Cebu City (12 October) -- President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo stressed to barangay officials nationwide the need to change the country's political culture from that of a crab-mentality type to a culture of development.

The President was in Cebu to keynote the 8th National Convention of the Liga ng mga Barangay before 2,000 to 2,500 representatives from the municipal, city and provincial Liga chapters across the country.

Security and prosperity is what the country needs and not a climate of destabilization and stagnation, according to Mrs. Arroyo.

Mrs. Arroyo said opportunities for change and transformation have unfolded as the peso's value has strengthened against the US Dollar and that, more foreign investors are coming into the country.

The nation's economic fundamentals are in placed as just the other week, the United Nations (UN) welcomed the bold steps of the Philippines to achieve the Millenium Development Goals, the President further said.

Arroyo bared the UN has recognized the efforts of the administration to fast track the nation's economy forward as its 10-point agenda is in line with the thrust of the Millenium Development Goals and that by 2015, poverty would be reduced.

James Marty Lim, national president of the Liga ng mga Barangay told the President that too much politicking by the opposition with the intention to smear and damage the President's repute is totally unacceptable.

" What is happening in the country is being blamed on you and they (opposition) do not even recognize your accomplishments," Lim quoted. "We in the barangays do not believe" the allegations of the opposition, he continued.

Lim, who delivered a message prior to the President's statement expressed hopes that the barangays will not only be the recipients but implementors of the President's national programs. He likewise expressed hopes that Mrs. Arroyo will be the first President to do such thing so she will know that the barangays are her allies.

In her speech, Pres. Arroyo told the barangay officials she has personally felt the sincerity and support of the barangays to help her administration as she recognized that the barangays are the frontliners in the grassroots level that locally implement the needs of the nation.

After the President speech, she had a picture taking with the Liga National Executive Board and left right after for her second public engagement at the Provincial Capitol.