By Dean Aubrey Caratiquet
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. administered the oath of office to 70 newly-elected and appointed officials of the League of Vice Governors of the Philippines (LVGP) in a ceremony at Malacañan Palace on Tuesday.
In his speech, Marcos reminded the government officials of their duty as public servants, with the mandate to lead when the need arises and oversee the local execution of national projects.
He declared, lamenting the corruption that drives a wedge between the masses and government institutions, “The unscrupulous abuse of power and greed must come to an end. Dismayado ang maraming Pilipino dahil sa mga patong-patong na issue na lumulunod sa kanila araw-araw. Our people are exhausted, they are disappointed. They are angry.”
The President added, “And as I have said before, their rage is valid. It is born from years of frustration that the government is characterized by systemic dysfunction and unfulfilled promises. Let us not dismiss that anger, let us confront it.”
The Chief Executive meanwhile hailed the progressive efforts of the LVGP to raise the bar in competencies concerning local governance and legislation vis-à-vis adopting best practices from other nations, which he touts as pivotal in fostering digital transformation and urban development in their respective locales.
He concluded his remarks by challenging the new vice governors to serve as stewards of good governance, proving that a unified commitment to serve the people can help to restore the faith and trust of the citizenry in the government amidst various challenges.
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