PALO, Leyte- Village officials were urged to become partners for change and create development programs that will help improve the economic conditions of their constituents.
This appeal was made by Leyte Governor Leopoldo Dominico Petilla during a mass oath-taking ceremony for the newly-elected barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) officials of this town.
Petilla said that barangay officials should take advantage of the economic boom now being enjoyed by Palo saying whatever economic gains the town is experiencing should also be felt in the communities.
According to the governor, barangay people, through their leaders, should be ready for any needs like additional work force.
“Many investors are now coming in to Palo and we need to sustain this. Palo has become an attractive investment destination not only for small businesses but even for multi-national firms,” Petilla said.
“As government officials, as local government and barangay officials, we need to prepare our constituents for this change. The investments coming in means more jobs that we need to fill in with applicants who will pass the job interviews,” the governor added.
Petilla also give this challenge to the newly-elected youth officials of the town.
“As youth leaders, you need to create and push programs that will provide and create better education to the youth,” he said.
In the same occasion, former Leyte governor Carlos Jericho Petilla also gave some advice to the barangay officials.
“Learn to know who your partners are,” the former officials said.
“Your budget is not enough to fund projects that you wanted to implement. Learn to seek help from other offices like the provincial government and the municipal government because these are your partners in governing your villages,” Petilla said.
Almost 600 newly-elected village and youth officials from Palo attended the mass-oath taking ceremony held at the Oriental Hotel de Leyte.
Also present were Vice Governor Carlo Loreto, Palo Mayor Remedios Petilla, Board Member Gina Merilo, Vice Mayor Ronan Christian Reposar, and Javier Mayor Leonardo Javier.
(ROEL T. AMAZONA)
