MANILA — President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. is pushing sweeping amendments to the Local Government Code, signaling a major policy shift aimed at strengthening the financial muscle, accountability, and operational clarity of local government units (LGUs) nationwide.
Speaking during the oath-taking of newly elected officers of the Vice Mayors’ League of the Philippines (VMLP) in Malacañang, Marcos underscored the urgency of revisiting outdated provisions to empower LGUs amid evolving governance demands.
“We are pursuing necessary amendments to the Local Government Code that clarify the responsibility, strengthen the accountability, and enhance the fiscal capacities of LGUs,” Marcos said.
The President emphasized that the initiative is being undertaken in close coordination with key national agencies and local government organizations to ensure a cohesive reform agenda.
“In collaboration with the ULAP (Union of Local Authorities of the Philippines), the DILG (Department of Interior and Local Government), and the DEPDev (Department of Economy, Planning and Development) we are pursuing necessary amendments to the Local Government Code that clarify the responsibility, strengthen the accountability, and enhance the fiscal capacities of LGUs,” he said.
Beyond legislative reforms, Marcos said the administration is ramping up efforts to improve coordination between national and local governments, while accelerating digital transformation to streamline public service delivery.
“In parallel, we are improving coordination between national and local government units. We are supporting LGUs in digitalizing both frontline services and also the back-end systems,” he added.
The President also cited the recently enacted Automatic Income Classification of Local Government Units Act as a complementary reform, noting that standardizing LGU classification based on income will improve resource allocation and governance efficiency.
He stressed that clearly defining the roles between national and local governments remains critical to delivering faster, more responsive public services.
Marcos administered the oath to the new VMLP national officers during the ceremony held at the President’s Hall. Established in 1988, the VMLP represents vice mayors from cities and municipalities across the country and serves as a platform for advancing local governance initiatives./PN
