President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has assured local government officials that they can expect higher budget allocations in the coming year, provided they demonstrate efficiency in managing current national government-funded initiatives.
Speaking during the turnover of financial assistance to barangays in Eastern Visayas on Thursday, April 30, the President emphasized that the national government is ready to expand its financial support to local government units (LGUs) that prove their capability in project execution.
“Siyempre, gusto pa rin natin dagdagan. Kaya sinasabi ko sa ating mga local government official: if this becomes a success, if it is run well, if you run it well—you will be running this program, not the national government—if it is run well, asahan ninyo ang next budget, dadagdagan natin sa susunod na taon,” Marcos said.
The President reiterated his administration’s stance that barangays and local units are best positioned to identify the specific needs of their constituents.
By decentralizing fund management through the Local Government Support Fund (LGSF), the national government aims to empower local leaders rather than dictating priorities from the capital.
“Kaya sabi namin bigyan na natin, imbes na tayo pa sa national government ang nagsasabi sa local government kung anong kanilang pangailangan, ay makinig tayo sa kanila,” Marcos explained. “And that’s why binuo namin itong programang ito, binababa natin sa local government ang LGSF (local government support fund), at iniiwan na lang natin.”
During his visit to Tacloban City, Marcos oversaw the launch of the Bagong Pilipinas Rice Program, a project funded by the LGSF that provides 10 kilos of rice every two months for six cycles to eligible beneficiaries. He also witnessed the distribution of financial aid to various barangays across Region VIII.
Furthermore, the President turned over educational assistance under the “Bawat Barangay Makikinabang Program.” This specific initiative is designed to support 690 students in the province, furthering the administration’s goal of enhancing educational access through direct local intervention.