Members of the League of Provinces of the Philippines (LPP) have unanimously called for the mobilization of uniformed personnel as security escorts of incumbent officials seeking public office during the election period.
The proposal was made by Misamis Occidental Governor Peter Unabia who requested President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., the Commission on Election (Comelec) and the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) to heed the LPP’s call.
This was formalized in a resolution approved during the LPP’s recent Third General Assembly hosted by Davao del Norte Gov. Edwin I. Jubahib in Samal Island.
In the said event, the LPP approved the resolution “expressing strong support and appreciation to the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), led by its National Statistician and Civil Registrar General, Undersecretary Dennis S. Mapa, for initiating the conduct of local-level statistics and other related activities, urging Congress to increase the allocation for Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) for the conduct of Community-Based Monitoring System (CBMS) survey for all local government units regardless of class, urging the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) to transfer or involve the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) in managing the Government Support Fund (LGSF) to support LGUs’’ among others.
The LPP also formalized, through a resolution, its endorsement and appointment of Batangas Gov. Hermilando I. Mandanas to the Philhealth Board representing the local government units, pursuant to Republic Act (R.A) 7875 as amended by R.A. 10606 , creating the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth).
During the assembly, the LPP tackled various controversial issues currently affecting the provinces, particularly the case of Surigao del Norte Gov. Lyndon Barbers.
Barbers sought the support of the LPP regarding a controversy involving his own province and its municipality of Gen. Luna.
He noted that Surigao del Norte was supposed to sponsor a national surfing competition but the said municipality insisted that he cannot hold the event without first securing a mayor’s permit.
In response, the LPP declared its full support for Barbers and adopted a resolution for DILG Secretary Benjamin “Benhur” Abalos Jr. to intercede to clear the controversy.