All 82 provinces should expect a minimum additional national government allocation of P1 billion each for their development and livelihood projects, Partido Reporma chairman and standard bearer Sen. Panfilo “Ping” Lacson and running mate Senate Vicente “Tito” Sotto vowed if they win in the 2022 national polls.

Lacson and Sotto also pledged to grant all 1,634 cities and municipalities in the country at least P100 million more in development assistance while all 42,000 barangay units would receive P5 million for the same purpose.

The two senators said the financial assistance is one of the most important part of the Lacson-Sotto flagship Budget Reform Advocacy for Village Empowerment program.

During a recent “Online Kumustahan” virtual and face-to-face meeting with local officials, Lacson and Sotto stressed that the financial assistance for community development and livelihood projects will be guaranteed even to the most remote villages in the country.

. “As per our computation, kung P400 billion ang ‘di nagagamit (sa national budget) taon-taon, kaya nga kami nakapag-isip ng BRAVE. (As per our computation since P400 billion is not being used annually in allocations under the national budget, we thought of BRAVE” Lacson said, adding this would end the culture of mendicancy of local government units toward national leaders.

He stated that the help LGU’s will get should be made available only if the national government is actively listening to the needs and priorities of local communities.

“All projects, activities, programs, especially ‘yung hindi big ticket projects should emanate from the local government units, diyan dapat manggagaling (it should come from this),” Lacson said.

Lacson stressed that taxpayers’ money would be used more efficiently if the local governments themselves point out and plan the projects and programs for a province, like better electricity providers or stronger, smoother roads.

“The planning will emanate from the local government units because you know the needs and priorities of your localities. Does the national government know that? No,” the former national police chief added.

Lacson believes this strategy is not a mere band-aid solution to the prevailing problems of the country but would also eliminate problems like “kotong” and corruption that continue to make life difficult for all Filipinos.

He and Sotto, who have a combined 42 years in the Senate, also asked local leaders to give them a chance to implement the same laws they have drafted and scrutinized over the years by installing them in the Executive Department come the May 9, 2022 polls.