Iloilo: Local chief executives of this highly urbanized city and a fourth-class municipality in Iloilo province welcomed the higher fund support under the 'Sa Bagong Pilipinas, Bawat Bayan Makikinabang' program extended by the national government to local government units (LGUs). The national government has allocated a record-breaking PHP57.87-billion Local Government Support Fund (LGSF) for 2026.

According to Philippines News Agency, New Lucena Mayor Carl Vincent Mondejar expressed gratitude for the substantial support in an interview on Tuesday, noting that the budget of a fourth-class municipality is often insufficient for infrastructure projects. He acknowledged the Office of the President for the 'large fund' they received 'for the first time.' The PHP30-million LGSF allocation will significantly aid in developing farm-to-market roads, addressing the need for concrete barangay roads in the town. Additionally, plans are in place to establish health stations or barangay health units to provide accessible emergency services to residents of remote barangays.

Mondejar mentioned discussions with other mayors who were equally 'very happy and thankful' for the funding support. Meanwhile, Iloilo City Mayor Raisa Tre±as, who attended the program's launch on Monday, highlighted President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.'s commitment to ensuring that the LGSF is directly allocated to LGUs. Tre±as emphasized the program's systematic and target-based approach, enabling LGUs to identify their priorities effectively.

The city government, she noted, is actively engaging with barangays to understand their priority projects eligible for LGSF funding. 'This ground-level consultation can help ensure that we put the funds in projects that directly benefits the Ilonggos,' she remarked in a statement on Monday.