Senate Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano encouraged Taguig City officials to view criticism as a drive to improve public service, acknowledging that despite substantial progress, the local government must continue striving for higher standards.
Addressing local leaders during the 8th City Council Legislators’ Night on Friday, September 4, Cayetano emphasized that constructive feedback from constituents should serve as inspiration to elevate municipal performance.
“Let’s not get upset if anyone pushes us to be better, to do more; kung may nagagalit kasi hindi pa perfect. We’ve gone so far, but there’s so much more work to do,” said Cayetano, who is currently involved in a public dispute with Senator Panfilo “Ping” Lacson regarding alleged infrastructure irregularities in the city.
“Let’s be upset if it’s a witch hunt, if it’s a demolition job. Sobra iyon at mali. But let’s take it as an inspiration when people want us to do better,” he said.
The senator, whose wife is Taguig City Mayor Lani Cayetano, praised past and present city leaders for laying a strong foundation that drove the local government’s growth over the years.
“While we’re not perfect, the present mayor, kayo po, and many, many of our previous officials ay nagtanim ng maganda sa Taguig,” he said.
“Nagtanim ng vision, nagtanim ng pangarap, nagtanim ng tama sa edukasyon, sa kalusugan, nagtanim ng righteousness,” he added.
He also pointed out key advancements in local infrastructure, particularly highlighting improvements in managing floodwaters within Taguig’s vast land area compared to neighboring cities in Metro Manila.
“Malayo na ang narating ng flood control sa Taguig. Dati three to four months, hanggang leeg,” he pointed out.
Looking ahead, Cayetano challenged city leaders to continuously transform Taguig by using Singapore as a benchmark for public administration and service delivery.
He noted that Singapore maintains top-tier outcomes in healthcare, education, and public safety because its citizens continuously demand government accountability and higher standards.
“They are accustomed to excellence. So, even when the performance is excellent, they still demand more. I have never seen a Singaporean official say, ‘I’m getting tired.’ They view it as a challenge,” he said.