By Brian Campued
Recognizing the challenges faced by local government units (LGUs), such as limited resources and lack of support from the national government, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. reiterated the administration’s commitment to strengthening local governance through increased budget under the Local Government Support Fund (LGSF).
The President led the rollout of the “Bawat Bayan Makikinabang” initiative in Barangay Lagao, General Santos City on Friday, as part of the government’s broader efforts to address the impacts of the Middle East tensions.
In a speech, Marcos Jr. assured local chief executives and the public that the national government will raise the LGSF allocations in 2027, provided that the funds given this year are utilized properly.
“Kung maganda po ang maging resulta nito, asahan ninyo, next year, lalakihan pa namin ang pondo rito para mas marami pa tayong matutulungan,” he said.
Through the Socio-Civic Project Fund (SCPF), around P5.2 million in financial assistance was handed over to General Santos City, covering 26 of its barangays, while P28.4 million was given to Sarangani Province for its 142 barangays.
Each barangay will receive P200,000, half of which will be allocated to grant P20,000 cash assistance each to five presidential scholars.
The Chief Executive also led the distribution of 10-kg sacks of rice to each of the 5,000 families who are beneficiaries of the Bagong Pilipinas Rice Program. A total of 66,000 beneficiaries in General Santos City and 142,463 in Sarangani are expected to receive the rice subsidy under the LGSF.
“Huwag po kayong mag-alala na ito ay minsanan lang. Ito ay tuloy-tuloy… Magbibigay po tayo ng isang sako sa mga benepisyaryo sa isang taon, anim na beses. Bawat dalawang buwan may sampung kilo ng bigas,” he said.
The President likewise said that as a former governor, he is aware of the challenges in local governance.
He underscored the need for national government agencies to listen and to work closely with local government units, as the latter better understand the situation and the needs of their constituents.
“Kahit anong ganda at dami ng programa ng national government, ‘pag hindi nakipag-coordinate sa local government, hindi masyadong mararamdaman ng tao ang kahit na anong serbisyo ng pamahalaan,” he said, noting that a whole-of-government approach is paramount when it comes to delivering tangible results to the Filipino people.
“Asahan po ninyo na kahit tayo’y humaharap sa hamon ngayon, basta tayo’y magtulungan… at sabay-sabay tayong gumagalaw para tulungan ng taumbayan, makakaraos din po tayo.”
-jpv
