MALACAÑANG reaffirmed its commitment to further strengthen and develop local government units (LGUs) so they could better serve their communities.
Executive Secretary Ralph Recto, representing President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., issued the statement at the 2026 General Assembly of the League of Municipalities of the Philippines (LMP) held last week in Pasay City.
During the assembly, mayors and municipal officials from across the country discussed local governance issues and the review of government programs affecting their communities.
Last month, Marcos increased the Local Government Support Fund (LGSF), an initiative that would fund the implementation of national programs and projects at the local level.
Among the programs are food security and infrastructure and development initiatives that directly benefit LGU constituents.
Under the 2026 General Appropriations Act (GAA), the LGSF was increased by P34.87 billion, bringing the total allocation to P57.872 billion, the highest in its history.
Recto stressed that the government continues to strengthen the LGUs’ capacity building and delivery of services to the people at the grassroots level, particularly in smaller municipalities with limited fiscal resources.
The league also presented him its policy recommendations on proposed reforms to the Local Government Code, which would further enhance local autonomy and improve coordination between national and local governments.
The LMP is made up of more than 1,400 municipal governments.
