Govt-private sector ties key to change – FL

FIRST lady Liza Araneta-Marcos on Wednesday said cooperation between the government and the private sector is key in achieving "change that is sustainable, meaningful and inclusive." Speaking before global leaders at the World Governments Summit (WGS) in Dubai, she said the Philippines has stepped up its participation in the WGS as part of the directive of her husband, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., "to encourage all Filipinos to work together for a new Philippines — one that reflects the best of who we are." "As I've always said, government cannot do it alone. We need to work closely with the private sector," the first lady said. "I am joined here by some of our Cabinet secretaries who are at the forefront of this effort, and over the next few days, you will have the opportunity to exchange views with them on how they have been reaching out to our people in order to bring about changes that can be seen, felt and actually enjoyed," she added. As first lady, Araneta-Marcos said she had the privilege of working with both the public and private sectors "to help bring about changes in our society. " "Our efforts may not be that grand, but they have definitely helped make an impact on those who need it most," she said. The first lady then shared three personal experiences about education, health and the environment, which she believed were relevant to the discussions during the summit. For the past 28 years, she said she had been a law professor in public schools. "I made it a point to purposely teach the same class of students for four years straight: from the time they enroll as first-year law students until their fourth year — which is when they finally graduate from law school, take the bar examination and become full-fledged lawyers," she said. By teaching the same batch of students for four consecutive years, she said that she has witnessed the transformation of her students — "from shy and nervous freshmen to confident seniors who can parry any question thrown their way." "It's always gratifying to see how education can empower the youth and how it can prepare them for the challenges in the future," she added. The first lady also mentioned the Lab for ALL project, a physical and medical outreach program she spearheaded. "It is a play of the words 'Love' and 'Lab' — short for 'laboratory.' Every week, we select a city and bring laboratory services to the communities via mobile clinics," she said, adding that they were accompanied by several doctors, nurses and other health care personnel who volunteered their services. "A week before our event, they go around the nearby areas and provide free medical and dental services plus medicines and vitamins to communities where access to medical equipment and other resources are limited," the first lady said. "This is in keeping with the words of my husband, who always says that 'government must bring medical services to the people and not the other way around,'" she added. Araneta-Marcos said that what started out as a project that provided free medical services grew into a caravan that offered business mentorship, legal services, scholarships, seedlings for farmers and much more. "Eventually, our Lab for All project became a one-stop-shop for all sorts of services. It is always heartwarming to see the grateful smiles of thousands of our beneficiaries," she said.