Missing from the Sona: Any mention of LGUs and the role they perform

I listened to the second State of the Nation Address of President Duterte and I did not hear in his speech any proposed plan, program or specific executive instruction that the local government units (LGUs) have a vital role to play in realizing the national goals set by the President.

I find it strange that the President, a former city mayor himself, never mentioned LGUs in his speech. It must be stressed that most of the national programs are primarily initiated at the LGU level. Simply put, LGUs provide action to national plans and programs.

However, it should also be understood that LGUs are not simply machines for delivering services of the national government but are expressions of empowered local entities which are capable of independent and sustaining growth and hence have the right to determine their own fate.

I hope LGUs would get more attention from the national government especially so that the latter is pushing for the adoption of a federal or a unitary form of government and such an initiative largely depends on the nod of the LGUs.

REGINALD B. TAMAYO, Marikina City