Added funds can speed up E. Samar development
(Photo courtesy of the Eastern Samar Provincial Information Office)
TACLOBAN CITY — Eastern Samar Gov. Ralph Vincent “RV” Evardone has welcomed the national government’s expanded Local Government Support Fund (LGSF), saying additional funding could help the province pursue priority projects and improve public services beyond what its regular revenues can support.
Evardone said Eastern Samar’s regular share from the national government remains vital to the operation of the provincial government, but available resources are not always enough to address the province’s infrastructure and development needs.
“Additional support from the national government can make a real difference in our ability to deliver better services and bring development closer to our communities,” Evardone said in a statement.
For 2026, Eastern Samar has been allocated more than P2.53 billion in National Tax Allotment (NTA), formerly called the Internal Revenue Allotment, while the provincial government expects to generate more than P222.17 million in local income this year.
The NTA is the regular share of local governments from national government revenues and serves as a major source of funding for their operations and delivery of basic services.
The LGSF, meanwhile, is a separate source of national government assistance for local governments. It is intended to provide additional funding for priority programs and projects, particularly those that may not be fully financed through an LGU’s regular resources. The fund has several components, including financial assistance to LGUs and the Growth Equity Fund.
For next fiscal year, the national government appropriated P57.872 billion for the LGSF, substantially increasing the resources available for local government support.
Evardone said the additional funding can help LGUs accelerate projects that might otherwise be postponed because of limited resources.
“Local governments are closest to the people. We see their needs firsthand. We know which roads require attention, which public facilities need improvement, and which communities remain underserved,” he said.
For this reason, he said LGUs should have a meaningful role in identifying projects where additional national government funding can produce the greatest benefit for local communities.
The expanded LGSF forms part of the Marcos administration’s efforts to provide more direct assistance to LGUs.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. launched in February the “Sa Bagong Pilipinas, Bawat Bayan Makikinabang” initiative, which seeks to strengthen national government support to local governments and enable them to respond more quickly to the needs of their constituents.
The Palace has also emphasized that LGSF assistance should be distributed fairly among LGUs regardless of political affiliation.
Palace officials said the fund does not favor any particular political group, municipality or locality, and urged local officials and the public to monitor the implementation of projects and report possible irregularities.
Evardone said he recognizes the importance of transparency and accountability in the use of LGSF funds, particularly because they involve substantial amounts of public money.
“The LGSF has established guidelines and safeguards governing its use. These must be applied consistently and fairly to ensure that public funds are spent for their intended purpose and that projects reach the communities that need them most,” he said.
He said the success of the LGSF should ultimately be measured by its impact on communities, including better roads, improved public facilities, stronger government services and increased economic opportunities.
“Additional resources are important, but equally important is ensuring that every peso translates into genuine public benefit,” Evardone said.
JOEY A. GABIETA
