Pres. Aquino inducts into office new members of ULAP National Executive Board

President Benigno S. Aquino III administered the oath of office to the new members of the National Executive Board of the Union of Local Authorities of the Philippines (ULAP) in a simple ceremony held at the President’s Hall of Malacañang Palace on Thursday (Oct. 2).

President Aquino reminded local officials to remain faithful to their mandate of serving the public with honesty and integrity.

He told the government officials to focus on coming up with long-term solutions to the problems of their constituents, rather than giving temporary assistance, citing the practice called KBL or “kasal, binyag, libing” (wedding, baptism, burial).

“How can we change the system of helping our constituents mostly during weddings, baptism and burial? I believe that we should not just give them temporary relief but what is more important is to give them assistance that will sustain their needs for a long time,” he said.

 “As what the elders would say, let us teach our people to fish rather than have them keep coming back to ask for fish. A complete and comprehensive solution is the key to the change that we are all hoping for,” he added.

The President cited the strategy used by the late Interior Secretary Jesse Robredo in solving Naga City’s problem on informal settlers.

He said that aside from giving informal settlers permanent and decent housing, Robredo also provided them with sustainable livelihood.

 “All our sacrifices in serving the public would only be meaningful if they give rise to significant changes to our countrymen, especially the needy,” he said.

The President also underscored the importance of a smooth working relationship between the national and local governments to ensure effective service to the public.

During the ceremony, ULAP president Oriental Mindoro Governor Alfonso “Boy” Umali, Jr. presented the group’s accomplishment report to the President.

Among the officers who took their oath were Iloilo Governor Arthur Defensor, Sr. as chairman; Quezon City Mayor Herbert Bautista as executive vice president; Mayor of Javier, Leyte Sandy Javier Jr. as vice chairman; and Manila City Vice Mayor Isko Moreno as 1st vice president.

Umali pledged the continuous support of the local government units to the reforms being implemented by the Aquino administration.

He said the Seal of Good Housekeeping has been conferred on 80 percent of the LGUs, which means that majority of the local offices are “willing and able to become transparent.”

 “We want the reforms which we started together with the national government to continue. We want performance evaluations, we want open government, we want convergence with private and civil society groups, and we want leadership in the national and local levels to work closely in treading the straight path,” Umali said. (PCOO News Release)