President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. reminded local chief executives of the core reason they entered public service, especially with the election season underway.

“Let us not forget why we are here. We entered public service to help the people. Even though the fight may be close and heated words may be exchanged, at the end of the day, we are doing all this to serve our beloved fellow Filipinos. Let us not forget that,” he said in his speech at the End-Term General Assembly of the League of Municipalities of the Philippines (LMP) at the Manila Hotel.

Marcos emphasized that mayors are the first to hear the concerns of their constituents.

“Our municipal mayors, you are on the frontlines of governance. You are the first to hear the concerns of our people, the first to act on their needs, and the first to bear the weight of their expectations,” he said.

“Your initiatives are grounded in the realities on the ground. You understand the strengths and limitations of your towns, and you design programs that directly address the needs of your constituents. A testament to this is the progress we have made in local governance,” he added.

The President also urged local chief executives to reflect on their work and to “sustain the reforms” introduced at both the national and local government levels.

“Whatever path you choose after this — whether you seek another mandate or move on to a new chapter in your lives — I trust that you will embrace the same grit, passion, and commitment to service,” Marcos said.

Meanwhile, Marcos also called on public officials to engage with their constituents to form a unified approach to societal issues and local challenges.

“We need our countrymen to join us. Filipinos understand, Filipinos are patriotic. So, it is not difficult to ask our countrymen, our neighbors, our family members, our friends to help because we need all the support they can give to provide solutions to the problems we are facing,” he stressed.

He noted that the public must be involved in the decision-making process for more effective governance.