INTERIOR and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Juanito Victor Remulla defended the proposed P58.53-billion Local Government Support Fund (LGSF) in the proposed national government budget for 2027, saying it will strengthen support for local governments (LGUs) and help align local development projects with national priorities.
Remulla said the enhanced LGSF gives LGUs greater access to the resources needed to address development gaps and respond to their communities’ priorities.
‘Enhancing the LGSF has helped a great deal with the equalization of opportunities for the local government units,’ he said.
‘There is now a greater connection between the local governments and the national government,’ he added. The proposed 2027 budget sets aside P58.53 billion for the LGSF, up from P57.87 billion in 2026 and more than double the P22.9 billion allocation in 2025.
Remulla noted that under the current system, LGSF allocations are released directly to LGUs, unlike in the past when funds were coursed through members of Congress.
He said the approach has strengthened the link between national and local governments by allowing LGUs to access support directly for projects responsive to local needs and aligned with broader national development goals.
‘I go around local governments, and they find great comfort that finally, Malacañang is listening to the plight of the LGUs,’ he said.
The DILG chief said strengthening the LGSF ultimately gives LGUs greater capacity to deliver projects where they are needed most, while ensuring that local development contributes to the government’s overall priorities.