MALACAÑANG PHOTO/ INQUIRER FILE
MANILA, Philippines – President Benigno Aquino III on Tuesday told local officials and politicians who are not his allies that they are welcome to join the Liberal Party.
Aquino was discussing the Performance Challenge Fund (PCF) and how it would help local government units (LGU) when he made the remark at the League of Municipalities of the Philippines (LMP) general assembly at Manila Hotel.
He said as long as officials were sincere in helping their constituents, the national government will support them.
“At kahit saang partido pa kayo nanggaling, basta nagpapakitang-gilas kayo sa serbisyo at tapat na sumusunod sa mga patakaran, mabibigyan kayo ng kaukulang pondo at insentibo upang maiangat pa ang pamumuhay ng inyong mga nasasakupan,” he said before adding, “Pero kung gusto rin n’yo sumama sa amin, welcome rin po kayo.”
(And whatever party you belong to, as long as you do your best in serving the people and faithfully follow the rules, you will be given enough funds and incentives to help uplift the lives of your constituents. But if you also want to join us, you are also welcome to do so.)
Aquino’s statement was met with loud applause.
The President said at least 719 provinces, cities and municipalities have already received their share of the PCF, which has a total allocation of P1 billion.
He said it was the local government that knows the needs of the people, and is therefore in the perfect position to act on it.
Aquino pointed out that political color did not matter and there was no need for “palakasan at papogian” to access the said fund.
Interior Secretary Manuel Roxas II was quick to defend the President, saying the fund has nothing to do with politics – despite what other people thought. He told media that the program has been implemented since the term of the late Secretary Jesse Robredo.
Throughout his speech, the President discussed the reforms being implemented in the LGUs, as well as other improvements in the government.
He devoted a couple of minutes lauding Speaker Feliciano Belmonte’s work in transforming Quezon City into the country’s most developed city.
Ilocos Norte Governor Imee Marcos also turned heads as she stood next to Aquino during the picture taking session at the end of the program. The unlikely pair flashed smiles and engaged in small talk. Marcos was the daughter of former president Ferdinand Marcos, who was accused of having the incumbent President’s father, Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino Jr, assassinated.
LMP national president Sandy Javier, mayor of Javier town in Leyte, said the event was their most successful, with 91 percent of the country’s mayors in attendance.
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