Belmonte to BSKE winners: Serve the people

MANILA, Philippines — Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte on Tuesday night urged winners of the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections (BSKE) to reciprocate the trust given to them by their constituencies with honesty and good governance.

In a statement, the mayor said the elections in Quezon City were peaceful and orderly.

She expressed gratitude to all residents in the city’s 142 barangays for participating in the polls.

“I also salute the teachers, local government employees, police and volunteers who ensured the smooth conduct of the entire election in every district of our city. The BSKE would not have been successful without your help,” she said in Filipino.

“To the newly elected barangay and SK officials, you were the ones chosen by your constituents. I hope that the trust placed in you will be reciprocated with honest and effective governance in your barangays. As the primary unit of government, the change we aspire to for the entire nation begins with you,” she added.

Meanwhile, Manila Mayor Honey Lacuna-Pangan called on candidates in the BSKE, particularly the winners, to start cleaning up their campaign litter.

“We should help remove and clean up all tarpaulins and other election materials,” she said in a video posted on the Facebook page of the city government.

Some areas in the city, particularly in Sta. Cruz and Ermita districts, were indeed cleared of election paraphernalia.

Lacuna-Pangan also called on the winners to make Manila a “happier, more orderly and more prosperous” city.