In a bold gesture of peace, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Tuesday called on all newly elected officials to unify and “move forward together” for the nation’s good.

“Governance is a shared responsibility, a mission that requires unity and burden sharing for the common good,” President Marcos said in a statement.

“To the newly elected, regardless of party or coalition, I extend my hand. Let us move forward together—with open minds and a common purpose,” the President added.

A day after the May 12 midterm elections, the Chief Executive said newly elected officials were put into office by the electorate to face the task head-on and listen to and act on the people’s daily burdens, including inflation, jobs, and corruption.

“Public service goes beyond elections. The work of nation-building needs all who are ready to serve,” the President noted.

Quoting the rallying cry for unity by his late father and namesake, President Marcos said, “If we are to prevail, we must prevail as Filipinos—for it is the only way to endure. If we are to attain our goals, we must march forward, not to the past but to the future.”

“And we must do this as one family, a nation united,” the President echoed his father’s words. | PND