MANILA, Philippines—Eastern Samar Gov. Ben Evardone, one of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s staunchest allies in local government, has been appointed presidential adviser on local government units and public affairs.

The President on Wednesday acknowledged Evardone in her speech before the Union of Local Authorities of the Philippines (ULAP) in Malacañang, referring to him as her adviser for public affairs. Evardone had played a key role in patching up the differences between mayors and governors on who should lead ULAP.

Evardone, 45, said his job entails crafting policies and studies on relevant and pressing issues, and helping mobilize public support for major presidential advocacies.

He is more known for spearheading a petition to amend the Constitution through people’s initiative in 2006, which was dismissed as unconstitutional by the Supreme Court.

Evardone is now the chair of the Regional Peace and Order Council, and secretary general of the League of Provinces of the Philippines.

A former journalist, he also served as Assistant Executive Secretary and Assistant Secretary of the Department of the Transportation and Communication during the Aquino administration.

The new set of ULAP officers, led by its new president, Mandaluyong City Mayor Benjamin “Ben Hur”’ Abalos Jr., took their oath Wednesday before the President in Malacañang.

On the eve of the oath-taking, Evardone said he and other executives finally convinced their fellow governors to drop their objections and support Abalos as head of ULAP, traditionally led by members of the Governors’ League.

“We should be united especially at this time,” he said.

Some governors had threatened to withdraw from ULAP to protest Abalos’ election as president of the group, saying a governor should lead the organization. But the mayors and other local executives had countered that there was nothing in their by-laws that prevented other local executives from heading the group.

“We’re now OK as you can see,” said Abalos after holding a joint briefing with Evardone, Misamis Occidental Gov. Loreto Leo Ocampos, Camarines Sur Gov. Luis Ray Villafuerte and Zamboanga del Norte Gov. Rolando Yebes, among others.