LOCAL government units (LGUs) play a stellar role in hastening the socio-economic development of the Philippines, which remains as a Third World nation.
That’s why it is heartening to know that no less than President Marcos said that LGUs – provinces, cities, towns and barangays – should not be just passive recipients of national projects.
Of course, we agree with President Marcos that LGUs must also be active implementators of national government-funded projects and programs.
Executive Secretary Ralph Recto, one of the country’s top economists, said the Chief Executive believes that LGUs have the capacity, experience and means to implement these projects.
Recto, a former member of the Philippine Senate, made the statement last Thursday during a meeting he convened in Malacanan to discuss the allocation of development funds.
Secretary Recto said around P82 billion in development funds will be rolled out for the implementation of LGU projects this year across the country.
The meeting was attended by other Malacanan Palace officials, 29 provincial governors, seven representatives of governors and 16 city/town mayors.
They discussed the rollout of the Local Government Support Fund (LGSF), a direct-to-LGU allocation, which has been earmarked P57.88 billion in the 2026 national budget.
The LGSF finances priority local projects, such as roads, evacuation centers, health facilities and climate-resilient infrastructure.
The projects focus on the development of key priorities, including food security, health, education, infrastructure and livelihood.
The LGSF is part of the huge P1.393 trillion national tax share of provinces, cities, towns and barangays for this year.
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