Iloilo city: Iloilo City Mayor Raisa Tre±as has welcomed the directive of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. for projects funded by the national government to secure approval from local government units before their implementation. “Local government units must never be bypassed in planning and implementation. We, as local officials, are directly accountable to our people and are in the best position to determine urgent, relevant, and safe solutions,” she said in a statement released on Sunday.

According to Philippines News Agency, Mayor Tre±as highlighted long-standing concerns about projects carried out by the Iloilo City District Engineering Office without proper coordination with the local government. She noted that while some projects were well-intentioned, many were poorly planned and disconnected from the city’s priorities, leading to traffic disruptions, duplicated efforts, or substandard results.

On Monday, Mayor Tre±as announced her formal intention to join the Mayors for Good Governance initiative, aligning with her administration’s commitment to transparency, accountability, and integrity in public service. She expressed that joining this alliance of reform-oriented local leaders would allow Iloilo City to strengthen its governance practices, share successful initiatives, and learn from the experiences of other cities and municipalities across the country.

President Marcos emphasized the importance of local government involvement during his inspection of a slope protection road at Kennon Road in Benguet. He expressed a desire for local government units to play a role in implementing projects funded by the national government in their respective areas.