdagan ang inyong pondo. Sa mga marami naman pong problemang naidudulot sa atin, medyo nag-iingat tayong dagdagan ang pondo. Nasa inyo po iyan. Magtulungan tayo dito. Success will breed success. Pasensiya nga ho, (dahil) failure will breed an orphan,” he said.

“Ulitin ko lang po, tanaw at dama namin, nakikita namin ang mga suliraning hinaharap ninyo, papel namin bawasan ngayon ang problemang kinakaharap ninyo,” the President concluded.

National President of the LMP, Javier, Leyte Mayor Leonardo Javier, Jr., delivered the welcome remarks.

Also present at the event was Interior and Local Government Secretary Manuel Roxas. (PNA) FPV/PND/SSC