By Celeste Tamayo

MANILA — President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. urged local officials to continue making a positive impact on their constituents.

“Today, we gather as leaders and public servants who have dedicated our years—and in many cases, our lives—to civil service. For many of us, this is a calling and a lifelong commitment to serving our people,” he said during the End-Term General Assembly of the League of Municipalities of the Philippines (LMP).

Marcos described municipal mayors as the “frontliners 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,” the President added.

The Chief Executive also noted that more local government units (LGUs) could achieve the highest standards due to initiatives introduced by municipal mayors in assessing financial sustainability under the Seal of Good Local Governance.

In 2024, the number of LGUs increased from 493 to 714. Marcos called this growth “a clear sign that more local governments are enhancing fiscal discipline and transparency.”

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