THE national government is giving local governments greater financial capacity and flexibility to respond directly to the needs of their communities, with a record level of funding intended to strengthen the delivery of basic services, infrastructure, and social assistance across the country, the Executive Secretary said.
Executive Secretary Ralph G. Recto said the Marcos administration is placing LGUs at the center of development by ensuring that provinces, cities, municipalities, and barangays have the resources to implement projects and respond quickly to the needs of their constituents.
‘The President wants people to feel the presence of the government all the way down to every town and barangay. When people need help, LGUs should have the capacity to act and provide assistance immediately,’ Recto said during his recent visit to Cebu.
A key source of this support is the P57.87-billion Local Government Support Fund (LGSF) for 2026, the largest allocation for the program so far. The fund may be used by qualified LGUs for priority projects such as roads, farm-to-market roads, water systems, health facilities, and multipurpose buildings that can also serve as evacuation centers during disasters.
Recto said the government has also simplified the process for requesting assistance under the LGSF by reducing requirements and improving procedures to speed up the release of funds.
He urged LGUs to promptly complete and submit their requirements through the Ugnayang Bayan portal so that approved projects can move forward without unnecessary delays.
The administration is also looking at further expanding the program if LGUs demonstrate that the funds are being effectively translated into projects and services on the ground.
Recto said the LGSF could receive an even larger allocation in 2027 if this year’s implementation proves successful.
LGUs are also expected to receive substantially greater fiscal support through their National Tax Allotment. In 2027, the NTA of local governments is projected to reach P1.4 trillion, the highest level on record and about 11 percent higher than this year’s allocation.
Recto said the increased resources reflect the national government’s push to empower local officials, who are often in the best position to identify the most urgent needs of their communities and deliver programs directly to residents.
He also praised Cebu’s local officials for working closely with the national government in implementing programs involving food security, infrastructure, health, and other essential public services. According to Recto, strong coordination between the national and local governments is crucial in ensuring that government assistance reaches communities faster.
Among the programs being implemented through strengthened national-local cooperation is the Bagong Pilipinas Rice Program, which aims to provide 10 kilograms of free rice every two months to nearly eight million low-income Filipino families nationwide.
During his Cebu visit, Recto led the distribution of free rice to around 120,000 families in the province and assured beneficiaries that the assistance would not be limited to a one-time distribution.
‘This is not a one-time, big-time program. Rice will be distributed every two months. The President’s instruction is simple: no Filipino family should go hungry,’ Recto said.
He added that the program is designed not only to support vulnerable households but also to provide income opportunities for Filipino farmers by sourcing the rice from local producers.
‘The benefit is twofold: families have rice on the table, while farmers earn from their harvest. The government is helping both families and farmers,’ Recto said.