President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Monday launched a revamped Local Government Support Fund (LGSF) program, promising faster and larger direct assistance to local governments to accelerate food aid, health care, infrastructure, and disaster preparedness projects nationwide.
Speaking at the “Sa Bagong Pilipinas, Bawat Bayan Makikinabang” launch at Heroes Hall in Malacañang Palace, Marcos said the initiative aims to empower local government units (LGUs) to respond more quickly to the needs of their communities.
“For more than three decades, the Local Government Support Fund, or the LGSF, aside from the National Tax Allocation, has served as the bridge between the national government and local communities,” he said.
The president announced that the LGSF allocation for 2026 was increased by more than 34 billion pesos, bringing the total fund to nearly 58 billion pesos, the highest level in the program’s history.
He said the government also streamlined the release process, shifting from a largely demand-driven system in which funds were disbursed only after LGUs completed documentary requirements.
“The funds are released only when the local government has submitted all the requirements for the project proposal. It cannot be denied that at times the process is difficult and slow,” he said, noting that smaller and remote LGUs often faced delays.
Under the expanded program, the government will prioritize food security, health services, disaster resilience, and local infrastructure.
He said more than 5 million Filipino families will receive 60 kilos of rice annually, distributed at 10 kilos per month for six months each year, funded through the LGSF.
“We will also fund the construction of hospitals and health stations and strive to add medical equipment to make medical services more accessible,” he said.
The program will also finance the construction of multipurpose halls and sports facilities designed to double as evacuation centers resilient to strong typhoons and earthquakes, as well as farm-to-market roads and local road networks to improve the mobility of goods and services.
The president said water supply systems and rural electrification projects would also be supported to address basic service gaps in communities.
The LGSF expansion forms part of the administration’s broader “Bagong Pilipinas” agenda aimed at ensuring that economic growth is felt across regions.
He added that about P1.19 trillion in National Tax Allotment funds had already been released to LGUs for 2026, more than 15% higher than the previous year.
Mr. Marcos also cited a recent agreement between national and local governments to speed up classroom construction following the signing of a pact by governors earlier this month and city mayors on Monday.
He urged local officials, civil society groups, and citizens to work together to ensure transparency and the proper use of public funds.
