Pasig City Mayor Vico Sotto said the Local Government Support Fund (LGSF) helps reduce political interference in securing support for local projects, allowing LGUs to implement initiatives based on their own priorities.
Speaking at the launch of “Sa Bagong Pilipinas, Bawat Bayan Makikinabang” in Malacañang on February 23, Sotto explained that the direct allocation of funds empowers LGUs to act independently.
“[Y]ung maganda dito, talagang nakalaan na yung pondo for LGU (local government unit) tapos lahat meron, minus sa politika, hindi ka na magmamakaawa, hindi ka na makikiusap,” he said.
He added,
“Nakalaan na talaga yung pondo tapos ine-empower yung LGU kung ano ang kailangan ng LGU. Hindi yung may iba pang magsasabi sa amin na: ito yung gawin ninyo. E, syempre alam ng LGU kung ano yung kailangan sa lokalidad nila.”
Sotto said Pasig City plans to use its share of the LGSF to develop green and blue spaces, alongside infrastructure projects that had not previously been funded.
“So malaking bagay po ito, malaking tulong. And we’re very thankful for the LGSF,” he said.
Under the 2026 General Appropriations Act (GAA), the government allocated ₱57.872 billion for the LGSF—the largest in history—representing a ₱34.87 billion increase.
The expanded funding is expected to strengthen local autonomy and accelerate development projects across the country.