Unity.
That has been the incoming Marcos administration's rallying cry during the recent May elections – and, no doubt, that will also be the rallying cry of the leaders who will take over local administrations here in Laguna province.
This week, on June 30, local government officials in Laguna – both veterans and first-timers – will assume their leadership for the next three years.
The dust from the lively campaign season has settled, the transition teams (for new officials) have done their work, and officials and employees will once again start with a clean slate.
The call now from local politicians is for their constituents to set aside their political differences and work together to achieve their campaign promises and goals, especially in the context of recovering from the impacts not only of the Covid-19 pandemic but also of the current global uncertainties.
But “unity” does not mean that we will refrain from calling out irregularities and anomalies in the next leadership.
One big fallacy among die-hard supporters of certain candidates is that unity means that we should unquestioningly follow our leaders “with all the assurance of a sleepwalker.”
Unity should not mean we should be blind to the faults of our leaders.
In fact, when they commit wrongdoings, it is not only our right, our privilege, but also our duty as citizens who voted for and supported them in elections to call them out and correct their mistakes.
Criticism of our leaders should not be left to the opposition.
The more we support our local leaders, the more we should remain alert and steer them back when we feel that they are straying off the path they have promised to their constituents.
True unity means not only rallying behind our leaders but also doing our own part for our collective progress – and that includes being vigilant of the next moves of our leaders as they start another three years of governance.