LEAD FIGHT VS CORRUPTION, VP NOLI TELLS BARANGAY CHIEFS
March 17, 2008

Vice President Noli 'Kabayan' De Castro urged all barangay leaders in the country to initiate the fight against corruption.

Speaking during the first national convention of the 4th Liga ng mga Barangay in Intramuros, Manila recently, De Castro said the drive against corruption should be implemented in all government service starting with the barangay.

“Kung gusto nating wakasan ang korapsiyon, alisin natin ito sa lahat ng antas ng government service, mula sa baba, hanggang sa taas," De Castro said.

"Kayo po ang frontliners ng gobyerno. Kung gusto nating muling ibalik ang tiwala ng mga mamayan sa pamahalaan, kailangan ay magkaroon din sila ng tiwala at kumpiyansa sa inyo," he said. "Kailangan natin ito upang tuluyang makarating sa bawat pamilyang Pilipino ang ipinangakong pag-unlad," he added.

At present, De Castro said, there is so much noise on the entangled issues of corruption about the government and it is only right to pay attention to it. For De Castro, it is healthy that such discussions are made so that public resources are protected.

However, the Vice President said the people should not be narrow-minded on the issue of corruption.

"The issue about corruption in government should not be pursued simply for the political gain of one party or one group. This should be about protecting and advancing the welfare of the entire Filipino people," he said.

De Castro explained that the barangay is the smallest political unit, yet it plays a strategic role in the country's development.

Based on the scaling up approach, he expects reforms to start in small units such as the individual Filipino, the family and the barangay.

“It is the best compliment to the strategic and direct interventions that government pursues, and should pursue more extensively, to address poverty," he said.

Nevertheless, De Castro expressed hope that the league of barangays would heed the challenge of the times and become genuine movers of development in the country.

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