Senate Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano on Friday urged Taguig City officials to treat criticism as a challenge to continue pursuing excellence, saying the city has come a long way but still has much work to do.
“Let’s not get upset if anyone pushes us to be better, to do more; kung may nagagalit kasi hindi pa perfect. We’ve gone so far, but there’s so much more work to do,” Cayetano said during the 8th City Council Legislators’ Night on September 4.
“Let’s be upset if it’s a witch hunt, if it’s a demolition job. Sobra iyon at mali,” he said. “But let’s take it as an inspiration when people want us to do better.”
Cayetano acknowledged present and former Taguig officials for “planting the right seeds” that contributed to the city’s significant progress over the years.
“While we’re not perfect, the present mayor, kayo po, and many, many of our previous officials ay nagtanim ng maganda sa Taguig,” he said.
“Nagtanim ng vision, nagtanim ng pangarap, nagtanim ng tama sa edukasyon, sa kalusugan, nagtanim ng righteousness,” he added.
Cayetano cited the city’s progress in flood control despite Taguig covering a larger land area than most cities in Metro Manila.
“Malayo na ang narating ng flood control sa Taguig,” he said. “Dati three to four months, hanggang leeg.”
Despite these gains, Cayetano urged city officials to continue pursuing excellence and constantly “remake” Taguig, citing Singapore as an example.
The former Foreign Affairs Secretary said Singapore continues to perform well in health, education, safety, and other measures of human development because its citizens keep demanding more from their government.
“Nasanay sila na parating excellent. So kahit na excellent daw, they still demand more,” he said.
“Wala pa akong nakitang Singapore official na nagsabing, ‘Napapagod na ako.’ They take it as a challenge,” he added.
To sustain this drive for excellence, Cayetano shared with Taguig officials the concept of having “one audience.”
“One audience lang, which is God. Then trust God that the public will eventually see it,” he said.
“So Taguig might not be fully appreciated now, but let’s turn this trial and struggle into an opportunity,” he added.