Duterte at PCL 10th national congress
President Rodrigo Duterte does a selfie- style group photograph with the delegates of the 10th National Congress of the Philippine Councilors League held recently at the World Trade Center in Pasay City where he spoke on the government’s campaign against drugs and criminality, and the shift in the federal form of government.
Themed “Your PCL Advocating Genuine Peace, Inc lus ive Growth and Countryside Development through Federalism,” the triennial gathering was attended by some 10,000 city and municipal councilors led by its national chairman Elmer Datuin of Baguio City and national president Maybelyn Dela Cruz- Fernandez of Dagupan City.
The two- day confab featured talks from Philippine National Police Director General Ronald Dela Rosa, Party- list Congressman Harry Roque Jr., Mindanao Development Authority Chairman Datu Abdul Khayr DangcalAlonto, Department of the Interior and Local Government Secretary Ismael Sueno, National Youth Commission Assistant Secretary Paul Anthony Pangilinan, People’s National Movement for Federalism president Dante Liban, Tourism Promotions Board chief operating officer Cesar Montano, and former Metro Manila Development Authority chairman Francis Tolentino.
Senate President and PDP party chief Aquilino Pimentel discussed extensively the salient points of the proposed federal form of government and sought the help of the local legislators in the information dissemination on the issue. Senators Cynthia Villar, Manny Pacquiao and Joseph Victor Ejercito also delivered keynote addresses on improving the quality of legislation for a more responsive local governance.
The 17,000-strong league, the largest association of local officials, also called for the resumption of the peace talks between the government and the National Democratic Front.
The group also elected Danny Dayanghirang of Davao City and Luis “Chavit” Singson of Narvacan, Ilocos Sur as national chairman and national president, respectively.
Founded in 1990, the League seeks to capacitate its membership for relevant local legislation and establish a strategic and accessible forum for strengthening public sector relations toward community development.