President Rodrigo Roa Duterte on Tuesday said he wants to reconfigure projects being carried out by the national government so that all local government units (LGUs) get project allocation.
During his attendance to the 2020 League of Municipalities of the Philippines (LMP) General Assembly held in Pasay City, President Duterte assured the local chief executives of his full support in advancing the common good in their respective communities.
And in the last two years before stepping down from power, the President conveyed his intention to equally distribute government projects for the benefit of LGUs throughout the Philippines.
“Ang gusto ko lang sana sa last two years ko, if I can equitably distribute the money of the republic to cover the entire Philippines on projects, malaki man o maliit, basta meron ang lahat,” the President said in his speech.
“That would be a new mindset for the months to come kasi wala na ako — pawala na. At gusto ko naman na masabi ninyo na at least lumingon lang man ako sa mga munisipyo for after all I think that I won the presidency practically on my own and that I did remember everyone of you.”
Although he does not want to start projects that can’t be finished during his term, the President acknowledged that most big-ticket projects take several years to complete.
“But be that as it may, sinabi ko pa rin sa kanila kung anuman ang maiwan na pera, try to distribute it doon sa Republika ng Pilipinas, the local government units tutal meron naman tayong nagawa,” he said.
One of the major projects, he said, is the Skyway, which is expected to greatly improve the traffic situation of Metro Manila.
Some of the projects started during the previous administration and were completed during President Duterte’s term.
“Pero para sa akin okay na ‘yon. I can give the credit to them for I never started it. I’m just finishing it. It’s no big deal for anyone,” he said.
Also present Tuesday were Senator Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go, Interior and Local Government Secretary Eduardo Año, Communications Secretary Martin Andanar and other members of the Cabinet. PND
