LAKAS-Christian Muslim Democrats (Lakas-CMD) vice presidential candidate Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte on Tuesday underscored the importance of local executives, including vice mayors, in running the bureaucracy amid various challenges like perennial lack of funding and new problems caused by the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic.

Duterte was the guest during the Vice Mayors’ League of the Philippines 1st Quarter 2022 Regular National Executive Board Meeting.

“I would like to begin by stating what is not often said enough that local government officials matter. In the front lines of every crisis, tragedy, and calamity, vice mayors lead, respond and resolve eminent and infinite challenges in their localities,” Duterte said in her speech.

“Vice mayors are very important because hindi po makakagalaw ang mayor natin kung wala ang vice mayor, dahil ang vice mayor has a power of the purse and the budget ordinances, so kung wala pong pera wala pong ma-irespond si mayor,” said Duterte, who chairs Lakas-CMD.

Speaking of funds, Duterte commiserated with the local executives that they are often short on money to implement their programs or respond to calamities.

She said the windfall to the local government units (LGUs) from the Mandanas ruling is not enough given present-day situations.

“While the national tax allotment of [LGUs] has increased with the implementation of the Mandanas ruling this year, many LGUs are still disadvantaged for geographic or other reasons. Including those ravage like calamities, and this is so true because hanggang ngayon lahat nung mga LGUs natin na nadaanan ng typhoon ‘Odette’ ay hindi pa nakabalik at 100 percent and in fact it will take years for them to rebuild their municipalities,” Duterte said.

Duterte stressed that no municipality or city regardless of classification should be excluded from continued national government assistance when the need arises. “This is something that we have to talk to with our senators and members of the House of Representatives.”

The front-running vice presidential bet further highlighted the importance of vice mayors whether or not the LGU is facing a crisis.

“In the disconnect that can sometimes resolve from policies structured nationally, vice mayors bridge the gap to make sure the stringent metrication of policies are tempered with humanity and reality and that is the power of so-called LGUs,” Duterte said.

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Ryan Ponce Pacpaco