Gatchalian thanks Duterte for 'validation' of his NLEX move
Valenzuela City Mayor Rex Gatchalian on Thursday expressed his gratitude to President Duterte for the "validation" and "affirmation" he gave to the city government regarding its action to suspend the business permit of North Luzon Expressway (NLEX).
Gatchalian also thanked the President for "devoting" his time during his Wednesday night address "to discuss" about the matter.
The mayor said that although he was not able to talk to Duterte personally, he noted that the President's move to tackle the issue on a national television "was enough" for the local government "to be glad."
"Ako ang dapat magpasalamat sa pangulo dahil na validate yung ginawa nating hakbang. And pangalawa, nagpapasalamat ako na sinabi nya talaga doon na yung mga local government, kapangyarihan nila 'yan (I should be the one to thank the President for validating our move. I’m also thankful that he said, it is the local government that has the power over the matter),” he said.
"Sapat na po yun na ikagalak namin na tama kami, tama ang lokal na pamahalaan sa kanyang ginawa, di ba syempre, at one point, dyan kami binabato ng NLEX, na mali daw kami. So natuldukan na yung usapan na yun (It’s enough for us to be glad, to know that what we did is right. Because, at one point, NLEX was telling us that it should not be the local but the national government to address the issue. So, the argument is already settled).”
Gatchalian said that Duterte's validation "is a big thing" for the local government units as it highlighted their power over issues that concern their constituents.
"Itong local government code binigyan ng kapangyarihan (The local government code gives us power) to hold companies, even the big ones, accountable," he said.
"Yung kontexto ng mensahe nya kagabi is very clear eh. Alam nyang local issue to, traffic is a local matter, let the mayor move immediately. Wag na nating hintayin yung pamahalaang nasyonal lagi, kasi mabigat din ang gampanin ng mga nasa pamahalaang nasyonal (His message yesterday night was very clear. He knew that this is a local government issue, that traffic is a local matter and that he should let the mayor move immediately. Let’s not wait for the national government to move, because even they have a lot of things to do)," he added.