Pasay City
July 9, 2025
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. met with select local government officials during a merienda cena in Pasay City.
In his remarks, the President emphasized that effective coordination between national and local governments is vital to achieving the Administration’s goal of delivering quality public service to the Filipino people. With the rapid pace of technological advancement, he noted the urgency of revisiting current systems, policies and frameworks to better meet the evolving needs of constituents.
Central to this effort is the national digitalization policy which aims to synchronize systems across all levels of government — from streamlining procurement and enhancing transparency to eliminating fixers and reducing corruption.
He highlighted the need for a systematic, nationwide approach to infrastructure development, shifting from fragmented, favor-based projects to integrated road networks and flood control systems that optimize resources and generate greater impact.
In healthcare, the Chief Executive pushed for the expansion of access through hospital annexes and Bagong Urgent Care and Ambulatory Service (BUCAS) centers to bring essential services closer to communities while reserving tertiary hospitals for critical cases.
He also enjoined local collaboration in delivering social welfare programs such as the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) and boosting agricultural efforts, including the PhP20/kilo rice program, emphasizing that the success of national projects relies on strong coordination with local authorities to ensure resources are properly directed and efficiently utilized.
Furthermore, he encouraged local government units (LGUs) to maximize the Newly Elected Officials Performing Leadership for Uplifting Service (NEO PLUS) Program — a three (3)-year flagship capacity-building initiative of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) — which aims to enhance the performance of newly elected local officials, with a focus on transparency, participatory governance and strategic leadership.
In closing, President Marcos Jr. proposed a review of the Republic Act (R.A.) No. 7160 or the Local Government Code of 1991, highlighting the importance of empowering local governments to address modern-day governance challenges.
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