Manila: Local government officials expressed strong support for the national government's record-breaking Local Government Support Fund (LGSF) for 2026, highlighting its immediate impact on communities and local development projects. President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. joined local chief executives for the 'Sa Bagong Pilipinas, Bawat Bayan Makikinabang,' a program designed to elevate national government's support to local government units (LGUs) following the record-breaking PHP57.87-billion LGSF for 2026, in a ceremony in Malaca±ang on Monday.

According to Philippines News Agency, Manila Mayor Francisco 'Isko Moreno' Domagoso, who was among the local chiefs at the Palace, welcomed the assistance, noting that the city has already received PHP500 million earlier for the Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila College of Medicine and PHP286 million under the latest LGSF allocation. The mayor said the new allocation will support locally produced rice purchases for resident assistance programs and that the government's proactive support would benefit the economy, local farmers and basic services.

Moreno said the administration's 'aggressiveness' in supporting LGUs would eventually benefit the economy, local farmers and basic services across the country. 'As Mayor of Manila, on behalf of the people of Manila, we are very grateful for President Bongbong Marcos. That's a full-hearted, grateful city of mine,' he added.

South Cotabato Gov. Reynaldo Tamayo, also president of the League of Provinces of the Philippines, underscored the broader benefits of the program for LGUs across the country. 'Talagang tuwang-tuwang ang mga local chief executives natin dahil sa pamamagitan nito, mararamdaman na ng taumbayan na yung pondo talaga ay direktang bumababa sa pangangailangan ng tao,' Tamayo said. He added that the LGSF enables LGUs to provide rice allocations, concrete roads and other infrastructure projects directly to their constituents, ensuring that communities experience tangible benefits from national progress.