Aspiring president Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. has stressed the importance of coordination between the national government and the local government units (LGUs) in terms of promoting progress in the countryside as well as ensuring that appropriate laws are implemented.
In an event in Pasay City on Tuesday night, March 1, Marcos Jr., himself a former local chief executive, said LGUs play a significant role in the country’s progress since they are identified with the "grassroots".
It's the problems at this level that the national government must determine and immediately address, he added.
“In other words the realities on the ground sa grassroots level kung papaano magdala ng serbisyo ang ating local government official, ang mga governor, ang mga mayor hanggang sa barangay ay talagang kailangan na maging mas tama ang komunikasyon (sa national government) para maging effective (The communication regarding services for the grassroots level--from the local government officials or governors and mayors--must be well-coordinated and efficient for them to become effective),” Marcos Jr. told the hundreds of municipal mayors that attended the convention of the members of the League of Municipalities of the Philippines.
Marcos Jr. said he and his running mate vice presidential aspirant Sara Duterte-Carpio, who is currently the mayor of Davao City, will ensure that basic services will be delivered to the people, especially in far-flung areas, as they understand the plight of LGUs.
“No one can tell you that they're better, more expert (sic) about your municipalities than yourself; and that is something the national government will have to learn to respect. And with Inday Sara and I being experienced in local government, we fully intend to address that balance," he said.
“To make that balance more effective, hindi lang one direction na inuutusan lang ng national government at sasabihin ang gagawin ng LGU. Sa halip dapat may maayos na konsultasyon ang local government at saka national government (The national government shouldn’t just give out directions for the LGUs to follow. Instead, there should be a proper consultation between the two)," he added.