Amid a viral post that showed Pampanga Governor Lilia Pineda and Vice Governor Dennis Pineda wearing branded clothes while inspecting damage from floods in their province, Malacañang on Tuesday reminded the public that government officials should be judged based on how they serve the people, and not what they wear.
Presidential Communications Office Undersecretary and Palace press officer Claire Castro made the remarks in a press briefing.
“Ang pagseserbisyo po ay hindi po nakikita sa damit, nakikita po ito sa gawa. Nakikita po ito kung visible ba iyong mga leaders at nandidiyan sila para tumulong,” she said.
“Hindi po nakikita ang pagtulong, ang serbisyong totoo sa damit ng isang lider. Mayroon pong mga iba, napakasimple ng dating, t-shirt, pants, iyong iba nagpapaulan pa, pero wala namang natutulong. So mas maganda po na tingnan ang lider sa trabaho, sa gawa, hindi po sa damit,” Castro added.
She then urged government officials to be “sensitive” especially during times of disaster and calamity.
“Siguro kailangan din maging sensitive kasi lalong-lalo na, kung iyong mga kababayan natin ay nakakaramdam ng hirap, trauma at kalungkutan,” she said.
Massive flooding hit Pampanga amid recent heavy downpours from the southwest monsoon, prompting the declaration of a state of calamity a few weeks ago.
The floods and rising water levels in the Pampanga River even caused floods along parts of the North Luzon Expressway.