President Marcos has urged local chief executives to speak up and help in the fight against corruption, which has "poisoned public trust."

"We must take responsibility to eradicate this abhorrent culture of corruption that has poisoned the public trust and has robbed us of a better future," Marcos told local chief executives on Tuesday, Oct. 7.

"Let us continue to do the work that changes millions of lives. Be testaments that public service can still be honest and hopeful," he added.

Marcos administered the oath of office of the League of Cities of the Philippines (LCP) National Executive Board and the League of Municipalities of the Philippines National Executive Officers at the Malacañan Palace.

Emphasizing that a concerted effort among local government units (LGUs) is needed to combat corruption, he encouraged the local leaders to report to him suspicious infrastructure projects within their areas.

He cited that a mayor came up to him to report that he was being prohibited to enter a construction site of a national project undertaken in his jurisdiction.

The President called on them to speak up if a similar incident happened to them.

"You speak up. Magsabi kayo (Tell me)," he told them.

"Hindi lamang sa mga ordinary citizens kundi kayo na rin, isumbong ninyo sa Pangulo kung anuman ang nakikita ninyo. Ayaw na natin ‘yan. Hindi na tayo papayag diyan. Gagawin natin ang lahat para matigil na lahat ‘yan (Not only ordinary citizens, but also you should report to the President anything you see. We will not tolerate that anymore. We will not allow it. We will do everything to put an end to it)," Marcos stressed.

He underscored that there must be a synergy between the local and national governments, further encouraging them to work together.

"So, let us work hard to achieve that and we can do it. We can do it if we work hard, if we work together, and we remain committed to our service to the people – not to ourselves, not to our party, but to the people," Marcos said.

The President has initiated the investigation into kickback schemes in multi-billion peso flood control projects involving government officials and private contractors.

Last month, he issued an executive order creating the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) to investigate corruption in the implementation of flood control and related projects in the last 10 years and to recommend appropriate charges against liable parties.