President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Wednesday honored local governments and regional offices of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) for what he described as model transparency and citizen-driven governance.
Speaking at the 2025 SubayBAYANI Awards at the Manila Hotel, President Marcos said the awardees demonstrated that clean, open, and accountable leadership can translate into better infrastructure and stronger community engagement.
“We recognize today the LGUs and DILG regional offices that chose to govern with excellence, integrity, and compassion,” he said.
“You proved this through your success in encouraging citizens to participate in local projects and in monitoring infrastructure funded by the people,” the President added.
The SubayBAYANI Awards honor local governments that excel in transparency, evidence-based planning, and community involvement, as reflected in their monitoring of publicly funded infrastructure.
This year’s roster includes 126 LGU “Exemplars,” nine top overall performers, and three DILG regional offices cited for strong collaboration and transparent processes.
Mr. Marcos said the awardees show that clear data, proper systems, and measurable results build public confidence in government. “When there is data, there is basis. When there is process, there is direction. And when there are results, the public trusts us,” he said.
He also highlighted the government’s newly launched DPWH Transparency Portal, which allows citizens to follow infrastructure projects “from procurement to construction to completion.”
Mr. Marcos said the platform is designed to expand public participation and strengthen accountability across agencies.
“It ensures that projects are visible, scrutinized, monitored, and ultimately used by communities,” he said. “When we are open to the public, their trust grows and their involvement widens.”
He told awardees that excellence must remain the default standard across all levels of government, adding that the broader goal of “Bagong Pilipinas” rests not on a single leader or institution, but on the commitment of every civil servant and every citizen willing to take part in nation-building.
