President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. recognized on Wednesday the significant role of barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) officials in nation-building as he assured them of a listening government under his leadership.
In his speech during the oath-taking ceremony of the newly elected officers of the Liga ng mga Barangay (LnB) and the SK national and island representatives, President Marcos said the barangay and SK officials should not think they have insignificant role in national development.
“Kabilang kayo [sa mga] mukha ng Bagong Pilipinas, kaya naman ay inaasahan namin ang inyong pangunguna sa pagbabago upang mapaigting ang dekalidad na serbisyo publiko,” President Marcos told LnB and SK officials.
“Huwag niyong iisipin na dahil sinasabi mataas ‘yung governor, mataas ‘yung mayor, tapos kami barangay lang kami, SK lang kami. Huwag niyong iispin ‘yun dahil napakahalaga ng inyong trabaho. Napakahalaga ang ginagampanan ninyo na katungkulan para sa ating pagpaganda ng Pilipinas,” he added.
At least 31 newly elected LnB officers took their oath before President Marcos at the Malacañan Palace on Wednesday morning along with four other SK officials.
The President, who is a former local government official, said it is the local government officials, including the barangay, SK and even community volunteers such as the barangay health workers (BHWs) who have first-hand information of developments in their area.
He said every one of them plays an important role in the barangay.
“Kailangan laging nasa isip ninyo na kung hindi maganda ang ating pagdala ng serbisyo sa taumbayan at the local level, wala ng kabuluhan ‘yun, hindi talaga mararamdaman. And that’s why this is such an important part of the way that we plan our economic policies, our political policies, all of these,” he said.
President Marcos assured LnB and SK officials that the national government will continue to listen to them. “So, kaya’t nabanggit ko lahat ‘yan ay dahil nais ko lang naman talagang ipaalam sa inyo na dahil nga sa aking karanasan bilang local government official ay asahan po ninyo na lahat ng inyong mga iniisip, lahat ng inyong mga suggestion, lahat ng inyong sinasabi sa amin ay pinapakinggan namin ‘yan,” he said.
President Marcos also asked the youth to maximize the use of the new technology in their planning and decision-making, adding that they will not be left behind in the nation-building under a “Bagong Pilipinas.”
“Napakaganda makita na ang mga kabataan talagang hindi nila tinitigilan ang kanilang paniniwala na ipinaglalaban,” he said. The President said the government needs “new blood” and the youth’s energy. |PND
