Mayor Evelio Leonardia on Monday praised President Rodrigo Duterte’s acknowledgment of the contribution of the local government units (LGUs) in the country’s battle against the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) pandemic.

“We are appreciative that he made special mention of the efforts and solid contributions of the LGUs in the fight against Covid-19,” said Leonardia, who sits as the national president of the League of Cities of the Philippines.

He said the President showed how the country is coping with difficulties during his penultimate State of the Nation Address (SONA) delivered on Monday afternoon against the backdrop of the Covid-19 crisis.

“It gave us a picture of the challenges the government and the nation had to face and how our people were tested to balance health and the economy. And, indeed we passed the test of resiliency,” the mayor said.

In his fifth SONA delivered before a limited number of legislators and Cabinet members at the Batasang Pambansa in Quezon City, Duterte said the Filipinos live in a troubled time and the dream of prosperity for the country was suddenly snapped by this pandemic.

However, the Chief Executive also told the people not to despair since the vaccine is around the corner.

Leonardia noted the President’s statement on his intimate personal appeal to China for help in his intense desire to deliver the Filipinos out of the crisis.

“It provided some ray of hope that the vaccine can come sooner than later,” he said.

The mayor said the President’s speech was comprehensive as it even detailed and practically enumerated the significant events, programs, and projects of his administration.

He said the address was also both informative and inspirational when the President mentioned the Bayanihan Act 2, increased Covid-19 testing nationwide, the millions who availed of government assistance during the health crisis, the 75 Malasakit Centers which catered to the needy, the direction towards digitalization and elimination of physical queueing in government offices.

“His serious intention to make telecommunications firms improve their service was like a light at the end of the tunnel,” the mayor said.

He added the highlight of the President’s SONA was his declaration that the Covid-19 crisis has brought out the best in the Filipinos.

“This is the best time to bring out the best in us,” the President said. (PNA)