SLOGAN FOR THE NATION Workers of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority pause for a look at the stage being prepared at Quirino Grandstand in Manila on Friday, ahead of tomorrow鈥檚 grand launch of President Marcos鈥� governance brand. 鈥擱ICHARD A. REYES
Interior Secretary Benhur Abalos on Friday 鈥渟trongly encouraged鈥� barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan officials to attend Sunday鈥檚 launch in Manila of the 鈥淏agong Pilipinas鈥� (New Philippines) campaign to be led by President Ferdinand 鈥淏ongbong鈥� Marcos Jr.
鈥淏agong Pilipinas鈥� is the Marcos administration鈥檚 new governance brand, which the President introduced in his Memorandum Circular No. 24 issued in July last year.
The campaign 鈥渃alls for deep and fundamental transformations in all sectors of society and government,鈥� according to the memo, which also directed all government agencies, state universities and colleges, and government-owned or controlled corporations to use the Bagong Pilipinas logo in their communications.
鈥榃aste of resources鈥�
But Bayan Muna chair Neri Colmenares was skeptical of the program鈥檚 declared purpose.
鈥淎ccording to several barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan officials that we spoke with, this will be used by the Marcos administration to push for Cha-cha (Charter change) and make it look like all those who attended are in support of it,鈥� Colmenares said in a statement on Thursday.
Colmenares dismissed the event as a 鈥渨aste of the people鈥檚 resources.鈥�
鈥淚n the middle of poverty and the absence of aid to the people, the government will again spend on a rally that doesn鈥檛 make sense,鈥� he added.
Make it viral
鈥淣o amount of rebranding of the Marcos Jr. administration could uplift the lives of the marginalized sectors like the fisherfolk, as long as the same burdening economic policies are still in place,鈥� said the fisherfolk group Pamalakaya, a Bayan Muna ally.
鈥淭he Filipinos need concrete steps to address the economic crises such as inflation and loss of lives and livelihood due to environmental destruction, not a superficial rebranding,鈥� they added.
搁贰础顿:听Time to become 鈥楤agong Pilipino鈥� in 2024 鈥� Marcos
Abalos on Friday called on 鈥渁ll punong barangays, sangguniang barangay members, Sangguniang Kabataan officials in Metro Manila and the provinces of Bulacan, Pampanga, Cavite, Rizal and Laguna鈥� to attend the launch at Quirino Grandstand in Manila.
His directive was also addressed to 鈥渞egional, provincial and city directors of the DILG (Department of the Interior and Local Government), including municipal local government operations officers of the said region and provinces.鈥�
Sunday鈥檚 activity kicks off with a 鈥渟erbisyo caravan鈥� at 9 a.m., or nine hours before the program proper at 6 p.m.
Performers
In the Abalos memo, local officials are given a link where they can 鈥減reregister 鈥� and monitor the expected number of participants.鈥�
They were also 鈥渆ncouraged鈥� to accomplish an attendance sheet prior to their arrival at the venue.
鈥淧articipants shall take photos for posting on their personal Facebook page and on the LGU鈥檚 (local government unit) official social media accounts, with the hashtag #BagongPilipinasLaunching,鈥� the memo read.
Meanwhile, the Presidential Communications Office (PCO) said the program would feature some performing artists, such as Skusta Clee, Andrew E, Jose Manalo and Wally Bayola, 4th Impact, Geneva Cruz, Arci Mu帽oz and Ronnie Liang.
鈥淭his is really going to be a fun day but also an informative day for us to rejoice and celebrate Bagong Pilipinas,鈥� said PCO Director Cris Villonco, adding that her office expects 鈥渁round 200,000 to attend.鈥�
In a statement, the PCO said a coalition of businessmen, civic leaders and employers had pledged to support the Bagong Pilipinas brand.
Former Sen. Jose Lina will lead the Buklod Bayani Coalition in signing an agreement with Secretary Frederick Go (the special assistant for investment and economic affairs) and Secretary Ernesto Perez of the Anti-Red Tape Authority, the PCO said. 鈥擱eports from Nestor Corrales, Julie M. Aurelio and Jacob Lazaro INQ