LEAGUE Magazine takes you into the heart of local governance in the Philippines, showcasing the best of the country - its people and leaders - where they are, how they thrive, how they lead, and how they succeed. Latest Issue News The Anti-Red Tape Authority (ARTA) has officially unveiled the Philippine Ease of Doing Business (EODB) Reform Guidebook designed to streamline and simplify business processes across the country. Good Governance ILOCOS SUR GOVERNOR JERRY SINGSON Fulfilling a Mission to Serve SENATOR JOEL VILLANUEVA ILOCOS SUR: A TAPESTRY OF NATURAL AND MANMADE WONDERS NUCLEAR SCIENCE IN ACTION Spotlight ESCAPE THE ORDINARY WITH CABADBARAN CITY’S MOST STUNNING BACKDROPS BARANGAY CONNECTION Barangay Magnao in kalinga opens a new health center, while SK Council of Barangay in Ragay, Camarines Sur supports students with supplies and hygiene kits Visiting Ilocos Sur is leads not just to an appreciation of beauty but realization of the Philippines’ rich tapestry of culture and history. The Philippine Nuclear Research Institute reveals its cutting-edge facilities that are shaping the future of nuclear technology in the Philippines while paving the way for a safer and more sustainable future. News & Events LEAGUE Magazine proudly recognizes the outstanding local leaders who earned the trust of their constituents in the 2025 Midterm Elections. We look forward to seeing the impact of your leadership in action. Want to learn more about their governance journeys and visionary leadership? Check the links below to read their past features on League Magazine. ARCHIVES Being of Service to More Filipinos Mayor JB Bernos of La Paz, Abra, dreams of a better future not only for Abra but the whole country. View More THE CAPTAIN AND HIS SHIP The man who weathered the storm, Tacloban City Mayor Alfred Romualdez was the last man to leave the city during the height of Super Typhoon Yolanda in 2013. View More Promoting Great Leadership Through ‘Serbisyong May Malasakit’ Estrella, who’s about to end his third term, is leaving with his head high—having transformed their municipality into a city. View More THE SERVANT LEADER What drove Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte to public service was a burning aspiration to reform government and improve its performance. View More A Mission Fulfilled Uy believes that the government’s role in ending poverty is to provide an environment that allows people to break the cycle themselves—to be self-reliant, not governmentdependent. View More THE VICO EFFECT The “Vico Effect” can be felt all over Pasig City as the mayor implements major changes in his first 100 days in office. View More Tourism EXPLORING THE UNTAMED BEAUTY OF SAMAL ISLAND Get a glimpse of the natural and man-made attractions at the Island Garden City of Samal. MUNTINLUPA CITY To many, the first thing that comes to mind about Muntinlupa is Bilibid or the National Penitentiary. Pangasinan's Untold Story Pangasinan is the third largest province in the Philippines. One common bit of knowledge about it is that it got its name from salt (asin in Filipino). But if you look at the provincial logo, it tells a different story. VIGAN: A THRIVING HERITAGE CITY Vigan’s vision is to create a productive, investment-friendly, and safe heritage province that promotes industrial peace, green economy, employment generation, and poverty reduction BEST OF BOTH WORLDS A delicate balance between modernity and culture gives Lapu-Lapu a unique advantage as the country’s “Historic Resort City” Rising from the Ruins BLOSSOMING AMIDST THE RUBBLE How Baguio City’s story of recovery is symbolized by the colorful Panagbenga Festival DIPOLOG: A COASTAL GEM If you find yourself in the Zamboanga Peninsula, make sure not to pass up the chance to visit Dipolog City’s historical sites and eco-tourism spots. CELEBRATING CHRISTMAS KAPAMPANGAN WAY Many have tried—but failed!—to take the “Christmas Capital of the Philippines” title away from Pampanga. Its uniquely Pinoy grandeur and joyous spirit continue to inspire those who have witnessed and experienced it Sports FILIPINO ATHLETES GOING FOR OLYMPIC GOLD IN PARIS AMAZING FILIPINAS: THE NEW TOAST OF THE PHILIPPINE SPORTS WORLD The Philippines first competed in the Olympics in Paris one hundred years ago, in 1924. Track and field athlete David Nepomuceno was the only Filipino participant who competed in the 100- and 200-meter track events. Although he failed to reach the quarterfinals of both events, he cemented his legacy in Philippine sports history as the first-ever Filipino Olympian. Amazing.” This word aptly describes the 20-month period from January 2022 to August 2023, as the Philippine Women’s National Football Team (PWNFT) completed its transformation from a struggling team to new sports heroines. Alyssa Valdez Youth volleyball Camp: Helping Young Aspiring Athletes Star volleyball player Alyssa Valdez launches a training camp to inspire young SPIKERS. MAN WITH MANNY TALENTS Pacquiao holds the Guinness World Record for “Most Boxing World Titles in Different Weight Divisions.” Read More CONTACT US Unit 506, GEMPC Building, Timog Avenue, Brg. Sacred Heart, Quezon City 1103 Inquiries: inquiry@league.ph HOME Executive National Government Agency GOCC LGU Congress of the Philippines Senate of the Philippines House of Representatives Local Government Units Governors Vice Governors Board Members Mayors Vice Mayors Councilors Barangays Global Ties Asia Europe Business Multinational Companies Small Medium Enterprise Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) Tourism Innovation Sports Events Archives Sponsors About us Our Team News & Events CONTACT US

< Back Making an Immediate Impact BY GODFREY T. DANCEL UNITED STATES PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP’S RETURN TO THE WHITE HOUSE HAS SENT WAVES ACROSS THE GLOBE. WITH HIM MAKING AN IMMEDIATE IMPACT ON HIS FIRST DAY IN OFFICE, WHAT CAN WE EXPECT IN THE NEXT FOUR YEARS? From this day forward, our country will flourish and be respected again all over the world. We will be the envy of every nation, and we will not allow ourselves to be taken advantage of any longer. During every single day of the Trump administration, I will, very simply, put America first.” Thus did Donald John Trump start his inaugural address as the 47th president of the United States of America. His speech, marked by references to American history, the challenges that the country is facing, and his plans to make sure that “[The American dream will soon be back and thriving like never before,” set the tone for the next four years in the history of the United States (US). THE ROAD BACK TO THE WHITE HOUSE In November 2024, Trump further cemented his place in US history by becoming only the second US president to be reelected to a non-consecutive term. Aptly describing his victory as historic, the then-president-elect thanked “the American people for the extraordinary honor of being elected your 47th and your 45th president.” Trump had previously served as president from 2017-2021, after defeating former First Lady Hillary Clinton in the 2016 elections. His reelection bid fell short, as he was beaten by Joe Biden, who served until January 20, 2025. Trump’s rare political comeback had only previously been achieved more than a century ago by President Grover Cleveland, who was president from 1885-1889 and then from 1893-1897. Trump had a clear victory in the November 2024 polls. He garnered 312 electoral college votes—42 more than the 270 he needed to win—against rival and then-Vice President Kamala Harris’ 226. He also emerged as the clear winner in terms of popular votes, winning 77,284,118 votes, or 49.8 percent of the votes cast. Harris mustered 74,999166 votes, equivalent to 48.3 percent of the votes cast. The 2024 electoral contest was nothing but historic. New York-based think tank and publisher Council on Foreign Relations reports that the election had the second highest voter turnout in US history, as 156,302,318 voters trooped to the polls. It was also just the second time that more than 140 million voters cast their votes in a presidential derby. Trump’s 2024 vote total is now the second highest in US history, behind Biden’s 2020 total of 81,283,666 votes. IN ATTENDANCE In accordance with tradition, Trump’s inauguration had originally been planned to take place at the US Capitol Grounds, but freezing weather caused it to be moved to the Capitol Rotunda. The change of venue greatly affected the number of dignitaries and supporters who were able to witness the swearing in live and in person. Other guests had to be moved to the Capitol’s Emancipation Hall, where other activities were also held. The swearing in ceremony and related events were attended by a veritable who’s who in the US and beyond. It also marked the first time that heads of state were invited to attend. Leading the attendees were members of Trump’s family, namely First Lady Melania Trump and their son Baron; as well as Trump’s son Donald Jr. and daughter Ivanka. Former US presidents Joe Biden, Barack Obama, Bill Clinton, and George W. Bush, together with former first ladies Jill Biden, Hillary Clinton, and Laura Bush, were present at the momentous event. They were joined by former vice presidents Kamala Harris, Mike Pence (who served with Trump during his first term), and Dan Quayle. In a break from tradition, a number of sitting heads of state and heads of government were invited to attend the event marking the formal transfer of power. Argentinian President Javier Milei, Ecuadorian President Danile Noboa, and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloi were at the Capitol Rotunda. So was Chinese Vice President Han Zheng, who represented President Xi Jinping. Meanwhile, Georgian President Salome Zourabichvili was among those at the Emancipation Hall. Historically, leaders from any country, including staunch US allies, are not invited to the US president’s inauguration. Different countries’ ambassadors to the US are the ones that usually attend the ceremony. Big names in technology also made their appearance. Among these were chief executive officers Marck Zuckerberg of Meta, Tim Cook of Apple, Jeff Bezos of Amazon, Sundar Pichai of Google, and Elon Musk of Tesla and SpaceX. Billionaires also made an appearance. Louis Vuitton-MoëtHennessy founder Bernard Arnault arrived together with his wife. Indian businessman and Asia’s richest man, Mukesh Ambani was present, as was casino billionaire Miriam Adelson. Other foreign dignitaries, including former heads of state, as well as foreign affairs ministers from various countries, also went to the swearing-in. Incumbent US senators and congressmen, Trump Cabinet appointees, and military officials were also in attendance. FILIPINO LEADERS DOING THEIR PART Philippine Ambassador to the US Jose Manuel Romualdez was invited to the ceremony as part of the diplomatic corps. In addition to him, four Filipino lawmakers, including Deputy Speaker Antonio Albano and Deputy Speaker Raymond Democrito Mendoza, were also invited by the US House Committee on Foreign Affairs. Philippine Ambassador-at-Large Jose Eduardo Antonio, together with his spouse Hilda Antonio and son Robbie Antonio, also witnessed the inauguration. The younger Antonio, who laid the foundations of the two families’ business and personal relationships, described their presence at the ceremony and related events as “both a personal honor and a reflection of the strong ties” between the Antonios and Trumps. On January 18, 2025, meanwhile, Romualdez led the Philippine Emabassy in Washngton in holding a reception in honor of Trump and to celebrate Philippine-US relations. The event brought together embassy officials, representatives of the then-incoming members of the US Congress, Trump campaign and transition team, and media personnel. “I and our Embassy team look forward to working with President Trump and his administration, from the House to Congress, with faces old and new, for the next four years in order to bring PH-US relations to even greater heights,” Romualdez wrote on social media platform X. STRENGTHENING TIES The inauguration served as an avenue for world leaders to strengthen ties with the US. For instance, Antonio took the opportunity to further pave the way for more investments coming into the Philippines and to strengthen bilateral trade relations. He underscored the potential for US-Philippine trade relations to flourish as we enter “a pivotal era in global trade.” According to him, with the US as a leader in the new technological age and the Philippines having a “vibrant innovation community and a young, tech-savvy workforce,” stronger economic ties “will create new opportunities for the Filipino people in the global marketplace.” Meanwhile, the Taiwanese delegation met with American leaders to try to strengthen US-Taiwan ties in the wake of concerns about the possible effects of the Trump presidency on their security and economy. The Taiwanese officials went to Washington with high hopes, based in part on strong US-Taiwan relations during Trump’s first term. Unperturbed by the change in venue, Speaker Han Kuo-yu of the Taiwanese Legislative Yuan and his eight-man team of leaders from different political parties strove to smoothen some feathers that had been ruffled in recent months. During the campaign, Trump stated that the self-governing island should spend more for military protection from its neighbour China, which considers Taiwan as its province. He likened the US to an insurance firm that needed to be paid in order to provide security. This stance differed from Biden’s official stand that the US would send troops to defend Taiwan against a Chinese invasion. Reacting to Trump’s statement, Premier Cho Jung-tai had said earlier that Taiwan is ready to assume more responsibility for its security and would defend its territory should China try to invade it. Trump also criticized Taiwan for “stealing” the semiconductor industry from the US decades ago. He had earlier described Taiwan as being an immensely wealthy territory to which the US should not be giving “billions of dollars to build chips.” Over the years, Taiwan has become a major player in the global semiconductor industry, and the US has seen a growing reliance on imported semiconductors from Taiwan. Although Trump did not announce any significant changes in US-Taiwan cooperation in the semiconductor industry, he did call for a 60 percent tariff on Chinese goods. With the Taiwanese semiconductor industry playing a major role in the success of Chinese businesses, such a policy will have a domino effect on Taiwanese chip manufacturers. DAY ONE EXECUTIVE ORDERS On day one of his new term as president, Trump signed a total of 26 executive orders (EO) dealing with a wide range of topics, from gender to government efficiency to terrorism and birthright citizenship. EOs are legally binding orders to the federal government. These do not require congressional approval and can only be repealed by a sitting president. Among the most controversial of the inaugural day EOs are EO 14148, EO 14160, EO 14158, and EO 14169. EO 14148 revoked dozens of previous EOs deemed harmful to the government and the US citizenry. Among these are those that introduced or strengthened “diversity, equity and inclusion,” reforming the incarceration system, protecting the workforce, and tackling the climate crisis. Such revocations, the EO states, are meant to “restore common sense to the Federal Government and to unleash the potential of the American citizen.” EO 14160 revokes birthright citizenship for children of undocumented immigrants and considers such individuals as “not subject to the jurisdiction” of the US. The order covers not only children whose mother was not lawfully present in the US and whose father was neither a US citizen nor lawful resident at the time of the person’s birth. It also applies to those whose mother was lawfully but temporarily present in the US, but whose father was neither a US citizen nor lawful resident at the time of the person’s birth. EO 14158 renames the US Digital Service as the US Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), with the body being tasked with implementing Trump’s DOGE Agenda. It shall, among other things, undertake the modernization of “Federal technology and software to maximize governmental efficiency and productivity.” Meanwhile, EO 14169 pauses all US foreign development assistance pending a review of “programmatic efficiency and consistency with United States foreign policy.” This was followed by the issuance by Secretary of State Marco Rubio of a review of relevant data and a pause in the processing of aid requests under the State Department and the United States Agency for International Development. While the abovementioned EOs appear to be beneficial to the US, these have far-ranging implications with regard to immigrants’ rights, inclusivity, personal data security, and job security, among others. Realizing the implications of the EOs, a number of affected state governments, nongovernment groups, and individuals have filed cases to block their implementation. The complainants have had some measure of success as various courts have issued orders stopping the implementation in part or in full of some of the EOs being questioned. FIRST PIECE OF LEGISLATION On his ninth day in office, Trump signed the Laken Riley Act, the first law of his administration. The law is named after a Georgia nursing student who was killed by an illegal immigrant in February 2024. The perpetrator, Venezuelan Jose Antonio Ibarra, had earlier been arrested in 2022 for illegal entry into the US, but was subsequently released on parole even as he pleaded his status at immigration court. Trump supporters contend that had Ibarra not been released, he would not have had the chance to kill Riley. The new law requires federal officials to detain illegal immigrants arrested or accused of burglary, theft, assaulting a police officer, and any crime that leads to serious bodily injury or death. It also gives state attorneys general the power to sue the federal government for harm resulting from failure to act or for decisions that prove injurious to individuals or the state. Although the measure received bipartisan support in Congress, a number of lawmakers and federal leaders have expressed major concerns about the newly signed law. While some leaders hailed it as a step toward preventing crime, especially those perpetrated by illegal immigrants, others have pointed to the lack of correlation between the rising number of Latino immigrants and criminality. PROSPECTS AND CONCERNS FOR THE PHILIPPINES President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. joined the chorus of world leaders that congratulated Trump. In his message on the latter’s inauguration posted on X, Marcos said: “Congratulations to POTUS @realdonaldtrump and to the American people on another peaceful transfer of power in their Nation’s nearly 250-year history. I look forward to working closely with you and your Administration. “The strong and lasting PH-US alliance will continue to uphold our shared vision of prosperity and security in the region.” Marcos had earlier called thenpresident-elect Trump to personally congratulate him on his victory. “The call, described by the President as very friendly and productive, underscored the positive momentum and trajectory in our bilateral relations with the United States. It also highlighted the positive role of Filipino Americans in US society, including in the recent successful and peaceful conduct of US elections,” the Department of Foreign Affairs said in a November 20, 2024 statement. The statement added: “The United States remains an important ally, partner, and friend to the Philippines. We look forward to working with the Trump Administration in ensuring that PH-US relations remain robust and benefits from continuing positive momentum in security and defense cooperation, economic partnership, as well as broader and deeper engagement across other areas of mutual interest.” Not all Philippine leaders, however, have a very rosy view of the implications of a second Trump presidency on the Philippines. Barely a week after Trump’s election victory, Senate President Francis Escudero said that the Philippine government needed to look into Trump’s policy pronouncements. The Philippines, he said, “must be one step ahead” of policy shifts that Trump had vowed to implement once he returns to power. The government must look at possible scenarios and draw up possible responses to such, he stressed. The Senate president likened Trump to “a major macroeconomic assumption,” or a premise used to set economic forecasts, particularly economic performance. Trump’s plans regarding a wide range of topics, “[F]rom trade to economics to immigration… would certainly impact us,” he said. He expressed concern over Trump’s plan to “carry out the largest domestic deportation operation in American history,” which would mean a direct threat to Filipinos in the US. Romualdez echoed Esudero’s concern two days into Trump’s term, and urged Filipinos staying illegally in the US to get in touch with the embassy. He identified as a major concern undocumented Filipinos who have been staying in the US for a long period and have families and are gainfully employed. The embassy, he said, will help them “proceed on taking a legal path” in dealing with deportation concerns. He stressed that they are in contact with the Filipino-American community and will give them good advice, adding that those who have been in the US for at least a decade have a good chance of acquiring permanent residency status. Meanwhile, those who have criminal records as well as those who have made no effort to legalize their stay may be among the first Filipino casualties of the crackdown. US Immigration records show that as of 2022, there are more than four million Filipino-Americans in the US. They form the biggest Asian group in six states: Hawaii, Nevada, Alaska, New Mexico, North Dakota, and Wyoming. The largest concentration, however, is in California, which is home to almost 1.4 million Fillipino-Americans. Data from the US Department of Homeland Security, meanwhile, shows that there are around 350,000 undocumented immigrants from the Philippines. Immigrants from Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, and Honduras top the list. Escudero also cautioned about the possible effects of Trump’s plans to impose higher tariffs on foreign goods. A stronger dollar, he said, would negatively impact our export earnings and foreign debt position. “How will his plan to erect higher tariff walls affect our economy given the fact that almost USD1 in every USD7 of our export earnings come from out trade with the United States?” he asked. Furthermore, the Senate president expressed concern about possible changes in the US position vis-àvis China. “Will a second Trump administration be hawkish or dovish against China?” he asked, underscoring the need for the country to be ready for any significant changes in the military alliance between the Philippines and the US. The Biden administration had worked closely with the Duterte and Marcos administrations to strengthen security cooperation. Analysts had been one in saying that a Harris victory would have reinforced not only military but also diplomatic ties between the two countries. THE NEXT FOUR YEARS For decades, whatever happens in Washington has had global ramifications. Analysts agree that this fact couldn’t be any truer after what they have called “the most important election of our lifetimes.” They are one is saying that whatever decisions and actions Trump makes in the next four years will definitely impact the lives of people all over the world. Trump’s unconventional leadership and unconventional views on many issues could work both ways, leaving the world grappling with important questions. Will Trump’s goal of making America great again mean a continuation—at least in general terms—of diplomatic and security policies with respect, for example to the West Philippine Sea and China-Taiwan issues? Or will there be major adjustments, notwithstanding possible effects on the US’s Pacific defense strategy? Will his decision to impose higher tariffs on Chinese products mean better trade opportunities for other Asian countries? Or will succeeding actions focus mainly on strengthening US-based production? Whatever policies and pronouncements Trump makes in the coming days and years, these will have important immediate and long-term effects at the local and global fronts. In all 50 states, these will mean changes in the US population’s everyday lives, busy days for cause-oriented groups trying to block what they perceive to be unjust policies, and interesting times for analysts trying to study the repercussions of Trumps’ actions. Across the globe, the next four years will be a period of major adjustments in many fronts, and an opportune time to look at the importance of sound microeconomic policies and strong bilateral and multilateral cooperation in the face of a superpower’s unpredictable behavior.

< Back WASTE-TO-ENERGY PROJECT BY WMI AND HW IN CEBU PROVINCE MOVING FORWARD The government sector continue to come up with projects responsive to the people’s livelihood, energy, and agriculture. The Province of Cebu currently generates anestimated 1,922 Metric Tons (MT) of wasteeach day—37.45 percent of which is classified asbiodegradable, 28.58 percent as recyclable, 32.93percent as residual, and 1.04 percent as special waste.In order to accommodate this waste, the provincehas 22 sanitary landfills, 15 residuals containmentareas, and five facilities that use various methods forthe disposal of trash. Unfortunately, over time, theselandfills could be dangerous. Waste Management Incorporated (WMI) andHarvest Waste B.V. (HW) proposed the Waste-to-Energy (WtE) project in partnership with the CebuProvincial Government (CPG) which aims to safelydispose of the Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) from theProvince of Cebu’s cities and municipalities. The proposed project includes planning, design,funding, construction, operation, and maintenance of a wasteto-energy facility, waste collection, the establishment of transferstations, and the establishment of waste ports. With this, the projectseeks to treat 1,200 MT of MSW per day and turn it into electricity. The proposed project’s location is on a CPG-owned propertyin Barangay Tinaan which is part of Naga City’s Coastal IndustrialCorridor and home to several industrial businesses.The area is easily accessible by boat and car—either via CebuSouth Road or Cebu Strait. Additionally, it has ample access totelecommunications, high-speed internet, potable water, and electricpower. The collaboration project will be regulated by the principlesin the planning and design of the WtE facility. This shall utilizeMSW as a renewable fuel source and advanced moving gratecombustion technology that complies with national and localenvironmental regulations and criteria. The WtE facility shallhave a 438,000 ton per year treatment capacity. To increase production efficiency, reduce labor intensity,enhance the working environment, and ensure safe production,it must use cutting-edge, dependable equipment with a higherlevel of mechanization and automation that serves as well toconserve and reuse water, lower internal electricity use, enhanceenergy reuse, and prevent resource waste. Among these, theWtE facility will protect the environment and prevent secondarypollution in accordance with the Philippine Clean Air Act orRA No. 8749 Emission standards. The major goal of this project is to transport Cebu’smunicipal solid trash and dispose of it in a cutting-edge WtEplant, which will significantly lessen the quantity of leftoverwaste that ends up in landfills by 85 percent. WMI was established as an internationally competitivecomprehensive solid waste management firm based in thePhilippines on June 15, 2012. Its goal has been to build thePhilippines’ first significant waste-to-energy (WtE) facilitysince its inception. At the moment, it offers local governmentsall services required to abide by Republic Act 9003, or theEcological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000, including endto-end delivery of services for hauling and disposal of MSW. Meanwhile, founded and operating in the Netherlands,HW is a rapidly expanding business that specializes in creating and managing cutting-edge WtE facilities to replace landfills. HW isa subsidiary of AEB Amsterdam, the Netherlands’ capital city’s publicwaste management organization. HW offers the rest of the world morethan 100 years of WtE plant operations experience as well as more than140 years of waste management expertise. HW powers extensive urbancleanup efforts where they are most needed.

< Back Taiwan Exchange THE NEW SOUTHBOUND POLICY OF TAIWAN BY HERMAN JOSEPH S. KRAFT The mantra of “build, build, build” properly illustrates the lack of urgency given to the development of infrastructure in the Philippines following the end of the martial law regime. It also partially explains the emphasis given by the Duterte administration to the maintenance of excellent relations with China. Xi Jinping has pushed for the establishment of an extensive economic network linked by infrastructural foundations laid by Chinese capital, technology, management, and, in many cases, even Chinese labor. Once known as the One Belt, One Road (OBOR), the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) is arguably the most ambitious and extensive program at building an international economic network ever since the establishment of the WTO. It is not surprising that the Duterte administration has been lobbying to be part of this. While this has been going on, a less expansive but no less ambitious program was launched by Taiwan in May 2016, intended to expand its links with Southeast and South Asia, as well as with Australia and New Zealand. Known as the New Southbound Policy (NSP), this is a re-establishment of the Southbound Policy that Taiwan initiated in the 1990s that sought to increase its economic footprint in Southeast Asia. The NSP is a renewed effort to do that with an expanded geographical scope, and a more wide-ranging context. The NSP was started by the administration of President Tsai Ing-wen when she took office in 2016. To a certain extent, this became the signature foreign policy of Taiwan. It has two general objectives. First is to foster links between Taiwan and the nations of ASEAN, South Asia, and Australia and New Zealand in the areas of economics and trade, science and technology, and culture. This could be done through resource sharing, market-expansion, and the creation of a cooperation modality that emphasized “mutual benefits and win-win situations.” Over the long term, it is hoped that this will help forge a “sense of economic community” among the participants. Secondly, it intends to establish mechanisms for wide-ranging negotiations and dialogue that would contribute to the formation of consensus for cooperation between and among Taiwan, the members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), countries in South Asia, as well as New Zealand and Australia. This would an important step towards the resolution of related problems and disagreements, and gradually build up mutual trust that would strengthen the building of a sense of community. The NSP has four areas of activities, three of which are fundamentally economic in nature. These emphasize economic and trade collaboration, resource sharing, and the promotion of institutional links. This has led to observations that the NSP is essentially a strategy intended to extend Taiwan’s economic footprint regionally. It is undeniable that the policy intends to enlarge Taiwan’s role as an economic player in the region, with the specific objective of reversing the trend towards the increasing predominance of China’s economic involvement in Taiwan. There is, however, an aspect of the NSP that emphasizes people-to-people exchanges – an aspect that emphasizes educational exchanges, particularly the recruitment of students from the targeted countries in either short term exchange or full-degree programs, either undergraduate or graduate. And it is in this area that the Philippines can expand its involvement with Taiwan. In a guidebook produced by the Office of Trade Negotiations of the Executive Yuan (the executive branch) and the Bureau of Foreign Trade of the Ministry of Economic Affairs, the people-to-people exchange aspect of the NSP is explained as being focused on education and training. The former is about trying to increase the number of students and researchers from the target countries coming to Taiwan and affiliating with formal educational institutions, as well as getting Taiwanese students and graduates to go to these target countries. The latter involves tapping Taiwan companies to send their staff to other countries (especially those that they have an interest in investing in) in order for them to understand and facilitate future expansion of economic opportunities. In either case, the Philippines and Filipinos can benefit from the exchange technically and economically. In December 2017, an agreement was signed by the representatives of the Taiwan Economic Cooperation Office (TECO) in Manila and the Manila Economic Cooperation Office (MECO) in Taipei which renewed, strengthened, and expanded the scope of a bilateral investment agreement originally signed in 1992. The renewal of this agreement (and others similar to it across the region) was one of the principal objectives under the NSP when the Tsai Administration came to power. It also illustrates the increasing importance of the Philippines to the success of the New Southbound Policy. As the country closest to Taiwan geographically and its recent economic success, the Philippines is one of the priority targets under the NSP being seen as an “important gateway” to ASEAN. The renewed agreement also came with six other deals resulting from trade and economic consultations held in Manila on December 6 and 7. These include memoranda of understanding on “green” energy, insurance industry supervision, and professional training. Some effects could already be felt as a modest but increasing number of students from the Philippines have been making their way to Taiwan mostly on short-term exchange programs but also as full-time graduate students. There are also nascent plans intending to bring more students and technical people in Taiwan to intern and/or immerse themselves in programs, institutions, and companies in the Philippines. The NSP, however, is not without controversy as it brings geopolitical complications into what is seemingly an innocuous effort to help facilitate regional economic and socio-cultural integration. China has opposed any expansion of Taiwan’s involvement in the region that could consequently have implications for questions of sovereignty. It has insisted on a stricter interpretation and implementation of the “One China Policy.” There is a sense that the NSP is seen in Beijing as a challenge to the BRI regardless of obvious asymmetries in scale. More than the economic aspect, however, is the political implications of the NSP – that it represents an attempt to achieve political and diplomatic goals asserting Taiwan’s presence as a regional player. China registered its protest to the signing of the renewed agreement between MECO and TECO in an obvious attempt to undermine it just before it was finalized. A spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs was quoted as saying after the signing that “the investment protection agreement and other cooperation documents…are obviously official in character…We hope the Philippines will abide by the one-China principle and avoid having the Taiwan-related issue undermine the larger picture of China-Philippines relations.” China’s attitudes and preferences have already reportedly affected the behavior of certain institutions in the Philippines. Attempts on the part of Taiwanese teaching institutions to establish language schools met with a lack of enthusiasm because of possible complications with China’s pursuit of establishing Confucius Institutes in Philippine educational institutions. These issues, however, bring possible opportunities for local communities. The issues associated with sovereignty in cross-Strait relations between China and Taiwan don’t loom as large (or at least they should not) when relations involve local municipalities. The questions over federalism in the Philippines, in fact, do not need to find an answer in these possible engagements under the NSP. The objectives and modalities that are identified under the NSP could be pursued and implemented in cooperative ventures that involve local governments, industries, and institutions. Geopolitics is messy because it involves nationstates and “national interests.” International relations involving local communities and/or business entities (especially micro-, small-, and mediumenterprises), however, open new vistas for cooperation and collaboration.

< Back The Brotherhood of Good Governance Valenzuela City Mayor Weslie “Wes” Gatchalian is all set to extend the city’s 18 years of continuous progress. BY FRAULEIN OLAVARIO BY FRAULEIN OLAVARIO PHOTOGRAPHY BY JAR CONCENGCO Much is at stake for Weslie “Wes” Gatchalian as he assumes the position of Mayor of Valenzuela City. As he succeeds his older brothers, Sher win and Rex, respect ively, in the post, the 41-year-old United Kingdom-educated chief executive is bent on preser ving, not fortune or power, but the legacy of the Gatchalians. “It’s the legacy that I want to protect. The Gatchalian brand name has been trusted by Valenzuelanos already,” says Gatchalian. “I’m very proud to say that the Gatchalian brand has never been tainted with corruption, never been tainted with anoma lies. The Gatchalian brand has always been the good governance and transparency that people, actual ly not only in Valenzuela, but the w hole Philippines, are longing for.” THE GATCHALIAN BR AND The Gatcha lians have long established their name in the political arena, beginning with Sherwin serving as Valenzuela 1st District Representative from 2001 to 2004, followed by his three consecutive terms as Valenzuela City Mayor from 2004 to 2013. He won a seat in the Senate in 2016, and was reelected for his second term in the 2022 elections. Meanwhile, Rex was elected as Valenzuela 1st District Representative from 2007 to 2013, and then succeeded Sherwin as mayor from 2013 to 2022, while Wes served in the 16th to 18th Congress, first sitting as Alay Buhay Party-list Representative in 2013, and then replaced Sherwin as Valenzuela 1st District Representative from 2016 to 2022. Despite heading almost a decade into his political career, Wes admits that he still catches himself being in awe of how far they’ve come in their respective careers. After all, they were “not born with a famous surname in politics.” “Now, we are considered a political dynasty, but when we started, we were not. We had no father in politics. No uncle, grandfather in politics. We started where we started, here in Valenzuela,” Gatchalian reveals. “So among us brothers, slowly, we’re realizing it, but it hasn’t fully sunk in yet that we are on a national level already. To be able to reach a point in life where our family now is local and national level already, that’s one thing I’m proud of.” Moreover, the Gatchalian family has always been known not for politics but for business, which their father, William, started. Even the track Gatchalian chose for his education was to prepare him to take over the Wellex Group, as he graduated from Oxford Brookes University in the United Kingdom (UK) with an honors degree in Business and Operations Management. He also earned his Master’s degree in Management at the London Metropolitan University in the UK, and then worked as an executive at the Lloyds of London, the world’s largest insurer, before coming back home to take over the petrochemical plant in Bataan that his father had invested in. “Sherwin and Rex went into politics earlier. We’re four siblings. The family discussed that the two will go into politics, the two will stay in business. Actually, I’m my father’s right hand for many years. Everything he does, I was with him, all the meetings, all the investments. I was sent abroad to close deals, including this petrochemical plant. I did road shows, I talked to investors at a young age. That really was just my environment back then,” he explains. But his life took an unexpected turn when Alay Buhay sought his father’s help in fielding a candidate for the party-list elections after hearing the good things the Gatchalians have done in the city. “It just so happened that they got me as one of the nominees since I’m a businessman and Alay Buhay is representing businessmen and entrepreneurs. Then, after that, it was just destiny. I continued in this path just like my brothers. It wasn’t part of my plan,” Gatchalian shares how unexpected entering politics was for him. BUSINESS-ORIENTED The Gatchalian patriarch, widely known as the “Plastics King,” founded Plastic City Corporation in 1969, which had its humble beginnings as a small, family-owned business of supplying pelletized plastic raw materials. Over the years, the company grew into an established leader in the local plastic industry, expanding from a modest warehouse into a 60-hectare industrial estate with a workforce of 1,000 people. William diversified his business interests in the late 1980s, establishing a real estate development company, reclamation, an airline, hotels and casinos, a stock brokerage, and a petrochemical plant under five companies that are publicly-listed with the Philippine Stock Exchange (PSE). He formally organized the Wellex Group in 1994, which has since become one of the biggest investment firms in the country. And so, all their lives, Wes and his brothers were trained to run the business and take over the conglomerate. While kids their age had summer breaks in between academic school years to rest and be with family in their provinces or out of the country, the siblings had the factory as their playground. “Ever since I was a child, I started working in our plastic factory, [in the] administration, doing odd jobs like photocopying, fixing the files. That’s where we started. Every summer, our playtime was play in the office, inside the office in the factory,” Wes recalls. “Our father taught us about hard work. We stayed here helping our parents in the business because my dad works 24/7. And that was the kind of work ethic instilled in us.” CONTINUING PROGRESS Planned or not, Gatchalian made sure to make the most of the opportunity that he was given. Among the many memories he holds dear in his three terms in the Lower House are leading the Committee on Youth and Sports Development in the 16th Congress; the difficult task of rejecting the President’s appointees in his time as a member of the Commission on Appointments and being the first to propose the SIM Card Registation Act in the 17th Congress; utilizing his business acumen as he chaired the Committee on Trade and Industry in the 18th Congress, at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, to help small and medium enterprises bounce back from the economic blow and jumpstart economic recovery; becoming Deputy Speaker for Trade and Industry in December 2020; allowing citizens to retain their cellular numbers even if they transfer to a different network provider under RA 11202 or Mobile Number Portability Act; crafting the Internet Transactions Act for the protection of consumers and merchants engaged in online transactions; and co-authoring the landmark and historic Vape Law, which regulates vaporized nicotine and non-nicotine products to protect minors and “give the 16 million Filipino smokers a chance to have access to better alternatives.” Overall, Gatchalian proudly shares that in his years as legislator, 64 of his bills were enacted into law, 22 resolutions were adopted, and 129 bills were passed on third reading. In the 2022 local polls, Gatchalian enjoyed a 16-0 landslide victory, together with the entire “Tuloy ang Progreso Valenzuela” slate. This proved to be a testament to his constituents’ desire for continuity in the city, as they subscribed to his campaign tagline, “Progress should continue in Valenzuela.” This poses a different kind of challenge for Gatchalian, who admits he has big shoes to fill upon seeing how his brothers have successfully instituted reforms that eradicated corruption, bolstered the business sector, improved peace and order and social services, including education, health, in-city housing, and addressed the city’s biggest problems back then—flood control and waste management. “I remember Sherwin, when he was elected for the first time, Valenzuela was a mess. Back then, Valenzuela was known for one of two things, floods or waste. There were tons of problems, crime rate was high. That was the hardest part, fixing all of those, the transition, and it takes two, three terms to do that. So, at least with me, I’m already faced with positive problems,” says Gatchalian. “I guess whoever’s elected latest will have the biggest pressure and expectations also because my two predecessors performed really well, especially on the mayorship. This is something I really prepared for. Actually, during the campaign period, though there were opponents, the whole slate, I wasn’t worried about them all. I was thinking of the challenge to come because my two predecessors served the City very well,” adds Gatchalian, who now looks to elevate the level of the city’s programs and services. Gatchalian aims to transform Valenzuela, known as the country’s top manufacturing hub with almost 15,000 factories, warehousing and commercial establishments, into a “livable city,” in which families in the next generation would choose to reside, not only because they work there, but because of the good services and amenities the city provides. Some of the key components of a “livable city” that he identified and intends to improve are in-city housing, education, flood management, more open spaces for ecotourism, public transport accessibility, sports, health and wellness, among others. The mayor will pick up the ‘Proyektong Kakaiba’ projects he launched on his last term as Valenzuela 1st District Representative to uplift the lives of the citizens and the generations to come. For instance, he built the WES Events Space in Barangay Dalandanan, a 1,500 square meter, two-story, hotel-like facility that Valenzuelanos can rent at an affordable price to celebrate their special occasions. “[Celebrations] used to be, you know, just in makeshift tents. Sometimes you borrow somebody’s garage, or sometimes you have to go outside the city to Bulacan or Quezon City to find a place. Everybody wants to celebrate important milestones in their life—their daughter’s debut, their grandfather’s 60th birthday. I believe that celebrations are not just for the rich,” Wes explains, promising to put up three more around Valenzuela, in addition to the “Spanish-style events space and museum” called Casa De Polo that’s currently being constructed in commemoration of the 400th anniversary of the foundation of the city, then known as the town of Polo. Apart from the abovementioned, Wes also completed projects for the City of Valenzuela which includes 54 school buildings, 542 classrooms, 113 multi-purpose buildings, 89 roads and bridges, and 94 flood control projects. Five of his projects are now currently under construction—Disiplina Villages in Barangays Arkong Bato, Sagip Arkong Bato, and Ugong for families living in danger zone areas; Valenzuela Polytechnic College new campus which will be Valenzuela City’s technical and vocational college; new Pamantasan ng Valenzuela Satellite Campus; Valenzuela East Wellness Center; and the new six-storey Finance Center Building and the new Legislative and People’s Center Building at the City Hall. “These are the next level projects, flagship projects that I want to show people that government projects don’t necessarily have to look like they scrimped on the budget or look mediocre. You can always level up. There are many ways,” he stresses. “Make it higher, make it bigger, make it more beautiful, and most important out of all, it has to be accessible to the people.” MOVING TOWARD SUCCESS Meeting the expectations of 750,000 Valenzuelanos, as well as the expectations he set for himself, will not be easy as adjusting from being congressman to mayor will take time, just like how he transitioned from the private sector to the government. Fortunately, Gatchalian already had a taste of what the mayorship entails when he underwent an “on-the-job training” with then Mayor Rex before the elections. Some of the changes he will have to get used to are having his personal life exposed, like constantly being put under a “magnifying lens” as the leader; sacrificing his personal and family time for his constituents; treating his activities within the city as “listening” or “study tours,” in which he’ll discover the people’s real-life stories and issues; and striving to find solutions to all kinds of problems that people look to the mayor for answers. “Being the father of the city, expectations that everyone would run to you with their problems, even domestic issues, Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW) problems, things like brandishing weapons or encroaching which is common, the neighbor encroached on the wall of their neighbor. All of these, you have to be patient and you have to learn how to listen. That’s what I learned from the former mayor, you can’t drive them away,” says Gatchalian, pertaining to the open-door policy of the mayor’s office. “Of course, there are issues that are personal and beyond your control already, but those that you can address within the parameters [of the] city hall, we have to find a solution to.” “When you are elected to this position, the expectation is you give your whole life already. It’s a 24/7 job...When I embarked on this mayorship, I already told my wife [that] as compared siguro (maybe) to congressman, as mayor, you don’t own yourself anymore. The family does not own you anymore. The people, the 750,000 Valenzuelanos, own you now. And you have to be ready, calamity, pandemic, whatever problem, you have to be there for them,” he relates. But Gatchalian is resolved to deliver as he equates these expectations to the trust that he was given by his constituents—the same trust that his brothers were accorded. “I don’t want to be the third brother who ruined all of this progress. It’s like they worked hard to build a house or a business, then the third sibling ruined it. So, that’s mainly the motivation I keep. It’s not about the power, it’s not about the position. In fact, I don’t care much about the title, honestly eh. It’s really the expectations of the people. I’m working hard to be able to deliver it and to continue the legacy,” Gatchalian says. “I may be new to politics, I was the last one to get into politics, my experience is somewhat short, but someday I want when I finish my three terms, that people could say that I was the Gatchalian who continued the legacy and did not waste the opportunity that I was given,” he adds. Aside from his determination, Gatchalian will bring with him his “corporate style” of leadership, utilizing his strong management skills in ensuring that the highly urbanized city’s departments and its close to 13,000 employees perform optimally. He will be guided not only by his business acumen, but also the lessons imparted by his father, particularly about discipline, hard work, resilience, risk-taking, and decisiveness, as he sets on to fulfil the promise he made to the Valenzuelanos: “Many are asking me: ‘Will you continue these projects or not? Will you place a large budget towards this or cut the budget?’ For now, everything is status quo, we’ll continue. That’s what I promised— continued progress. What they’re used to and what they’re happy and comfortable with, we’ll improve on. We’ll level up.”

Calista is making waves once again this year with the release of their first Tagalog single, “Ugnayan” a moving dance track about the struggles of long-distance relationships. < Back “Ugnayan” is the first Tagalog single of Merlion’s P-Pop girl group Calista Calista is making waves once again this year with the release of their first Tagalog single, “Ugnayan” a moving dance track about the struggles of long-distance relationships. MERLION PRODUCTION INC. The six-member girl group is confident that their fans will adore this song because it is very Filipino, danceable, contains numerous beats, and has an OPM-inspired vibe. Anne, Olive, Laiza, Denise, Elle, and Dain are confident that this latest single will be a success due to its distinctive beat and tagalog vocals. According to the group, their music is not typical. “Ugnayan” differs from their previous singles, “Race Car” and “Don’t Have Time,” because of its powerful message butits catchy rhythm and fresh beats still make it appealing to youthful listeners. Although “Ugnayan” is a love song about an LDR (long-distance relationship), according to Olive, this does not only apply to couples but also to families with OFW parents. The song asserts that connecting with one another is never a problem because technology connects people. “Distance should never be a problem because technology will connect you to each other, and even if you’re not connected by technology, your hearts are still connected,” explains Olive. Dain agrees that “Ugnayan” is about a deeper connection. She says, “Even if you can’t see your loved ones, you can still imagine seeing them in every corner, because your connection is not just through technology or the internet, but through the heart.” The group spent four to five months preparing for the song and only half a day recording it. They would also like to relate the song to the group’s bond and sense of camaraderie. The one year they have been together, according to Olive, is enough for them to know each other very well. “Our relationship has grown to the point where we understand each other’s strengths and weaknesses, and we know how to highlight them for the group’s benefit.” Anne jokes, “With how close we are, it would seem that we are interconnected all the way to our insides, as Elle and I would sing and speak in unison.” They disclosed to the LEAGUE that they help one another not just with their performances during practices but also with their school assignments. They would also like their fans to know that “Ugnayan” is Calista’s message to them. According to Denise, they are close with their fans. “We respond to them frequently, and due to our busy schedule, we sometimes respond at odd hours.” Elle asserts that one of their priorities is to strengthen their relationships with their fans. “We regularly interact with them, either in person or through social media.” Anne believes that their fans are also like their friends or siblings that they want to build stronger bonds with because “They are the core foundation of our success.” But they know that their connections with their fans are sometimes limited because of their busy schedules which often clash with those of their fans. Calista is ecstatic and optimistic that “Ugnayan” will be a success. They are excited to see how their fans respond to their newest single. “I think our fans will respond positively to our newest song because it sends the right message that love is the best thing that connects everyone,” Laiza says. “Ugnayan,” which means connection, was composed by Telly Tanan, while the rap part was composed by Dean Villareal of the P-Pop boy band Eclipse. The song was arranged by Marcus Davis, who also helped create their previous singles. This was produced by Merlion Entertainment, with Arnie Mendaros and Annie Quintos as vocal coaches. Race Car was the debut single by Calista and their subsequent release was “Don’t Have Time.” At the seventh annual PPOP Awards, one of their two Christmas singles, “Christmas Rush,” was named Best P-Pop Song of the Year for the 2022 Christmas Theme. “Christmas in the Philippines” is their second Christmas single. Merlion Entertainment manages Calista, whose songs are produced by Merlion Music, which was named “Pop Music Production Company of the Year” during the seventh PPop Awards. Visit their website at www.calistasocials.com and follow them on all their official social media accounts: Facebook : CALISTA PH, Twitter: @CALISTASOCIALS, and Tiktok/Instagram : @CALISTAMUSICOFFICIAL

1b45e8c5-bacb-4a8f-8600-37879b305b57 BACK A PUBLIC SERVANT, NOT A POLITICIAN He may not have a political bloodline; but Victor Pring shares how his struggles in life led him to what he is today–a true public servant. BY MARIDOL RANOA-BISMARK PHOTOGRAPHY BY ROMEO PERALTA, JR. Events have a way of happening at lightning speed for Victor Pring. At three years old, he lost his father, Manila homicide police officer Joe Pring, to lawless elements. Victor, the youngest, had to step up early. He had to be there for his mother, his grandmother, and only sister—Princess Joyce who is in showbiz. “I became the head of the family, its backbone at a young age,” Victor smiles. There’s no trace of bitterness in his voice. In fact, you can sense a touch of pride and joy. The candidate for Quezon City’s 2nd district councilor didn’t mind studying at Tondo’s T. Paez Elementary School, a public school from grades one to three. Pring’s maternal grandmother instilled traditional values in him while his mother taught him to welcome hard work as she herself became the family’s breadwinner. “I would sometimes sleep on an empty stomach,” he admits. “My grandmother even pawned valuables to pay for my miscellaneous fees in the public school.” BUY MAGAZINE NOW TO READ FULL ARTICLE BACK

< Back Changing Perceptions JOLO ON ITS WAY TO THE FUTURE Mayor Kerkhar Tan outlines what he sees is in store for the Municipality of Jolo, Sulu BY JOHN LEE CANDELARIA PHOTOS BY GABRIEL MALVAR Ask any tourist, local or international, if they ever plan of going to the Philippines’s southernmost islands, and pretty sure they will respond in the negative. The Sulu Islands, off the tip of the Zamboanga Peninsula, have gathered so much bad rep because of abductions, killings, kidnappings, terrorism, and more, to a point that it would be difficult to promote these as the next big island destination. Kerkhar Tan, mayor of Jolo, Sulu, is aware of all these. But he still thinks Jolo could be something greater in the future. JOLO "GOOD COMMUNITY" The name Jolo actually means something positive, since it comes from “ho lâng,” which means “good people” in Chinese. The Chinese traders of old had good relations with the people from this place, oftentimes leaving their wares in Jolo’s shore and finding these untouched when they return. Later on, ho lâng became ho ló, which meant “good community”. Jolo is part of the Sulu archipelago, a scenic group of islands that in the midst of Sulu and Celebes seas. Because of its history of conflicts, it s eems as if the islands and islets of the archipelago have been untouched by the evils of modernity. American documentary and travel photographer Jacob Maentz even pined for the Sulu sea, which he refers to as “one of the most beautiful seascapes on earth.”

Board Members Provincial Board Member Glenn Anthony Soco of the 6th District of Cebu and Lone District of Mandaue City PROVING HIS METTLE Soco's background and experience in business prove useful in his current capacity as a public servant. Laguna Board Member Danzel Fernandez Breathing Fresh Air into Local Politics Laguna Board Member Danzel Fernandez leads generational changing of the guards.

67593525-79c3-4b67-8d1f-1b9f9fae6abe BACK A FATED LEADER President James Lim shares how his genuine desire to move and inspire people to live better further pushed him to walk the talk and serve his duty. BY MARIEL ABANES PHOTOGRAPHY BY RENJIE TOLENTINO Liga ng mga Barangay, Marinduque Chapter, Provincial President, James Marty Lim calls his venture into the political arena as “God-given.” Beginning his career as a businessman thriving in the hospitality trade, it didn’t take long before he realized that serving the public is his calling. It surely runs in the blood—after all, his mom is Gasan, Marinduque Mayor Vicky Lim. But more than the passion from his genes, it’s the genuine desire to move and inspire people to live better that further pushed him to walk the talk and serve his duty—with top tier results, at that. “I just thought of trying it, hoping that I could make a difference in people’s lives,” the local figure opens up. “This opened up my horizon and gave me new connections and a better purpose and perspective of seeing the country for how it is.” A fruitful decade of service He was the youngest barangay captain during the time that he first entered public service, a local unit leader at 30 years old. And surprisingly on his part, it was unexpected that he’ll go all the way up and become then Liga ng mga Barangay sa Pilipinas’ (LBP) National President. “It’s the first time that a first termer won all the way up to the national,” James points out. Wasting no time in making the most out of his stint, the charismatic leader instantly worked on making the league better—from planning reforms to implementing several projects that will help barangays all over the Philippines. .... BUY MAGAZINE NOW TO READ FULL ARTICLE BACK