President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Tuesday urged the vice governors in the country to unite and help in his campaign against corruption in government.
‘The unscrupulous abuse of power and greed must come to an end,’ the President told the newly elected and appointed officials of the League of Vice Governors of the Philippines (LVGP) during their oath-taking ceremony at Malacañang.
‘Many Filipinos are dismayed because of the piling issues that overwhelm them every day,’ the President said in Filipino.
‘Our people are exhausted, they are disappointed, they are angry. And as I have said before, their rage is valid. It is born from years of frustration at a government characterized by systemic dysfunction and unfulfilled promises,’ he added.
Acknowledging the deep frustrations of ordinary Filipinos, Marcos stated that the people’s dissatisfaction stemmed from years of institutional neglect and the government’s repeated failures to deliver on its promises of reform.
The President urged the local executives not to ignore the public clamor that is growing louder.
‘Let us not dismiss that anger. Let us confront it. Let us be humble and provide concrete solutions,’ he said.
‘We already know what is wrong so we must make it right,’ Marcos added. ‘Reforming our government is the only way we have to win back the trust of our people.’
Congressional inquiries have found that trillions of pesos were embezzled by different government officials and contractors from the thousands of government flood control projects funded by taxpayers’ money.
This resulted in either substandard, or ‘ghost’ (nonexistent) public works projects that have failed in protecting the lives of Filipinos from flooding brought by stronger and greater numbers of successive typhoons and disasters.
Marcos ordered the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) to investigate all the anomalous government infrastructure projects in the past 10 years, and recommend the filing of charges to all those involved.
In the past weeks, Filipinos from different walks of life and political affiliations staged demonstrations across the country to condemn what the President himself called to be deeply entrenched and systemic corruption in the government.
As vice governors, they shall be the presiding officers of their respective provincial councils that pass ordinances and resolutions to create programs and policies that will help their constituents.
According to Marcos, although the vice governors come from different provinces and political parties, they should all be united in their commitment to serve the Filipino people.
‘Let us prove that true public service is not about political colors. It is found in the heart, in the conscience, and, most importantly, in action, the President said in Filipino.
‘I know we have it in us to provide our people with the service they rightfully deserve,’ he added.