Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Jonvic Remulla told newly-elected officials (NEOs) to rise above politics and personal interest, and focus on improving the lives of their constituents.

“We are entrusted by the people and it is a mandate. And the mandate carries not only the capacity to rule, but also the trust, hope and confidence that you’ll make their lives better,” Remulla said, during the kick-off of the NEO PLUS (Performing Leadership for Uplifting Service) Program led by the DILG’s Local Government Academy on Wednesday at the Heritage Hotel, Pasay City.

Addressing provincial governors and city mayors from NCR, Remulla challenged the country’s new local leaders to cut through the noise of online discourse and set an example of hope and good governance on the ground.

“The enemy of cynicism is nothing else but hope. Hope when they see that you build new schools and provide better education. Hope when you give scholarships. Hope when you give free medical services. Hope when they see that there is a direction that the province is leading,” he said.

He emphasized that “Ang Bagong Pilipinas means a path forward. It means on to the new. I hope that the Local Government Academy does that — teach you to look for the path forward. Because in this world of great cynicism, HOPE MUST WIN.”

The secretary called for unity of purpose and leadership that transcends partisanship. “Let’s all be one. One for your province. One for your region. One for our country. One for our President,” he said.