Local officials, under the umbrella of the Union of Local Authorities of the Philippines (ULAP), pledged support to the call of President Rodrigo Duterte and the Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission (PACC) to eradicate corruption, a press release from Bacolod City PIO.
The declaration was made at the virtual launch of “Project Kasangga: Tokhang Kontra Korapsyon,” a program that promotes good governance, transparency, and accountability in public service, today 24 May 2021.
The launch was co-organized by the Anti-Red Tape Authority (ARTA) and the Union of Local Authorities of the Philippines (ULAP).
The ULAP membership includes the Leagues of Provinces, Cities, Municipalities, and Barangays. The Vice Governors, Vice Mayors, and Councilors’ Leagues are among the members.
The League of Cities of the Philippines (LCP) also expressed its support to the call.
Leonardia, who is both the executive vice president of ULAP and the national president of LCP, said, “The call for transparency and accountability is inherent in every public office. We subscribe to the tenets of PACC because that is what we all promised to do when we took our oath of office.”
Also joining the virtual launch were Senator Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go; PACC chairman Greco Belgica; ARTA director general Jeremiah Belgica; DILG Undersecretary Martin Dino, and ULAP members.
“Project Kasangga” showcases the government’s anti-red tape initiatives and declarations of support and messages of acceptance by heads of government agencies and Leagues’ officials.
PACC commissioner Greco Belgica told the government officials, “Your signature is a promise of your commitment that you’ll be with us; and I am truly glad that you’ll support us.”
The project aims to engage various government agencies to be on-board in the President’s anti-corruption campaign, which will eventually link various agency command centers for easy collaboration.
ULAP president and Quirino Governor Dakila Carlo Cua, in his acceptance message, said, “We are here to represent our desire to work with your Commission, to work with the President and hopefully put an end to corruption.”
“We will be facing a difficult challenge. However, helping each other together with the League, PCAA, and our President we believe that the Filipinos support your program against corruption,” Cua added.
The virtual launch presented a video message of Duterte, who emphasized the need to fight “red tape” and corruption in the government.
“Let me express my full support for this project, which is consistent with my administration’s goal of ensuring transparency and accountability in the government,” Duterte said in the vide message.
“I hope this project will encourage all of us in the government to set aside our personal interests so that we will instill decency, integrity, and honesty in public service,” the President added.
“Project Kasangga” will enable cooperation in the detection and resolution of cases of government officials and the reduction of graft and corruption cases within the various agencies of government.
It aims to cascade a God-centered anti-corruption advocacy and moral transformation. Through this, government agencies may successfully eradicate corruption by policing their own ranks, and create a mechanism where information on corruption can easily be reported to the heads of agencies, the PACC and the President.*/CITY PIO
