PH cities support Marcos’ order on LGU coordination for infra projects
Metro Manila, Philippines - The country’s League of Cities supported the directive of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to reinstitute the policy of securing approval from local government units (LGUs) before the national government can implement infrastructure projects.
Marcos made the pronouncement during his inspection of what he called a “useless” rock shed project along Kennon Road in Benguet on Sunday, Aug. 24, amid a crackdown on alleged anomalous flood control projects.
Sans the policy, Marcos said that local chief executives are left with no choice if there are deficiencies in the construction and implementation of national government-funded projects.
“No consultation with the local government. No acceptance from the local government. All of that. Kaya mabigat ang gagampanan na role ng ating local government dito sa ating mga ginagawa para maayos na [That’s why the local government has a crucial role in our efforts to make things better],” he said.
“Those are the things that we have to correct — that over the years, these abuses only came about kasi pinapalitan ang sistema, and dinadaya lang talaga [because the system is being changed and abused],” the president said.
San Juan City Mayor Francis Zamora, the League of Cities national president, said Marcos’ stance was a clear testament to the president’s growing trust in the capacity of LGUs as “genuine partners of the national government in nation-building.”
“This directive is crucial in minimizing, if not eliminating, the inefficiencies that have long plagued large-scale infrastructure projects, particularly those undertaken by the Department of Public Works and Highways,” Zamora said in a statement on Monday, Aug. 25.
Zamora said the policy shift could result in more efficient and effective project implementation, optimal utilization of resources, and enhanced public service delivery.
He said LGUs aim for responsible government spending to strengthen public trust and confidence.
“We assure our national government agencies that you can count on the cities’ support—as a source of local knowledge, as a facilitator of stakeholder consultations, and as a force multiplier in monitoring government-funded projects. We share your vision of better serving our people,” he said.
Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte, who oversees the country’s largest city, also welcomed Marcos’ order as it also strengthened the intent of the Local Government Code.
Belmonte said Quezon City already institutionalized the principle through an ordinance that required national government agencies, offices, and corporations to coordinate with the city government prior to project implementation.
Meanwhile, as public scrutiny on alleged shady projects intensifies, Pasig City Mayor Vico Sotto said the government portal sumbongsapangulo.ph was a “good start” but needs more information.
The portal contains the list of project titles, costs, completion dates, and locations, but Sotto said those pieces of information were not enough if the public wants real accountability.
Sotto said he intends to file a Freedom of Information request to secure project documents such as program of works, bill of quantities, detailed unit price analysis, and bidding documents.
He has called out that two of the top 15 contractor companies that cornered the majority of the government’s flood control projects were linked to the Discayas. Sarah Discaya was his political opponent in the last election.
