President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. called on local lawmakers to craft impactful local legislation while remaining attuned to everyday community realities.
Addressing newly elected national, regional, and island officers of the Philippine Councilors League during their oath-taking ceremony at Malacañang on August 18, Marcos highlighted the crucial role councilors play due to their direct connection with local constituents.
“Councilors are amongst the public officials that are closest to the communities that you serve, and therefore you must remain closely attuned to the concerns of ordinary Filipinos,” Marcos stated.
The Chief Executive urged local legislators to look past passing policies solely for compliance purposes.
“Let us legislate with purpose, not just for the sake of passing ordinances,” he told the attendees.
He emphasized the necessity of balancing aspirations with practical execution.
“Let us remember that effective legislation requires both principle and practicality,” Marcos added.
Furthermore, Marcos advocated for enhanced cooperation between local government units and the national administration to accelerate the delivery of social services and aid.
He reaffirmed the national government’s dedication to assisting local units through financial channels like the Local Government Support Fund and the Social Civic Projects Fund, which aim to strengthen essential services in resource-limited areas.
“Remember, we are one government, and our purpose is to serve the Filipino people,” he concluded.