Ochoa: LGUs are
strategic partners to national development
Press Release
December
7, 2011
MALACAÑANG –
Executive Secretary Paquito N. Ochoa Jr. on Tuesday underscored the
importance of local government units (LGUs) as strategic partners of
the Aquino administration in national development and in equitably
distributing its benefits.
Speaking on behalf of
President Benigno S. Aquino III in the 2011 General Assembly of the
League of Municipalities of the Philippines (LMP) in Cebu City, Ochoa
said the government will continue to engage LGUs to promote this
partnership and help transform communities into vibrant economies.
“With your help we
hope to transform our towns, cities and provinces into progressive and
vibrant economies that can serve as hubs for the development of new
economic regions,” Ochoa said.
“The formula is
simple: local progress leads to national development, local
productivity results in national prosperity,” Ochoa added.
He encouraged
municipalities to work together and pool their resources in drawing up
a list of projects that is in line with national economic goals.
“Individually, it may not be possible for your towns to undertake
programs and projects that have huge financial requirements; but
together it will be more feasible for you to launch the kind of
projects that can benefit your towns and constituents, as well as
complement national initiatives.”
Citing the experience
of the national government in pursuing projects under the
public-private partnership (PPP), this, too, can be explored at the
LGU level to enable municipalities to support their programs.
“As long as these
projects can provide a return on investment for those involved, you
will be able to attract parties interested in investing in your
areas,” Ochoa told mayors of 1,498 municipalities who participated in
the LMP general assembly held at the Cebu International Convention
Center.
He said LGU projects
must be in line with the five Cabinet clusters that were formed by the
President to organize our national goals, namely Good Governance;
Economic Development; Human Development; Security, Justice and Peace;
and Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation clusters.
The President’s
Cabinet cluster system is outlined in Executive Order No. 43.
More than just
establishing a system of governance or organizing the Cabinet into
clusters, EO 43 defines the President’s vision to attain “the good
life” for every Filipino and reflects the national agenda for
development.
While the
administration is still finalizing the details of this national-local
partnership program, Ochoa noted that its components essentially
involve the following: (a) Projects that strategically link localities
with national and global markets such as construction of ports and
airports, and the development of information communication technology
portals; (b) Projects that create economic enterprises such as
“bagsakan” centers, food processing centers, and postharvest and
storage facilities; and (c) Projects that promote tourism.