Local chief executives and the Palace, led by Executive Secretary Ralph Recto, ironed out details on implementing the P82.3-billion fund for local development projects this year.
In a news release on Saturday, the Office of the Executive Secretary said Recto was joined by 29 provincial governors in Malacañang on February 19 to discuss the rollout of the Local Government Support Fund (LGSF).
The executive secretary was also joined by 16 city and municipal mayors and seven representatives of governors.
The LGSF has an allocation of P57.88 billion in the 2026 national budget.
The funding for LGSF was increased by P37.4 billion, following President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s instruction to tap the LGUs in project implementation so that development programs can be delivered to the people on time.
The LGSF will back projects to be identified and implemented by LGUs, based on a menu of programs enumerated in the 2026 General Appropriations Act.
These initiatives cover livelihood, infrastructure, health, education, and food security.
Recto said the LGSF is only a small part of the huge P1.393 trillion national tax share of cities, provinces, towns, and barangays for 2026.
In ordering an increase in the LGSF allocation, “President Marcos believes that LGUs have the capacity, experience, and means to implement national projects,” Recto said.
“The President has repeatedly said that LGUs should not be passive recipients of national projects but must be active implementers of the same,” he said. —VBL, GMA Integrated News
