Former House Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano on Saturday urged leaders of barangays in the National Capital Region (NCR) to continue doing their best and maintain their unity amid the COVID-19 pandemic and the upcoming 2022 National Elections.
In a short speech during the Liga ng mga Barangay sa Pilipinas NCR Christmas Gathering on December 4, 2021, Cayetano recognized the village chief executives’ efforts as frontliners in the time of COVID-19 and encouraged them to continue “doing good” in their localities.
“I know how difficult it is and how difficult it has been in the last two years sa inyong (to you) barangay officials, because among the frontliners, siguro sa dalawang pinaka-frontliners (two of the most exposed frontliners), it’s really the medical personnel and the barangay,” he said.
“What I have to tell you is that may mga iba talagang isa-sacrifice niyo sa mundong ito na asahan niyong Diyos na lang ang gaganti sa inyo. Maaaring sa buhay na ito, maaaring sa pulitika, maaaring afterlife. So, just continue to do your best [and] do good,” he added.
(What I have to tell you is that there are things that you need to sacrifice in this world, but know that God will be the one to reward you. This will probably happen in this lifetime, or in politics, or in the afterlife. So, just continue to do your best and do good.)
Cayetano also highlighted the importance of coordination between the local governments and the national government, especially since resources are lacking in the barangay level.
“Bottom line, kung successful tayo sa barangay (if we are successful in the barangay), all the way up to the Malacañang, successful tayo (we are successful),” he said.
“Isang barangay lang ang magkaproblema sa ating city o municipality, nasa news ka na,” Cayetano added.
(Even if only one barangay has a problem in our city or municipality, we are bannered in the news.)
As a final request to the local chief executives, Cayetano asked them to “keep their unity” in the Liga ng mga Barangay sa Pilipinas (NCR) because they need something to hold on to.
“I hope despite the different candidates that we will all have [in the elections], you can keep your unity sa Liga ng mga Barangay sa NCR because kailangan may kakapitan tayo (we need something to hold on to),” he said.
“Kailangan, anuman ang diperensya natin sa pulitika, pagdating sa Liga, pagdating sa kailangan sa barangay, lalo sa mga emergency, we can always tap each other, call each other, and be a text message away,” he concluded.
(No matter our differences in politics, when it comes to the organization and to the needs of the barangays, especially during emergencies, we can always tap each other, call each other, and be a text message away.)
The Liga ng mga Barangay sa Pilipinas (NCR) Christmas Gathering was held on December 4, 2021 at the Sarius Ballroom C, Marquis Events Place, 34th Street cor. Rizal Drive, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig City.
It was attended by Taguig City 2nd Rep. Maria Laarni L. Cayetano, Department of the Interior and Local Government Undersecretary for Barangay Affairs Martin B. Diño, Liga ng mga Barangay sa Pilipinas National President Eden Chua-Pineda, Liga ng mga Barangay President Ziffred A. Ancheta from Barangay Tumana, Marikina City, Liga President and National Auditor Jose Lorenzo Almeda from Barangay 43, Caloocan City, and Liga President and Secretary-General Hon. Jorge Bocobo from Barangay Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City.
