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Leonardia steps down as nat’l LCP president

Bacolod City Mayor Evelio Leonardia at the League of Cities of the Philippines special assembly at the Marriott Hotel in Manila on June 2.*

Outgoing Bacolod City Mayor Evelio Leonardia has stepped down as national president of the 145-member League of Cities of the Philippines (LCP) during the organization’s special assembly at the Marriott Hotel in Manila on June 2.

“Working with you has made me a better public servant and a better man. I am because we are,” said Leonardia, who was given a standing ovation at the assembly by his peers from other highly-urbanized cities.

Leonardia was elected LCP national president during the League’s 68th general assembly on July 19, 2019, a press release from the Bacolod Public Information Office said Tuesday, May 7.

He was eventually named by President Rodrigo Duterte to represent about 2,000 local government units as their representative to the Legislators-Executive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC).

The LEDAC is the highest advisory council to the President on development and economic matters, among others.

Last week’s gathering was the League’s first face-to-face general assembly since the pandemic struck the Philippines in early 2020.

Keynoting the Special LCP GA was Senator Sherwin Gatchalian.

“It has been a term like no other. The pandemic dominated our lives, changed the complexity of things and introduced new challenges no one before us faced,” Leonardia said as he mentioned the trials brought about by COVID-19 to the LCP.

The global crisis, however, brought out the best from the members as they “responded, rose to the occasion and fought back” to the many challenges for the past three years, he said.

“It was a situation that called for the best of us. It made us more innovative and creative and squeezed the best out of us,” mayor said, as he highlighted the efforts of chief executives whose cities were de-escalated to Alert Level 1.

The LCP was also at the forefront of the multi-lateral agreement that assured the supply of AstraZeneca vaccines, he added.

The LCP Treasurer’s report said under Leonardia’s term, he will leave behind funds amounting to about P58 million.

“This only proves that working together will help us get through difficult times. I will never forget your hard work and support throughout these difficult times,” he said.*

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