Heroes Hall, Malacañan Palace
June 5, 2024
“Without a doubt, public service begins with you at the barangay. You are the first responders in times of emergency. You are at the forefront of our efforts in building a strong, prosperous, and united society,” remarked President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. when he administered the oath of office to the newly elected officers of the Liga ng mga Barangay (LnB) and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) National and Island Representatives in a ceremony at the Heroes Hall in Malacañan Palace.
“Marami kaming ginagawa para pagandahin ang buhay ng ating mga mamamayan. At kahit na napakaganda at napakagaling at napakahusay ng aming pinaplano, ang aming ginagawa, kapag hindi kami tinutulungan hanggang sa barangay level ay wala ring mangyayari. Hindi pa rin mararamdaman ng taumbayan… Napakahalaga ang ginagampanan ninyo na katungkulan para sa ating pagpaganda ng Pilipinas,” the President expressed in his speech, recognizing the important role that the barangays — the smallest political and administrative unit in the Philippines — play in the delivery of public service to the people, especially at the local level.
As he further recognized the barangays’ significant contributions in the national government’s economic and political policies, he reaffirmed the Administration’s commitment to listen to the voices of local governments, not only at the provincial, municipal, city and barangay level, but up to the volunteers who work at the roots of nation-building, which include the Barangay Health Workers (BHW) and day care center volunteers, among others.
“Wala nang mas eksperto sa bawat komunidad, kung hindi ang leader ng komunidad na iyon… Ang difference ng national officials sa local government, kami kaharap namin politiko, kayo kaharap ninyo taumbayan. That’s why that connection has to be brought all the way up to the national government. And that is why I hold in such importance the inputs that you give us,” the Chief Executive conveyed.
Noting that the Philippines has one of the youngest workforce in Asia, he further underscored the importance of the youth’s participation in local governance, particularly the SK. “Kung mayroon kayong nakikitang mas magandang pamamaraan, sabihin ninyo. Isigaw ninyo… The future is going to be technology-driven and that is why the natural instinct of younger people, when it comes to technology is important. It has to be part of all our thinking,” he expressed.
“I just want to remind you of the extremely important place that the local governments, at the barangay level play in this government’s decision-making, in this government’s planning, in this government’s hope for the future of our country,” President Marcos Jr. further conveyed in his message.
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