LA TRINIDAD, Benguet – Vice governor Ericson ‘Tagel’ Felipe believes that there is still a big possibility for a paradigm shift in the mindset of people on how they view the implementation of programs, projects and activities not only of the local governments but also the concerned government agencies.
Felipe, who is in his first term as the presiding officer of the provincial board, claimed that in his over a year of working with the legislature, he almost lost hope in trying to gradually institute changes in the mindset of people dealing with the various local governments and concerned government agencies because of the dole out system that had been evidently taken advantage, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The vice governor stated that informing and educating the people on the importance of the paradigm shift in the mindset of people will surely take a long period of time but it should start the soonest, especially among the youth who are now dominant in the society, so that they will be the ones to continue the uphill battle for the possible change in how people perceive the programs, projects and activities of the government.
“We pin our hopes to the youth who will continue our desired paradigm shift in how we perceive the government at this time. Our youth will surely be instrumental in realizing that shift that we had been longing for so that we will be able to achieve our aspiration for transept and accountable government that will uphold the welfare of the greater majority of our populace,” Vice governor Felipe stressed.
According to him, concerned government agencies have numerous programs, projects and activities that could be availed by the people based on the learnings that he was able to undergo over the past several months that is why it needs the desire of individuals to be able to tap the said interventions to help them become productive citizens not only of the province but also the entire nation.
Felipe explained that by equipping people with additional skills, they will be productive in the future that will allow them to earn higher income that they will use to provide the needs of their families and with increased economic activities of people, businesses will surely flourish and will be able to pay to the government higher taxes that will be used to fund the implementation of development projects and enhance the delivery of basic services to o the people.
The provincial official stipulated that much has yet to be done in an effort to institute reforms but it should start from the concerned individuals expanding to their families and the communities where they belong until such time that empowered individuals will be able to aggressively take part in the bandwagon of changing the mindset of people.
He rallied the youth to be actively involved in all initiatives being undertaken to institute the necessary changes on how people view the way government handles the implementation of programs, projects and activities so that their voices will be heard considering that they now play a key role in running the affairs of the government.
