LCP President Abalos elected ULAP President

League of Cities President and Mandaluyong City Mayor Benhur Abalos was recently elected president of the Local Authorities of the Philippines (ULAP). He vows to strengthen the policy development and advocacy efforts of ULAP in coordinating local government efforts with national issues and concerns.

"We will continue to strengthen the cohesive force in ULAP, advocate the concerns of (our) members and continue concerted efforts in making the organization more relevant to the times," he said. "There is a need to transcend the cultural and political boundaries in order to address pressing issues that concern our people."

Mayor Abalos said his first step will be to recognize the individual differences of ULAP members and use these as basis for unification rather than create dissension.

Abalos succeeded Mayor Ramon N. Guico Jr. and Bohol Gov. Enrico B. Aumentado as national president of the ULAP, the umbrella organization of all local government units and national private associations in the country.

This is the first time a city mayor was elected to head ULAP. Since its creation in 1998, ULAP has been headed by a governor. Former Laguna Governor Joey Lina was the first to be elected as ULAP president.
The ULAP is composed of the League of Provinces, the League of Cities, the League of Municipalities of the Philippines (LMP), the Vice Governors’ League of the Philippines (VGLP), the Vice Mayors’ League of the Philippines (VMLP), the Philippine Councilors’ League (PCL), the Provincial Board Members’ League of the Philippines (PMBLP), the Liga ng Barangay, the National Movement of Young Legislators (NMYL), the Lady Legislators’ League (LLL), and the Pambansang Pederasyon ng Sangguniang Kabataan (PPSK).

Also elected to the ULAP National Executive Board were: Mayor Guico (LMP), executive vice president; Vice Mayor Michael Rama, (VMLP), 1st vice president; Councilor Rico Judge Echiverri (LNB), 2nd vice president; Board Member Pearl Pacada (PBMLP), 3rd vice president; Councilor Farah Decano (LLL), secretary general; Councilor Victor Ferrer (PCL), treasurer; Board Member Cecilia Claire Reyes (NMYL), auditor; Comm. Jane Censoria Cajes (PPSK), PRO; and Vice Gov. Julius Caesar Herrera (LVGP), assistant secretary general.